I recently had an online chat with a friend going through some unexpected relationship changes. He talked about his past and it struck me how he said, "Once I stopped simply chasing tail,..."

There is a quote from the CEO of one of my favorite companies, Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh, who mentions in his new book, Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose, Zappos became successful once he turned his attention away from chasing profits and toward the satisfaction and mentorship of his staff.

Since one lead to long term success, and one lead to failure long term, could you argue that my friend should have never stopped chasing tail? I wouldn't. He had the chance to be something better.

So, what does this have to do with software? Absolutely everything. The companies who are trying agile who don't understand why it is failing are failing to understand that it is a change of focus and mindset. You aren't going to do agile right if you are still chasing profits as your first priority. It isn't even possible. The founders and manifesto don't say anything about that, because the cost of entry seems low if you don't talk about the important stuff. The reason to use the agile manifesto as a guide when developing software is that you get the chance to be something better and more human, no matter the result. If you turn a profit or not, you'll still be improving incrementally.

So, why take the chance? Have you seen the end point of the other path? Really? Take a hard look at it. Is THAT where you want to go? Chasing profits leads to an unsatisfying end that is nearly always unsustainable. Stressed out employees in charge of huge chaotic outsourced operations. Cutting quality wherever possible. Cutting customer service. We see it all over the place at this point. It isn't idealistic to suggest there is another way. Companies are doing so right now, and they are improving their reputation with their customers and employees for taking the chance to try something better.

That brings me to process. A "maturity model" process "improvement" has a goal of making you more efficient in chasing tail. It says, "We'll come down to the gutter where you are and help you chase tail as efficiently as you possibly can!" There are many mercenaries who currently will sell you agile in the gutter. They say, "We'll come use agile to help you chase tail. Yes you can stay in the gutter there and we'll do some agile process." How about that agile manifesto though? It requires you to put people before process to follow it. It is really offering you a chance to focus on something else. It is a chance to be better. It is a humanist manifesto. It is about doing something more than chasing profits. Why? Because if you succeed, it will be sustainable long term, and even if you fail you'll have a better experience failing and at least you aspired for something worth trying for.

So, does this make me a member of the "cult of agile?" Maybe. Just the manifesto though, not the movement and what it has become. That is something entirely other than the intent of agile.