Power, Wealth, & Integrity - Entrepreneurial Lessons from ‘The FountainHead’

Give the market what it wants - Power & Wealth
Do work that gives me meaning - Integrity

The Fountainhead is my favorite book of all time.

Ayn Rand describes her objective with the book as portraying “The Ideal Man”.

There is no other book I have found which so encapsulates the raging battle that goes on inside an entrepreneur.

The rage between the creative part of the entrepreneur, and the part that must give the market what it wants.

In this article, I want to share what The Fountainhead means to me, and how it taught me deep lessons about Power, Wealth, and Integrity.

Why I love The Fountainhead

In Ayn Rand’s writing, she doesn’t just create characters. Each character is the embodiment of some core concept or ideal that she wants to teach a lesson around.

As it relates to this book, there are 2 primary characters that relate to the entrepreneurs story.

Howard Roark is Integrity

Howard Roarke is the Protagonist of the Book. He is an architect who loves the craft. He loves buildings, design, perfection in his work. He wants to build the perfect building to suite the need, and cares not what others think of his designs.

He does not make his work pretty for others, he does not take revisions on his work. He stands by the quality of his work as an artist and says “No world… I will not change for you.”

And not to spoil the book, but after many painstaking trials and rejections from the world, Roark prevails because he really is the best. He stood behind what he believed in until everyone else finally caught on.

Integrity wins in the end.

Gail Wynand is Power & Wealth

Gail Wynand runs a newspaper called “The Banner”. He’s one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in the world.

The Banner has the power to change public opinion. - Power

By always giving the people headlines they want, people keep buying. - Wealth

Gail runs the “Banner” which is a metaphor for a banner waving in the wind. It shifts wherever the tide takes it.

If the public has one opinion, the banner takes the majorities side. If the public changes opinion, the banner changes with it.

The Banner has no integrity.

Yet the Banner is winning at capitalism because it gives the people what they want.

How this lesson applies to business

When it comes to our careers & entrepreneurial journey’s, we all sit between Roark and Wynand.

On one hand, we want to do that which gives us deep meaning and purpose. And we don’t want to have to change for anyone.

Yet we each live in a capitalistic society, and it’s unlikely our passion easily lines up with something of great capitalist reward.

And so as a result, we almost all have to cave to “giving the market what it wants” because that’s how you make a living, and that’s how you get noticed.

Yet I see so many entrepreneurs refuse to acknowledge that…
It’s not about their art.
It’s not about their creative idea.

While they may dream up something, it will often fail because it’s not what the market wants.

Give the Market What it Wants

This is the path to wealth and power.

Step aside from your ego of feeling like you must create some grandiose new idea, or do something that has never been done before.

Instead, look for something people are already trying to buy… and fill that need.

It’s that simple.

And to win at capitalism… find bigger needs… bigger things that people are looking to buy.

When I was in my early 20’s I sold people video production services. That is something the market wanted to buy.

I’ve sold people websites.
I’ve sold people podcasts.
I’ve sold people sales campaigns.
I’ve sold people consulting packages.
I’ve sold millions in ad campaigns.
I’ve sold a lot of different things…

Yet none of it was a crazy new idea… it was simply a service that people we already buying. And I just entered the space.

And as my career grew… I figured out bigger problems… with bigger budgets… and I moved to fill those gaps.

Yet serving the market is lame… we really want to be creatives

All of what I said just sounds pretty obvious and simple.

Sell things people want to buy….

Yet as entrepreneurs, this is painful to do.

Because if we accepted that it’s as easy as “Pick a business I want to start, and then go start at it and struggle a while but then I will succeed because we are decent and stayed focused and committed at doing one thing..”

That’s lame… those of us who are entrepreneurs can’t stay focused on something that long to really build something like that.

So we all bop around to a million different things starting a new idea every couple of years… or at least I do… Maybe I’m projection with that statement :slightly_smiling_face:

Because at the core… I want to be an artist. I want to create.

I get the thrill of building new things. And each time I build something. I learn and get better.

And each time I build something, I solve a bigger and better problem.

And each time I build something I make more money…

Yet each time I build something that is a better capitalist business… I get further from my integrity.

Capitalism requires giving the market what it wants

In order to succeed, in order to grow. You sacrifice over time. You cave to what the market wants, even if it’s not what you want.

You see opportunity, and you pursue it because it’s the right business move.

Yet eventually, you care less and less.

Because it’s become a capitalist game. Focused at winning.
This part of you.
It has ethics.
It’s not immoral.

But it’s no longer about you, it’s about building these businesses to win in a capitalist machine.

Yet you must protect the artist

Yet among this dance… you must protect the artist in you.

The creative.
The one that got you into this.

Because that artist is there, and it needs outlets.

For me, I turn to music & art. When I leave work, I get my energy out in these creative means. It keeps that creator in me alive.

And it makes me feel ok about the fact that Wynand lives during the day… and Roark lives at night.

If you want wealth and power.

Stop looking for meaning in your work.

Find something bearable that plays to your strengths, and make a lot of money with it.

If you want integrity aligned with your career

Be prepared for a long battle.
Be prepared to have your integrity challenged by capitalism at every step of the way.
Be prepared for greater fulfillment at the end, yet a harder journey along the way.

And for those stuck in the dance

Don’t be afraid to bring out your Wynand.
I’ve brought mine out. And in ways I hurt for it.
Yet abundance brings much peace of mind.
Don’t do it for your whole life.
But for a season, Wynand can be a great persona to take on.

But never forget about Roark.
Your integrity should remain.
Don’t get caught up in caring what others think.
Get your abundance, get your needs met.
And then protect the artist within you.

What Power and Wealth Can Create

Months after writing this post… I came across an opportunity to launch Huni Music with a team member in the Philippines. This amazing and profound opportunity came as a way to pursue a passion, yet was built on the foundation of wealth and power I created in business. This is the start of what will become one of the best Ukulele brands in the world.