I love this video so much, and see this sort of corporate blah blah everywhere. Dan Heath has some valuable advice, including my favorite, “If what you’re writing has the word solutions in it, you’re probably not done yet.”
This RFP question matters
July 6, 2010 By 1 Comment
Last week I received an RFP with a key question: what is your organization’s mission and beliefs? I love that question because it will help the evaluators get a sense of the firms in a way that the factual questions can not.
However, many firms struggle in answering this question. Or they play it safe. Or answer in bland language. Having reviewed hundreds of RFPs my advice is to answer this question passionately and genuinely, in language you would use in talking with someone.
This RFP question is designed to help the evaluators get to know the personality, people and passion of your firm. Don’t waffle. Be bold, be true to who your organization is, and use language that brings you beliefs alive.
Also, make sure your Web site includes your belief ( or purpose, or mission, or point of view; they’re really the same) And that everyone in the firm knows it and understands how it guides your work every day.
Stuck? Get your people together and have a thoughtful conversation around this question: why does the world need our organization now more than ever?
Beliefs more useful than mission statements
June 4, 2008 By 3 Comments
Naming your organizations’ beliefs can guide decisions and inspire talent much more effectively than the traditional mission statement, which is usually pretty flat, descriptive and, well, boring.
Here are some examples of organizations’ beliefs.
1. Focus on the user and all else will follow.
2. It’s best to do one thing really, really well.
3. Fast is better than slow.
4. Democracy on the web works.
5. You don’t need to be at your desk to need an answer.
6. You can make money without doing evil.
7. There’s always more information out there.
8. The need for information crosses all borders.
9. You can be serious without a suit.
10. Great just isn’t good enough.
Zappos
- Deliver WOW Through Service
- Embrace and Drive Change
- Create Fun and A Little Weirdness
- Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded
- Pursue Growth and Learning
- Build Open and Honest Relationships With Communication
- Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit
- Do More With Less
- Be Passionate and Determined
- Be Humble
And my firm, Beeline Labs:
- Deliver the wow and the whoa
- Activate change
- Go fast
- Try new things; OK to fail
- See new possibilities early
- Don’t compromise; the work needs to be meaningful
- It’s all about delivering business value
- Bee vs. me
- Integrity rules
What are your organization’s beliefs? Please share!
