How many meetings have you been to to determine the Mission, Strategy and Values of your organization?I have been to many and found them all very unsatisfying. When it was all over, the words, crafted by committees all sound the same - we are all going to be dynamic, result orientated, customer focused, responsive. We are all going to put our employees first, be filled with innovators etc.We are going to have a lists of priorities that we can't remember and have a mission statement that is so complex that none of us can recall it either.Sound familiar?How do you think all of this applies to Al Qaida? Last week David Kilcullen, likely the best mind thinking about what is really going on in the world, held a standing room only briefing at Quantico in what he thinks is going on. I attach a link his deck to this post. This I believe is the key slide.Now think again of your organization. What if you went beyond the Mission stuff and looked into and then told your story? Do you think you might remember it? Do you think that others might too.Of course to make this work - you would have to tell the truth. You would also have to ensure that you stood for something bigger than shareholder value.I think that this is more than a cute idea. I am convinced that if you wish to have a network organization that ONLY STORY will drive it. For with a Mythic story we can all find our place and we can all be guided day to day by our part in the living story. A great enough story - What the USMC means to its people - to be a Jesuit - will last beyond formal employment and will inspire people to epic achievement not seen in the commercial world.PS see the comments for Guy Kawasaki's aligned views on having a Mantra - the short Story. Thanks John.PPS - Here is Dilbert's instant Mission statement creator tool - any Mission Statement you need in maybe 5 minutes - compare yours and wonder why you spent all that money on a consultant
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