Rob Horton is the Executive Director of Strategy and Business Development at ThreeWill. His experience includes over 25 years of leading software architecture, design, and development focusing on support tools, automation, and e-commerce for large corporations and his own small businesses.
The heart of ThreeWill’s culture is based on our four core values. We use these core values to guide all aspects of our business, including whom we hire, how we reward and recognize our employees, whom we choose to partner with, and whom we serve as clients. We know complimentary values build strong and rewarding relationships.
ThreeWill’s core values include:
- Better Together
- Extreme Ownership
- Choose Growth
- Humble Confidence
The “Choose Growth” core value embodies the mindset of continuously seeking personal and professional development, embracing challenges, and learning from successes and failures. It is about actively pursuing growth opportunities and improving oneself, even in the face of obstacles. Thomas Edison serves as a remarkable example of this value.
One story that illustrates Thomas Edison’s embodiment of the “Choose Growth” value is his quest to find the right filament material for the light bulb. After thousands of unsuccessful attempts, Edison’s lab assistant expressed frustration, suggesting they should give up. Edison, with his unwavering commitment to growth, replied, “Why would I feel like a failure? And why would I ever give up? I now know definitively over 9,000 ways that an electric light bulb will not work. Success is almost in my grasp.”
The associates at ThreeWill aren’t afraid to work on new problems or take on new responsibilities. Retrospectives that identify what went well, what didn’t go well, and what needs to be done differently are frequently held, well-attended, and highly valued at ThreeWill. This gives everyone the opportunity to learn from our successes and failures. ThreeWill is a true learning organization.
The “Choose Growth” value is vital because it fosters a culture of continuous learning and improvement. When individuals embrace this value, they are more likely to approach challenges with resilience and creativity. By recognizing that failures are stepping stones to success and actively seeking growth opportunities, individuals and organizations can stay ahead of the curve and adapt to changing circumstances.
Complacency, fear of failure, and resistance to change are found in organizations that don’t “Choose Growth.” These anti-values hinder personal and professional development, restrict innovation, and limit an individual’s ability to adapt to new situations. An analogy that can be used to illustrate the “Choose Growth” value is that of a tree. Just as a tree reaches towards the sky, stretching its branches and growing new leaves, individuals who choose growth constantly strive to expand their knowledge, skills, and capabilities. They weather storms and challenges, yet they remain firmly rooted and continue to grow, reaching higher and embracing new opportunities.
The “Choose Growth” value encourages individuals to actively seek feedback, continuously learn, and take calculated risks. It fosters a mindset of curiosity, resilience, and adaptability, encouraging employees to explore new ideas, learn from mistakes, and contribute to a culture of growth and innovation within the organization.