19 Months of Waiting and This is the Progress?
In November of 2004 sabazius_x told me that USGL was working on Strategic Goals and gave me the name of the book they were using. Today USL announced the second minor part of that process, the values and vision statement. Yes, after waiting 19 months (instead of the couple the book recommends), USGL has just announced the second part of the statements (building on the long forgotten mission statement). However, after waiting all this time do we have great documents to build on now? I am afraid not. Last month, while reading the book again I posted on my thoughts regarding the Vision and Values statements here and here. Let’s see how the current ones stand up against what I was writing about?
Vision
In my post I pointed out that, “the vision statement gives people something to work towards; some thing concrete. An example would be Kennedy’s visionary statement kick starting the Apollo space project. To walk on the moon is a pretty tangible vision. We can know if we achieved this vision or not. Things that kill vision statements or make them meaningless (much like mission statements) are being too nebulous or ephemeral.”
Let’s see how the USGL Vision statement measures up, does it have something meaningful, something concrete? Let’s look at it line by line?
We envision OTO USA as a model religious and fraternal order of occult initiates, and a leading proponent of Thelemic thought and culture within the United States.
What the heck does this line of drivel mean? One could argue we have that now, although I would argue that most of the Order is populated by non-Thelemites. Nevertheless one could also point out that this line means nothing. It is a meaningless, ephemeral statement that has no concreteness. This is the exact kind of thing my post and every kind of business leadership book warns about; meaningless statements that lack substance.
We will maintain a physical presence near every major population center in the country, from which we will offer services in support of our mission to our members and to the public.
Physical presence? Okay, this is a little more meaningful, but notice how vague it is. Someone’s living room or garage would meet this criterion. Thus our vision is not very forward looking. All our bodies meet this now. Also what is a major population center? Does this mean that they are going to go recruiting people in large, under represented regions? Are they going to go to Charlotte, NC and start getting people to form a body? How about Memphis or Nashville? These are all major population centers according to the US Census. So what is USGL really saying here? The reality is they are saying nothing and offering no vision. They are not going to go after and create USGL sponsored bodies; they are just going to wait around for them to form organically. Plus their vision in this is met by all the bodies meeting in someone’s living room. How visionary is that?
We will uphold the highest standards of excellence and effectiveness in the practice and dissemination of our religious, spiritual, magical, and ethical teachings.
Highest standards? Based on what? Again the language looks like it has meaning, but it is foundationless because they have nothing to back it up. Again, they want to have something meaningful but being too concrete would lock them in; thus we get the most generalized and substanceless claptrap.
We will espouse and defend the principle of individual liberty while cultivating strong fraternal bonds within our ranks.
More of the same: generalized and substanceless claptrap. What is USGL’s definition if individual freedom? Notice they use words that we think we know the meaning of but can be defined in a myriad of ways. Once more, no concreteness.
We will foster harmonious and constructive relationships with the academic, business, civil, and greater social communities within which we operate.
Why do we care about this? Where is this in the Blue Equinox? Sectarian organizations, like ours was made to be, build structure in contrast to the establishment; Look at the Mormons. They are a perfect example. They reject normative society and thus create competing, parallel structure. That is what the BE is; a plan for the parallel structure. The fact that USGL completely misses this and includes a line like this, although it too is mostly meaningless with word like “harmonious” and “constructive,” should give us concern.
In my post, based on the book USGL is using to plan, I wrote that “clear and real details [must] be in the vision statement. If anyone can understand the statement, it has to use simple language. If it depicts a future state, it has to contain some kind of metric to determine success. If it is inspirational, it has to be something that can grab the attention of the Order and lead them to a point that is attainable. To do all these things, the vision statement must point to something real.” Does the USGL meet these ideas put forth in their planning book? Unfortunately, no.
Values
Is USGL doing better on its values statement? Let’s see. From the book USGL is using it lists out criteria:
a) Understandable by people internal and external to the organization
b) Depict the top priorities on how the nonprofit want to operate in order to meet the needs of the clients [i.e. the membership] and other stakeholders
c) Depict the top priorities in how the nonprofit wants to operate in order to address current challenges
d) Depict how the nonprofit wants to be viewed by staff and external stakeholders
e) Will be adhered to, as much as possible, by all members of the Board and staff
I also pulled “values” from the Blue Equinox in the various Libers. “In Liber CI we find mention of similar qualities, honor, tact, service, courtesy, respect, cooperation, fraternity, liberty, and independence. These are the qualities that should be contained within the USGL Value Statement. These are the principles we should be dedicated to achieving and maintaining.”
1. We support the liberty of the individual and the cultivation of self-respect, self-knowledge, self-discipline, and self-responsibility.
2. We affirm the bonds of fraternity and expect fidelity, frankness, cooperation, mutual aid, and good faith among our members.
3. We value hospitality in our community and promote peace, tolerance, truth, and respect to the Order within our temples and precincts.
4. We advocate the principles of Scientific Religion and Universal Brotherhood, and oppose tyranny, superstition, and oppression.
5. We accept and uphold the Law of Thelema as promulgated in the Book of the Law and the writings of the Prophet of the Aeon, Aleister Crowley.
Again some of these are nebulous but a values statement is less concrete. I think most of this is in accord with the BE. This is good, although they will need to follow this up with concrete strategic goals that build on these values and also instill them.
So how has USGL done? They get a B in the Values Statement and an F in the Vision. This should give us pause. Their vision statement unfortunately has no vision. It is so nebulous and lacks so little time line that it might as well include “discover a cure for cancer” and “establish world peace.” It has no basis to judge success or failure; it has no concrete standards to raise the status quo; it lacks anything meaningful to inspire. This, while USGL may have a semi-handle on the values, they lack any kind of vision. With no vision how can they create strategic goals?
