Be brat.

Harris IS brat. As re-defined by the young artist Charlie XCX and adopted by the next generation, Brat is a way of being - its a vibe. Brat is moving through the world unapologetically, bluntly, and honestly. Brat celebrates authenticity and understands that sometimes, things get a little messy. Harris is brat because she is calling it as she sees it. Her authenticity and vision for a better world has ignited imaginations and mobilized millions. For many, Harris for President has become their moonshot.

In just the first 24 hours after President Biden announced he was stepping aside, her campaign raised more than $231 million following Biden’s endorsement. This includes $82 million directly to her campaign. In just 48 hours after Bide’s announcement, 40,000 new votes had registered wieth the majority aged 18-34. The floodgates have opened, and a wave of enthusiasm has swept across the nation, transforming pent-up Democratic panic into a frenzy of excitement and hope.

This groundswell of energy is a testament to the power of creative tension—the polarity between potential futures - or what is today and what might be in the future. It’s this dynamic tension that propels us toward innovation and meaningful impact. The excitement surrounding Harris' campaign is not just about her candidacy; it’s about the vision of a better future and the collective effort to achieve it. It’s on and the energy is palpable!

Now, let's relate this to where we are as a society. We are not where we want to be. Climate catastrophe is looming, and we are not moving nearly fast enough to ensure a livable future for all. The 6th mass extinction, rampant fires, and unprecedented heatwaves are just the ecological symptoms. The human element is equally dire. We’re in serious trouble. Full stop.

We know there is a better way. People are hungry for a new vision, for leadership, for the excitement of an epic win. In the words of AOC, "we can be whatever we have the courage to see." We need to see something new—something exciting—that lights people up. A vision that shakes us out of our haze, rallies stakeholders, and moves people to action. Kamala Harris has captured that energy and presents an exciting new future.

In our work at Decade, big hairy audacious goals are par for the course. Setting (seemingly) impossible visions of the future, and activating creative tension, is the invisible force that has allowed our team to support 92 companies through the gauntlet of B Corp certification and beyond. The true delight of our work is supporting teams of people in bringing into focus a vision that ignites teams. In the words of Ray Anderson, "a vision that is so outrageous, it takes the breath away."

Creative Tension?

Key Components of Creative Tension in Purpose-Driven Businesses

1. Vision: A bold and compelling future state, such as achieving net-zero emissions or promoting social equity.

2. Current Reality: An honest assessment of our present situation, capturing our current sustainability efforts and impact metrics.

3. The Gap: The space between vision and reality that cultivates the drive for change.

Creative tension serves as a catalyst for innovation, igniting passion and determination to manifest our purpose-driven vision. It improves decision-making by creating a melting pot for diverse perspectives, encouraging people to step boldly into complex challenges together. Moreover, it enhances performance by capturing the vigour required to realize our moonshot aspirations and unleash collective potential.

Cultivating Creation Tension

To harness creative tension effectively in our mission-centric endeavors:

1. Clearly articulate vision: Paint a vivid picture of what success looks like—a future we're eager to create. (See the AOC video above - it is a stunning vision of the future.)

2. Assess current reality: Conduct a candid reflection on present-day efforts, including our ESG commitments. The B Impact Assessment is a powerful measurement tool to help any organization understand where you are today and where you can go in the future.

3. Embrace discomfort: Understand that this tension is a powerful ally in driving transformative change. Embrace a child’s perspective and activate curiosity.

4. Foster psychological safety: Build an environment where ideas flourish, and diverse voices are uplifted.

5. Encourage healthy debate: Cultivate spaces for constructive dialogue that can lead to breakthrough thinking.
   
   

Purpose-Driven Moonshots

Purpose-driven moonshots are ambitious, transformative goals that organizations set to create significant positive impact. These audacious objectives not only drive innovation but also inspire and mobilize stakeholders towards a common vision. Let's explore some compelling examples:

1. Interface's Climate Take Back Goal: Interface leads with a transformative mission—reversing climate change through its bold Climate Take Back initiative. This commitment goes beyond achieving sustainability within its operations; it aims to inspire and catalyze change across the entire industry. Interface's moonshot demonstrates how a company can reimagine its role in society, moving from being merely sustainable to actively regenerative. Hear from Erin Meezan, former VP and Chief Sustainability Officer, on Interface’s ambitious thinking.

2. Patagonia's Mission: Patagonia stands at the forefront with a resolute mission statement: "We're in business to save our home planet," embodying their commitment to the environment through sustainable practices and activism. In a groundbreaking move, Patagonia's founder recently transferred ownership of the company to a trust and non-profit organization dedicated to fighting the environmental crisis, ensuring that all profits are reinvested in environmental causes.

The power of these moonshots lies in their ability to create creative tension, bridging the gap between our current reality and an aspirational future state. They challenge us to think beyond incremental improvements and instead imagine transformative change. As we face unprecedented global challenges, from climate change to social inequality, purpose-driven moonshots offer a pathway to harness our collective creativity, resources, and determination to build a better world.

Potential Pitfalls

While creative tension is a powerful force for change, it's important to be aware of potential challenges:

1. Confusing Creative Tension with Stress: It's crucial to differentiate productive tension from stagnation or overwhelming stress. Creative tension should energize, not paralyze.

2. Lowering Vision: Resist the temptation to scale back aspirations in response to discomfort. Instead, channel that discomfort into action and innovation.

3. Fear-Based Motivation: Guide teams with hope and inspiration rather than anxiety or pressure. The goal is to inspire, not intimidate.

4. Overreliance on Willpower: While determination is important, it's not enough on its own. Supplement willpower with strategic support and resources that foster meaningful progress.
   
   

Once a goal has been set organizations need to activate, activate, activate. Moving the goal forward and implementing is critical in maintaining energy and stakeholder excitement. The biggest pitfall is inaction.

Business and Personal Applications

Creative tension is a powerful tool in our organizational journey toward purpose-driven success:

1. Organizational Change: Evolving strategies aligned with ambitious ESG (impact, sustainability, purpose) goals shifts mindsets and practices for the better.

2. Personal Growth: Inspire individuals within the organization to set impactful personal goals.

3. Team Dynamics: Encourage collaborations that bring together diverse ideas to confront significant challenges.

4. Leadership: Empower leaders to inspire collective movement towards shared visions of sustainable impact.

Embrace Creative Tension

The time for incremental change has passed. Now is the moment to take bold action because we need audacious visions that inspire and mobilize. As we have seen with Vice President Harris candidacy, people are hungry for change. They want the delight and excitement of being a part of realizing a moonshot.

We live on a tiny planet and we need big visions. Let’s mobilize and create a groundswell of action that leads to real change. Activate your purpose, build your vision, and give your team, clients, customers, community, and stakeholders a reason to get in the game.

Together, we can craft a future that not only addresses our current challenges but surpasses our wildest dreams. Bring that brat energy and you can ignite your own movement.