Power Profit Politics: Harnessing Your Purpose In the Pursuit of Influence

By Chris Fisher

"Power Profit Politics: Harnessing Your Purpose in the Pursuit of Influence" by Chris "Fish" Fisher is a groundbreaking exploration of the intricate interplay between profit, politics, and power in today's rapidly evolving business landscape. With deep insights, powerful strategies, and real-world examples, this book offers a comprehensive guide to achieving unprecedented success and influence.

In a world where traditional business models are constantly disrupted, Fish lays the foundation by illuminating the modern business landscape. He paints a vivid picture of the speed of change, the disruptive power of technology, globalization, shifting consumer behavior, and the rising significance of purpose-driven business. Readers are immediately drawn into the dynamic environment where the principles of profit, politics, and power will be applied. Further, Fish introduces the concept of the MAX Profit Formula™, a revolutionary framework designed to maximize business potential. The formula becomes a guiding light for readers seeking to elevate their profit game.

As the book progresses, Fish explores the intrinsic connection between purpose and profit. Also, it delves deep into demystifying the global game of politics and its rules by exploring both the personal and psychological aspects of politics. This helps shed light on why high achievers play the game the way they do. Further, the book defines power as the underlying force behind profit and politics, paving the way for an exploration of power dynamics in business and politics. Further giving practical insights into how individuals can acquire personal power while balancing ambition with empathy.

The book culminates with offering practical applications for leveraging the Triad to one's advantage. The book provides actionable strategies, real-world examples, and a roadmap for readers to implement these principles in their businesses and careers.

"Power Profit Politics" is more than a book; it's a guide for individuals looking to transform their approach to business, politics, and power dynamics. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, a budding leader, or simply someone eager to enhance your influence, this book provides the insights and strategies you need to thrive in a world where purpose-driven leadership is the key to success.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Nov 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9781304909626

Book preview

Copyright © 2023 by Fortress International Solutions & Holdings and Christopher J. Fisher

Published by Thayer Point Publishing

Dallas, TX 75214

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other – except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the Publisher.

The author has taken reasonable precautions in the preparation of this book and believes the facts presented in the book are accurate as of the date it was written. However, neither the author nor the Publisher assumes any responsibility for any errors or omissions.

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher and author is not engaged in rendering financial, accounting, legal or other professional advice. The publication is designed to provide general information regarding the subject matter covered. However, laws and practices often vary from state to state and are subject to change. Because each factual situation is different, specific advice should be tailored to the particular circumstances. For this reason, the reader is advised to consult with his or her own advisor regarding the individual’s specific situation.

First Printing: 2023

Cover Design: Christopher J. Fisher

ISBN: 978-1-304-90999-2

ISBN: 978-1-304-92665-4

ISBN: 978-1-304-90962-6

Praises for POWER PROFIT POLITICS

by Chris Fish Fisher

Influence is synonymous with leadership and building a strong network. Power Profit Politics unravels and guides you through the complexity of achieving Power Profit and Politics. This is a blueprint for achieving unparalleled success.

-Danyel Surrency Jones | Director of Black Business Accelerator, AMAZON;

Co-Founder, POWERHANDZ

This book is a tacit acknowledgment of the quiet part out loud: pursuing business success is absolutely about more than your product, marketing plan, or operations. These helpful and accessible principles show that what we are often not taught in business school, the flow of power, and strategic political awareness can make a difference in your organization's goals. Fish nails it.

-Byron K. Sanders | President & CEO,

BIG THOUGHT

I’ve read several books that I’d recommend as a must-read, and this book joins the list of recommendations to live by!

-Willie G. Franklin, Jr. | Councilmember,

CITY OF RED OAK

Power Profit Politics is an insightful guide exploring the intricate dynamics of being successful in business in the modern world. Fish intricately dissects each concept in a digestible way for aspiring entrepreneurs, from the foundation of profit maximization to the psychology of power, before uniting them in a harmonious synergy, endorsing a holistic approach to business success. The unique blend of practical applications with theoretical discussions makes this a highly recommended read for anyone aiming to navigate the complex reals of business, politics and societal influence effectively.

-Matt Houston | CEO,

COLLABORATIVE CULTURE LLC;

Professor of Entrepreneurship & Leadership,

UNTD

Chris Fisher skillfully unravels the complex relationship among the dynamic forces of ‘Power, Profit, and Politics.’ Demonstrating intellectual balance and acuity, the book is masterfully crafted to engage a diverse audience. Fish navigates the nuanced intricacies of the subject matter with clarity, inviting readers to thoughtfully evaluate the societal and business systems that shape our world.

