Seth Godin recently shared the “Ball bearing and the beach Ball”, a vision statement by Michael Brook, editor of concrete wave magazine for skateboarders (It's here if you're interested). In it Brook says:
· I am not publishing a magazine – I am helping to document and foster change within skateboarding. The magazine is part of a greater movement within skateboarding. Concrete Wave exists to spread specific ideas. The more people we can spread these ideas too, the more success we achieve.
· I am not merely building readers or subscribers – I am building a cult of supporters, each of whom will further support the cause and bring in more readers and subscribers.
· Concrete Wave wishes to remain a ball bearing – small, hard to find and continually in the state of being polished. Our goal is to provide readers with a deep impression when they get hit with it. Conversely, we do not aim to be a beach ball – big, seen all over the place, colorful and yet leaving very little impression when it hits. A beach ball is very fragile indeed and must avoid challenging environments, because it requires so much air to keep it afloat. A weighty ball bearing can withstand both challenging environments along with the pin pricks of adversity.
Over the last two years we’ve seen the vision for Absolute Story grow, develop and focus. The Concrete Wave editorial could easily fit us:
For example, just as Brook isn't just publishing a magazine, we are not running a 'theatre company', or even only a 'storytelling team'. We are helping to develop and facilitate change in the church. Absolute Story is a tiny part of a large movement of people within the church, a movement questioning our priorities, worship and lifestyles. The more people we can envision and equip to worship and live for Christ as individuals, the more success we achieve.
In the same way, we are not merely building team members and spectators, we are discipling visionaries, each of whom can further develop their gifts. In turn these visionaries can go on to raise and disciple more visionaries to worship and reach people for God through their gifts.
Above all, the description of a ball bearing: small, hard to find and continually in the state of being polished, is a great description of what we want to be. Where a beach ball is an end in itself and of limited utility, a ball bearing is a means to an end, and used in many different places and machines doing many different things. We don’t want Absolute Story to become a programme looking for people to fill the gaps so we can continue doing the same thing, rather to be an organic group which holds onto shared values, but changing in appearance as different people come and go with their gifts and dreams. We don’t expect Absolute Story to grow into a “big” organisation. Rather our aim is that as it grows, it creates more and more small organisations, all different, which serve the kingdom of God where they are.
· I am not publishing a magazine – I am helping to document and foster change within skateboarding. The magazine is part of a greater movement within skateboarding. Concrete Wave exists to spread specific ideas. The more people we can spread these ideas too, the more success we achieve.
· I am not merely building readers or subscribers – I am building a cult of supporters, each of whom will further support the cause and bring in more readers and subscribers.
· Concrete Wave wishes to remain a ball bearing – small, hard to find and continually in the state of being polished. Our goal is to provide readers with a deep impression when they get hit with it. Conversely, we do not aim to be a beach ball – big, seen all over the place, colorful and yet leaving very little impression when it hits. A beach ball is very fragile indeed and must avoid challenging environments, because it requires so much air to keep it afloat. A weighty ball bearing can withstand both challenging environments along with the pin pricks of adversity.
Over the last two years we’ve seen the vision for Absolute Story grow, develop and focus. The Concrete Wave editorial could easily fit us:
For example, just as Brook isn't just publishing a magazine, we are not running a 'theatre company', or even only a 'storytelling team'. We are helping to develop and facilitate change in the church. Absolute Story is a tiny part of a large movement of people within the church, a movement questioning our priorities, worship and lifestyles. The more people we can envision and equip to worship and live for Christ as individuals, the more success we achieve.
In the same way, we are not merely building team members and spectators, we are discipling visionaries, each of whom can further develop their gifts. In turn these visionaries can go on to raise and disciple more visionaries to worship and reach people for God through their gifts.
Above all, the description of a ball bearing: small, hard to find and continually in the state of being polished, is a great description of what we want to be. Where a beach ball is an end in itself and of limited utility, a ball bearing is a means to an end, and used in many different places and machines doing many different things. We don’t want Absolute Story to become a programme looking for people to fill the gaps so we can continue doing the same thing, rather to be an organic group which holds onto shared values, but changing in appearance as different people come and go with their gifts and dreams. We don’t expect Absolute Story to grow into a “big” organisation. Rather our aim is that as it grows, it creates more and more small organisations, all different, which serve the kingdom of God where they are.
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