Core Ideology : It’s a Big Deal

Originally posted Strategy Stream 8/25/11

Within each of us is the ability to influence and make the world a better place. 

Core Ideology typically means the Mission, Vision, & Values of a business entity.  The ideology then acts as a communication to stakeholders, from employees to investors, about what the company will always hold to –the guideposts from which to act.

The Mission, Vision & Values of an entity can be created by a solo-prenuer and then shared with others as his / her empire grows, or the ideology can be created by partners, board of directors and / or a mixture of who the business entity representatives are at this crucial setting down of the declaration of who the company is.

An influential study by Collins & Porras resulting in the book Built to Last written in 1994, makes the case that companies that go on beyond the founders have done so by standing by the initial core ideology.

It is noteworthy that in the majority of these company’s statements about ideology, there is a common thread of inspirational loftiness and intentional well-meaning.

There is a fundamental ideal or “knowing” of an ability to influence, adjust and make the world a better place.

At the core or essence of each of us is this knowing.  There is that center, that divine spark that has access to the infinite and the ability to master the material.

It is this essence, coupled with a business core ideology, that not only will drive your business to wild, fulfilling success,

the combo contains the unique ability to be a powerful Source of Good; championing a philosophy that positively influences.

Here’s Strategy Stream’s Core Ideology

Here’s Zappos’ Core Values

Here’s Whole Foods’ Core Values

Here’s an example of someone who has taken her philosophy and shared it in a simple, compelling, marketable way

Read more about creating a core ideology that makes a difference in the world in the eBook Becoming a Source of Good

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Hip-Hop, Yoga, and Being Super Rich

Guest post by Barbara Diane Beeler

Think of the “godfather of hip-hop” Russell Simmons and you definitely think RICH. He founded the music label Def Jam as well as clothing lines such as Phat Farm and American Classics. With a net worth estimate of $340 million, he is the third richest figure in hip-hop, only behind artists Diddy and Jay-Z. But do you also think of yoga and spirituality when you think of Russell Simmons?

Simmons is the author (along with Chris Morrow) of Super Rich: A Guide to Having it All. His business website www.rushcommunications.com relates his many business successes, which “have spanned music, film, television, fashion, video games, online and financial services” and his activism, which “has encompassed all of the areas touched by his businesses, including poverty, education, social justice and inclusion.”

It’s easy to daydream about being incredibly rich, but Simmons is more than just about having a lot of money. He grew up in a lower-middle class African-American community in Queens and recently was named one of the 25 most influential people of the last 25 years by USA Today. He has two beautiful daughters he adores (and a beautiful, well-known, and accomplished ex-wife Kimora Lee Simmons). Not only does he practice yoga, meditation, and philanthropy, he also eats no meat. He believes that there is a connection between his spiritual practices and his worldly success.

The title of his book Super Rich might make you think it’s all about accumulating money, but to Simmons that term means “the state of needing nothing.” That’s powerful! THE STATE OF NEEDING NOTHING. Imagine being in that state. Surely, you’d feel super rich. But how do you achieve that state? Simmons says that we have to “clear out the clutter and quiet the noise” that keeps us from “hearing” or connecting with the happiness…or the richness…that is already inside of us.

He says that we attract the world to us by giving until the world can’t live without what you have to offer. Huh? To get rich, you just give away what you have? YES! He quotes yogis: “You never lose what you have given” and says that if you “just show the world a fraction of the sweetness and honesty that’s in your heart, it’s going to come running after you.”

What else can you do to attain the STATE OF NEEDING NOTHING?

• Access stillness…that “quiet, peaceful mental state that allows you to be completely present in life.” Then you can become “totally connected with the inspiration and imagination that’s inside [you].”
• “Stay focused on your work without any expectations for, or concern with, the fruit of your labor” and “operate out of a zone of pure focus and clarity” like Michael Jordan did on the basketball court.
• Be a business yogi and “only do shit you believe in. Period!” Vegan Simmons, for example, says he would never invest in a restaurant that serves meat. If you are a yogi, you won’t do work that creates instability or suffering in the world. Let go of the results…and watch what happens!
• “Be reborn every day.” Simmons went from being a drug dealer to a mega-rich businessman, yogi, author (he previously penned the New York Times best seller Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success), and humanitarian. How did he do that? He “began moving away from [his] unconscious state and toward enlightenment.” He says it is important to “get open”…to be fluid and creative and never rigid.
• Build bridges…with people of other races, religions, beliefs, etc…that will bring people together. Recognize that we are all connected.
• Practice and realize the power of acceptance and love of others and what is.
• Enjoy and be grateful for the material things, but don’t become burdened by or attached to what you have. Instead, achieve balance in life.
• “Make a real commitment to being conscious and compassionate.”  He quotes the story of theBhagavad Gita and Arjuna’s final words to Lord Krishna: “Through your kind conversation, I’ve woken up and am conscious of who I really am.” Simmons says that even if you fall short in all the above things, if you are conscious and compassionate, you will…like Arjuna…become more awake, which is “central to all your success.”

