(Culture is King)

I know there are more than a few critical elements in any successful business, but in my limited experience I’ve learned that culture is king. It’s a part of the day-to-day, week-to-week and year-to-year.

A strong company culture all starts with people. You need the best people, and we’re lucky to have the best at Block Club. You need to create an environment where each person can find fulfillment and satisfaction in their job everyday. Your company should be a place where your team can grow while working through self-learning and exploration. Some people say that work needs to be fun - I hope they mean that it needs to be fulfilling.

I disagree with the idea that building a strong culture comes from having a foosball table and beer in the fridge. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that you’re trying to mask everyone’s general lack of enthusiasm by painting walls bright colors, forcing parties and bonding experiences, hanging inspirational signs, and buying a Wii. These things don’t hurt (note to self: buy more beer), but building a strong culture isn’t this elementary.

I’ve thought a lot about what makes our culture great, but it’s been difficult to distill the last five years of team work into a few solid ideas. Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be posting my thoughts on our culture. I’m really looking forward to sharing our experiences and all of the things we’re still learning.