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“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it”
-The Alchemist.
An interesting question came up over family supper a few weeks back.
Is Strategy Lab going to be around next year?
One team member was honestly asking how the company was doing because he was getting worried we might go out of business. We assured him that Stratlab, though we’ve had our fair share of troubles growing up, we’ve got to a point where we know what we do really well and we also know what we don’t do well. It’s taken 6 years to figure that out.
So for the first time in a long time I’m not worried about the future of Strategy Lab. Why?
Because it’s a company ran by the people of Stratlab, “StratLabbers”. There’s no sales team making cold calls, we don’t have account executives taking you out for lavish nights out, we don’t do sales pitches very well, and we loathe RFPs. We try to be real with people, we work every day trying to better ourselves and better the work we do. It’s no longer “a job”, it’s a way of life.
Do your life’s work
The question of “are you worried about the future of your company” took me back because for the past 6 years it’s relatively the only thing I think about and work on, the future viability of our company.
What’s changed is I think we finally understand what strategy is. We more and more agree with Michael Porters comments on strategy; “the essence of strategy is choosing what not to do.”. You don’t get a great reputation by recommending every new tactic on the market, on the contrary its generally saying no to everything that doesn’t fit into your overall vision of where your company is headed.
If you’re doing your life’s work you won’t have to escape from it.
In 6 years we haven’t put our email auto-responder on when we are out of town because we don’t need to get “away” from work, it’s bigger than work, it’s our way of making a meaningful living. And you never need to escape from meaningful work. The goal I tell every class is to find a calling in life that you never need to vacate from. A “job” that you can do 12 hours a day, day in day out. Hopefully something that excites you every morning when you wake up.
Most people have it wrong
The majority of the working world revolves around hating their jobs but getting by so they can afford their next holiday. We build up a life around us that isn’t sustainable mentally, but we somehow get through the stress every year with our ever growing weeks of holidays to justify the horrible working conditions. They don’t like it, but they need something to brag about around their friend circles, another year, another trip, another set of medication to get you through your week.
If you‘re doing your life’s work you won’t have to escape from it.
You shouldn’t have to hate your job
We want to change that. We want everyone at StratLab to take pride in their work. Work should be enjoyable, not easy, a challenge is enjoyable, an easy job is a great path to boredom. We encourage Stratlabbers to “be themselves” when talking to clients and developing marketing strategies. It’s only when people are allowed creative freedom when doing their work, that they will create something truly remarkable. When you tell someone exactly what to do, all they can do is recreate your shitty vision. Give the control to your people.
I don’t worry about our future anymore because every day we do the work that is important. Important to us, important to our team, important to the community, and important to our clients. Every minute we’re worried about the future of the company, that’s why every day we’re doing things to ensure we’ll be around in the future.
The relentless pursuit of ‘what’s next’
It’s never settling, never getting comfortable, never sitting back and admiring your work. If you have time to sit back and admire what you’ve done you probably aren’t working on what’s next. We should always be trying to figure out what’s next.
Work with equals
Growth is much easier when you’re working with folks smarter than you. Companies fail when executives sitting around boardroom tables come up with solutions that consist of a “job” someone will do for an ever decreasing price. That doesn’t work anymore. People want to work for selfless leaders leaders who are willing to take out the garbage (hat tip to Brandon this past weekend!).
Creating a culture of equals isn’t easy but it is the future. If you want to stop putting all the future outcomes of your company on your shoulders start sharing decision making. Start sharing responsibility, share ownership, and when bad things happen your team will step up to share the blame.
Want to stop worrying about the future of your business? Grow a team of equals, create a positive culture, never settle.
