The Wabi-sabi of business
ID Strategy Conference
May 18, 2006
Kairos, Inc.presented by Natalia Davis and Russell Redenbaugh
Copyright © 2006 Kairos, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide
Wabi-sabi viewWabi-sabi view
Copyright © 2006 Kairos, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide
The Wabi-sabi view:
• Wabi-sabi is the Japanese aesthetic associated with the tea ceremony. Wabi-sabi exemplifies universal spiritual-philosophical tenets. We are using the Wabi-sabi view to show that value is universal.
Copyright © 2006 Kairos, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide
Core BeliefCore Belief
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• Things are either evolving from or devolving back into the nothingness (or) businesses are either increasing or diminishing in value.
Copyright © 2006 Kairos, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide
Spiritual ValuesSpiritual Values
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Spiritual Values:
• Truth comes from the observation of nature (or) truth comes from the observation of people.
• Greatness exists in the inconspicuous details (or) value exists in the anomalies.
• Beauty can be coaxed out of ugliness (or) abundance and opportunity can arise from scarcity.
Copyright © 2006 Kairos, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide
State of MindState of Mind
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State of Mind:
• Acceptance of the inevitable (or) acceptance of the inevitable cycle of change.
• Appreciation of the cosmic order (or) appreciation and respect for the “Holy Trinity” of business.
Copyright © 2006 Kairos, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide
PreceptsPrecepts
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• Get rid of all that is unnecessary (or) eliminate waste.
• Focus on the intrinsic and ignore hierarchy (or) focus on the “just one thing” or core value.
Copyright © 2006 Kairos, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide
Holy TrinityHoly Trinity
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Holy Trinity:
Shareholders
Customers Employees
Copyright © 2006 Kairos, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide
• Respect the cosmic order of the “Holy Trinity” of business: Shareholders, Customers, and Employees.
• Always create value for these three different groups of people.
Copyright © 2006 Kairos, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide
ValueValue
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Value:
• Value lives in the overlap of stories and actions.
• Value is either evolving or devolving.
• Follow the footprints of change to see whether value is evolving or devolving.
Copyright © 2006 Kairos, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide
Copyright © 2006 Kairos, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide
Copyright © 2006 Kairos, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide
TimeTime
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“There is a verse [in the Koran] that says God swears by time. Anything you gain in life, you pay for with your time. Time is the most important thing that has been given to man.”
Time:
- Shirin Ebadi, Iranian human-rights activist who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003.
Copyright © 2006 Kairos, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide
Copyright © 2006 Kairos, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide
“Time is the scarcest of all resources. Time is the only non-renewable resource.”
Time:
- George Gilder, Author and Technology Expert
Copyright © 2006 Kairos, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide
Copyright © 2006 Kairos, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide
• Time, not money, is the universal currency.
• We are always trying to get a return on our investment of time.
• The greatest value is the greatest return on one’s investment of time.
Time:
Copyright © 2006 Kairos, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide
Metrics of TimeMetrics of Time
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Metrics of Time:
• Time to transact
• Time to find
• Time to understand
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The Path to ValueThe Path to Value
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We Study:
• Study people.• Design for the “Holy Trinity” of
business.• Design for return on investment of
time.• Find metrics and measure.
Copyright © 2006 Kairos, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide
Thank YouThank You
Copyright © 2006 Kairos, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide
Credits• MetaDesign. Special thanks to Bill Hill.• References to Wabi-sabi from:
– “Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets and Philosophers” by Leonard Koren, Stone Bridge Press, 1994
• Photo Credits:– “Wabi-sabi View”: Image Source/Image Source/Getty Images– “Core Belief”: Dez Pain/Stock.Xchng– “Spiritual Values”: Max Bogaert/Stock.Xchng– “State of Mind”: Michelle Miralles/Stock.Xchng– “Precepts”: John Knill/Digital Vision/Getty Images– “Holy Trinity”: Natalia Davis– “Value”: Grant V Faint/Photodisc Red/Getty Images– Joined circles in the sand #1 & #2: Natalia Davis– “Time”: Dan Price/Stock.Xchng– Japanese temple well and Japanese wish pond: Lars Jensen/Stock.Xchng– “Metrics of Time”: EMiN OZKAN/Stock.Xchng– “The Path to Value”: Eric Audras/Photo Alto/Getty Images– “Thank You”: dlee/Stock.Xchng