Rule Number 8
(a brief-ish Lectionary reflection by Steve Orr)
I don't know how much attention you pay to the internal workings of today's companies. It is one of the things that seems to have been a significant part of my life for several decades. I am fascinated by how they work, how they function and dysfunction, how they succeed, and how they fail. I am particularly drawn to the company philosophies, both formal and informal; as well as those that live out an unacknowledged philosophy. All companies have them, it's just that some companies don't know they have them. This fascination is one of the reasons I loved reading "Good To Great" by Jim Collins and crew.
Lately, I've been looking at companies referenced in a book entitled "The Definitive Drucker" (about Peter Drucker, "the father of modern management"); an absolute goldmine of information put together by Elizabeth Haas Edersheim (who was granted unprecedented access to Mr. Drucker the last 16 months of his life, and then produced this book from their discussions). Throughout the book, examples are presented from real companies.
And that's how I got to Google.
Google's philosophy has been encapsulated into 10 golden rules for operating their business. You would not be surprised, I think, to learn Google encourages creativity or that they operate with considerable consensus-building, or even that almost every decision is driven by quantitative analysis. These are but three of the key operating philosophies that guide the internet behemoth. And when you think about it, they sound like what you would expect from Google. However, you might be surprised to learn Rule Number 8.
Don't be evil.
The concept was first suggested at Google by employees Amit Patel and Paul Buchheit (the creator of Gmail). Buchheit said he "wanted something that, once you put it in there, would be hard to take out." It went on to appear in Google's 2004 IPO prospectus in a letter from Google's founders (it became known as the "Don't Be Evil" manifesto). The letter stated: "Don't be evil. We believe strongly that in the long term, we will be better served --- as shareholders and in all other ways --- by a company that does good things for the world even if we forgo some short term gains."
It should be no surprise to find that Google CEO Eric Schmidt (now Executive Chairman) included it in his "10 Golden Rules for Knowledge Workers" as Rule Number 8. Schmidt said, "Much has been written about Google's slogan, but we really try to live by it, particularly in the ranks of management."
I've been told that Kurt Kaiser once said, "You can live your entire life by a wonderful lyric" (Kurt, did you say that?). I really LIKE that, and I can see how it can be true. For me, that lyric might be "I will stand by you" from the song by The Pretenders. But I can see how a motto could work the same way. Frankly, I think "Don't Be Evil" is hard to beat as a motto. For me, it ranks right up there with the Hippocratic Oath and Sun Tzu's "The best battle is the battle won without being fought."
For all of that, it is not a new idea. Yes, it is surprising (and quite nice) to see a corporation put it out there for everyone to see (and to judge them by). But the concept has been around a very long time. For example, I am pretty sure David was aware of it.
You know, we're all weak in one way or another; many ways, really. The Bible clearly states that we all fall short (<-- "sin" means "to miss the target"). King David apparently had some weakness when it came to beautiful women; thus, his seduction of Bathsheba and his accumulation of wives.
But there's weakness and then there's evil. David crossed over when he sent Bathsheba's husband back to the front lines carrying his own death sentence.
Don't be evil.
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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt
Proper 12 (17) (July 29, 2012)
2 Samuel 11:1-15
Psalm 14
2 Kings 4:42-44
Psalm 145:10-18
Ephesians 3:14-21
John 6:1-21
Join us if you can on Friday morning. As is our practice, we will be at Cafe Cappuccino (downtown Waco, on 6th near the Courthouse) at 8:00 to discuss this week's scripture passages and to scarf down some great food.
The pancakes are not evil; however, they are really, really big! ;-)
Enjoy the week!
Steve
