Tag Archives: culture

11/7/19

Values >> Culture >> Reputation >> History

In the life-cycle of a company — be it a high tech startup or a paint manufacturer — the initial culture of the company is grown from the seed corn of the founders’ values.

The first challenge for any founder is to codify his/her values while recognizing that she/he owns the culture when the ink is still wet on the founding documents.

The culture is a living organism in much the same way that yeast provides life to dough and water to somehow magically become bread when presented to fire.

It is important to think about culture, but it will happen whether you think about it or not.

If you fail to think about and nurture your culture, then it will become whatever organism is blowing through the air. [The air is different in Silicon Valley than it is in, say, Austin By God Texas. Know this.]

In thinking about culture, go here: The Company Culture Series — a collection of 14 blog posts on the subject of culture.

Continue reading →

03/20/17

Uber – Cultural Wheels Falling Off?

Big Red Car here on a slightly cloudy Texas day. It is a good day because The Boss’s North Carolina Tarheels prevailed while the wicked Dukies were defeated by the valiant South Carolina Gamecocks. Go to Hell, Duke. [The Heels didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory, but they won and they advance.]

Duke loses

Duke’s Grayson “Tripper” Allen catches a glimpse of the scoreboard which says: “Y’all are losers, Dukies.” OMG, is that sweet or what? [Full disclosure, the second the Tarheels are out of the Dance, the Big Red Car is all, “Go Duke!”]

So, “Uber Uber Uber alles, Uber alles in der Welt” is having a few cultural issues. Recognize them for what they are — cultural challenges which start at the top.

Cultures are defined by the VALUES of the top dog. Lots of folks want to believe that culture comes mythically from the Culture Fairy, but, alas, that is not so. The CEO (founder) defines the culture when he unpacks his values in his fancy new office.

Therein lies the problem at Uber. The top dog, one Travis Cordell Kalanick has some very questionable values. No, let’s not say that. Let’s explore what’s happening over there at Uber and let you decide. So, no judgmental nonsense from the Big Red Car. You decide.

Continue reading →

04/30/14

Legacy v startup cultures

Big Red Car here.  Nice, lovely crisp day in the ATX.  Going to be a beauty–move to Texas kind of wonderful.  But, hey, you already knew that.

So The Boss’s offspring are an investment banker and a startup graphic designer.  One foot in a legacy company wrestling with becoming a more timely enterprise and a startup going through adolescence.  Got The Boss thinking about evolving ways to run a business. Continue reading →

11/22/13

THE Moments of Our Lives

Big Red Car here.  Hey, HOWDY, from the Big Red Car, ya’ll!  It’s a great day to be alive so enjoy it.

Bit of a storm blew through town last night — windy, cold front blew through.  Rainy and wet.  It’s 43F and it’s supposed to get down into the 30’s tonight.

Hey, Mother Nature, bring it, baby.  Bring it.

Continue reading →

05/15/13

Essential Ingredients in a Robust Company Culture

Big Red Car here.  Going to be a nice day in the ATX and a great day to discuss the essential ingredients in a robust Company Culture.

The Boss was looking through some old files and came upon a picture book from a company he founded and grew to almost 500 employees and then sold the assets.  It was a “good lick”.  It seemed to bring a smile to his face.

Continue reading →

05/14/13

Company Culture, an anecdote

Big Red Car here.  Company culture is an interesting topic and The Boss has started a series — The Company Culture Series — on the subject.

Recently he was meeting and laughing with an old pal of his with whom he had worked about 20 years ago and he was reminding The Boss of how he used to drill the company Mission Statement into the heads of his folks.  It’s a funny story that demonstrates several things.

Continue reading →