Geoff - 1000Manifestos.com

I Fix It Repair Manifesto

Creator

iFixit is a wiki-based site that teaches people how to fix almost anything – it was started by Luke and Kyle in a collage dorm room.

Purpose

The purpose of the I Fix It Repair Manifesto is to empower individuals to share their technical knowledge with the rest of the world.

What started out as a personal question to fix things and going through the experience of doing it blindly with no instructions, Luke and Kyle decided to create and share manuals for fixing just about anything.

Manifesto

We hold these truths to be self-evident

If you can’t fix it, you don’t own it

Repair is better than recycling – Making our things last longer is both more efficient and more cost-effective than mining them for raw materials

Repair saves you money – Fixing things is often free, and usually cheaper than replacing them. Doing the repair yourself saves you money.

Repair teaches engineering – The best way to find out how something works is to take it apart.

Repair saves the planet – Earth has limited resources. Eventually we will run out. The best way to be efficient is to reuse what we already have.

Repair connects people and things
Repair is war on entropy
Repair is sustainable

We have the right:

To devices that can be opened
To repair documentation for everything
To repair things in the privacy of our own homes
To error codes and wiring diagrams
To choose our own repair technician
To remove ‘do not remove’ stickers
To replace any and all consumables ourselves
To non-proprietary fasteners
To troubleshooting instructions and flowcharts
To available, reasonably-priced service parts

Because repair

Is independence
Saves money and resources
Requires creativity
Makes consumers into contributors
Inspires pride in ownership

Source

https://www.ifixit.com/Manifesto

https://www.ifixit.com/Info/background

Comment

This is the second Repair Manifesto on this site.

There are no rules that say you can’t have a manifesto on the same topic as someone else. However, there is a risk of confusion if you don’t clearly articulate your manifesto from the other one(s).

In this case, both manifestos are titled ‘Repair Manifesto’. While one was clearly created before the other, one of these will also be more popular than the other. That’s the risk you take.

I believe a better way forward to create a subset of the original one. For instance being clear that you are declaring ‘The Platform 21 Repair Manifesto’ or the ‘I Fix It Repair Manifesto’.

Also, I was attracted to the I Fix It Repair Manifesto because of it’s eye-catching visual.

While most words, I do love the clenched fist holding the wrench. It’s a neat update on the use of a fist eg Black Power salute as a display of strength.

Also, a visual like this makes it easy to be shared – as either an image and as a pdf – which is crucial if you want your movement to grow.

Platform 21 Repair Manifesto

Fader and Toms – Customer Centricity Manifesto

Creator

Peter S Fader and Sarah E Toms, authors of The Customer Centricity Playbook: Implementing a winning strategy driven by customer lifetime value

Fader is a Professor of Marketing at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Toms is co-founder and Executive Director of Wharton Interactive.

Purpose

Fader and Toms believe that your most value business asset is to understand your best customers. This means treating them as individuals.

They have adapted the Customer Centricity Manifesto from the Manifesto for Agile Software Development, which is the focus of Chapter Six in their book.

Peter Fader and Sarah Toms - The Customer Centricity Playbook: Implement a winning strategy driven by Customer Lifetime Value

Manifesto

Celebrating customer heterogeneity is our mantra.

This tenet of customer centricity is a realistic view of the world, and is one that seeks to capture, understand, and build action in tune with these naturally occurring variances.

Cross functional uses of customer lifetime value (CLV).

A truly customer-centric firm will seek to establish a variety of use cases across the organization that demonstrate the strategic advantages that a focus on CLV (and related predictive analytics) can provide.

Metrics that reflect customer equity.

We want to see firms adopt a broader set of metrics that directly or indirectly reflect customers’ propensities to be acquired, buy repeatedly, maintain the relationship, refer others, respond to the right messages, and so on.

Clear Communications with external stakeholders.

Customer centricity creates a natural alignment to get internal and external stakeholders to agree on metrics that are helpful for day-to-day operational purposes as well as the evaluation of a firm’s long-run health.

Source

The Manifesto: http://customercentricitymanifesto.org

The Book: https://wsp.wharton.upenn.edu/book/customer-centricity-playbook/

Comment

The thing that stands out for me around this manifesto is the language used.

