--- title: It is the principle of the thing! description: Be principle-based, data-driven, holistically strategic, and customer-centric to innovate and build anything (an extended enterprise). image: https://extendedimpact.com/hubfs/Principles.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/it-is-the-principle-of-the-thing#main-content) ![EIMG stone pyramid](https://extendedimpact.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EIMG%20stone%20pyramid.jpg?width=500&height=500&name=EIMG%20stone%20pyramid.jpg) - [Home](https://extendedimpact.com/) - [About](https://extendedimpact.com/about) - [Contact](https://extendedimpact.com/contact) - [Services](https://extendedimpact.com/services) Show submenu for Services - [My Biz Dev Revenue Strategist](https://extendedimpact.com/services/my-bd-revenue-advisor) - [My Fractional Project Manager](https://extendedimpact.com/services/fractional-consulting) - [My Extended Enterprise](https://extendedimpact.com/services/quarterbacked-relations) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Home](https://extendedimpact.com/) - [About](https://extendedimpact.com/about) - [Contact](https://extendedimpact.com/contact) - [Services](https://extendedimpact.com/services) Show submenu for Services - [My Biz Dev Revenue Strategist](https://extendedimpact.com/services/my-bd-revenue-advisor) - [My Fractional Project Manager](https://extendedimpact.com/services/fractional-consulting) - [My Extended Enterprise](https://extendedimpact.com/services/quarterbacked-relations) - [Contact us](https://meetings.hubspot.com/don207/lets-connect) [Contact us](https://meetings.hubspot.com/don207/lets-connect) Dec 5, 2023 10:30:22 AM # It is the principle of the thing! ![Picture of Don Stephenson](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/ad16b434abce58fa4657cf2b515cc35f) [Don Stephenson](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/author/don-stephenson) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/it-is-the-principle-of-the-thing) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/it-is-the-principle-of-the-thing) [Twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/it-is-the-principle-of-the-thing) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/it-is-the-principle-of-the-thing) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/it-is-the-principle-of-the-thing) **How would you like to guarantee your outcome? Or increase your odds of success? Sure, you would, who wouldn’t?** You’ve probably said or heard, “*It is the principle of the thing*!” What does this mean? Generally, it means someone is trying to convince another person to do something that they aren’t sure about. When we use “*It is the principle of the thing*,” we are using this phrase at a much deeper level. The word principle is defined in Oxford's Dictionary as: 1. a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior, or for a chain of reasoning. 2. a generic scientific theorem or law. Therefore, a principle is a kind of rule, belief, or idea that guides you.  It is this deeper definition of principlethat intrigues me. I’ve explored principles throughout my life and career in situational context to solve problems and improve performance. **What if we could uncover, identify, and apply key foundational principles to benefit our own lives, team members, organizations, and communities?** Here’s an example. **Stephen Covey’s** *The 7 Principles of Effective Leadership*. Remember… ...Begin with the end in mind. (principle) …Seek first to understand, then to be understood. (principle)*: * If we can, we can use these key principles, that are tried, true and proven, as guides to innovate and build anything, like a business enterprise, nonprofit organization, sales team, or fundraising department. [*Extended Impact’s*](https://extendedimpact.com/) Northstar is built upon the principle of an extended enterprise (trusted, resourceful relationships and partnerships). We believe in being principle-based, data-driven, holistically strategic, and customer-centric. The main premise of our blog, *Principle* Impact: Maximize performance by leveraging proven, guiding principles, is to explore and present aspects of key principles to help you make your personal and professional life easier and more rewarding. Stay tuned! Learn more about Organizational Revenue Readiness principles [here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc3miH7xS42fIc_qBakSaKv69af5sXm27EaKHP6cFKkcknA4g/viewform?usp=sf_link). [Principles](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/tag/principles) ## Related posts [![The devil is in the details](https://extendedimpact.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/the%20devil%20is%20in%20the%20details.jpeg?height=200&name=the%20devil%20is%20in%20the%20details.jpeg)](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/the-devil-is-in-the-details) [Key Principles](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/tag/key-principles), [Strategy](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/tag/strategy), [Impact](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/tag/impact) ## [The devil is in the details.](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/the-devil-is-in-the-details) ![Picture of Don Stephenson](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/ad16b434abce58fa4657cf2b515cc35f) [Don Stephenson](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/author/don-stephenson) Jun 17, 2024 2:32:44 PM Ludwig Mies van der Rohe has been attributed to coming up with “the devil is in the details.” He... [Read more](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/the-devil-is-in-the-details) [![](https://extendedimpact.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/The%20image%20depicts%20a%20modern%20office%20environment%20filled%20with%20bright%2c%20natural%20light.jpeg?height=200&name=The%20image%20depicts%20a%20modern%20office%20environment%20filled%20with%20bright%2c%20natural%20light.jpeg)](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/first-things-first) [Key Principles](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/tag/key-principles), [Strategy](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/tag/strategy), [Impact](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/tag/impact) ## [First things first!](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/first-things-first) ![Picture of Don Stephenson](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/ad16b434abce58fa4657cf2b515cc35f) [Don Stephenson](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/author/don-stephenson) Mar 7, 2025 4:55:50 PM I work with business leaders who have the drive and desire for optimized organizations. I help... [Read more](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/first-things-first) [![](https://extendedimpact.com/hs-fs/hubfs/The%20fortune%20is%20in%20the%20follow-up%20-%20edited.jpg?height=200&name=The%20fortune%20is%20in%20the%20follow-up%20-%20edited.jpg)](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/the-fortune-is-in-the-follow-up) [Key Principles](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/tag/key-principles), [Impact](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/tag/impact), [Systems](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/tag/systems) ## [The fortune is in the follow-up.](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/the-fortune-is-in-the-follow-up) ![Picture of Don Stephenson](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/ad16b434abce58fa4657cf2b515cc35f) [Don Stephenson](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/author/don-stephenson) Apr 17, 2024 11:19:25 AM I believe Jim Rohn, who is an American entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker, is... [Read more](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/the-fortune-is-in-the-follow-up) [linkedin-in icon](https://www.linkedin.com/in/donstephenson) - [Home](https://extendedimpact.com) - [About](https://extendedimpact.com/about) - [Contact](https://extendedimpact.com/contact) - [Services](https://extendedimpact.com/services) --- [![Logo](https://extendedimpact.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EIMG%20stone%20pyramid-1.jpg?width=500&height=500&name=EIMG%20stone%20pyramid-1.jpg "Logo")](https://extendedimpact.com/) 11 Parklands Dr., Unit 1227, Bluffton SC 29910 Email: [don@extendedimpact.com](mailto:don@extendedimpact.com)  Direct: (843) 940-7012 Copyright © 2026, Extended Impact Management Group LLC ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Don Stephenson", "url" : "https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/author/don-stephenson" }, "dateModified" : "2023-12-15T20:23:04.789Z", "datePublished" : "2023-12-05T15:30:22.000Z", "headline" : "It is the principle of the thing!", "image" : [ "https://extendedimpact.com/hubfs/Principles.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/it-is-the-principle-of-the-thing", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://extendedimpact.com/hubfs/EIMG%20stone%20pyramid-1.jpg" }, "name" : "Extended Impact Management Group LLC" } } ```