A Call for Truth
Last night I was with a group of good friends and it was neat to watch how people's honesty, openness and vulnerability really brought us all closer. It's partly because we really know each other when everyone is honest about who they truly are.
I think it's the same with companies. All too often terms like "branding" are seen as something that's separate from a business plan and how things are really run inside the organization. Unfortunately, that's basing identity on what you think others would like you to be. An organization's identity should be directly tied to who it truly is at the core.
That's one reason that TRUTH is one of our three core values.
3 Comments
"I think the problem you run into there (and I hope I'm not being overly cynical because I hate that) is that most companies have tons of dirty secrets that the public would certainly frown upon. That's why they make their employees sign a bunch of paperwork upon employment. Because once you view the core, it's usually a bunch of rich old white guys trying to get richer."
- Derek
"Sorry for the immediate follow-up, just wanted to clarify: I would like to be rich and old someday myself. I'm sure that's the ambition of many people out there. But when it comes to large organizations, the PR sells an entirely different story--and most surprisingly, people seem to buy into it. They want the myth. When the audience is mature enough to not view the ignoble pursuits as acceptable, then perhaps companies will be more forthcoming with the truth. And in allowing themselves to be vulnerable, like you and your friends, we'll all have a better time with ads."
- Derek
"Derek, you're right. Most companies are, at their core, simply trying to get richer. But that doesn't mean we have to accept it and just move on. I question why? I want to work with companies who at their core are good people trying to do good things in this world, not just chasing profits. Ironically enough, I also believe the ones who do that will be the companies that will merge to top of the market (and making more profits)."
- Blake