In the field of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) they identify that some words show a link to our sensory systems. For instance, the words ‘look, hear, feel, touch, taste and smell’ represent the senses of ‘sight, sound, feelings (kinesthetic), gustatory (taste) and olfactory (smell)’.

Other words that don’t fit the senses are known as ‘Auditory Digital’ or non-sensory words. These are concept words such as: system, belief, customer and communication.

Typically, we all have preferences around the words we use. Some people use more ‘visual’ words and others more ‘feeling’ words. Academics tend to use a lot of concept words and this is consistent with this manifesto.

While this is a powerful approach, as with all things, it has its limits.

If your manifesto is just for you, then you can use any words that you like. However, if you want to engage, enrol and invite others to join you in your manifesto journey, then using words that will appeal to a wider audience are worth considering. For example, do you know what the word ‘heterogenity’ means? I had to look it up. (It means ‘being diverse in character’.)

One strategy for this is to have different palettes or different language styles for your manifesto. For example, having a formal palette and a casual one.

Compare this to the simple and casual language in Emily McDowell’s Let’s Get Real manifesto.

The current manifesto by Fader and Toms could be their formal language manifesto. And it may be complemented by a simpler, more casual version such as this:

Customers come in lots of different shapes and sizes. Celebrate this.
Give your customers different paths to walk down. Create this.
Notice the value your customers give you. Measure this.
Talk with your customers and your team in the same way. Align this.

Consider that you may need to create different versions of your manifesto to appeal to different audiences. This might also include both a visual and a written form.

Four Ways to Make Your Manifesto Visually Appealing

Agile Software Manifesto

Christopher Carfi – The Social Customer Manifesto

Joseph Jaffe – The Customer Service Manifesto

The Eight Virtues of Bushido

Creator

Bushido is a Japanese term that means ‘the way of the warrior’. It outlines the code or moral principles by which a Samurai were required to live.

Purpose

Originally, the eight virtues were an informal code that evolved over many centuries. Between 1600 and 1868, various parts of Bushido were formalized into Japanese feudal law and the rules became the code that needed to be mastered before one could become a Samurai.

If a Samurai failed to uphold his honor according to these rules, he could only regain it by committing suicide.

Manifesto

1 Righteousness

Be acutely honest throughout your dealings with all people. Believe in justice, not from other people, but from yourself. To the true warrior, all points of view are deeply considered regarding honesty, justice and integrity. Warriors make a full commitment to their decisions.

2 Heroic Courage

Hiding like a turtle in a shell is not living at all. A true warrior must have heroic courage. It is absolutely risky. It is living life completely, fully and wonderfully. Heroic courage is not blind. It is intelligent and strong.

3 Benevolence, Compassion

Through intense training and hard work the true warrior becomes quick and strong. They are not as most people. They develop a power that must be used for good. They have compassion. They help their fellow men at every opportunity. If an opportunity does not arise, they go out of their way to find one.

4 Respect

True warriors have no reason to be cruel. They do not need to prove their strength. Warriors are not only respected for their strength in battle, but also by their dealings with others. The true strength of a warrior becomes apparent during difficult times.

5 Honesty

When warriors say that they will perform an action, it is as good as done. Nothing will stop them from completing what they say they will do. They do not have to ‘give their word’. They do not have to ‘promise’. Speaking and doing are the same action.

6 Honour

Warriors have only one judge of honor and character, and this is themselves. Decisions they make and how these decisions are carried out are a reflection of who they truly are. You cannot hide from yourself.

7 Duty and Loyalty

Warriors are responsible for everything that they have done and everything that they have said and all of the consequences that follow. They are immensely loyal to all of those in their care. To everyone that they are responsible for, they remain fiercely true.

8 Self-Control

The first seven virtues show what is required to become a Samurai. This final one is the pathway to pursuing and ultimately exemplifying the way of the Samurai. (Goalcast)

Source

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushido

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokugawa_shogunate

https://www.goalcast.com/2018/07/01/8-bushido-principles-samurai/

https://www.invaluable.com/blog/history-of-the-bushido-code/

Comment

While the Bushido manifesto is presented as simple set of rules, it represents a deep philosophy and way of living collected and curated over many centuries from various sources, including Neo-Confucianism, Shinto and Zen Buddhism.

