Creating your Code

Becoming a successful pirate ship required a crew’s full effort. Thus, pirates created “pirate social insurance,” wherein proceeds from successful plunder were divided according to the pay scale established in the pirates’ code. Pirates built democratic communities on ships based on codes that ensured mutual benefits to all. Since pirate ships shared their plunder as a crew, their codes ensured full effort by all, no free-riders. Believe it or not, there was “pirate democracy” on pirate ships. In order to cooperate for mutual gainers and advance their criminal organization, pirates needed to prevent their outlaw society from degenerating into bedlam.

A Shared Ship needs a purpose that is shared by all parties. In order for people to join your ship, you need to have an emotional call to action and everyone needs a job to do. We stand for something: together we can change the world. People want to be a part of something bigger than themselves, but they also want a brand/organization to share that same mission, values, problems, and injustices.

Let’s explore your values and beliefs

This exercise is called Values Explorer and provides individuals and groups with the opportunity to develop clarity about values, both personal and professional. These act as motivators for achieving success at an individual or organizational level.

Why identify and establish your values?

Your values are made up of everything that has happened to you in your life, including influences from your parents and family, religious affiliation, friends and peers, education, and more. Successful people recognize these environmental influences, identifying and developing a clear, concise, and meaningful set of values, beliefs, and priorities. Once defined, values impact every aspect of our lives.

How can you use the Values Explorer?

Individual or Organizational: Sort the Values Explorer list into two topic areas: Always Valued and Never Valued. Using the 40 values below, sort the appropriate values for each topic area. Prioritize your top five Always Valued words from the least to most important. What values(s) are non-negotiable? Refer to the Never Valued topic areas. What is it about those values that you never consider and why?

The Values List

Collaboration

Affluence

Help Others

Authority

Community

Love

Adventure

Competition

Autonomy

Family

Courage

Justice

Fame

Knowledge

Influence

Happiness

Freedom

Compassion

Change

Integrity

Responsibility

Competence

Recognition

Achievement

Wisdom

Economic Security

Activity

Enjoyment

Reflection

Advancement

Loyalty

Balance

Order

Self-Respect

Challenge

Friendship

Personal Development

Spirituality

Creativity

Physical Fitness