Culture

Well, well, well- how perfect is this; According to Merriam-Webster, culture is the word of the year for 2014. 

So let’s talk about culture:

It is what we talk about regularly here at TalenAlexander. (Company Culture that is.) We think culture where you work, matters- more than anything. We’ve all done our time around those people and in those places we used to report to 40+ hours a week that felt like they sucked the energy right out of us. Life is way too short for that. Everyday can’t be butterflies and roses, and we all have differences of opinion in the workplace occasionally- but we think if you don’t get excited about the actual work you do, thrive in the environment you tackle your tasks in, or have  at least some sort of love for the people you are professionally attached to, exhaustion, frustration, and failure will come knocking at your door sooner than later. Who wants that?

If you don’t like what you’re doing, where you are doing it, or who you are doing it with (ahem- keep it clean, people) then what are you doing it for? 

There’s a book we love by Patagonia owner, Yvon Chouinard called Let My People Go Surfing, that  came out years ago before the subject of Company Culture and Work-life balance were trending topics. As much as we’d like to credit Mr. Chouinard with the rocket scientist medal, his book is simple common sense; Whatever schedule/practice/way works best for you, works for us if you just do your job and get things done. Go surfing if the waves are good, hit the slopes if there’s fresh powder, take care of your family if someone is sick, run that errand if you really need to. “Do” your life, keep the balance so you stay happy and healthy.

Brilliant.

It’s amazing (and not in a good way) that still- in almost 2015, how many bully-bosses, whip-cracking companies, and drone-zone workers there still are out there. Seems like we grow up expecting that work “should” only and always feel like work, and a career must be too good to be true if you actually like it. So backwards!

I took this photo last week while in Key Largo as I tagged along on a boat ride with a group of scuba divers. (That’s my kind of meeting!) Who says you can’t work from the road? That’s where I get my best work done and my team knows that, so they regularly wave me off with a smile when I have the opportunity to travel. We all encourage each other to do whatever works to meet and exceed our client expectations, and just like Patagonia- it has proven to be successful. Ok, so we aren’t quite a multi-bazillionaire industry-altering company yet, but…we’re definitely never going back to those 40+ hour a week prison offices of the past and we are always going to fight to keep doing work we love. Because of that, we know we have a long and thrilling road ahead, full of welcomed challenges, personal growth, and a whole lotta fun as we continue to do great work. We hope to inspire you to do the same.

How does your company culture measure up?

In 2015, we challenge you to give your employees and coworkers some space to be who they are and do what they do best. We promise you will see your business thriving even more- in no time. (And if you need an extra kick in the pants to make this happen- call us, we will happily spend some time coaching you through releasing the death-grip of control on outdated work practices:)

#LoveYourCulture #LetMyPeopleGoSurfing #InspiringCompanies