Core Values

2018-06-25 · Source: Chander Ramesh - Writing · Field: Business & Management — Corporate Strategy & Leadership, Human Resources & Workforce Development, Entrepreneurship & Start-ups · Depth: Intermediate, extended

Summary

Motion, a company whose average age in the S&P 500 is 21 years, published its re-done core values in February 2025, based on a November 2024 speech to employees. This initiative addresses concerns about cultural impact due to rapid hiring. The company emphasizes that institutions decay due to internal failings rather than external competition, citing examples like eBay and Kodak. Motion's core values aim to attract like-minded individuals and guide rapid decision-making, distinguishing themselves from generic virtues. The values, which include "Work Extraordinarily Hard," "Communicate Straightforwardly," "Disagree and Commit," "Never Be Satisfied," "Mind the Details," "Act with Urgency," "Don't Loot the Company Vault," and "Be Bold," are rooted in the founders' personalities and industry demands. These principles are designed to foster an ownership mindset and drive the company towards becoming a "generational company" by embracing high standards and calculated risks.

Key takeaway

For executives and founders building a rapidly scaling company, your core values are not mere platitudes but critical operational edicts. You should define values that are specific, align with your leadership's temperament, and reflect your industry's demands. This approach fosters an ownership culture, encourages bold decision-making, and ensures long-term resilience against internal decay, ultimately driving sustained growth and competitive advantage.

Key insights

Companies decay from within; strong, specific core values are crucial for long-term survival and growth.

Principles

• Culture is omnipresent and dictates organizational success or failure.
• Core values must align with founders' personalities and industry nature.
• High agency and ownership mindset drive extraordinary results.

Method

Define core values that capture how most successful people in the company behave, are unique to the company, and align with founder temperament and industry demands, rather than generic virtues.

In practice

• Prioritize straightforward communication, even if it means public disagreement.
• Embrace calculated risks and view failures as a feature, not a bug.
• Treat company spending as personal funds to foster frugality.

Topics

• Company Culture
• Core Values Definition
• Organizational Longevity
• Leadership Principles
• High Agency Mindset

Best for: Entrepreneur, Executive, HR Professional

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Chander Ramesh - Writing.