My dearest owners and founders:

I want to express my deepest admiration and affection for each and every one of you. Some time ago you decided to transform your skills and wisdom into a business. Unsure of what the future may look like. That is a testament to your remarkable spirit - and I love it.

Many of us will have rolled our eyes when we've received an invitation to join our colleagues in a meeting room to discuss our values. Writing the same tired old tropes on a whiteboard or flip charts can seem like a waste of time. The values are written up at the end of the session, immortalized in a few documents, and promptly forgotten. It seems like a massive waste of time.