How Business Can Be a Force for Good — With Sam Wolf

In this episode of How to Live a Fantastic Life, Dr. Allen Lycka welcomes Sam Wolf, a passionate business strategist and advocate for value-driven leadership. From a humble start in rural New Mexico to global travels that inspired a deep interest in equity, law, and impact, Sam’s journey is a masterclass in aligning business with purpose. As an executive at Falling Colors, a public benefit corporation, Sam brings real-world solutions to help organizations prioritize people and the planet—without sacrificing profit.

A Global Journey Rooted in Curiosity

Sam’s story begins with a simple desire: to understand the world. His travels through developing countries ignited a desire to explore inequality, colonialism, and the systems behind prosperity and hardship. These experiences led him to pursue law and eventually work in both advocacy and corporate sectors. His work today is centered on transforming how businesses think—shifting focus from profit-only models to those that evaluate all stakeholders, including employees, communities, and the environment.

Embedding Happiness in the Workplace

According to Sam, many businesses falsely believe that productivity and happiness are at odds. He dismantles this myth with evidence: unhappy employees lead to burnout, turnover, and poor performance. At Falling Colors, Sam emphasizes practical strategies like reevaluating contracts through a stakeholder lens, declining business that would negatively impact team well-being, and ensuring leadership lives the values they promote. Their commitment to values is more than words—it’s integrated into daily decisions.

Systems Thinking and Social Impact

Falling Colors uses frameworks like the Social Determinants of Health and B Corp principles to evaluate their ripple effects—both positive and negative. Sam stresses that companies must consider externalities, like environmental harm or overworked employees, as real business costs. This holistic view encourages sustainable operations and ethical growth. He advocates for business norms to evolve so that external impacts are built into financial reporting, offering a fuller picture of success.

Curiosity as a Way of Life

When asked how he lives a fantastic life, Sam credits his endless curiosity and commitment to lifelong learning. Whether diving into books or brainstorming social solutions, he remains engaged with the world around him. He believes this same drive can and should be nurtured within businesses.

Connect with Sam Wolf

To learn more about Sam or Falling Colors, visit www.fallingcolors.com or connect with Sam on LinkedIn. He's open to discussions on public benefit corporations, cybersecurity, and how to transform business from the inside out.

BIO:

Sam Wolf has spent his life to satisfy an endless curiosity about why the world is the way it is and how we can promote well-being and sustainability. After a decade working and studying around the globe, Sam earned an MA in International Law and Human Rights and then a law degree, then spent a decade representing individuals in whistleblower, wage theft, discrimination, and similar cases. Now COO and General Counsel at Falling Colors Corporation, one of the highest-scoring B-Corporations in the world, Sam is working to guide business to become a force for good.

Social Media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/samwolf/