Also, I think it’s worth highlighting that while the Samurai are renowned for their fighting capability and Bushido is the ‘way of the warrior’, the descriptions here point to a much broader lifestyle that includes compassion and respect.

Miyamoto Musahi – 21 Rules to Live Your Life

The Bible: Ten Commandments

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Creator

In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly set 17 global goals to build a sustainable future for all people. The aim was to achieve these by 2030.

Purpose

The UN has defined sustainable development as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” (Wikipedia).

Over a period of several decades, the UN has defined 169 targets for the 17 goals. Each target has 1-3 progress measures

Manifesto

No Poverty – End poverty in all its forms.
Zero Hunger – End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
Good Health and Well-being – Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
Quality Education – Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Gender Equality – Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Clean Water and Sanitation – Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Affordable and Clean Energy – Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
Decent Work and Economic Growth – Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.
Reducing Inequality – Reduce income inequality within and among countries.
Sustainable Cities and Communities – Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
Responsible Consumption and Production – Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Climate Action – Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts by regulating emissions and promoting developments in renewable energy.
Life Below Water – Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
Life On Land – Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels,
Partnerships for the Goals – Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

Source

The official UN site: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/

A neat summary on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_Development_Goals

Comment

At its simplest level, a manifesto is a goal (a public declaration of your intent). In this case, the UN has provided a list of goals.

If the goal of your life or business is to forward the health of the planet for all, these 17 goals provide a connection point or context to anchor your actions.

Green Party of Ontario: Five Point Manifesto

Trevor Boddy: Hybrid City

Vancouver Greenest City in the World 2020

Black Panther – 10 Point Program

Creator

The Black Panther Party originally formed in 1966 in California to monitor the behaviour of members of the Oakland Police Department because of suspicions of police brutality in the area.

They evolved into a revolutionary political party with a strong presence during the period of Civil Rights disputes, mostly in the United States.

Purpose

The Ten-Point Program, officially known as The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense was outline the ideals and aspirations of the Black Panther Party. It’s a combination of a Bill of Rights and a Declaration of Independence.

Manifesto

The 10 Point Program has two parts that both have 10 points: What we want now and What we believe

Here are the first three examples from each of these sections. For a full description visit Wikipedia here.

What we want now

We want freedom. We want power to determine the destiny of our Black Community.
We want full employment for our people.
We want an end to the robbery by the white men of our Black Community. (later changed to “we want an end to the robbery by the capitalists of our black and oppressed communities.”)

What we believe

We believe that Black People will not be free until we are able to determine our own destiny.
We believe that the federal government is responsible and obligated to give every man employment or a guaranteed income. We believe that if the White American business men will not give full employment, the means of production should be taken from the businessmen and placed in the community so that the people of the community can organize and employ all of its people and give a high standard of living.
We believe that this racist government has robbed us and now we are demanding the overdue debt of forty acres and two mules. Forty acres and two mules was promised 100 years ago as redistribution for slave labor and mass murder of Black people. We will accept the payment in currency which will be distributed to our many communities: the Germans are now aiding the Jews in Israel for genocide of the Jewish people. The Germans murdered 6,000,000 Jews. The American racist has taken part in the slaughter of over 50,000,000 Black people; therefore, we feel that this is a modest demand that we make.

Source

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Panther_Party

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten-Point_Program

Prompted from watching the movie The Hate U Give

Comment

The two parts of the Black Panther 10 Point Plan showcase two important parts of a manifesto, one of which is usually included in the typical vision and mission statements and the other is usually missing.

The first part ‘What we want now’ is the usual fare. It includes specific and concrete outcomes. Most businesses focus exclusively here.

The second part ‘What we believe’ is often included in social manifestos but not corporate or business visions.

I believe (yes, I’m using my own framework) that most corporates focus on earning maximum revenue for shareholders. That’s their true reason for existing.

I don’t have a problem with that as an objective. What I do have concerns about is that this is not publicly stated.

The challenge here is not the goal; it’s the engagement of the people that are employed to achieve these goals.

There is a lot of research that suggests that the vast majority – anywhere from 60-80% of employees – are disengaged from their work.

In my opinion, this has less to do with the actual work and more to do with the context they are operating within – the meaning or the beliefs of why they are doing what they are doing.