-Bethel Johnson | President & CEO

GREENWOOD CAPITAL VENTURES;

2x Super Bowl Champion, PATRIOTS

To my family, you are my LEGACY bearers and my PURPOSE; you are the driving force behind every word that appears on these pages. With unending love and gratitude.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction: Setting the Stage: The Triad of Success in the Modern World………………………………………………………..i

PART 1: PROFIT

CHAPTER 1: Laying the Foundation: The Modern Business Landscape…………………………………………………………………..1

CHAPTER 2: Core Principles in Profit Maximization……………………………………………………….……31

CHAPTER 3: The Max Profit Formula™: A Deep Dive into Maximizing Business Potential……………………………………49

CHAPTER 4: Purpose, Profit, and the Intrinsic Connection..........................................................................77

PART 2: POLITICS

CHAPTER 5: Politics Demystified: Understanding the Global Game and its Rules………………………………….………95

CHAPTER 6: The Personal Side of Politics: Navigating the Landscape with Authenticity and Integrity………………....113

CHAPTER 7: The Psychology of Politics: Why We Play the Game the Way We Do……………………….………………………131

PART 3: POWER

CHAPTER 8: Power Defined: The Underlying Force Behind Profit and Politics……………………………………………………..153

CHAPTER 9: Power Dynamics in Business & Politics..….169

CHAPTER 10: The Personal Pursuit of Power: Acquiring Power while Balancing Ambition with Empathy……..…..183

CHAPTER 11: The Psychology of Power: The Drives, Desires, and Dangers………………………………………………..201

PART 4: SYNERGY

CHAPTER 12: The Power of Purpose: Navigating Power, Profit, and Politics with Intention……………………………..233

CHAPTER 13: Synergy: How Power, Profit, and Politics Interact and Influence Each Other…………………………….259

CHAPTER 14: Practical Applications: Using the Triad to Your Advantage……………………………………………………….295

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.…..………………………………….329

TRIAD & MAX PROFIT FORMULA WORKSHEET…….…..333

≤ INTRODUCTION ≥

The Triad of Success in the Modern World

Welcome to the Triad, a transforming trip that will change how you think about success in power, profit, and politics. This book is not just another business or self-help book; it is a comprehensive blueprint created to provide the skills, knowledge, and insights you need to successfully navigate the intricate interactions between these three key pillars. This book presents a comprehensive strategy for obtaining meaningful success, whether you're an entrepreneur, business leader, political aspirant, or someone just trying to enrich your life.

The Triad of Power, Profit, and Politics frequently directs our movements in the complex dance of life and business. This book serves as both an invitation and an exploration. It is a challenge to dive deep into the complexities of politics, the world of profit, and the attraction of power. These aren't just abstract ideas that belong in textbooks or boardrooms; they're actual, living things that influence our world, choices, and futures. We'll learn how these factors interact, affecting and forming one another and, more significantly, how they form us. An essential query arises as we work our way through this Triad: Are we doing this ON Purpose?

The compass that directs us through the turbulent waters of Power, Profit, and Politics is purpose. The lighthouse illuminates our way and ensures that our trip is about importance rather than merely prosperity. Without a defined goal, it is simple to get carried away by currents of ambition, influence, or power and lose sight of what is most important. 

But this book focuses on action, not merely theories and concepts. It involves using the newfound insights in a way consistent with your purpose due to the revolutionary potential that is unlocked when the Triad's power is combined with a well-defined Purpose, which goes beyond just success. You enter a space where you can make a real difference—not just for yourself but also for your neighborhood and the entire globe.

Traditional theories of success that only emphasize one factor, such as monetary gain, social influence, or power, are no longer adequate. They might even be dangerous. This book explains the Triad concept and demonstrates how to combine the forces of Power, Profit, and Politics. But we go further than that. By adding the MAX Profit Formula™, a revolutionary equation that serves as a tactical road map for maximizing your potential in each pillar of the Triad, we go a step further. The MAX Profit Formula™ is calculated as follows: PMAX = (M³ • A³) - X³, where (M³) stands for Manufacture Systems, Mindset, and Mentorship; (A³) stands for Add Value, Attack Big Problems, and Amplify Your Network; and (X³) stands for the eXtermination of Competition, Risks, and Negativity.

Why is this formula of synergy so important? Because it's common to see people struggle in certain pillars while excelling in others. You may be familiar with someone who has accumulated considerable riches but needs more political clout to effect change. Or perhaps you came into a dedicated local leader who has yet to learn how business or finance operates. When you work without establishing synergies amongst the Triad, you risk being exposed to dangers that could have been easily avoided.

Understanding this complex dance is beneficial and crucial for the astute reader. The choices we make, whether they are personal or professional, are shaped by these three pillars. By comprehending how they interact, you may give yourself the tools to move through the modern world with clarity, intention, and authenticity.

Real-world case studies, practical advice, and pauses for reflection are sprinkled throughout this book to encourage you to put what you've learned into practice. We go into the Triad's ethical ramifications, examine potential future trends that may affect how it is used in practice, and even include a one-page worksheet to assist you in matching your objectives with the ideas presented. Every chapter builds on the one before it, giving you a thorough theoretical and practical grasp.

