The Power in the Intangible

Passage 11 - Tao Te Ching - Translated by Stephen Mitchell

Although modern society teaches us to consider appearance as a valuable standard of measurement,

the Tao teaches us to value the intangible or what we can’t see.

The center of a wheel, the depth of a clay pot and the wood block referenced in the passage above

are examples of the practical and long-term value of undefined space.

We can take these teachings as an analogy for giving space for adaptability in business.

The center of a wheel where its spokes are held in place can represent the way your business plan

unites leadership, employees and collaborators in the overarching mission.

The empty depth of a clay pot can represent your business’s capacity to hold

and regenerate resources while serving the mission.

The wooden block from which a craftsman carves can represent you choosing

how you want to use the tools for your unique business processes

instead of designing your business how the tool wants you to.

Designing a strategic structure to withstand changing technology, trend and teammates

means making it adaptable to many things without ever changing its original form.

The original form of any business structure is the strategic intention behind it.