good soil

To grow a good plant, you need good soil.  Just the same, to grow a good business, you need good values.

Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, believes that every company must stand for something.  In his first book, Pour Your Heart Into It, he talks about his vision and values:  competitive drive…make sure everyone in the organization can win together…blend coffee with romance…dare to achieve what others said was impossible…defy the odds with innovative ideas…and to do all this with elegance and style.

Sam Calagione, founder and CEO of Dogfish Head, writes the following in Brewing Up a Business:  The values around which you choose to focus your business will form the backbone of your company more so than your business plan, management team, marketing plan, budget, or product line…Having good business values starts with a single, all-important idea—you either treat people with love and respect or you don’t.

Over dinner this week, I asked Frank Priznar, founder and president of PRIZIM Inc., what advice he would offer to an aspiring entrepreneur.  He didn’t hesitate to explain the primacy of core values to me and my wife (one of PRIZIM’s newest consultants).  To paraphrase, Frank said, Nobody else can tell you what your values are.  Only you know.  Write them down, ask for feedback from people you trust, finalize your values, and then stick to them.  Your business may change, but your core values do not.

The following is my first crack at a personal values statement, phrased in the “we” of my future company.  I welcome your feedback.

 

·    Community.  Life is better when shared.  Our company seeks to create authentic community from the inside-out.  We celebrate the genius of our community, and we invest in it.

·    Creativity.  To make something is an art.  We are a company of artists and innovators.  Our products are made with great care and quality, and they make a difference in people’s lives.

·    Initiative.  There is brilliance in beginning.  It is usually the hardest part of any endeavor.  We are a company of entrepreneur-leaders.  We put a premium on collaboration, action, and learning by doing.

·    Exploration.  To explore is to learn.  We embrace the unknown.  We step outside the building to connect with people and nature.  We are treasure hunters.

·    Sustainability.  Each year, we seek to become more sustainable than the last—better for people, planet, and prosperity.  We invite stakeholders to help us set ambitious yet realistic goals, and then help us beat them.

·    Honesty.  It is still the best policy.  Our business is all about integrity and transparency, both in our people and products.  We guarantee product quality and customer satisfaction.

·    Freedom.  We are free people, and we give our time freely.  This privilege comes with duties and reciprocal benefits.

·    Flexibility.  We deserve enough flexibility and time off to take care of ourselves—body, mind, and spirit—and to take care of our family, friends, and community.

·    Respect.  People are infinitely more valuable than any “box” we may attempt to put them in.  We honor the dignity of all people with our words, actions, and attitudes.

Would you work for this company?