In case you missed it, this is a pretty clear telling of how the Internet as we know it came about.
It’s interesting to think of the ramifications of the work we do. None of the people that worked on the beginning pieces had any idea what their work would become.
That should inspire all of us to work with:
humility to know when we are wrong, hear the critique, and make change
imagination so we can even begin to conceive of vision and unintended (or intended) consequences
love so that we can seek the betterment of society through what we do
Mike will often talk about the concept of “ordering your loves.” Let me explain how I understand the idea:
Imagine you have these 3 ideas, goals, or let’s call them “loves”: vacation, money, and time at home. Let’s first note that none of those things are intrinsically bad (or good).
If you love vacation more than than you love time at home, that will directly affect how you plan your year. Just because you love vacation more than time at home doesn’t mean you’ll never be home. Rather, one priority informs the other, and in this case, you’ll be heading to the beach!
Now, let’s say you love money more than vacation. All of a sudden, there is a different and higher priority that informs your decision making. Now, though you love vacation more than time at home, you may actually be more inclined to stay at home so that you can save money. It’s a worthy sacrifice because you’re responding to a greater love.
Here’s the twist: let’s say you love your family more than you love money. Now what do you do? Which is more critical to the success of that even-greater love: vacation or staying at home (or saving money)? Moreover, what is a greater love than even your family? Your career? God? The environment?
There isn’t an answer. But there is a guiding principle: How you order your loves will directly affect the decisions you make.
What does your organization love? What are the order of those loves? What hills do you die on – and in what order?
Do your customers care about knowing those things? Absolutely.