Are you prepared to start this voyage, then? Are you ready to question your current ideas about success and replace them with a more all-encompassing, purpose-driven strategy? Turn the page if the response is yes. Join us as we analyze, debate, and uncover the true nature of power, profit, and politics on this illuminating journey. The most meaningful adventures are performed purposefully, so keep that in mind as we set out. You are about to go on a trip through the complex yet fascinating world of Power, Profit, and Politics.

≤ CHAPTER 1 ≥

The Modern Business

Landscape

P

rofit is the star of the show in the Grand Theater of Business. It is the lifeblood of any business and the impetus behind every entrepreneurial goal; it is not just a term or a number after a financial statement. But what is profit? Fundamentally, it is the reward for resolving an issue, attending to a need, or improving the world. It's the universe's way of telling you that you're having an impact.

Each entrepreneur sets out on their journey with a goal in mind. They aim to identify a market niche, overcome a challenge, or improve a method. They put time, effort, and money into it while frequently dealing with numerous obstacles and hurdles. Profit reinforces their vision when their product or service connects with consumers and finds a market. It's the universe's sign that they're on the correct track, approving them.

The fact is that profit is about more than just making money. It is an impact metric. Think about TOMS Shoes, which distributes shoes for each pair sold. Their revenue comes from more than simply sales; it also comes from the lives they affect. Or consider Patagonia, a company that makes outdoor goods and is equally committed to environmental action. The beneficial effects they have on the environment are part of their financial story.

Profit also reflects a company's principles, ethics, and commitment to improving the world in today's society, where consumers are more knowledgeable and conscious than ever. The overall picture is much more important than just the bottom line.

Profit is about using a vision that no one else can see to help the market see what was previously invisible by acting as their ophthalmologist. It involves guiding them and assisting them in accepting a vision they once found difficult to comprehend. It is compensation for the incredible tenacity required to succeed in business, the restless nights, the risks taken, and the unwavering pursuit of an ideal. 

Gaining a steady and long-lasting profit is an art. It calls for a thorough awareness of the market, a steadfast dedication to value creation, and the flexibility to change with the rapidly changing business environment. Finding the ideal balance between immediate rewards and long-term sustainability is essential. Understanding the why is just as important as the what and how.

As we go deeper into this chapter, we'll examine the varied nature of profit, the methods to increase it, and the traps to avoid. We will comprehend that profit is the beat that keeps us moving forward, testing the limits, and impacting the complex dance of business. Profit can also be the blues that knocks us out, reminding us of the delicate balance and attentiveness needed in the economic environment, just as it can be the driving beat.

The Speed of Change 

Business today is conducted at a speed that was unimaginable just a few decades ago. With the development of streaming services like Netflix, companies like Blockbuster, once a powerhouse in the video rental sector, found themselves virtually obsolete overnight. A giant in the photography industry, Kodak paid the price for missing the digital revolution. These cases serve as sobering instances of how no company is immune to progress, whether large or well-established.

Businesses must understand what their genuine purpose is to succeed. For instance, Disney is primarily in the business of fulfilling fantasies, even if it runs theme parks, makes movies, and sells merchandise. Such purposefulness might direct a business' innovation and adaptation plans.

No matter how sharp, adaptability, foresight, and vision can become clouded and ultimately destroyed by pride, ego, and greed. These errors have led to the failure of numerous once-vibrant businesses. It emphasizes the benefits of flexibility, vision, and openness to change while upholding humility and a sincere dedication to one's underlying principles and purpose.

Think about the traditional taxi business. It ran for years using a predetermined model with little innovation. Then came companies like Uber and Lyft, utilizing technology to provide a more practical, effective, and frequently less expensive service. Due to legislative restrictions and a slow (or unwilling) pace of adaptation, the taxi business found itself in a precarious position. In this case, the disruptors weren't simply providing rides but comfort and a cutting-edge customer experience.

The emergence of digital media significantly challenged traditional print media outlets. With a long history and a loyal readership, many newspapers and periodicals saw dwindling sales. Some changed their business models, going online, providing digital subscriptions, and using social networking. Others found it difficult to survive because they were averse to change and clung to the nostalgia of print. The takeaway? The goal of adaptation in a dynamic environment is significant rather than merely survival.

Another instructive example is the retail sector. The emergence of e-commerce behemoths like Amazon presented a problem for conventional brick-and-mortar retailers. Some, like Best Buy, have grown by fusing online and offline shopping, providing price matching, and emphasizing customer service. Others, like Toys R Us, found it challenging to keep up with the pace of digital transformation and shifting consumer expectations.

As we approach the Fourth Industrial Revolution, automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are changing sectors and labor. AI has transformed every industry, from manufacturing to customer service, banking to healthcare.

