Arete Manifesto

This is an invitation. Come, let’s build a culture of human flourishing together. Let’s become people with unrelenting hearts, wide visions and deep reasons. Let’s stop obsessing about ourselves and start focusing on who’s around us instead. Come, let’s live in our Arete.

This manifesto is a declaration of commitment. It is for everyone who wants to join our construction of a culture where people get to flourish in their purpose. These are our ideals, our goals and our compass for the crossroads of life and work. Knowing we will never reach perfection, unbound by fear we brave to face even failure - and then, having learned from it, we continue to seek the better way.

1. Together we are building a culture where people are willing to fight for connection. Where other human beings are seen as so valuable, that nothing is more worthy of time and effort than becoming and staying connected to them. In this world forgiveness, understanding, patience and humility are tools in frequent use.

2. It is a culture where beauty is the ultimate goal of creation, be it aesthetic or functional - beauty for beauty’s sake or beauty for purpose. In this culture excellence does not mean perfection, but an utter pursuit of beauty. The creator stops at nothing until it is found.

3. In the culture we are building, contentment with the status quo signifies stagnation and lack of purpose. In this culture creativity - bringing into existence what never existed before - is a natural state of being a human. New bridges between seemingly contradicting arenas, new designs and art, new avenues, methodologies, systems and inventions are everyday goals of work.

4. In this culture honesty is worth the investment, and the most wanted personal characteristic is integrity. This culture is built on trust which is given, not earned. In it people take pride in making sure that their words and the motives of their actions are based on truth. They boldly rely on serving others as the means to achieve the greatest, most sustainable gains.

5. The culture we are building wastes no one, and empowers lives lived for a purpose greater than self-gratification. In it people get to live according to their unique potential, and gladly help each other find suitable places of influence in every arena of society. In this culture companies are employing beyond biased professional standards. They have understood the great value found both in diversity of backgrounds, as well as the immense potential of those people, who are offered respect and opportunities for growth.

6. We are building a culture in which work is done for a purpose and fuelled by intrinsic motivation. In this culture even seemingly insignificant deeds are done intentionally - understanding the cause effects of actions and caring about the outcomes. In this culture people are seen as purpose-filled entities, worthy of attention, respect and love, and not a means to an end. Collaboration happens in win win situations, and those in positions of power carry a deep sense of privilege to benefit those they would be able to abuse.

7. The culture we are building is governed by love. The altruistic kind - the kind of love that reaches people beyond ones own family members and friends. This love is generously radical in goodness; when needed, sacrificial for the benefit of the other; values the genuine wellbeing of people higher than materialistic pursuits; and roots tough decisions in wisdom, truth and its ability to, in the end, win whatever battles temporarily lost.