There is an old story of three men working on a construction site. One is stacking bricks; another is building a wall and the third is building a cathedral to celebrate God. While they may all be doing the same work, which one is more likely to be inspired by what they do?

The Black Panther 10 Point Program provides for both the ‘physical and the philosophical’ needs of it’s followers. If you want to inspire your people in your workforce you might want to consider both sides of this equation too.

Related: The Hate U Give – The Black Power 10 Point Program is mentioned several times in this movie

Related: The full Black Power 10 Point Program makes reference to the US Declaration of Independence

James Altucher – The 20 Habits of Eventual Millionaires

Creator

James Altucher is an entrepreneur and angel investor – having started 20 companies, 17 of which have failed.

He is has achieved the rank of chess master, is the author of the Wall Street Journal bestselling book “Choose Yourself” and… is a millionaire.

Purpose

A blog post on James’ website shares the manifesto and suggests: “I read book after book but the advice seemed awful. And even the advice that was clearly good (“eat better”) there was almost zero chance I would follow.” This is clearly advice that James would follow.

Manifesto

The 20 Habits of Eventual Millionaires

1. Say “No”

When you say “NO” you have more time to read, learn, sleep, ask questions, contact friends, love life. Say “no” more.

2. Love

This is the only religion. This is the only thing worth surrounding to. This is the fuel for your ideal muscle.

3. Make Mistakes

Mistakes are the spell books of success. Study them hard. Learn their incantations. When muscled tear they rebuild.

4. Plant seeds

Basic garden math: 1% of seeds turns into 50% of the flowers. Plant lots of seeds.

5. Be around people who are kind to you and love you

Other people will make you unhappy, unkind, and unsuccessful.

6. Stand next to the smartest person in the room

Harold Ramis did it (Bill Murray). Steve Jobs did it (Steve Woznick). Craig Silverstein did it (Who? Larry Page). Kanye West did it (Jay-Z). I make money only when I do this.

7. No excuses

Blaming is draining. Complaining is draining. Explaining is draining. We don’t have enough inner plumbing for all that draining.

8. Don’t be in a rush

Every overnight success I’ve spoken to took 10-20 years to get there. But ONLY if they celebrated small success along the way.

9. Solve difficult gratitude problems

If you can find a diamond in the mud, you’re going to end up with a lot of diamonds in life.

10. Warren buffet’s 5/25 rule

Make a list of the 25 things you want to do in life. Now do the top 5. And NEVER THINK ABOUT THE OTHER 20 EVER AGAIN. Else they will take time away from the 5 that are most important to you

11. Write down 10 ideas a day

This actually turns into a super power. Do this for six months straight and see what happens.

12. Follow up

I’m shy and bad at this. And lazy. Send an email the next day with an idea on the next step. I have to do this.

13. Ask questions

There are more questions than answers. Opportunities are buried in the questions. Facts can be outsourced.

14. 1% a day

Whatever you want to get better at: do 1% more each day. 1% a day, compound, is 3800% a year. You win.

15. Right now

Regret will waste time today worrying about yesterday. And anxiety will steal energy from the future. Focus on right now.

16. Sleep

Sleep rejuvenates brain cells, heals the body, reduces anxiety. And your brain is only active 2-5 hours a day. Sweet dreams.

17. Every day, avoid death

You can’t get rich from a hospital bed. Or a grave. More every day, sleep well, eat well.

18. Do one thing every day you loved as a kid

This is usually the fuel that can power your life.

WAIT – I thought you said there were 20? Secret to success… Give yourself permission to be wrong

Source

Download your copy of these rules here:

The 20 Habits of Eventual Millionaires

Thanks Bill for putting this on your wall where I found it!

Comment

This is a classic collection of rules for success.

And I like it because James is really clear – there are plenty of other people out there with their rules for success. He knew he wouldn’t follow them or they wouldn’t work for him so he did the only natural thing he could do -created his own list.

Also, I love the irreverence – 20 habits. Oops, there are only 18. Oh well, make more mistakes.

Personally, I think you can have as many rules as you want.

However, there is a trade-off. When you have lots of rules there becomes a point where you can just have more and more and more of them… Plus, there is a limit to how many of these you can actually remember and are likely to adhere to.

My preference is for a few good rules over a long list.

