The start of the new school year reminds me of distance learning last year. My daughter’s school posted a video every morning with news and a recitation of the pledge of allegiance.
This daily practice was a powerful mantra, sinking into my subconscious of a government worker.
This letter collects mottos from key institutions in my life, starting from the federal government down to mottos I’ve chosen for myself.
I highly recommend going through such an similar exercise for yourself. It doesn’t take long and it is powerful to regularly contemplate the sayings that were important for our predecessors.
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A Few Mottos to Start your Mornings
United States of America
United States of America, Pledge of Allegiance
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Official Motto of the United States of America
In God We Trust
Front of Great Seal of the United States
E pluribus unum
(Out of Many, One)
Reverse Side of the Great Seal of the United States
Annuit cœptis
Novus ordo seclorum
(Providence favors our undertakings)
(New order of the ages)
All for Our Country
State of Nevada, Official Motto
(Replacing the territorial motto “Volens et Potens”, Willing and Able)
Battle Born
State Nickname on our flag
(Most folks think this is our official Motto)
“Home” means Nevada, “Home” means the hills,
Refrain from Home Means Nevada (State song)
“Home” means the sage and the pines.
Out by the Truckee’s silvery rills,
Out where the sun always shines,
There is a land that I love the best,
Fairer than all I can see.
Right in the heart of the golden west
“Home” means Nevada to me.
State of Nevada Department of Administration
Vision
To provide excellent service.Mission
To serve Nevadans and help our customers by providing efficient and effective solutions.Priorities
(my bold)
Be responsive to customer needs.
Continually improve leadership and promote teamwork within the Department.
Support customer goals through innovative solutions and strategies.
Improve efficiency through continual review, automation, and improved transparency.
Support agency performance through workforce development.
State of Nevada Public Works Division
Vision
State agencies will occupy exemplary facilities.Mission
To provide well planned, efficient, and safe facilities to state agencies so they can effectively administer their programs.Philosophy
(my bold)
We work as a team to build consensus, we take pride in our work, and we serve with humility.
Other Mottos
Fiat Lux
University of California, Berkeley
(Let there be Light)
Rice University Seal
Letters, Science, Art
Nevada Learning Academy
Inspire. Create. Innovate.
“Qitian Dasheng”, Sun Wukong’s self adopted nickname
齊天大聖
(“Great Sage Equal to Heaven” is utterly ridiculous but I am fond of it as a reminder to go break eggs when an omlette is necessary)
“Jinzhong Baoguo”, Marshall Yue Fei’s tattoo
盡忠報國
(Utmost Loyalty, Serve the Country)
Italo Calvino’s personal motto, among others
Festina Lente
(Hurry Slowly)
Personal Mottos
To tinker and delight, together.
Personal Mission Statement
Grizzly Pear tag line
Notes on my production and consumption
OPM Letter tag line
Prompts to stretch the curious Owner PM.
Mantras are great. Who would disagree with “liberty and justice for all”?
So why are the pledge and the flag such contentious symbols? Because our aspirations also remind us of our current failures, and partisans have exploited these gaps to create divisive chasms of identity.
But we shouldn’t abandon a mantra due our shortcomings. Instead, lets use these regular reminders of our shared destination to fuel our efforts in closing the gap between ideal and reality.
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One Question
Is there an awesome motto that I’ve missed? If so I’d love to hear it!
Hit reply and let’s chat!
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Three Links
Cal Newport neatly summarizes Quentin Tarantino’s writing routine, which rolls a daily rhythm, eschewing raw frenzy.
How Mimi Dixon navigated our fraught culture to launch the Colors of the World crayons with Crayola.
Yumi Janairo Roth has a cheeky installation project with professional sign spinners working Sol Lewitt quotes. It reminds me of the Marquesse Scott video that introduced me to this niche.
… and a photo.
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Thanks for reading this OPM letter! I’d love to have a conversation if you have any feedback. I hope you found some prompts to stretch your craft and relationships as a curious Owner PM. See you next week!
Stay humble, be kind, and keep experimenting!
Justus Pang, RA