The First Book on Mars: A Simple Exercise Every Boardroom Needs

In an age of relentless innovation and digital distraction, it's easy for businesses to lose sight of their core mission. We become so focused on the next metric, the next quarter, or the next "disruptive" technology that we forget the foundational purpose of our work.

At Rome Public Adjusting, our work is to help people navigate moments of profound loss, restoring what is rightfully theirs with honesty, diligence, and compassion. It is a ministry of justice, and it is guided by the principle that "People Are For Caring." This mission, though specific to our field, is a truth that applies to every boardroom and every business culture.

To inspire leaders to reconnect with their purpose, we recommend a simple exercise for every company in America to conduct. It takes just a few minutes, but the insights it yields can be transformative.

The Exercise: A Tale of Two Print Shops

Gather your team in the boardroom and pose the first question:

Imagine SpaceX has successfully colonized Mars, and a print shop has finally been established. What do you suppose the first book chosen to be printed on Mars will be?

Write down all the answers on a whiteboard—you'll likely hear a range of ideas, from a book of laws to a technical manual, a national constitution, or a work of great literature. As a group, vote on which one you believe would be the most popular choice.

After the vote, introduce the second question:

Four hundred years ago, a similar experience happened on these very shores. In the American colonies, with a new world to build, our ancestors established their first printing press. What do you suppose they decided to print as their very first book?

Again, vote on the most popular answer.

The truth is surprising. The first book printed in the American colonies was The Bay Psalm Book—a collection of Biblical hymns and prayers.

It was not a book of law, a technical manual, or a financial ledger. It was a book of worship. It was a testament to the belief that the true foundation of their new enterprise was not material, but spiritual.

What Has Changed?

The contrast between what we might prioritize today and what our ancestors prioritized centuries ago is a powerful reflection on what has changed in our culture. We have moved from a society that chose to first print a book of worship to one that might first print a technical manual for a new world.

This shift isn't a critique of technology or ambition. It is an invitation to pause and reflect on the foundation of our work.

We invite every boardroom to ask this question: Are we building our enterprise on the fleeting trends of the market or on an enduring foundation of truth and purpose?

As a company that believes in building on solid ground, Rome Public Adjusting stands ready to assist you in navigating your own challenges with honesty, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to justice.

what is the first book they will publish up there?