Darwin Gillett, author of the Cosimo book Noble Enterprise: The Commonsense Guide to Uplifting People and Profits asks, “Can an ‘Ordinary’ Business be NOBLE and Successful?” at his blog Notes on Noble Business. The answer, of course, is yes. From one case history:

IT’S ALL ABOUT PEOPLE: How can one build a Noble Enterprise out of a pizza company? Now that’s a concept! After all, the typical employee is a teenager trying to pick up some extra cash as he or she goes through high school – and usually moving on after a short time. What do they care? In fact, the typical turnover rate for pizza businesses is about 200% (that is, each job has to be filled three times a year), whereas turnover at Nick’s is about 20% (that is, only one out of every five jobs has to be filled each year!) – a remarkable stat, given that most of his employees are teenagers! Ninety-six percent of those hired stay at least a year.How in the world did/does he accomplish that? It’s a long story, sprinkled with innovative people-centered ways of hiring, training, rewarding and advancing people – and of giving them scope to do the job on their own. It’s also about growing people, so (even at a pizza place) he has found ways for people to develop themselves and their skills. And it’s about creating a sense of community, of oneness.

People outside the business can hardly believe the loyalty and excitement the staff has for the company and their role in it. You probably won’t be surprised that only one out of every twelve applicants gets hired by Nick’s. One 25-year old server reflected, “When I come here, I really don’t feel like I’m coming to work” (sic). She works only on the weekend and has a full-time job at an advertising agency during the week. “My boyfriend doesn’t understand it. I just like to be here.” Wouldn’t you do just about anything to have employees who feel that way about your company and their role in it?

Visit Notes on Noble Business for the full article.

Noble Enterprise is available at Amazon.com and from other online booksellers.