Hippie CEO Life #52 - Winning the Right Things
A behind the scenes view of building a more humanistic company.
April 7, 2023
“Do not consider anything for your interest which makes you break your word, quit your modesty or inclines you to any practice which will not bear the light or look the world in the face.” ~Marcus Aurelius
In the world of business, success isn't about winning everything; it's about winning the right things.
i have the amazing opportunity, and privilege, to speak with many incredible individuals every week. We talk about their careers, their aspirations, their frustrations, their hopes and dreams. The biggest piece of advice i give them is, as you embark on a new venture or you begin working on improving your existing one, it's crucial to define the core principles that will guide your business decisions and growth.
When we founded 33 Sticks, before we had a website, before we had any customers, before we even had a name for the business, we sat down and established a set of non-negotiable principles that we would use to guide our decisions. Having these principles firmly agreed upon has helped us achieve success, especially during challenging times when it feels really easy to reject your principles in order to “just get a few dollars in the door.”
We believe that staying true to these values has enabled us not to win everything but to win the right things, and we'd like to share them with you:
Focus on value, not just time: At 33 Sticks, we don't sell our time, but instead, we offer services based on the value we deliver to our clients.
Embrace remote work: We're committed to being a fully remote company, and we prioritize clients who align with this work model.
Seek strategic partnerships: We only engage with clients looking for a strategic analytics partner rather than those who want to outsource tasks to a contractor.
Prioritize cultural alignment: We're willing to walk away from any sales deal or any existing client, regardless of its size, if the company's culture clashes with ours.
Protect our reputation: We refuse to compromise our integrity for financial gain, whether it's accepting kickbacks from vendors or paying to be featured on “prestigious” lists. Our goal is always to do what's best for our employees and our clients.
It doesn’t matter where you are on your journey, it’s never too late to establish your own guiding principles, principles you will never question, even in the hardest of times, that will help you focus on what truly matters.
If you haven’t done so, there is no better day to start than today!
✌🏼💛