I couldn't agree more with the premise of this thread. Incidentally, a recent passion of mine has been the study of healthy organizational eco-systems. I have thought a lot about what type of organizational structure would best serve bitcoin as a whole and also it's individual participants. I truly feel that Dee Hock, the founder of Visa, Inc. has the key.
Some quick facts:
- Visa is the largest for-profit organization in the world.
- Visa is a non-stock, member owned company. It is owned and governed equally by it's over 20,000 member banks.
- Member/owner banks have maximum autonomy
- Visa is governed by all, yet dominated by none.
- Visa obviously must comply with all national governments, yet is not bound to a specific one.
- Visa is one of the most recognizable and trusted brands in the world.
- Visa had to overcome insurmountable odds and adversaries, just like bitcoin will!
- Many would argue that the key to Visa's success is not it's product/service, it is it's dynamic, adaptable, and principles grounded structure in pursuit of a common purpose.
Dee Hock wrote an unbelievable book chronicling his fascination (and obvious success) in creating a
Purpose-driven, Principles-bound organization. It's called
One from Many: Visa and the Rise of Chaordic Organization (hence my choice of nickname on this forum
). It is by far the best leadership and organizational structure book I have ever read (including graduate school in business). I highly recommend that anyone serious about forming a game-changing organization around bitcoin-concepts read his book. What's I find particularly fascinating is that Dee Hock embodies in his organizational principles nearly the exact same things that most bitcoiners hold dear, yet he does it without ever getting into a discussion of political philosophy.
As someone who would love to take the "plunge" into promulgating bitcoin professionally, I am certainly interested in setting up an official organization like this. I think what we need right now is very simple: a core group of people willing to commit to and serve each other professionally. Forming an actual organization, complete with organizational documentation (purpose & principles) and the ability to contract with individuals and other businesses, is the best way to move forward.
If you are interested in doing this at a more formal level, please email me at chaord.btc@gmail.com Please include some details about yourself, and an indication of resources you currently have at your disposal (time, expertise, assets, money/bitcoins, etc) that you are willing contribute towards a shared purpose. I will aggregate responses and set up an initial conference call where we can define our principles, declare our purpose, and design a structure that will be advantageous for all participants. Sound good? Ok! Let's do it!
