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How does an idea grow? And what does a raised garden bed have to do with it? In September, we got together for our mission statement event. The focus was on this year’s theme: “open to growth.” The program included a workshop on the idea-generation tool, a mini-Olympics, cooking together with vegetables from our own raised garden beds, and a dinner from Franky’s BBQ smoker.
A mission statement only comes to life when we understand and feel it in our everyday lives. That’s why the mission statement event on the theme of “open to growth” wasn’t just about talking about it, but also about experiencing it together. For us, being open to growth means staying open to new ideas, learning from one another, and making things better step by step—as individuals, as a team, and as a company.
We kicked things off with a workshop on our idea-generation tool. Good ideas often come up right where the work is happening—whether it’s on a project, at a client’s site, or during a coffee break. To make sure they don’t get lost, we need a place where they can be recorded, shared, and developed further.
In a workshop, we explored together how the idea tool works and how an initial thought can be turned into a concrete suggestion for improvement. It quickly became clear that every idea counts. Often, it’s the small improvements in everyday life that make the biggest difference. And sometimes, an idea just needs someone to pick it up and develop it further.
After so much mental work, it was time for some physical activity. In a mini-Olympics, the teams competed against each other in five events: the Kapla Challenge, darts, puzzles, emoji puzzles, and Memory.
The Kapla Challenge required steady hands despite the time pressure, while darts called for a keen eye. The puzzle and Memory games, above all, demanded teamwork. Who would take on which part, who would remember what, and what strategy would get the team to the finish line the fastest? The emoji puzzle relied on creativity as well as knowledge and experience. This is where it became clear just how well the generations complement each other. The younger participants deciphered the emojis, while the more experienced ones contributed the necessary knowledge. There was laughter, cheering, and fierce competition for every point—all while maintaining a balance of ambition and, of course, fairness. This was entirely in line with our guiding principle: When we learn from one another and adapt our strategies, we move forward together.
A special highlight was cooking the appetizer together. The project had already kicked off several weeks earlier. Each team planned its own menu. The teams planted and tended the ingredients for these dishes in their own raised beds over the summer. The final dishes included tomato soup, bruschetta, and even a melon tartare. What began as seedlings grew into something special through a lot of patience.
At the event, the harvest was brought fresh into the kitchen, where the teams prepared their appetizers together. We could hardly have wished for a more beautiful scene for our mission statement event. Growth requires fertile ground and people who stick with it. That’s just as true in the garden as it is here at our company.
After the homemade appetizer, Franky’s BBQ took over and provided dinner. We wrapped up the evening in a cozy atmosphere with delicious food from the smoker and good conversation.
A big thank you to the entire mission statement team—Rahel, Mike, Didier, Liam, Jeremias, and everyone who participated, gardened, cooked, and organized. The ideas from the workshop shouldn’t just end up gathering dust in a drawer. We look forward to further developing them in the idea tool. After all, we can only continue to grow if we stay committed.
