One of my favourite clients, Frank Giustra, is one of the founders behind Streetohome, a foundation that brings together people from all sectors of Vancouver – business, non-profits, government, and citizens – to find and implement real solutions to the problems of homelessness in our city.
Today, the foundation announced that business leaders are hoping to raise $26.5 million to build permanent supportive housing in Vancouver. Frank donated $5 million of his own money to launch the campaign.
This is a story where the ending was written first. As our former Premier Mike Harcourt said: “There’s a real chance that Vancouver could be one of the first cities in North America to abolish homelessness.”
It reminds me of the galvanizing effect of John F. Kennedy’s famous speech: “We choose to go to the moon…because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.” You can read the whole speech here.
The next time you tell your company’s story, try telling the ending first. See what effect it has on your employees. My guess is you will find them so excited by the promise of that future, thay they will be enthusiastic to help you get there.
