House vs. Home

There is a difference between a house and a home.

A house is a structure, nothing more, nothing less.  To build a house requires a technical knowledge, materials and some money. There are well built houses and there are some weak ones too.  A house serves as a place to keep our stuff and protect us from the elements. But a home is different. 

You can live in a house that doesn't feel like home. To be a home, it needs to feel like a place you belong.  A place you feel at peace. Comfortable. A home reflects your personality, so it stands to reason that people like you will also like being in your home.  And even if you don't own the house, the home is yours. 

The same is true for a company, but sadly we don't have two words to make the comparison. 

A company is like a house. It's a structure. Nothing more, nothing less. It requires technical knowledge, materials and some money to build.  There are well built companies and some weak ones too. A company serves as a place for us to work so we can earn a living, pay our bills and protect our families. But some companies are different. Some companies also feel like a home.  Some companies are more than a place to work, the people who work there feel like they belong.  They feel at peace.  Comfortable. These companies reflect the personalities of the people who work there, so it stands to reason that people who like it there are all alike.  And even if you don't own the company, it still feels like yours.

The company that is like a house, focuses on the structure. Strategy and tactics are a way to increase sales, and money is the pursuit.  The company that feels like a home, focuses on the culture - the very thing that makes a house into a home. Strategy and tactics are a way to share that culture, that belief, with people outside the company too, and money is the result.

The funny thing is, with all these contractors out there building all these fancy houses with all the latest modern conveniences, it is the homes that are more profitable, more innovative, have the most loyal customers and employees. If there is a storm, people rally to fix the home where others abandon the house. Our houses have value, but we value our homes.

It's a shame we don't have a word for companies that are built like homes.  If we did, we'd probably have more of them.

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Comments

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I dont think that im gonna leave my house ever because that is the place i see like my home. Nice post btw!

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A company is like a house. It's a structure. Nothing more, nothing less. It requires technical knowledge, materials and some money to build.

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The same is true for a company, but sadly we don't have two words to make the comparison.

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I am really happy to have come across a good blog on difference in house and home, but it could have been made even better.

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After a tiring day all we want to do is 'go home' where we can be at peace with ourselves and with our loved ones. It's so true, we can buy grand houses but we cannot buy a home. A home is structured by a well knitted family.

[curtis johnson realty]

This is a great idea in selling houses. A house can be a home but a home can never be a house. House as we looked at it is sole physical structure. You are right, we can live in a house that doesn't feel like home. At home means you have the sense of belonging. Thanks a lot for sharing this interesting article. More power.

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A home definitely has the spirit of love.

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I posted the article because I felt a good discussion about it was called for. As you will note at the intro, I cut out several paragraphs that I felt were over the top and not substantiated, and some images that were not originals and could not be sourced.

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This sounds utterly wonderful. I have heard of Souvenier Press before but may have to go and find out more as I have heard they do some wonderful classics. I love the idea of Aunts in France. Great post Elaine!

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After reading your post, it gives me a different way of looking at things. Nice post!

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The house is the place for you people! With it we are free from sun and wind! You speak very good! It enjoys popular support! Now we all need a house! Thank you for your willingness to share with us

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Interesting that second home buyers are looking for different locations that could be there primary residence. I would think those that are in the stages of retiring or empty- nesters would want a vacation dwelling, but due to the current economic situation this makes sense.

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Interesting that second home buyers are looking for different locations that could be there primary residence. I would think those that are in the stages of retiring or empty- nesters would want a vacation dwelling, but due to the current economic situation this makes sense.

[mike maddock]

Simon love it. Your use of metaphors is powerful and rings true.

Mike

[michael beirne]

thanks for the post and for sharing this with Titans, Simon.

I've always used Business::Company as House::Home - seeing as how the word company comes from latin "to break bread with." In other words, I feel I have a company when I am comfortable with the culture and everyone has a place for themselves at the table; wheras, businesses are those we purely evaluate on the structure (topline, GM, mkt share, scalability, market dynamics, etc) - because we do not see a robust culture that makes the business a company.

Thanks again, good point to focus on!
Michael Beirne

[shohreh]

Hi Simon,
very inspiring and true. This is exactly how I feel about your company.... at home . I feel I belong even if it is not my company or I don't work there.
Thank you for inspiration again.
Shohreh
www.Supremebalance.com