Be Do Have for Communities: How Culture (Be) Drives Collective Action (Do) and Shared Success (Have)

When we think about the “Be, Do, Have” framework, we often think about it at a personal level:

• Who am I becoming?
• What actions am I taking?
• What results am I creating?

But what if we zoomed out and applied this powerful framework to communities?
To families, organizations, neighborhoods, movements?
The same principle holds true — and it has the power to transform groups of people just as profoundly as individuals.

In fact, thriving communities are built the same way thriving individuals are:

• Be – First, by shaping identity and culture.
• Do – Then, by taking unified, purposeful actions towards your mission.
• Have – Finally, by experiencing shared success and flourishing.

If we want to build stronger, healthier, purpose-driven communities, we must start with who we collectively choose to become.

The Power of “Be” in Communities: Shaping Culture

Culture is the “Be” of a community.
It’s the invisible atmosphere that shapes how people think, interact, and make decisions together.

Culture answers powerful questions like:

• Who are we as a people?
• What do we stand for?
• How do we treat one another?
• What matters most to us?

Before a community can expect to produce great results or solve big problems, it must become a place rooted in strong, shared identity and values.

A community’s culture is either built intentionally — or by accident.
And when culture is weak, fractured, or unclear, collective action becomes divided, chaotic, and ineffective.

When culture is strong, however:

• Trust grows.
• Unity forms.
• Vision becomes clear.
• People are willing to sacrifice for the greater good.

Simply put: Culture is the soil. Action is the fruit.

The “Do” of Communities: Unified Action Flows from Shared Identity

When the “Be” — the culture — is healthy, action (Do) becomes powerful and unified.

Communities with strong cultures naturally:

• Collaborate instead of compete.
• Solve problems with creativity and ownership.
• Encourage leadership at every level.
• Serve one another with joy and generosity.

Unified identity drives unified action.
People know what they are building together, and they are energized to contribute.

This is why some teams, churches, neighborhoods, and movements thrive while others flounder.
It’s not first about how talented the individuals are — it’s about how aligned they are in who they have chosen to be together.

The “Have” of Communities: Shared Success and Collective Flourishing

When a community is rooted in strong culture (Be) and unified in action (Do), shared success (Have) becomes inevitable.

Shared success looks like:

• Economic flourishing.
• Strong families.
• Innovation and growth.
• Justice and restoration.
• A legacy that blesses future generations.

Communities that live by “Be, Do, Have” principles create environments where people don’t just survive — they thrive together.

It’s no longer about isolated wins for a few individuals.
It’s about collective progress where everyone has a place and a purpose.

Practical Steps to Build Be Do Have for Communities

✅ Clarify the Culture (Be).
Have intentional conversations about values, vision, and identity.
Examples:

• “We are a community that honors and uplifts one another.”
• “We value excellence, service, and creativity.”
• “We believe in growth over gossip.”

✅ Align Actions with Culture (Do).
Evaluate community programs, projects, and everyday interactions:

• “Does this action reflect our shared values?”
• “Are we solving problems the way our identity calls us to?”

✅ Celebrate Collective Wins (Have).
Acknowledge and celebrate when the community lives out its identity and achieves milestones.
This reinforces the cycle and builds deeper pride and ownership.

✅ Guard the Culture Fiercely.
Culture must be protected from division, negativity, and mission drift.
Leaders must be willing to course-correct when actions don’t align with values.

Final Thoughts on Be Do Have for Communities

Communities don’t thrive by accident — they thrive by design.
The “Be, Do, Have” framework shows us that success begins not with doing more, but with becoming more together.

Be — Create a strong, unified culture.
Do — Act in alignment with your identity.
Have — Experience the joy of shared success.

Whether you’re building a family legacy, a church, a business, or a neighborhood movement, remember this:
Who you become together determines what you accomplish together.

Thriving communities are not just built — they are become.