When a company's values conflict with an issue, leaders should speak up, even if it sparks anger. Enron showed what happens when proclaimed values don't match actions. The key is intent: don't deliberately offend, but don't avoid all controversy either, because standing for something meaningful means some people will be upset.
From Randall, how do you make a statement that causes people to think without getting them angry with your position?
I think you have to start, and even if I was, actually, when I started a Californian startup, we spent time right from the get-go thinking about, you know, how do we delight customers, how do we come out with something innovative and unique, but also what are the values we want to live by in the company? And the key message today actually, Evan, is that the soft stuff is hardcore. It's the hard stuff. You know, it's easy to talk about values. It's all about easy to talk about integrity. Another crazy example, Enron, 2000s. Their values was communication, respect, integrity, excellence. Wow. It's about makeup. So I think the thing is, then when you take a stand, back to your question, it's got to be congruent and consistent with your values. So, you know, if we got so many great customers doing ethical products, we got customers doing really good health through Gemma Price, um, superfood market, just creates clean, delicious food with no chemicals, and that's kind of core to the values of the product that she's created. So when you see issues out there that you think, wow, that breaks my heart, it's inconsistent, and it just is a breach of my values and deviates us from our moral compass, then you've got to put your hand up and call them out. And it's the final thing I'd say, Evan, is I would encourage everybody, and you're like this, that's why I love you, remember day minus 1 when you started your business, when you're sitting there putting your business plan together. Remember the anger, the passion, the dreams that you have, the thing how you wanted to change the world for your product or your service and how you knew you could be better than anyone else. And you've got to remember those and rekindle those dreams because that will keep you strong.
I love the passion, man. I love like you pound the table and the camera shakes because you got a laptop. It's great. I love it. For me, for this one, I think intent trumps everything. I don't think you should go out and purposely try to offend people with your statement and your vision and what you're trying to do. But I also don't think you should try to avoid making people angry. I feel like no matter what you do, somebody's going to get angry. Somebody's going to get upset. And if nobody's upset with what you're doing, then you're playing life so safe that you're not standing for anything important. I'm sure by Stephen not going to Davos, there are some people who are angry about that. But it wasn't his intent to just make those guys upset. He's trying to do something positive. And so I think the intent trumps, and not to worry so much about the people who are hating on you and saying that, you know, this is a bad message. Um, so I don't worry about angering people because I know that the intent is always positive.
