In this article, the author observes that while university officials believe that strategic planning will help them look past the day-to-day housekeeping and meet the challenges of a volatile environment, much of such planning appears mired in competitive self-replication and is vulnerable to distrust from the public and government. Too often, the strategic planning process on university campuses is an overly mechanical, stupefying celebration of cliches and the status quo. Mission statements have become so packed with values, visions, strategies, and college histories that it is hard to discern an inspiring purpose. The author alerts planners to the various uninspiring code words that are found in mission, values, and strategy statements that "celebrate" the status quo and instead encourages honesty, courage, and imagination.