I’ve been working my way through Peloton’s “Year of Yes” collaboration with Shonda Rhimes and find myself inspired and activated by it in ways that I honestly didn’t expect to be. In one session, themed “Your CEO Mission Statement,” we were challenged to come up with ours. I despaired when I didn’t have one (the need to come up with an immediate right answer is a long-time trait of mine) but I kept chewing on it until it came to me: power with/and/through purpose (slashes intentional because each can be taken alone or together). There is something electric about revelations like these – when it just feels so right.
Carnot, perhaps obviously, is conceived of this general mission statement; its own – Amplify Opportunity – is a specific iteration and goal for the organization. Coming off of a catastrophic 2020 into a 2021 that is already showing acute signs of out-doing its predecessor in horrors, our mission and vision are more clear and our work more urgent. That said, the ocean cannot be boiled – or at least, we’re not ready to be the ones who try. So this year is all about consistent and deliberate actions, however small they may be.
Consistent and deliberate action in 2021 looks like this:
• Weekly #Crusadurday posts with recommended targeted actions to build up a following of participants.
• Twice-monthly posts here to establish the Carnot brand and voice and create a body of work upon which our real-world actions will be based.
• Sponsor 4-6 events this year with Friends of Carnot, which could include a book club, fundraising activities, letter-writing, and match-campaigns. (If you have ideas, please send them to cory at carnotfund dot org!)
• Evaluate at least 10 prospective angel investments for the Carnot portfolio.
Power with purpose. Power and purpose. Power through purpose.
Let’s get to work.