## The Vision and Values of a Trailblazer As I reflect on my journey, from the early days of entrepreneurship to my current role as the CEO of Salesforce, I am reminded of the transformative power of business as a platform for change. In "Trailblazer: The Power of Business as the Greatest Platform for Change," I share my vision, values, and the lessons learned along the way. ### The Culture of a Company Every company possesses a culture, and if this culture is not intentionally defined, it will inevitably define the company itself. This is a philosophy I've embodied throughout my career. At Salesforce, we have always been a mission-driven company, even before the inception of the B Corp movement. Our culture is built on four core values: trust, customer success, innovation, and equality. Trust is foundational. As I've learned, "there’s no way to put a dollar value on values. And yes, there will be times when prioritizing values, especially trust, will come at the expense of profits. In the short term, that is. But the money your company makes in any given quarter will never be more valuable than the trust you stand to lose over time". ### The Journey of Resilience My personal journey has been marked by resilience in the face of adversity. From the $10 million investment blunder to the aftermath of the dot-com crash, each failure has been a valuable lesson. As I often say, "you must always examine what’s working, evolve your ideas, and change the way you do things". One of the most significant lessons came from our early days with Merrill Lynch. We lost the account due to our failure to understand their needs fully. This loss was a turning point; it taught us the importance of customer success. We refocused our efforts, ensuring that every decision we made was centered around our customers' needs. This shift transformed our company and became a key emphasis of our culture. ### The Power of Technology and Community Technology has been a driving force behind our success, but it is not just about innovation; it is about using that innovation for good. At Salesforce, we believe that business can be a powerful platform for change. We have integrated community service into our corporate culture, making it a paid responsibility for our employees. This approach not only benefits the community but also enriches the lives of our employees. For instance, our public schools initiative is more than just donations; it involves our employees contributing their professional expertise, mentoring students, assisting teachers, or even applying a fresh coat of paint. As I've noted, "our public schools need people to show up and care more than they need the donations of benefactors". ### Leadership and Accountability Leadership is not just about making decisions; it is about living by your values and holding yourself and others accountable. In turbulent times, executives often forget to operationalize their values, but this is when they matter most. As I've seen, "if leadership won’t act on a company’s values, employees at every level need to hold them accountable". This was evident during our stance against the "Religious Freedom" law in Indiana. When the leadership didn't act, our employees stepped up, making it clear that upholding our values was not optional. This incident reinforced the idea that no one person is in charge of the moral compass of a business; it is a collective responsibility. ### Mindfulness and Vision Mindfulness and meditation have been integral to my leadership approach. I believe that these practices are essential for clarity and decision-making. As I discuss in the book, having a "beginner’s mind" is crucial. This means approaching challenges with a fresh perspective, always ready to learn and adapt. My framework for success is simple: vision, values, methods, obstacles, and measures. What do you want to achieve? What’s important to you? How do you get it? What is preventing you from being successful? And how do you know you have it? This framework has guided us through strategic decisions, such as the acquisitions of Demandware and Tableau, and has helped us stay true to our core values. ### The Future of Business The future of business is not just about driving revenue, growth, and profit; it is about creating a genuine culture built on fundamentals like trust and aimed at the goal of business for good. As I've come to realize, "doing well by doing good is no longer just a competitive advantage. It's becoming a business imperative". At Salesforce, we consider the planet to be our biggest stakeholder. We believe that success and social responsibility can go hand in hand. Our journey has shown that when companies place equal emphasis on business success and societal impact, they can achieve remarkable things. In conclusion, "Trailblazer" is more than just a story about Salesforce; it is a roadmap for leaders navigating the dynamic landscape of modern business. It is a call to action, reminding us that anyone can become an agent of change. As I say, "seize the opportunity in front of you. Imagine. Invent. Disrupt. Do good. I know that you must be passionate, unreasonable, and a little bit crazy to follow your own ideas and do things differently. But it’s worth it. Life grows relative to one’s investment in it". This is the vision I hope to inspire in you – a vision where business is not just a platform for profit, but a powerful force for change.

Here are the key insights from Marc Benioff's book "Trailblazer: The Power of Business as the Greatest Platform for Change": ## The Culture of a Company - Every company has a culture, and if it is not intentionally defined, it will define the company itself. This emphasizes the importance of mindful leadership and deliberate cultivation of values. ## Core Values - Salesforce's culture is built on four core values: trust, customer success, innovation, and equality. These values are integral to the company's mission and operations. ## Trust and Values - Trust is foundational and sometimes prioritizing values, especially trust, may come at the expense of short-term profits but is crucial for long-term success. ## Resilience and Learning - Personal and corporate resilience are key. Failures, such as the $10 million investment blunder and the dot-com crash, serve as valuable lessons for growth and adaptation. ## Customer Success - Customer success is a cornerstone of Salesforce’s ethos. The company learned the importance of this through early failures, such as losing the Merrill Lynch account, and refocused efforts to center around customer needs. ## Technology for Good - Technology should be used not just for innovation but for positive change. Integrating community service into corporate culture enriches both the community and employees' lives. ## Leadership and Accountability - Leadership involves living by values and holding oneself and others accountable. Employees should hold leaders accountable for upholding company values, especially in turbulent times. ## Mindfulness and Vision - Mindfulness and meditation are essential for clarity and decision-making. A "beginner’s mind" approach helps in adapting to challenges and staying true to core values. ## Strategic Decision-Making - A framework of vision, values, methods, obstacles, and measures guides strategic decisions, such as the acquisitions of Demandware and Tableau, ensuring alignment with core values. ## Business for Good - The future of business is about creating a culture that balances business success with societal impact. Doing well by doing good is no longer just a competitive advantage but a business imperative. ## Environmental and Social Responsibility - Companies should consider the planet as their biggest stakeholder. Success and social responsibility can go hand in hand, as demonstrated by Salesforce's sustainability initiatives and the 1-1-1 model.