So Goes You…So Goes the Company
I was sitting at a coffee shop with a dear mentor many years ago confessing how tired I was feeling while on a long succession journey…
The mentor waited for me to stop talking.
He simply said:
“So goes you… so goes the company.”
Fast forward five years. This message and teaching is STILL so very relevant for me. (I believe for you too.)
Playing a long-term game, building for centuries means optimizing for all aspects of life.
I’ve stumbled upon a fantastic paradigm for us as leaders: One-Ladder Framework. It’s attributed to Peter Kaufmann (dear friend of Charlie Munger & author of Poor Charlie’s Almanack):
Here are the rungs of the One Ladder Framework as defined by him with my reflection in italics:
Health: “If you have health you have hope. If you have hope you have everything.”
Physical and mental well-being are the foundation of productivity and happiness. Without health, progress in other areas becomes difficult or unsustainable.
Family: “May you be missed for what was… not what could have been…”
Relationships with loved ones provide emotional support, purpose, and grounding. Prioritizing family ensures strong personal connections.
Career: “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” - Picasso
Professional fulfillment allows for financial stability and intellectual engagement. Choosing a career that aligns with personal strengths and passions is crucial.
Friends: “Life is meant to be shared.”
Social connections foster belonging and provide opportunities for collaboration and joy outside of work or family obligations.
Spirituality: “You can curse the darkness or light a candle.” Chistopher Mosley
Whether through religion, meditation, or philosophical reflection, spirituality offers a sense of purpose and inner peace.
Community: “The best way to find yourself is in the service of others.” - Ghandi
Engaging with and contributing to your community strengthens societal bonds and allows for a sense of shared purpose.
Hobbies: –Even Winston Churchill had hobbies (painting & brick laying) so he could carry the weight of the world when the world needed him most.
Pursuing interests and passions outside of work and obligations enriches life, providing relaxation and creativity.
This One Ladder framework ties directly to the concept of long term thinking, building for centuries.
I have a long way to go in my journey of optimizing each rung of the ladder.
The last thing I want is to be is cash rich and joy poor. The mainstream seeks to suck us into maximizing career and reconciling the other rungs at some point in the future.
As leaders, we have a responsibility to think deeply on how to optimize all rungs of the ladder so we can show up as our best selves.
We’re playing a long term game with long term people.
Building for centuries. Building for those who come next.
“So goes you… so goes the company!”
Onward,
Matt