We talk about mojo quite a bit. Do you have it, what it is, how it works, how you can build it, etc. And while we're keen to spend time working on programs and resources to help folks capture it, we realized we hadn't stopped and got to the essence of what all this mojo business really is.   

So we asked Small Giants author Bo Burlingham if he'd take a moment and share with us what mojo inspires and what the six specific characteristics of companies with mojo are. (We figure that having them here for your consumption would make it easier for you when you're emailing your friends and acquaintances to tell them about the Small Giants movement. You ARE emailing them? Right? Facebooking? Tweeting? Sending up smoke signals?)   

Here's what he sent us. Hope you enjoy it.  

Building Mojo,

Glenn Burr

First  Officer of Mojo
The Small Giants Community  

WHAT IS MOJO?  

Mojo is the organizational equivalent of charisma. When a leader has charisma, you want to follow him or her. When a business has mojo, you want to be associated with that business. You want to buy from it, sell to it, work for it, wear its t-shirts and caps, read books about it, attends its events, and generally be connected to it in any way you can. In short, mojo is the feeling you get when you're in the presence of greatness in business.  

THE SIX COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPANIES WITH MOJO

1. The owners/leaders know who they are, what they want out of business, and why.
2. The company is deeply rooted in the communities in which it does business.
3. The company works to maintain close, personal ties with customers and suppliers.
4. The company has a culture of intimacy, based on "caring for people in the totality of their lives" and a mutual understanding and appreciation of the responsibilities of owners and employees toward one another.
5. The owner/leaders have a burning passion for what the company does.
6. The company has a sound business model and takes care to protect its gross margins.