When Purpose Meets Performance
Posted By Justin Ahrens in Blog
Read Time
1 minute
Why Story-Driven Brands Outperform
The "Soft" Misunderstanding
Purpose, story, design. Some leaders still see these as extras, "soft" things that don’t drive business.
But here’s the reality: story and purpose aren’t extras. They’re what make performance possible.
The Numbers Behind It
Purpose-driven companies outperform the market by 42% (EY).
Belonging and purpose now outrank salary as reasons people stay (Gallup, 2025).
Authentic stories connect 12x more than polished updates on LinkedIn.
Story isn’t fluff. It’s strategy.
What Happens When You Lead With Purpose
Customers build trust faster. They see what you stand for, not just what you sell.
Employees stay longer. Work feels tied to something bigger.
Markets remember you. Features fade, but story endures.
How Leaders Can Put This Into Practice
Audit your story. Is it clear, consistent, and connected to your purpose?
Check your culture. Do employees see purpose guiding decisions?
Show it in action. Purpose has to be lived in customer experience, not just posters.
How Rule29 Guides Brands to Align Story and Purpose
Performance follows when story and purpose connect. Our role is to guide that connection.
Uncovering the real story. We facilitate conversations that get past jargon and into what makes your brand distinct.
Aligning purpose with culture. We help leaders translate purpose into decisions employees can see and trust.
Designing experiences. We bring the story to life through messaging, visuals, and touchpoints that connect with customers and partners.
We don’t hand you slogans. We guide you in building a brand that performs because it’s rooted in clarity, story, and purpose.
Building Something That Lasts
The companies that will last aren’t the ones with the loudest campaigns. They’re the ones whose story is rooted in purpose, and lived consistently.
If you’re ready to connect the two, we’d love to help you get there.