Core Values
I’m taking part in Dream Year for 2010. Dream Year is a collection of individuals (led by the one and only Ben Arment) who want to make big things happen. So far, it’s been awesome. Whether you’re aware of it or not, you’re seeing (or will see) a lot of what Ben has been coaching us to do at work on this site.
As a part of Dream Year, we get weekly emails from Ben that end in an action step. This week’s action step: Defining your core values. Ben writes:
What are your core values? What makes up your dream’s “style guide”? And no corporate babble language! =) Real words, real meaning, real heart.
I thought I’d define the core values for Deviant Media Group, BeDeviant.com’s “umbrella” corporation.
- Constant Engagement. This site is nothing without you, the reader. As a result, I want to make sure the comments, emails and tweets about what happens here never go unnoticed. If you take the time to interact here’ you deserve a response.
- Open. Deviant will always be a place where people of differing opinions can converge. Those who can’t embrace this don’t last very long here. They either get so mad they never come back, or they silently lurk in the background with the words, “This guy’s an idiot
- Branding. 100% Magenta, 90% Black, and 5% Black. Those are the colors we use here on the site and throughout the Deviant brand. We will always use a big, giant heart as the, well, heart of our design. It will be clean, classy and easy on the eyes.
Those are the first three that jump to the top of my mind. I want to be consistent with these as much as possible.
- Chic-Fil-A has the “my pleasure!” after a “thank you.”
- Steve Jobs has the mock turtleneck when he presents.
- Chino Latino in the Twin Cities has the hot towels after you’re done eating.
- Deviant has a pink heart. It’s like clockwork.
I have to be honest and say that I had never really given these a thorough think-through until Ben challenged us. But I’m glad he did. Being more intentional, in any small way, can never be a bad thing.
Do you have any core values for your life? Business? Blog? Church? If so, care to share?
I have begun to think about this with my writing, both on the blog and for traditional publication.
Mine would be:
Accessibility – while writing to a niche crowd, not doing so out of exclusivity or arrogance, always open to pushback and constructive disagreement.
Challenging – helping people understand that there is always more to learn, leading by example to communicate change
Provoking – an effective challenge is only realized through action. Successful work will cause movement, and this drives my work.
I will be incorporating a minimalist look to my work, creating a recognizable brand. That's in the works as we speak!
Great post, glad I wrote these out. Helps to see it…outside of my head…
Sounds like these were waiting to pop out! Isn’t it amazing what happens when we get things on paper?
I have begun to think about this with my writing, both on the blog and for traditional publication.
Mine would be:
Accessibility – while writing to a niche crowd, not doing so out of exclusivity or arrogance, always open to pushback and constructive disagreement.
Challenging – helping people understand that there is always more to learn, leading by example to communicate change
Provoking – an effective challenge is only realized through action. Successful work will cause movement, and this drives my work.
I will be incorporating a minimalist look to my work, creating a recognizable brand. That's in the works as we speak!
Great post, glad I wrote these out. Helps to see it…outside of my head…