Bricklayers or Cathedral Builders

Tim Connors

Tim Connors

Author

Co-Founder & Founding Investor

role

November 1, 2022

Published

I really love what KPMG did here with resetting their culture around purpose.  

https://hbr.org/2015/10/how-an-accounting-firm-convinced-its-employees-they-could-change-the-world?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=hbr&utm_source=facebook&tpcc=orgsocial_edit&fbclid=IwAR1NKjlZCCfeoq3j3PWgm8SfUa5f2IDX7Gt--XeEMJyA8JGNoArN4gwWFC0

It fits what I've found so critical in the success of startups.  It starts with the founder, which sets the culture.  

  • Is the founder a "bricklayer or cathedral builder"?
  • Does the founder surround themselves with fellow cathedral builders?

Cathedral builders have no choice but to have the project succeed.  Bricklayers can always quit and go do another project.  If the founder has a good preseed coach, the number one reason why startups fail is because the founder quits.   Cathedral builders don't quit.

It is why I'm so enjoying coaching founders of startups with a strong mission.   The big struggles of families and planet result in big markets to serve, and mission startups tend to be started by founders with purpose who attract teams who are mission driven.  Cathedral builders not bricklayers...

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