Covert Ops

When freedom to build meets the prison of processes

My favorite stories are of underdogs overcoming enormous odds to emerge victorious. Think Luke Skywalker going from farm boy on a desert planet to defeating the dreaded Empire or Frodo Baggins from mild-mannered hobbit to defeating the dark lord Sauron.

Underdogs are the backbone of the hero’s journey. We cheer on the underdogs in feel good articles in the newspaper. The crowds rally around the challenger that survives near disaster to cross the finish line. When it comes to underdogs in the corporate world though, it’s a dog eat dog world.

The storyline in most companies would more align to the show Survivor than the hero’s journey. Everyone is positioning to stay on the island. Of course, not every company is like this, but there is no denying that even in great company cultures, politics always exists.

In larger organizations, size and scale create a fervent bed for politics. It is more important to protect your team and budget rather than let another team enter your turf. This is the “one pie” view of the world, where resources are limited, and you have to grab your slice before someone else takes it. This is what budget season often feels like.

Another category of movies that I love is the escape film. My favorite of the genre is the 1963 film The Great Escape. It was based on the true story of Allied officers that broke out of a maximum security, “escape proof” German prison during World War II.

I find escape films interesting because they delve into the psychological balance between…