Once upon a time long, long ago in a land far, far away an explorer discovered an uncharted island.
The explorer circumnavigated the island scanning for opportunities and threats. After sailing completely around the newly discovered land, the explorer brought the ship into a safe harbor. Then rowed ashore with a few intrepid crew members.
They surveyed the interior of the island for days.
When they returned to the ship the explorer called an all hands meeting.
“ This island is so rich. The flora, the fauna, and the natural resources are beyond compare. There is no sign of human habitation—now or in the past.
“I have decided to stay here and found a kingdom. You are welcome to join me.
“The work will be hard and winter is coming. We don’t have many supplies laid up.
“If you stay, I will happily grant you founders' shares. But I can’t promise you an easy life or prosperity.
“If you would prefer to return to our homeland. To family and friends. To security. I completely understand. Go with my blessing.
"But if you go back you will not get any founders shares in the kingdom. Of course you are welcome to come back and join us at a later time. In fact, we will be glad to see you. We will involve you in our kingdom building. But you won’t be a founder."
What percentage of the crew would stay behind to found the kingdom? What percentage would return home?*
I told this fairytale to three successful managers in a top consulting firm this morning. They said that the percentage of founders would be 50%, 20%, and 5%. Quite a spread. And, revealing of how the three thought about the general appetite for entrepreneurship and risk.
There is no right or wrong answer. But it sets up an interesting discussion.
Would you stay?
Or, would you return home. With the possibility of coming back later when things were more established?
Why would you make the choice you did?
* Note: the entire crew has a demonstrated tolerance for risk or they wouldn't have traveled to uncharted places with the explorer.
**************
Try telling this fairytale to your team. See what discussions it surfaces.
By the way, there are a whole set of additional questions to ask. Here are a few you may want to use:
- What gender did you imagine the explorer and crew are?
- What nationality did you imagine? What language did you assume they speak?
- Did you assume that they are human and live on this planet? The opening lines are a nod to Star Wars. Maybe the explorer and crew are not on earth and they aren't human!
- Should the explorer and crew leave the island undeveloped? Should they burn the maps to the island and swear to tell no one about it? Why? Why not?
- What gives the explorer the right to claim the island as a personal kingdom? And to dole out founders's shares? What other forms of governance and ownership could be considered?
Etc. etc.
Let me know what you think about this story. It's the opening lines of a fairytale Angus Fletcher and I are crafting about innovation. We're hoping to publish a small novella based on the story in the late Spring of this year.
The explorer circumnavigated the island scanning for opportunities and threats. After sailing completely around the newly discovered land, the explorer brought the ship into a safe harbor. Then rowed ashore with a few intrepid crew members.
They surveyed the interior of the island for days.
When they returned to the ship the explorer called an all hands meeting.
“ This island is so rich. The flora, the fauna, and the natural resources are beyond compare. There is no sign of human habitation—now or in the past.
“I have decided to stay here and found a kingdom. You are welcome to join me.
“The work will be hard and winter is coming. We don’t have many supplies laid up.
“If you stay, I will happily grant you founders' shares. But I can’t promise you an easy life or prosperity.
“If you would prefer to return to our homeland. To family and friends. To security. I completely understand. Go with my blessing.
"But if you go back you will not get any founders shares in the kingdom. Of course you are welcome to come back and join us at a later time. In fact, we will be glad to see you. We will involve you in our kingdom building. But you won’t be a founder."
What percentage of the crew would stay behind to found the kingdom? What percentage would return home?*
I told this fairytale to three successful managers in a top consulting firm this morning. They said that the percentage of founders would be 50%, 20%, and 5%. Quite a spread. And, revealing of how the three thought about the general appetite for entrepreneurship and risk.
There is no right or wrong answer. But it sets up an interesting discussion.
Would you stay?
Or, would you return home. With the possibility of coming back later when things were more established?
Why would you make the choice you did?
* Note: the entire crew has a demonstrated tolerance for risk or they wouldn't have traveled to uncharted places with the explorer.
**************
Try telling this fairytale to your team. See what discussions it surfaces.
By the way, there are a whole set of additional questions to ask. Here are a few you may want to use:
- What gender did you imagine the explorer and crew are?
- What nationality did you imagine? What language did you assume they speak?
- Did you assume that they are human and live on this planet? The opening lines are a nod to Star Wars. Maybe the explorer and crew are not on earth and they aren't human!
- Should the explorer and crew leave the island undeveloped? Should they burn the maps to the island and swear to tell no one about it? Why? Why not?
- What gives the explorer the right to claim the island as a personal kingdom? And to dole out founders's shares? What other forms of governance and ownership could be considered?
Etc. etc.
Let me know what you think about this story. It's the opening lines of a fairytale Angus Fletcher and I are crafting about innovation. We're hoping to publish a small novella based on the story in the late Spring of this year.