Investing and Art
To better understand the power of these two principles (People are Assets, and Soul Purpose), let us consider another example of an investment made by Garrett B. Gunderson.
Garrett has filled his 45,000 square foot office building in Sandy, Utah with over $1.6 million dollars of artwork. Over 320 black and white photographs from renowned artists Michael Smith and Marilyn Bridges cover every wall. The works are remarkable, insightful, beautiful, and inspiring. They were chosen personally by Garrett as symbols and representations of the businesses housed in the building.
They are all of this, and a good investment simultaneously.
Part of the power of Garrett B. Gunderson’s philosophy of economics is that it is focused on creating happiness in the life of individuals. This is the real goal of wealth creation. Without the ultimate measure of our happiness to guide our financial lives, we are merely spending our days pursuing paper. Worse than this, we are wasting the precious hours of our lives struggling for dots on paper, or the alignment of electrons in a bank’s computer system, representing the “money” we own.
The art in Garrett B. Gunderson’s office is a great investment because, first and foremost, it is enjoyable for those in the office. Garrett recognizes that we live in an “experience economy” in which the feel of a service interaction is part of the overall purchase. Many clients request a full tour of the office after meeting with an associate in one of the high-tech, glass-enclosed conference rooms. Further, the office inspires productivity and recognition of the intricate beauty of the world. Employees in the office can be seen sometimes wandering the halls, taking a break from work to replenish their store of motivation through the artwork.
Garrett operates his investments so that they produce on multiple levels, however. This is the essence of stewardship: maximizing the productive capability of our resources. As such, the art in the office place serves multiple purposes, both personal and financial.
While the artwork is displayed on the walls of the office space, Garrett will host periodic exhibits where the public can enjoy the art free of charge. These events will be used to generate public awareness of the businesses in which Garrett is involved, and in Garrett as a leader and visionary in his work.
Additionally, in two to three year’s time, the artwork will be donated to a museum or gallery. The artwork will produce more value in the world if it is periodically moved to new environments, where new viewers can enjoy it.
This charitable donation will secure both a substantial tax write-off and also significant publicity for Garrett and his business endeavors. The personal connections and business opportunities that come from this publicity are simply incalculable.