WWGKD: What Would Guy Kawasaki Do?

I’ve brought marketing meetings to a screeching halt by actually saying that I thought all Mission Statements sounded lofty, generic and well, stupid. Eyes bulged and rolled. Grown men and women, who practically wear their MBA credentials in neon on their magnetized name badges, sputtered and choked. Then, ultimately, my comments were dismissed. I was a designer after all, what did I know.

Even Guy Kawasaki thinks Mission Statements are a bunch of gobbledly-goook. Since he is held in much higher esteem and is a lot more successful than any of the marketing people I knew, I figure myself pretty close to being a genius.

Who’s Guy Kawasaki? I’ll let him tell you himself in his brilliant keynote speech to TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) in 2006.

I learned more in this 40 minute speech  on Art of the Start and 10/20/30 Rule than all the business books I’ve read and seminars attended – combined.

Although I would love to hear what Guy thinks about starting and running a small business in this recession, I think this speech still holds up.

The next time you find yourself in a business vortex of confusion, just ask yourself, WWGKD; What would Guy Kawasaki do?

You just may find the answer.

Look who stopped by and read my post. Okay- so I DM’d him on Twitter. So what.

2 Responses to “WWGKD: What Would Guy Kawasaki Do?”

1. Regina says:

   October 2, 2009 at 4:03 pm

   Mission Statements say a lot in my opinion. My studies in quality said so too. W. Edwards Deming is a hero of mine. Sometimes it’s so easy to get all caught up in the sidetracking details that you need a place to call “center”. The “why am I here?” statement works for me. It’s a place of foundation that I wished for in the corporate world. I can have it now. I’m placing bit of money where my mouth is. You don’t want one? free country… (mine was not written anywhere near a Ritz Carlton!) I have to admit, the 3 word mantra sort of works too. ~Regina
2. Jennifer- CEB ~ Chief Executive Beauty says:

   October 4, 2009 at 7:23 pm

   Hi Regina,

   Thanks for taking the time to comment. I appreciate and value your input and opinions.

   Perhaps your Mission Statement truly defines your company’s vision and is your Mantra. From what you’ve written, it’s close to your heart and reflects your vision. That is admirable.

   If having a Mission Statement is also a core component to your company’s foundation, vision, growth and prosperity – then it is probably essential that you have one.

   Not having Mission Statement should not stop a person from moving forward with their business ideas. Nor does it mean they should run around clueless as to their company’s reason for being.

   I’ve spent hours in meetings that take really good statements and water them down into meaningless triteness. Those “in-charge” are so afraid of not including enough- they end up saying nothing.

   To have a Mission Statement or not is your own personal choice. However, I don’t think a company’s validity and credibility should be judged on whether they have one or not.

   There are a lot of large corporations whose Mission Statements would not fair well if the general public was asked to match them up correctly.

   If you have one and you live up to it in actions, products and deeds. Great.

   If you don’t have one and meet/surpass the same quality, integrity and credibility levels as those that do, should you be judged any differently?

   Too many companies try to wrap themselves up in imagined or aspirational ideals when, really, they need a Mantra that helps they to execute those ideals.

   Perhaps I was too glib in how I worded my opinion of Mission Statements. Color me jaded from the corporate marketing world.