Motherhood and apple pie. I used to believe that’s how you sold a safety and health program. Naive youth that I was, I didn’t fully accept until years into my career that every action in business must be cost-justified.

As you get closer to the top decision-maker in your organization the more readily you see, and hopefully appreciate, the fact that cost justification for every aspect of business is the name of the game. Especially today, with decision layers in business shrinking, you’re probably more directly accountable for proving your worth than a few years ago.