The collapse of our once unassailable economy has caused most of us to re-examine what's really important in our lives. In general, that is a very good thing, and is one of the real silver-linings of the trying times we are going through. It was with this spirit of re-evaluation in mind that I came across an incredible post by Tim O'Reilly. He has some inspiring things to say about the role work should play in our lives, and how important it is that we work on something bigger than ourselves.
His 3 guiding principles for individuals are equally applicable to companies and brands:
- Work on something that matters more than money.
- Create more value than you capture.
- Take the long view.
Companies that embrace this approach are likely to succeed in any economic environment. And in a world where technology has given control back to consumers, I believe the only companies that will succeed are those that have a vision bigger than just making money. The thing is, it's easy to say these rules make sense for brands/companies to follow. But what do they mean for me personally? It's both inspiring and daunting to ask myself how my work can embrace Tim O'Reilly's 3 rules.
Check out his full post.