Crafting a Mission Beyond the Horizon, Inspired by Core Values and Team Spirit.

Infinite Aspirations - Mission Defined by Core Values

I promised to continue to write underlying elements of the "S-Curve Strategy Framework" and I am doing so. Last article was covering the whole aspirations pyramid merging into a Culture by Purpose. Now we go into the elements of the aspirations pyramid top to down starting with

Infinite Aspirations - Mission Defined by Core Values (like a sports Team’s Motto)

In the intricate tapestry of organizational strategy, the concept of Infinite Aspirations stands as a beacon, guiding entities toward a purpose that transcends the immediacy of goals. This ethereal term encapsulates the enduring essence of an organization's "reason for being," intrinsically tied to a set of core values and a true purpose that can be artfully woven into a mission statement.

The mission is more about why you do what you do, who you do it for, and how you do it for a great purpose.        

The idea of putting the aspirations on a pyramid metaphor, in a spectrum from finite to infinite, came to me as the produce of mainly two books and concepts in them: “Playing to Win” by Robert L. Martin and AG Lafley and “Infinite Game” by Simon Sinek which I already covered before in my research to identify the top imperatives of a Great Strategy. The strategy framework in “Playing to Win” was foundationally robust and rightly put winning aspirations as the compass of the strategy, but by defining the whole strategy concept about winning or losing, given the book's name. Simon Sinek, however, was arguing business as an infinite game where there is no time limit or end to the game, so how do you win in an infinite game? This was indeed inspirational but not so much practical. Thinking both with my theoricien and operator hats they were both right but not whole and actually could complement eachother. The game could be defined as infinite and finite and could be both about enduring in the long term and winning in the short to medium. This is the reason I decided to seperate the aspirations into 4 types from finite to infinite and from foundational to inspirational on a pyramid metaphor.

There is ample scientific evidence that people are energized to be part of an eternal movement bigger than the world they can see and for the better of all as long as a compelling narrative exists. Respectfully, look at the religions as entities with billions of followers. This is human nature, this is human vulnerability, this is human’s psychological need to be part of something to cling to explain his/her reason of being for closure for peace of mind. When you look at this in the case of knowledge workers who are usually higher on the analytical capacity and income scale where professional fulfillment plays a bigger part of their aspirations than hunger or safety, they expect their jobs to be more meaningful beyond the shareholder return. They want to be more than names and numbers on the payroll. And when they feel like they are not a statistic but a force for good, they go the extra mile as they feel better doing so, not because they are expected to do so. ??????

In his seminal work "Built to Last," management scholar Jim Collins expounds on the concept of infinite aspirations, which go beyond the short-term goals and objectives of an organization. Such aspirations represent the pursuit of excellence and a steadfast dedication to a purpose that extends far beyond immediate outcomes. An excellent example of this is Google, which is inspired by its mission to "organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful." This mission represents a long-term infinite aspiration for Google that reflects an unwavering commitment to a grand and timeless purpose, as outlined in Jim Collins' principles of enduring success. By striving towards this aspirational goal, Google has been able to achieve remarkable success and become a true industry leader.

The principles of a well-defined mission and core values have long been recognized as essential for achieving success. Stephen R. Covey's influential book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" delves also to some extent into this concept, emphasizing the importance of a principled approach to organizational success. Covey's principles, such as "begin with the end in mind" and "put first things first," are directly related to the idea of a clear mission and values that guide decision-making and the importance of prioritization.

Companies like Patagonia, who prioritize sustainability and ethical business practices in their mission statement, embody this principle. Patagonia's mission to "build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, and use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis" is a testament to the power of a mission statement that is deeply rooted in values and sustainability, echoing Covey's and Collins’ principles. By following their Northstar principles and adhering to such values, companies can build a solid foundation for long-term success and meaningfully impact the world around them.

Visualizing the concept of infinite aspirations can also be facilitated by drawing parallels with a sports team's motto, an idea explored by various management experts. The rallying cry, "We wear the colors of victory," reminiscent of Nike's iconic slogan "Just Do It," is vividly illustrated in Phil Knight's memoir "Shoe Dog," where relentless commitment to a mission and core values propels an organization to unparalleled heights. The Nike example showcases the intersection of sports ethos, corporate mission, and success, providing a tangible link to the concept of timeless, infinite aspirations.

Apple's mission statement under the visionary leadership of Steve Jobs was to create innovative products that "change the world" and revolutionize the technology industry. This mission statement perfectly aligned with the company's core values of design, quality, and user experience, which enabled Apple to become one of the most successful companies in the world.

Similarly, under the leadership of Satya Nadella, Microsoft underwent a transformation in its mission statement. From a focus on delivering personal computing to every home and business, Microsoft shifted towards a mission grounded in values and customer-centricity. The new mission statement declared that Microsoft's purpose was to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. This shift in mission statement illustrated the adaptability and transformative potential of infinite aspirations and helped Microsoft to remain relevant in a rapidly changing technological landscape.

The importance of visualization for success, as sports psychologists advocate, is paralleled in the corporate world. A comprehensive study by Harvard Business School on goal-setting and visualization in business underlines the efficacy of mental alignment with organizational aspirations. This aligns with the idea that when vividly envisioned by employees, infinite aspirations foster a shared sense of purpose and unity. The concept mirrors the practices of athletes who visualize success on the field before achieving it, creating a powerful link between mental alignment and organizational success. This also justifies the need for a visible success definition and will be covered in the next type of aspiration we will cover in “Finite Objectives -Vision” like becoming the league champion.

Infinite aspirations, shaped by a mission defined by values, find rich validation in real-world examples, in-depth case studies, and acclaimed literature. Much like a team's motto in sports, these aspirations provide a timeless framework that extends beyond immediate objectives. By integrating core values into the mission statement, organizations create a powerful tool that guides their journey and inspires and unifies their teams. As we navigate the intricacies of the business landscape, embracing infinite aspirations becomes a profound commitment to a purpose-driven and values-centric approach to enduring success, substantiated by the success stories and transformative journeys of leading companies explored in the detailed tapestry of real-world examples which I will continue to share.

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C.Firat Caliskan