1. Myth: It takes a great idea to start a great company.

Reality: In a visionary company the starting point is less important than
having the right people and the right approach.

  2. Myth: Visionary companies require great and charasmatic visionary leaders.

Reality: In visionary companies leaders focus consistenty on long term
viability and sustainability.

  3. Myth: The most successful companies exist first and foremost
to maximise profits.

Reality: In visionary companies there are several key objectives of which
making money is only one, and not necessarily the primary one.

  4. Myth: Visionary companies share a common subset of "correct" core values.

Reality: In visionary companies core values make sense, they are believed in,
and they are lived.

  5. Myth: The only constant is change.

Reality: Visionary companies are built on the foundation of core values which
rarely, if ever, change.  And yet, they are capable of great flexibility in
realising their goals.

  6. Myth: Blue-chip companies play it safe.

Reality: Visionary companies do not shy away from ambition and audacity.

  7. Myth: Visionary companies are great place to work for everyone.

Reality: A visionary company is a great place to work if there is alignment and
synergy between the person and the company.  People who are
unwilling or unable to fit in are unlikely to be around for long.

  8. Myth: Highly successful companies make their best moves by brilliant and
complex strategic planning.

Reality: Visionary companies evolve through experimentation, trial and error,
opportunism and accident.  They say, "let's just try a lot of stuff and
keep what works".

  9. Myth: Companies should hire outside CEOs to stimulate fundamental change.

Reality: In the best organisations mangerial talent is grown and placed internally.

 10. Myth: The most successful companies focus primarily on beating
the competition.

Reality: Visionary companies focus primarily on beating themselves.

 11. Myth: You can't have your cake and eat it too.

Reality: Visionary companies aim to have the right blend of all of the important
ingredients.  No objectives are automatically assumed to be mutually
exclusive.

 12. Myth: Companies become visionary primarily through "vision statements".

Reality: "Vision statements" are fine as long as they are translated into effective
execution.