The last question is, we had to wait 19 months for this? A values statement that could have been acquired in one day from the Blue Equinox; a meaningless, visionless vision statement? If USGL wants to be successful, they are going to have to do better than this.
Now how much longer do we wait for the strategic goals? Another 19 months? This is getting better?
Vision
In my post I pointed out that, “the vision statement gives people something to work towards; some thing concrete. An example would be Kennedy’s visionary statement kick starting the Apollo space project. To walk on the moon is a pretty tangible vision. We can know if we achieved this vision or not. Things that kill vision statements or make them meaningless (much like mission statements) are being too nebulous or ephemeral.”
Let’s see how the USGL Vision statement measures up, does it have something meaningful, something concrete? Let’s look at it line by line?
We envision OTO USA as a model religious and fraternal order of occult initiates, and a leading proponent of Thelemic thought and culture within the United States.
What the heck does this line of drivel mean? One could argue we have that now, although I would argue that most of the Order is populated by non-Thelemites. Nevertheless one could also point out that this line means nothing. It is a meaningless, ephemeral statement that has no concreteness. This is the exact kind of thing my post and every kind of business leadership book warns about; meaningless statements that lack substance.
We will maintain a physical presence near every major population center in the country, from which we will offer services in support of our mission to our members and to the public.
Physical presence? Okay, this is a little more meaningful, but notice how vague it is. Someone’s living room or garage would meet this criterion. Thus our vision is not very forward looking. All our bodies meet this now. Also what is a major population center? Does this mean that they are going to go recruiting people in large, under represented regions? Are they going to go to Charlotte, NC and start getting people to form a body? How about Memphis or Nashville? These are all major population centers according to the US Census. So what is USGL really saying here? The reality is they are saying nothing and offering no vision. They are not going to go after and create USGL sponsored bodies; they are just going to wait around for them to form organically. Plus their vision in this is met by all the bodies meeting in someone’s living room. How visionary is that?
We will uphold the highest standards of excellence and effectiveness in the practice and dissemination of our religious, spiritual, magical, and ethical teachings.
Highest standards? Based on what? Again the language looks like it has meaning, but it is foundationless because they have nothing to back it up. Again, they want to have something meaningful but being too concrete would lock them in; thus we get the most generalized and substanceless claptrap.
We will espouse and defend the principle of individual liberty while cultivating strong fraternal bonds within our ranks.
More of the same: generalized and substanceless claptrap. What is USGL’s definition if individual freedom? Notice they use words that we think we know the meaning of but can be defined in a myriad of ways. Once more, no concreteness.
We will foster harmonious and constructive relationships with the academic, business, civil, and greater social communities within which we operate.
Why do we care about this? Where is this in the Blue Equinox? Sectarian organizations, like ours was made to be, build structure in contrast to the establishment; Look at the Mormons. They are a perfect example. They reject normative society and thus create competing, parallel structure. That is what the BE is; a plan for the parallel structure. The fact that USGL completely misses this and includes a line like this, although it too is mostly meaningless with word like “harmonious” and “constructive,” should give us concern.
In my post, based on the book USGL is using to plan, I wrote that “clear and real details [must] be in the vision statement. If anyone can understand the statement, it has to use simple language. If it depicts a future state, it has to contain some kind of metric to determine success. If it is inspirational, it has to be something that can grab the attention of the Order and lead them to a point that is attainable. To do all these things, the vision statement must point to something real.” Does the USGL meet these ideas put forth in their planning book? Unfortunately, no.
Values
Is USGL doing better on its values statement? Let’s see. From the book USGL is using it lists out criteria:
a) Understandable by people internal and external to the organization
b) Depict the top priorities on how the nonprofit want to operate in order to meet the needs of the clients [i.e. the membership] and other stakeholders
c) Depict the top priorities in how the nonprofit wants to operate in order to address current challenges
d) Depict how the nonprofit wants to be viewed by staff and external stakeholders
e) Will be adhered to, as much as possible, by all members of the Board and staff
I also pulled “values” from the Blue Equinox in the various Libers. “In Liber CI we find mention of similar qualities, honor, tact, service, courtesy, respect, cooperation, fraternity, liberty, and independence. These are the qualities that should be contained within the USGL Value Statement. These are the principles we should be dedicated to achieving and maintaining.”
1. We support the liberty of the individual and the cultivation of self-respect, self-knowledge, self-discipline, and self-responsibility.
2. We affirm the bonds of fraternity and expect fidelity, frankness, cooperation, mutual aid, and good faith among our members.
3. We value hospitality in our community and promote peace, tolerance, truth, and respect to the Order within our temples and precincts.
4. We advocate the principles of Scientific Religion and Universal Brotherhood, and oppose tyranny, superstition, and oppression.
5. We accept and uphold the Law of Thelema as promulgated in the Book of the Law and the writings of the Prophet of the Aeon, Aleister Crowley.
Again some of these are nebulous but a values statement is less concrete. I think most of this is in accord with the BE. This is good, although they will need to follow this up with concrete strategic goals that build on these values and also instill them.
So how has USGL done? They get a B in the Values Statement and an F in the Vision. This should give us pause. Their vision statement unfortunately has no vision. It is so nebulous and lacks so little time line that it might as well include “discover a cure for cancer” and “establish world peace.” It has no basis to judge success or failure; it has no concrete standards to raise the status quo; it lacks anything meaningful to inspire. This, while USGL may have a semi-handle on the values, they lack any kind of vision. With no vision how can they create strategic goals?
The last question is, we had to wait 19 months for this? A values statement that could have been acquired in one day from the Blue Equinox; a meaningless, visionless vision statement? If USGL wants to be successful, they are going to have to do better than this.
Now how much longer do we wait for the strategic goals? Another 19 months? This is getting better?