Fresh out of Suzanne Ross’s Communication Class – juiced with the skills to precisely define my company – I went home to write.

At a certain point, I thought – “This is tough! Let’s get to know Suzanne better and see what she says about HERSELF.” So I hopped over to her website.

Check point one – now I know HER better.

Let’s go over to Phil Gerbyshak‘s site and get to know HIM better.

Check point 2 – I know him better.

This led to a google search: How-to know myself.

This led to personality tests, Meyers Briggs, e-harmony (need I go on?)

So I rephrased the search:  “who am I?”  – This led to meditation, religion, psychotherapy and coaching.

I did what any self-respecting search-for-the-inner truth person would do and returned to my own website, with my original thoughts,  so it would tell me who I am.  This of course was the jumping off point I began with and where my opportunity was to improve it in the first place.

I began thinking about how many people I’ve met who’ve literally handed me their cards and said, “Don’t go to my website it basically sucks.” (I’m paraphrasing here) I’ve met marketers without websites, social media experts without followers, graphic artists without online portfolios, experiential companies without an experience and an innovation company who hasn’t used the word “innovation” in their copy.  If ever a pattern can be identified, it’s this one.

So I went to my heroes and typed in Zappos mission statement.

They told me they don’t have one.

They define themselves by what they care about, by their values, their personality and company culture.  In their non-mission statement they include, “deliver WoW through service” “create fun and a little weirdness”  so I thought I’d share their entire list of how THEY GOT TO KNOW THEMSELVES and what guides their company.

http://about.zappos.com/our-unique-culture/zappos-core-values

Enjoy!

And let us know what guides your company!