/Purpose

From your friends at Fictive Kin

This page exists, because we think the world would be a better place if the people trying to shape it spoke openly and plainly about their vision for the future.

We think a fine place to do that is on your own /purpose page, like this:

http://yourlovelysite.com/purpose

It’s a great space to share the “why” behind the “what”. The thing that gets you out of bed in the morning.

Sharing your purpose means being explicit about the place you ultimately want to take people and about the metrics you use for measuring success. By doing that, you elevate the dialog you can have with users and treat them with greater respect. You also bring them along for the ride, transforming future updates from arbitrary change to progress. Sounds pretty good, right?

If you’re nodding in agreement, why not join us by putting up your own /purpose page? It’s a simple idea for a better world. One in which users are treated as collaborators and co-conspirators, makers are held accountable for their vision, and everyone has a merry, jolly, hell of a good time.

Dos & Don’ts

In case these help clarify what this is all about, here are some rules we try to abide by.

Do

Be personal. Talk more like you would to a group of friends than to a customer.
Focus on the story of why you’re doing what you’re doing.
Describe where you want to take people. What does the world look like if you’re successful? Big picture stuff, not features.
Share, as best as you can, how you will measure success.
Include a link to slashpurpose.org, so this idea can spread.

Don’t

Make this another about page. If it seems like an about page, you’re probably not focusing on why.
Oversell. This isn’t the place to sell users on what you’re doing. It’s where you sell them on why you’re doing it.
Feel like you have to have one, but if you’re convinced this is a good idea, join us!