Culture eats strategy for breakfast. – Peter Drucker
That quote hit me like a ton of bricks the first time I heard it. Over the years, it’s only grown more true.
When I stepped into the leadership role at Rock Paper Scissors in 2013, I had a clear goal: build a place where people didn’t just come to work—they came to stay. I was tired of watching incredible team members burn out and move on after only a few years. It wasn’t just frustrating, it was disheartening. We spend most of our waking hours with the people we work with—shouldn’t we actually enjoy it?
That belief sparked a new vision. I started thinking about what it would mean to create a company where someone could build their entire career. That shift changed everything. We had to rethink our structure, our benefits, our leadership style—and most importantly, our culture.
This blog series is the result of more than two decades of leadership lessons, experiments, and hard-earned insights. Some of our team members have been with us for over 10 years. Others are just beginning that journey. But what we’ve learned over the last 12 years—especially since realigning our culture—is what I want to share here.
This isn’t a “how to flip your culture in 30 days” kind of thing. It’s about building something lasting and real. Here’s what we’ll be covering in the weeks ahead:
1. Building Culture Takes Time
Culture isn’t a quick fix. It’s a long, deliberate climb. We use Maslow’s hierarchy of needs as our framework, ensuring each level is addressed thoughtfully before moving to the next.
2. Celebrate the Individual – See the Whole Person
People thrive when they’re seen, valued, and nurtured. Much like a plant, a person needs the right conditions to grow. We also recognize that sometimes a great person is just in the wrong seat—and it’s our job to help reposition them.
3. A Team, Not a Family
We used to call ourselves a family, but we’ve learned that being a team is more powerful—and honest. Families are permanent; teams are intentional. Every seat is earned, and every player contributes.
4. Everyone Builds the Culture
Culture isn’t top-down—it’s co-created. And it evolves every team member helps shape it, and it shifts as the team shifts.
5. Friendship at Work
You need people you actually like working with. When friendships flourish, people stay longer, work harder, and bring their full selves to the job.
6. Field Trips Are for Grown-Ups Too
Just like in school, stepping out of the routine together strengthens relationships and sparks fresh energy. We believe in field trips, even for adults.
7. Everyone Needs Something to Own
Ownership drives commitment. Everyone on our team gets to choose something that’s theirs to own—something they can dig into and shape.
8. Continuing Education
People want to grow. If you don’t create space for learning and exploration, they’ll outgrow the job and leave.
9. Leading Culture
As leaders, we set the tone. That means living our values, practicing the Golden Rule, and modeling the culture we want to see.
10. Long-Term Team – How to Endure
Life comes in seasons—your twenties aren’t your forties. We’ve learned how to flex with our team members as their lives change, so they don’t feel like they have to leave to grow.
11. Hire for Culture, Train for Skill
Skill can be taught. Alignment with our culture and values? That’s non-negotiable.
12. Communication in a Team
How we talk matters. We’ve created standards for meetings, email, Slack, texts—and when it’s time to just pick up the phone.
13. Resentment and Clear Communication
Resentment is a silent culture killer. Often, it grows in the space where communication is unclear or inconsistent. This post unpacks how transparency, timely feedback, and shared expectations can prevent frustration from festering—and what to do when it already has.
14. How to Get Team Buy-In
Culture only works when everyone’s on board. This post explores how we invite, inspire, and sometimes challenge our team to not just accept the culture—but take ownership of it. From onboarding to feedback loops, we’ll share the methods that have helped us align our people with our purpose.
15. Location – In-Person vs Hybrid vs Remote
We’ve tested it all. And we’ll share how we’ve adapted our culture to thrive across different work environments.
This is a journey we’re still on. There’s no perfect culture—but there are practices and principles that make a lasting difference. I’m excited to share what’s worked (and what hasn’t) in the hope that it inspires you to build a culture that truly feeds your strategy—and your people.
Let’s dig in.
Black Creek Business Coaching 