Simmons says that, armed with the knowledge in the book, we can be like Arjuna and:

To fight not for what you can get for yourself, but what you can give to others.

To fight not for your own abundance, but for the abundance of others.

To fight not for your own security, but for the peace and safety of others.

To fight not for your own joy, but for the happiness of others.

To fight not for your own upliftment, but for the enlightenment of others.

Russell Simmons, hip-hop, fashion, and multi-business mogul, yogi, father, UN Goodwill Ambassador, vegan, and philanthropist, ends the book by saying:

When you are devoted to fighting for these things with a smile on your face and love radiating out of your heart, then all these things will be yours. You will have it all. You will be Super Rich.

How refreshing to see someone who truly is super rich in every way practice what he says. Thanks, Russell Simmons.

Heart-Centered-Projects

Walking the Line

On one hand, you want to stay deeply in touch with your inner self – the part of you that has a philosophy about what you want to do and who you want to be. On the other, you want to run a successful business.

An intangible part of you – your spirit – is trying to work with a tangible part – your business sense.

Unfortunately, some advice that’s currently available about those two parts seem to be contradictory.

If you want a healthy spirit, the advice is as intangible as the spirit itself. You might be told to get in touch with your inner desires, or to spend time meditating, or to try new experiences.

There are no guidelines and no rulebooks. There is no way to measure whether you’re doing “well” except by paying attention to how you feel.

If you’re trying to create a thriving business, however, the advice is often nothing but measurements. You have files to complete and to turn into the appropriate addresses, checkboxes to mark off, linear paths to goals. You’ll often see business books that suggest 7 steps or 12 steps – it’s easy to tell whether or not you’ve achieved the goal laid out in each chapter.

Business success is about achieving something tangible – spiritual success is about achieving something intangible.

Running a business where the intangible and the tangible coexist is today’s challenge.  The good news is there are more and more people talking about how to do this.  It takes a community to make it happen and a vision to shift the consciousness of business.

Tell us about how you are doing it or how someone you know is.

We will keep you posted here about people who are walking the line with grace and ease.

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The World Has Changed ~Alice Walker

World Turned Upside Originally uploaded by Claire Basiuk

The world has changed:

Wake up & smell the possibility.

The world has changed:

It did not change without your prayers without your faith without your determination to believe in liberation & kindness; without your dancing through the years that had no beat.

The world has changed:

It did not change without your numbers your fierce love of self & cosmos it did not change without your strength.

The world has changed:

Wake up!

Give yourself the gift of a new day.

The world has changed:

This does not mean you were never hurt. The world has changed:

Rise! Yes & shine! Resist the siren call of disbelief.

The world has changed:

Don’t let yourself remain asleep to it.

About the pic

Why a poem

Unconditionally Delight Your Customers

If you’ve ever actually seen a naturally sourced spring, you know exactly how magical it is. Water simply bubbles up out of the earth; there’s no drilling and no need to extract or purify it. It’s a free gift from nature. The spring burbles along regardless of whether anyone is there to drink from it. It’s a profound metaphor for unconditional love, which is why it’s a perfect way to describe the kind of relationship you want to have with your customers.

In simpler times (and in some parts of the world, even today), civilizations only sprang up in areas where there was fresh running water. A spring was a source of life, and people wanted to crowd around that source.

If you become a source of great joy, delight, and necessity to your customers, they will want to spend as much time as possible near you. You give them something that makes them feel good, powerful, and alive. That’s a powerful gift and they will reward you with intense loyalty.

You create loyalty between yourself and your customers by giving them something that makes them feel good. You create infatuated loyalty when you unconditionally give them something beyond what they expected.

If you provide a product, make sure the product has an element that brings them some benefit they can’t get anywhere else. If you offer a service, make sure that service makes them feel nurtured and attended to in a way they don’t want to live without. By giving them a never-ending source of gratification, you create a bond with your customers.

Learn to give unconditionally and your customers will never waver from your side.

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Be the Guiding Light

Though pretty much everyone wants to be a force for good, few have seriously questioned themselves on what exactly that means. It’s not surprising; figuring out who you are at your core in relation to your business can seem a difficult task.

But, formalizing your core values and beliefs is an essential part of creating a business that is a force for good. When things start moving quickly and decisions need to be made, your core values and vision are your guiding light.

The guiding light you hold consistently presents to the world who you are at your core and that you love this core. It is essential that you lovingly present the core of yourself; otherwise, it will be impossible to ask others to love you and what you are doing.

Take a moment to ask yourself some leading questions about the guiding light of your business. If you’re not in a reflective space right now, you may want to come back to this exercise later when you have some time to put real thought into it. So consider…

- What/who is most important to you in the world?

- Why did you choose to get into this particular business?

- What values (e.g., trust, honor, love, and hospitality) are most important to you?

