Set on chasing profit in a bid to become a successful entrepreneur? According to the British businessman and property developer, Javad Marandi, you could be pursuing the wrong kind of value.
As reported by Wealth and Finance, one piece of advice that fundamentally transformed Marandi’s mindset was: “Focus on value, not just profit.”
Marandi explained that ever since receiving this advice, his approach to business has placed far more emphasis on building long-term, meaningful ventures than financial gain.
And – as demonstrated by his multimillion-pound portfolio across real estate, retail, manufacturing, and hospitality – this forward-looking approach has clearly paid off.
The British entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist delves deeper into this mindset shift, explaining why prioritising value matters more than profitability.
Promotes sustainable development
If you’re only ever looking to increase your profitability, then you may not be building something that is truly sustainable and likely to create long-lasting value.
Javad Marandi has witnessed this first-hand through his property investment portfolio where instead of identifying the biggest profit-making opportunities, he gravitates towards projects that involve restoring or reimagining spaces with a view to enhancing the local area.
Be it a luxury hotel in the countryside or a city-centre commercial project, the ultimate goal with any development is to enrich the environment and deliver sustainable value.
Naturally fosters success
Exclusively concerned with short-term profit? When you’re more focused on delivering value than maximising profitability, the short-term gains become a minor element of the bigger picture.
Instead of being driven by immediate returns, a forward-looking approach means you’re more likely to invest in building stronger relationships with stakeholders and customers, improving your product or service, and creating lasting impact.
In short, your long-term vision is what motivates you, rather than the money. And this means you prioritise decisions that support sustainable growth, customer trust, and continuous improvement – which are all factors that naturally foster success over time.
Builds greater trust and credibility
No customer ever trusts a business because of how much profit they make.
Instead, credibility is gradually built when the organisation consistently operates with integrity, honours their commitments, pursues quality in the products and services, and prioritises delivering positive customer experiences.
As a result, adopting an approach where you focus more on value than profitability is one of the most effective ways to earn the trust of customers, employees, investors, and the wider community.
And, as this credibility builds up over time, it will likely become one of your greatest assets – encouraging greater customer loyalty, stronger stakeholder support, and improved talent retention.
Establishes a positive, lasting legacy
For Javad Marandi, creating value has always meant more than generating profit, leading him to center his approach to business and philanthropy alike around making a lasting, positive impact.
Alongside his business ventures, Marandi co-founded The Marandi Foundation with his wife, Narmina, to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. In recognition of his contributions to business and philanthropy, he was appointed an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 2020.
His achievements show that true value extends far beyond financial returns. Whether through creating jobs, regenerating communities, or supporting charitable causes, leading with value helps entrepreneurs add more meaning to their contribution.
In the end, Marandi’s approach suggests that the most successful businesses are often those that create lasting societal value first, with profitability following as a welcomed by-product.