Plus, I’m all for changing your rules when they get a bit stale (That’s why I could never have a tattoo). My simple thinking here is that you made them up in the first place. Surely, this gives you the right to change them and make up some different ones that better suit your current situation. Don’t over do it, but don’t be strangled by them either.

James Naismith – The 13 Rules of Basketball

Creator

Dr James Naismith was a Canadian born physical education instructor.

Purpose

In 1890, Naismith moved to Springfield, Massachusetts to work at the YMCA International Training School.

He was given the task of designing a new indoor game to provide an “athletic distraction” for a rowdy class of students to help survive the harsh New England winter. He had 14 days.

The challenge was to develop an activity that would work on a wooden floor in an enclosed space. After studying various sports, he realized that a game based on horizontal passing wasn’t going to work – but a vertical pass would.

After hanging two peach baskets ten feet in the air as the goals, Naismith wrote up 13 rules and basketball was born.

James Naisbith - The 13 Rules of Basketball — Photo by Fabio Jock on Unsplash

Manifesto

1. The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands.

2. The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands (never with the fist).

3. A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the spot on which he catches it, allowance to be made for a man who catches the ball when running at a good speed if he tries to stop.

4. The ball must be held in or between the hands; the arms or body must not be used for holding it.

5. No shouldering, holding, pushing, tripping, or striking in any way the person of an opponent shall be allowed; the first infringement of this rule by any player shall count as a foul, the second shall disqualify him until the next goal is made, or, if there was evident intent to injure the person, for the whole of the game, no substitute allowed.

6. A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, violation of Rules 3,4, and such as described in Rule 5.

7. If either side makes three consecutive fouls, it shall count a goal for the opponents (consecutive means without the opponents in the mean time making a foul).

8. A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the grounds into the basket and stays there, providing those defending the goal do not touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the edges, and the opponent moves the basket, it shall count as a goal.

9. When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field of play by the person first touching it. In case of a dispute, the umpire shall throw it straight into the field. The thrower-in is allowed five seconds; if he holds it longer, it shall go to the opponent. If any side persists in delaying the game, the umpire shall call a foul on that side.

10. The umpire shall be judge of the men and shall note the fouls and notify the referee when three consecutive fouls have been made. He shall have power to disqualify men according to Rule 5.

11. The referee shall be judge of the ball and shall decide when the ball is in play, in bounds, to which side it belongs, and shall keep the time. He shall decide when a goal has been made, and keep account of the goals with any other duties that are usually performed by a referee.

12. The time shall be two 15-minute halves, with five minutes’ rest between.

13. The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winner. In case of a draw, the game may, by agreement of the captains, be continued until another goal is made.

Source

https://www.usab.com/history/dr-james-naismiths-original-13-rules-of-basketball.aspx

https://www.thoughtco.com/james-naismith-basketball-1991639

Comment

At first glance it might seem a little strange to think of the rules of a sport as a manifesto, but here’s how I think it fits…

A manifesto is a public declaration of your intent.

If we are going to play a sport, a game or literally any activity together we’d need some sort of agreement about what we intend to make happen. This might be loose and informal or tight and formally written down.

In sport, we need to firstly define the aim of the game. In particular, how do we win? If we don’t do this publicly, it would mean some players might be doing basketball while others would be doing football. That would be confusing!

Then it follows to define some rules of behaviour.

In sport, this includes the boundaries of play – we need to decide where the rules apply and where they don’t. Or, like in basketball the ball is ‘in play’ or ‘out of play’.

Plus, this also includes the more obvious rules of play. Can I run with the ball? Can I tackle someone? What happens when someone doesn’t follow the rules?

For me, sport provides the classic Rules Based Manifesto, which has two distinct parts:

A unique context – Basketball is a unique situation compared to football or tennis.
Specific rules for success – how you play to win at basketball is completely different to football or tennis.