- When was the last time you were a powerful influence for good? What elements were involved in that situation?

- In your wildest dreams, what legacy would you like to leave behind?

Use your answers to these questions to establish a brilliant and inspiring core business ideology. It may shift and change, and that’s okay. You will probably rewrite your business ideology multiple times before you settle on a version that seems right to you. Be sure to include what influence you would like your business to have and what values you would like your business to personify…

and Shine On.

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Mighty-Ocean-in-the-Drop

The great poet Rumi said, “You are the mighty ocean in the drop”. A reverse from the usual phrasing of this imagery – often we’re told we’re “only a single drop in a mighty ocean”. What does it mean to be the ocean in the drop?

At its core, this line of poetry means that you, yourself, are a magnificent and powerful force. You have everything you need contained within you.

This is hard for some of us to believe.

To become a powerful force for good, many people believe they need outside influences to make them better. They need to learn from a great teacher, for instance, or they need to pile up the accolades and accomplishments so that others take them seriously.

Not so. The ocean within you inherently swells with immense power.

You have everything you need and are capable of achieving everything you have hoped. The key is acknowledging and loving this simple truth: then you are authentically loving yourself and can project this love out into the world.

You are the center of a powerful creation, and as such you have a responsibility to honor the ocean within you and bring it to the forefront of everything you do – especially your business. Your business may be the best tool you have to influence the world – and yet, if you do not acknowledge that you have that source within you, that tool could go to waste.

You owe it to yourself and all you will influence to honor the ocean within you – and learn what it is you are truly capable of accomplishing.

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Shift Your Business Perspective

What if your business could create happiness, love, and purpose with the same agility and certainty that it creates expanding profits, new customers, and new innovations? It’s a question that isn’t often asked in business, because intangible qualities like love aren’t easily measurable (and measures are the language of business). Most people don’t believe the tangible, everyday needs of business coexist with the intangible.

Oh, but they do.

The truth is just because the current language of business does not acknowledge intangibles, doesn’t mean they don’t exist.

Your business is an embodiment of who you are and what you believe – every time you expand your business, you also expand the knowledge and empowerment of yourself. When you are fundamentally coming from a place of love and purpose, you automatically are shifting your perspective of business.

When your business blends with your own personal philosophy, decisions become easier. You are able to access support not typically considered in traditional business models. Goals are set and achieved without struggle. Your strategies are driven not just by necessity but by passion. Your focus never wanders. You walk forward with absolute certainty that you are supporting the highest good. Not only does your business become a channel for success – it becomes a channel for your expanded inner self and an expanded model of what it means to be doing business in today’s world.

Pic originally uploaded : Riapereira || Shift Perspective || More about pics

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Evolving Sacred Space

One of the goals of the Strategy Stream Program is to help you consciously and consistently unite the finite dimension of your business, with the infinite dimension of the divine. Our mind and ego readily access the finite; we easily forget (especially when we are running our business) our access to the infinity of the divine.

There are 24 sessions in the Strategy Stream Program. A session primarily is about exploring the session topic. Secondarily, the session is a time to pause, reflect, and access your concept of the divine. The goal is have you complete each session feeling like you have concrete steps for your business, as well as an expansive sense of the divine working with you.

You are asked to:

-Consciously hold that every single time you are in a session, there is a evolution or forward progression that is occurring not only in your business, but in the sacred space of each session.

-Consciously hold that if you miss a session or need to cut-short a session, the evolution or forward progression of your business is continuing to occur, if not actually speeding up. Sometimes sessions are rescheduled, but if a time cannot be coordinated within the same week as the original session, you are asked to consider it is an indication that the momentum can be maintained in sacred space.

Consider that as you consciously hold this concept of sacred space for your sessions, you are at the same time expanding and evolving the sacred space of your business and

attracting higher and higher levels of flow.

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The Planning Game

Fundamentally planning is about designing the steps between a current situation and a chosen future. Specific linear results are expected from each action taken. Have you ever noticed that specific, linear, expected results are rare? Consider that this is because as soon as an action is taken, external resistance or internal doubt may arise. Resistance or doubt will alter the action’s course and often deflect it from its original trajectory.

What to do?

- Clean up, to the best of your ability, any internal doubt that may stand in the way of your being aligned with your soul vision and your connection with divine source.

- Pay attention to feedback from divine source and then, to the best of your ability, plan your plan.

- Maintain action or change action based on correct perception of any external resistance.

A Few More Things……

- Be responsible for understanding the game you are playing.

- You are playing the game of business.

- The goal of the game of business is to have you be prosperous.

- Being prosperous, in the game of business, includes profit (even in a not-for-profit).

- In order to win (reach the goal), you must understand the rules.

- You can play the game with your own values, style, finesse, and integrity within the rules.

- Rules in business are mainly about how to keep score.

- Scoring can increase your ability to win the game.

One Last Thing……

Always remember that you are enough with or without the game.

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