People have been asking me one question a lot lately:
“So… what’s the plan?”
Not in a skeptical way. In a hopeful way.
After I shared the idea of Project Zero in the last two issues, something interesting started happening.
More replies. More DMs. More momentum. It’s not just my idea anymore.
It’s becoming our movement.
But then a strange feeling crept in: “What now?”
When you walk into uncharted territory, chaos follows you around like a shadow. That’s where I am right now.
This isn’t just about copying the Japanese model. We can’t just copy and paste their system.
We need to ask the deeper question:
What do we actually believe in?
Because a great team isn’t just built with players. It’s built with culture.
And culture starts with clarity.
Before the Team, Comes the Culture
I always believe what holds a team together isn’t tactics. It’s values.
That’s why I’ve been thinking deeply about our foundation.
On this front, I’ve been deeply inspired by Shinji Shimada, the chairman of Japan’s B.League.
I’ve shared this before—when Shimada took over the Chiba Jets, who were on the brink of bankruptcy at the time, he didn’t rush to spend money on star players or chase big sponsorships.
Instead, the very first thing he did was write down a clear management philosophy—a guiding principle to align the entire organization and remind everyone to stay true to their purpose.
That philosophy became their compass. And over time, their culture became their competitive edge.
With Project Zero, we’re not copying Japan. We’re learning from them—and creating something Malaysian.
This week, I want to share our first draft of the Vision, Mission, and Core Values.
NOT as a press release. But as an invitation.
Here’s What We Believe (Draft V1)
This is the soul of what we’re building. It’s still raw. Still evolving. But it’s a starting point—one I hope you’ll help me shape.
The Vision (Why)
This speaks to:
- Joy — for the fans
- Pride — for the community and national identity
- Purpose — for the players, coaches, and team
And that final phrase? “Starting from zero, together” — that’s the heart of everything.
The Mission (What)
These values are not meant to live in a slide deck or a mission statement PDF. They’re meant to live in our habits, our practices, and our language—on and off the court.
Here’s our first draft of the Core Values of Project Zero:
1. Community First: We serve the community before we serve the scoreboard. Our team exists for the people—not above them.
2. Progress Over Perfection: We value small, consistent steps over big, unrealistic leaps. Even a one-point improvement matters.
3. Play With Heart: Whether we win or lose, we show up with integrity, hustle, and respect. We play for something bigger than ourselves.
4. Everyone Has A Role: Players, coaches, volunteers, content creators, fans—even haters—we all shape the team’s story. You matter.
5. Local First, Global Mindset: We root ourselves in Malaysian culture, but we learn from the best in the world. We think global, act local.
6. Build, Don’t Blame: When problems happen, we fix systems—not people. Mistakes are lessons, not punishments.
7. From Dream to Discipline: Vision is the starting line. But discipline is what gets us to the finish line. We stay consistent even when no one is watching.
Help Us Shape This Together
This isn’t final. It’s not branded or polished. It’s a draft. And I’m sharing it with you first.
Because if Project Zero is about building together—Then our values should also be built together.
So here’s what I’d love to know:
- Do any of these values resonate with you?
- Would you change, add, or remove anything?
- Which one feels most important to you?
Reply to this email. DM me. Comment if you see this on social.
Let’s make this real.
If we get the culture right, the rest will follow.
And if this feels like the soul of Project Zero—Let’s refine it together.
— Jordan
