14
appendix
Supporting notes, citations, and references that ground the writing and ideas throughout the site.
1
"For those who had a clear sense of WHY before they achieved success, the process of rediscovering their WHY is not an act of invention—it is an act of archaeology. It is an act of uncovering the original foundation that was there all along. It is not an attempt to construct something that was never there or to reinvent something to suit a new purpose. — Simon Sinek, Start With Why, Chapter 7: "How a Tipping Point Tips
2
Specific vision of a future state that does not yet exist; a future state so appealing that people are willing to make sacrifices in order to help advance toward that vision. A Just Cause must be:
FOR SOMETHING. Affirmative and optimistic. It is a statement of what the organization is working to build, advance, or bring about—not what it is fighting against.
INCLUSIVE. Open to all those who would like to contribute. It must be a vision that people can choose for themselves to contribute to.
SERVICE ORIENTED. For the primary benefit of others. It must contribute, aid, or add value to people other than the ones doing the work.
RESILIENT. Able to endure political, technological, and cultural changes. The means to advance the cause will change, but the cause itself must remain relevant.
IDEALISTIC. Big, bold, and ultimately unachievable. It must always be something we are striving to make progress toward, not a finite goal we can reach and be done with.
- Simon Sinek's The Infinite Game, Chapter 2: "Just Cause."
3
The Dash
by Linda Ellis
I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
from the beginning…to the end.
He noted that first came the date of birth
and spoke the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time
that they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own,
the cars…the house…the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.
So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
to consider what’s true and real
and always try to understand
?the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect
and more often wear a smile,
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.
?So, when your eulogy is being read,
with your life’s actions to rehash…
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent YOUR dash?
Appendix documents the supporting notes, citations, references, and source material that ground the brand in clarity and intention. It includes foundational thinking such as Simon Sinek’s Just Cause framework from The Infinite Game and Start With Why, and the poem “The Dash” by Linda Ellis, which informs the meaning behind el dash and the philosophy of how we show up. This section exists to provide context, attribution, and deeper rationale for the principles expressed throughout the system.
14
appendix
Supporting notes, citations, and references that ground the writing and ideas throughout the site.
1
"For those who had a clear sense of WHY before they achieved success, the process of rediscovering their WHY is not an act of invention—it is an act of archaeology. It is an act of uncovering the original foundation that was there all along. It is not an attempt to construct something that was never there or to reinvent something to suit a new purpose. — Simon Sinek, Start With Why, Chapter 7: "How a Tipping Point Tips
2
Specific vision of a future state that does not yet exist; a future state so appealing that people are willing to make sacrifices in order to help advance toward that vision. A Just Cause must be:
FOR SOMETHING. Affirmative and optimistic. It is a statement of what the organization is working to build, advance, or bring about—not what it is fighting against.
INCLUSIVE. Open to all those who would like to contribute. It must be a vision that people can choose for themselves to contribute to.
SERVICE ORIENTED. For the primary benefit of others. It must contribute, aid, or add value to people other than the ones doing the work.
RESILIENT. Able to endure political, technological, and cultural changes. The means to advance the cause will change, but the cause itself must remain relevant.
IDEALISTIC. Big, bold, and ultimately unachievable. It must always be something we are striving to make progress toward, not a finite goal we can reach and be done with.
- Simon Sinek's The Infinite Game, Chapter 2: "Just Cause."
3
The Dash
by Linda Ellis
I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
from the beginning…to the end.
He noted that first came the date of birth
and spoke the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time
that they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own,
the cars…the house…the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.
So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
to consider what’s true and real
and always try to understand
?the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect
and more often wear a smile,
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.
?So, when your eulogy is being read,
with your life’s actions to rehash…
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent YOUR dash?
Appendix documents the supporting notes, citations, references, and source material that ground the brand in clarity and intention. It includes foundational thinking such as Simon Sinek’s Just Cause framework from The Infinite Game and Start With Why, and the poem “The Dash” by Linda Ellis, which informs the meaning behind el dash and the philosophy of how we show up. This section exists to provide context, attribution, and deeper rationale for the principles expressed throughout the system.
14
appendix
Supporting notes, citations, and references that ground the writing and ideas throughout the site.
1
"For those who had a clear sense of WHY before they achieved success, the process of rediscovering their WHY is not an act of invention—it is an act of archaeology. It is an act of uncovering the original foundation that was there all along. It is not an attempt to construct something that was never there or to reinvent something to suit a new purpose. — Simon Sinek, Start With Why, Chapter 7: "How a Tipping Point Tips
2
Specific vision of a future state that does not yet exist; a future state so appealing that people are willing to make sacrifices in order to help advance toward that vision. A Just Cause must be:
FOR SOMETHING. Affirmative and optimistic. It is a statement of what the organization is working to build, advance, or bring about—not what it is fighting against.
INCLUSIVE. Open to all those who would like to contribute. It must be a vision that people can choose for themselves to contribute to.
SERVICE ORIENTED. For the primary benefit of others. It must contribute, aid, or add value to people other than the ones doing the work.
RESILIENT. Able to endure political, technological, and cultural changes. The means to advance the cause will change, but the cause itself must remain relevant.
IDEALISTIC. Big, bold, and ultimately unachievable. It must always be something we are striving to make progress toward, not a finite goal we can reach and be done with.
- Simon Sinek's The Infinite Game, Chapter 2: "Just Cause."
3
The Dash
by Linda Ellis
I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
from the beginning…to the end.
He noted that first came the date of birth
and spoke the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time
that they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own,
the cars…the house…the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.
So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
to consider what’s true and real
and always try to understand
?the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect
and more often wear a smile,
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.
?So, when your eulogy is being read,
with your life’s actions to rehash…
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent YOUR dash?
Appendix documents the supporting notes, citations, references, and source material that ground the brand in clarity and intention. It includes foundational thinking such as Simon Sinek’s Just Cause framework from The Infinite Game and Start With Why, and the poem “The Dash” by Linda Ellis, which informs the meaning behind el dash and the philosophy of how we show up. This section exists to provide context, attribution, and deeper rationale for the principles expressed throughout the system.