The Value of Values at Omidyar
The `Omidyar Network`__ leads with its statement of values:
__ http://omidyar.net
* **We believe every individual has the power to make a difference.**
* **We exist for one single purpose: So that more and more people discover their own power to make good things happen.**
* **We are actively building a network of participants because we know we can't do this alone.**
* **We invite you to learn more about us and some of the people we're working with.**
I have long been inspired by the ideals of `Pam and Pierre`__ , the success of eBay, and their ideas in philanthropy. These values excite me in many ways:
__ http://www.munnecke.com/blog/archives/2002_10.html#000035
* **That the organization declares its values in this way.** While other foundations list their mission statements, grant procedures, and organization charts, Omidyar simply expresses the values by which it expects to grow. Elevating the discussion of our values, independent of political or religious discourse, is something rare in today’s society.
* **It is asking the right question.** “How do we get more and more people to discover their own power to make good things happen?” rather than something like “How do we solve the population problem?”
* **It is directed at individuals, not institutions.** Power flows from “more and more people” and their networks. It is not a top down flow from the rich foundation to the poor people.
* **It is a positive statement.** Rather than fighting the problems of the world, Omidyar encourages people to discover their “own power to make good things happen.” This is a very deep philosophical statement: making the world a better place and fixing its problems are two very different ways of looking at the world.
* **It is scalable.** The more people in the network, the more valuable the network becomes for more people. Pierre Omidyar's experience with founding eBay, and its network of 100 million people, understands the power of this effect very well.
* **It puts the power at the edge of the network, not the center.** It is the individuals participating at the periphery of the network, rather than the “intelligence” of the center, which will drive the growth of the network. The phone network created by `Ma Bell`__ tried to create a “smart center with dumb edges” (i.e. disable call waiting when you make a modem call). The Internet flipped this around, creating a network which simply shipped bits around, not caring if they were email, fax, images, or voice, and lets the periphery decide what to do with the bits (i.e. a web browser opening up a photo, a video, or a chat room).
__ http://netparadox.com
* **It is humble.** The network presents itself as a service organization, helping others to discover their own power. It does not profess the “one correct way” to the better world.
* **It is broadening, rather than narrowing.** More and more people will think of more and more ways to make the world a better place. Rather than trying to narrow the network to focus on fewer and fewer problems, the network will fuel its own growth as more and more folks discover new ways to make good things happen.
When Pierre Omidyar started eBay, he didn't go to the stakeholders in the auction industry to figure out how to build an integrated system, satisfying the needs of the companies. He reduced the friction for individual buyers and sellers to interact, and built a community fueled by ever-growing trust. This required a certain irreverance to the established way of doing business, and was wildly successful.
Can we replicate this lesson for humanitarian uplift? Rather than going to the industry and trying to integrate their hierarchies, can we build a network which reduces the friction for individuals to discover their own power to make good things happen? This also requires a certain irreverance to some of the stakeholders in the current system, but I suspect that it too will be wildly successful.
I think that Omidyar Network has the values, people and resources to grow the network to make an incredible impact on the world, and am enthused about helping any way I can.
__ http://omidyar.net
* **We believe every individual has the power to make a difference.**
* **We exist for one single purpose: So that more and more people discover their own power to make good things happen.**
* **We are actively building a network of participants because we know we can't do this alone.**
* **We invite you to learn more about us and some of the people we're working with.**
I have long been inspired by the ideals of `Pam and Pierre`__ , the success of eBay, and their ideas in philanthropy. These values excite me in many ways:
__ http://www.munnecke.com/blog/archives/2002_10.html#000035
* **That the organization declares its values in this way.** While other foundations list their mission statements, grant procedures, and organization charts, Omidyar simply expresses the values by which it expects to grow. Elevating the discussion of our values, independent of political or religious discourse, is something rare in today’s society.
* **It is asking the right question.** “How do we get more and more people to discover their own power to make good things happen?” rather than something like “How do we solve the population problem?”
* **It is directed at individuals, not institutions.** Power flows from “more and more people” and their networks. It is not a top down flow from the rich foundation to the poor people.
* **It is a positive statement.** Rather than fighting the problems of the world, Omidyar encourages people to discover their “own power to make good things happen.” This is a very deep philosophical statement: making the world a better place and fixing its problems are two very different ways of looking at the world.
* **It is scalable.** The more people in the network, the more valuable the network becomes for more people. Pierre Omidyar's experience with founding eBay, and its network of 100 million people, understands the power of this effect very well.
* **It puts the power at the edge of the network, not the center.** It is the individuals participating at the periphery of the network, rather than the “intelligence” of the center, which will drive the growth of the network. The phone network created by `Ma Bell`__ tried to create a “smart center with dumb edges” (i.e. disable call waiting when you make a modem call). The Internet flipped this around, creating a network which simply shipped bits around, not caring if they were email, fax, images, or voice, and lets the periphery decide what to do with the bits (i.e. a web browser opening up a photo, a video, or a chat room).
__ http://netparadox.com
* **It is humble.** The network presents itself as a service organization, helping others to discover their own power. It does not profess the “one correct way” to the better world.
* **It is broadening, rather than narrowing.** More and more people will think of more and more ways to make the world a better place. Rather than trying to narrow the network to focus on fewer and fewer problems, the network will fuel its own growth as more and more folks discover new ways to make good things happen.
When Pierre Omidyar started eBay, he didn't go to the stakeholders in the auction industry to figure out how to build an integrated system, satisfying the needs of the companies. He reduced the friction for individual buyers and sellers to interact, and built a community fueled by ever-growing trust. This required a certain irreverance to the established way of doing business, and was wildly successful.
Can we replicate this lesson for humanitarian uplift? Rather than going to the industry and trying to integrate their hierarchies, can we build a network which reduces the friction for individuals to discover their own power to make good things happen? This also requires a certain irreverance to some of the stakeholders in the current system, but I suspect that it too will be wildly successful.
I think that Omidyar Network has the values, people and resources to grow the network to make an incredible impact on the world, and am enthused about helping any way I can.
posted by Arcadia at
8:56 PM
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