The era of rows of workers completing the same jobs in factories is long gone. These jobs can now be completed faster, more correctly, and without tiring robots with AI capabilities. Businesses like Tesla have embraced automation to the point that their plants seem like something from a science-fiction movie.

Artificial intelligence-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are now many businesses' initial contact points. They can handle various inquiries, schedule appointments, and even complete orders. Although this has simplified processes and cut costs, it also makes one wonder about the human element in client relationships.

In banking, AI systems can quickly and efficiently evaluate enormous volumes of data, formulating forecasts and carrying out deals in milliseconds. They are changing stock markets and investment techniques, frequently displacing human traders into the digital hinterland.

In the healthcare industry, AI also creates waves by assisting doctors in identifying diseases by evaluating medical images with accuracy that matches and occasionally exceeds that of human experts.

We know that productivity increases revenues tremendously when combined with waste reduction capabilities. Isn't that the reason we do everything? However, there are several difficulties and moral problems that come along with this rapid automation. 

Job displacement is a real worry as machines take over tasks. Are we ceding our authority? When machines can perform some tasks, what happens to the factory worker, contact center manager, or stock trader? 

Can a machine imitate human empathy, comprehension, and deft decision-making in healthcare or customer service?

When an AI commits a mistake, who is to blame? How do we ensure AI algorithms are fair and don't reinforce or magnify biases?

The development of AI has brought attention to how crucial adaptability is in today's business environment. Understanding the broader consequences of new technologies is just as essential as utilizing them. Businesses must balance using AI's efficiency with preserving their human touch and ethical standards.

The proverb adapt or perish is more relevant than ever in this era of fast technological innovation. However, adaptation involves more than just implementing the most recent technology; it also entails comprehending how it affects society, people, and business. It serves as a warning that although AI and automation present fantastic benefits, they also carry significant risks.

The underlying thread in these instances is crystal clear: the pace of change in the contemporary business environment is relentless. Companies must be adaptable, visionary, and, most crucially, self-aware. Are we meeting the changing needs of our clients? They must question themselves. Do we innovate, or do we squander our success? And most importantly, are we allowing arrogance, conceit, or avarice to impair our judgment and hinder our development?

The Power of Technology

Few things have altered society as quickly and thoroughly as technology has throughout human history. Technology developments have always been the main driver of societal advancement, from the invention of the wheel to the emergence of the Internet. It is evident when it comes to business. Today, technology isn't simply a tool; it's the thread that binds companies together and helps them scale previously unimaginable heights.

Online platforms have complimented and, in some circumstances, replaced the traditional brick-and-mortar store. Businesses like Amazon and Alibaba have created digital marketplaces, making goods worldwide easily accessible. Due to this, companies now have a broader customer base, which has increased competition. Even a small local shop must compete worldwide in the current digital era.

Businesses used to base their decisions on gut feelings or simple statistics in the past. Today, companies have access to a wealth of information thanks to the development of Big Data and analytics. Every click, every purchase, and every review offers priceless information. Businesses that use this data effectively can customize their products, streamline their processes, and forecast market trends with unmatched precision.

Social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have revolutionized how companies communicate with customers. It is now a discussion rather than a one-way exchange of information. Customers are loyal to brands that interact with their audience, listen to what they have to say, and then reply. However, this also has the effect of amplifying errors and blunders. A company's reputation may be made or destroyed in a couple of hours in the era of viral content.

With the help of apps like Zoom, Slack, and Trello, the conventional office is changing. Nowadays, businesses may access talent worldwide, forming varied teams that can collaborate across time zones. This adaptability has been extremely helpful, particularly during significant world catastrophes like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Great power entails enormous responsibility. Businesses that move online become more vulnerable to cyberattacks. Data security for customers, secure transactions, and intellectual property protection are now top priorities. Companies must make substantial investments in cybersecurity protections if they want to avoid both financial and reputational damage.

Despite all of its advantages, technology also raises moral questions. Businesses must manage a complicated web of ethical considerations, ranging from worries about privacy and data misuse to the environmental impact of e-waste. Technology doesn't just let us accomplish things; it also tells us what we ought to do.

It's essential to stop and look within as we travel over the enormous territory of technology's influence on business. What position do you take on the digital era? Is your company leading technological advancement, or are you lagging? More importantly, have you stopped to think about the ethical implications of your conduct as you employ technology to solve issues and increase profits?

While getting sucked into the appeal of innovative tools and platforms is simple, it's essential to ground oneself in fundamental principles. Are you improving your consumers' lives with technology, or are you just utilizing it to collect data on them? Are you unintentionally ignoring the human element at the heart of business interactions in your pursuit of efficiency?

Additionally, if you incorporate technology into your business, are you making sure that it is usable by everyone, including those