FRESH Speakers

Creator

FRESH Speakers

“Established in 2014, FRESH represents the next generation shaping 21st century thinking – and action – with fresh ideas and groundbreaking work.” (From their website)

“FRESH Speakers, Inc. is a next-generation speakers bureau, uniquely representing women and people of color – two groups historically left off the public stage. Our speakers range from business leaders to artists, scientist to athletes. They have given ground-breaking TED talks and written best-selling books, but, more importantly, their wisdom comes from real world, lived experiences. FRESH speakers routinely grace the world’s biggest thought leadership stages, host nonprofit benefits, and keynote Fortune 100 corporate retreats, university lecture series, leading tech conferences, grassroots organizing convenings, and countless other venues, the world over.” (From their website)

Purpose

The FRESH Speakers manifesto is a core part of their brand positioning. It states: this is why we are different to other speakers’ bureaus.

Manifesto

Thought leadership needs a refresh.

21st century speaking should be about sharing great ideas, and converting those ideas into action. That’s what audiences are hungry for–fresh ideas, action, and impact.

Too many speakers derive authority from fancy titles, overhyped books, and relationships formed within elite institutions and events.

This outdated and homogenous culture not only breeds boredom and myopic thinking, but also reinforces structural inequalities.

Not everyone worthy of being heard has written a best-selling book or been to Davos.

It’s time to uncover and elevate the voices of extraordinary individuals making impact in the world, both locally and globally.

Wisdom also comes from years spent in the classroom, or organizing on the ground.

It derives from profound personal pain as well as transformative collective healing.

It is rooted, not in the number of years one has been on earth, but the creativity and innovation with which one has approached their calling.

It’s about time we honored that kind of wisdom.

It’s time to evolve beyond the antiquated “speaker circuit,” and create an ecosystem of thought leaders who are young, brilliant, diverse, and making a mark in the world.

This isn’t just talk. It’s about fresh ideas and more just world.

Source

Manifesto

FRESHSpeakers.com/about/manifesto

Comment

For me the great strength here is the consistency of message. On this page I’ve collected three ‘manifestos’ from the FRESH Speakers websites that points to this conviction.

The opening description
The formal manifesto
The note below

“FRESH Fact: We dedicate part of our commission to a special fun that supports speakers to visit communities that couldn’t normally afford to bring them. We think all audiences deserve to experience what our speakers have to offer.” (From their website)

Writing your manifesto is often the fun and easy part. The tougher task is to take consistent action in line with your declaration and your intention.

As FRESH Speakers state: “This isn’t just talk.”

Geelong Football Club: Theme Song

Creator

Past player John Watts was responsible for the Geelong Football Club’s theme song. He got together with his team-mates during the 1963 season to pen the words.

Fittingly, Geelong won the premiership that year.

Surprisingly, for a footy theme song the music is from an opera. It’s based upon The Toreador March, from the George Bizet’s Carmen.

Purpose

A football theme song is a great way to unite the players and supporters. In the AFL, typically the theme song is played after each match the team wins both on the loudspeakers at the ground and as a bonding ritual for the players in the rooms.

Manifesto

We are Geelong, the greatest team of all
We are Geelong; we’re always on the ball
We play the game as it should be played
At home or far away
Our banners fly high, from dawn to dark
Down at Kardinia Park

So! Stand up and fight, remember our tradition
Stand up and fight, it’s always our ambition
Throughout the game to fight with all our might
Because we’re the mighty blue and white
And when the ball is bounced, to the final bell
Stand up and fight like hell!

Source

Listen to an audio version here

The Official Geelong Football Team website

Geelong Football Club on Wikipedia

(image from Wikipedia)

All AFL football team club songs

John K Watts – creator of the song

Comment

In my opinion, the words here are less important here than the actual music and having a catchy chorus. It’s meant to be a rousing tune that is bellowed out by a crowd of players and supporters – not crooned by a sultry singer.

A look at the specific words reveals a few layers of good goal setting:

‘Greatest team of all’ is a strong and broad aspirational goal.
‘Play the game as it should be played’ is a statement of intent around the attitude of the players
‘Remember our tradition’ is a call to the past and all players and supporters that have gone before them
‘Fight with all our might’ is another creative statement of being and action.

The power of this theme song comes from its call to identity. It starts with the magic word ‘We’. And it boldly states who ‘we’ is: “We are the greatest team of all”. If you wanting to unite your team and community, an inclusive ‘we’ is a great place to start.

PS: I’m a Cats fan, that’s why I featured there song and not one from a rival club. Go Cats!

It’s also worth noting that there are occasional updates and tweaks to the lyrics and format.