The Problem with Culture

You probably heard the joke about an old fish swimming by a couple of youngsters and saying, "Hey, kids, how's the water today?" The young fish return the greeting, and then after a bit, one young fish turns to the other and says, "What the heck is water?"

That's the problem with culture. Most of the time we don't recognize we're surrounded by it. Yet, it informs and inspires our unconscious attitudes and habitual responses toward our situation and each other.

But at some point the culture, as is its wont, shifts dramatically or even violently. We're shocked and unprepared to navigate the new normal. It's upsetting and unsettling.

But does it have to be?

Most of the time, most of us swim in cultural ponds that are pretty small. We actually have more influence over 'the way things are' then we're willing to embrace.

What if we spent a little more time thinking about the culture we want to compass? What if we then convened enough of the right people and began bending the culture in that direction?

The problem with culture is solved when we choose to stop ignoring it or being a victim of it and decide instead to work together and co-create it on purpose.

Onward.

Scott Perry, Chief Difference-Maker at C reative on Purpose

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