I was browsing through a science magazine the other day and came across an article on astronomy. It talked about binary stars. While reading it, it dawned on me that entrepreneurial companies are a lot like stars and their solar systems.
Some function like our own solar system, with a bright light at the center( the vision of the owner) holding satellites in orbit by force of its gravity (charisma and fortitude.) Some of the planets seem to shine, but theirs is actually reflected light; they do not produce it on their own. Such solar systems tend to function okay and last a long time. Everything is in its place. They are stable. A lot of businesses function the same way, as long as the founder stays actively involved at the center of things.
Some companies are more like black holes. The gravitational pull (ego) of the owner is so strong and intense that no light ever emerges. They suck energy from all of the space around them.
Others, perhaps 10 to 25% of all stars, are called binary stars. these are the ones that excite me. In a binary system, two stars mutually orbit each other, interacting with each other’s gravitational field, sometimes exchanging mass between themselves. They evolve to stages that single stars cannot attain. Think what this means for organizations. Imagine a company where the needs of the owner(s) and the needs of the employees revolve mutually around each other.
Those companies—those 10% to 25% of all companies—that create a setting where people—their dreams, ambitions, talents, and strengths—can be put to best use in pursuit of the mission and goals of the company and its founder—are those that evolve to stages that ordinary companies cannot attain.
We work with those kinds of companies. Those which orbit around the shared center of mass of their people and the organization. We help grow the people and they grow the organization. That is one of the meanings of our logo, with its interlocking circles.
