Philosophy or Culture?

Let me start this rant with an anchoring worldview of mine:

I believe there is a set of eternal truths that have been uncovered through the generations and they are slowly revealed to the next generation, if that generation chooses to listen.

In reflecting on my time with our transformational client and partner in KC yesterday that is entering its 7^th decade in business and is trying to pass critical lessons and cultural standards to the next generation of leaders, I tried to make a point on the difference between great philosophy and a set of guiding principles that sustain a culture. 

Here is my 2.0 of this:

Cultural standards (principles) that are on paper but not lived, shared and in some way enforced is philosophy. It may be great philosophy, but it won’t proliferate into a culture.  

This is where I think some of Chet’s original BTL writing in our playbooks is so relevant. Leaders must step into it. Step into their worldview. Lean into living, sharing and in some way enforcing the philosophy they believe in with guiding principles and hard conversations with those below the bar. This is when BTL is at its absolute best. 

When a group of leaders are all striving for the same, this is when we can fight to unite. Over time, this becomes a culture that can proliferate and continuously improve for 60 years and counting. 

Loved being with everyone yesterday. Let’s keep fighting for what we believe in.