A couple weeks ago I was asked by some fellow Atlantans if I wanted to write a piece on corporate culture for the Wall Street Journal’s series The Accelerators. The Accelerators is all about strategies and challenges of creating a new business. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity and wrote Perks Keep Turnover Low, Morale High. Now, the title makes it sound like perks are the story, which they aren’t, but that’s easier for people to grasp compared to the real message: corporate culture wins.
Here are a few takeaways from the article:
- Corporate culture is the most important thing
- Big exits do occur outside Silicon Valley
- Perks like four hours of housecleaning per month, a full-time masseuse, and health+dental make a difference
- Vacation policies are best when they are two simple words: be reasonable
Please read Perks Keep Turnover Low, Morale High. Perks don’t define a great culture but help reinforce that the company cares about the team — always start with core values.
David Cummings on Startups 
Have you ever written a post on “How I manage to write one post, every day”? That would be an interesting one. I continue to be impressed by your blog – I should have started reading it a few thousand posts ago. 🙂
JP
Jeremy Porter Director, Unified Communications Definition 6 o. 404.870.0323 x6325 m. 404.641.9023
blog: Defining Insights twitter: @Definition6 + @JeremyPorter facebook: Definition 6 linkedin: Jeremy Porter
From: , 000 Startup Hours – David Cummings <comment-reply@wordpress.com> Reply-To: “10,000 Startup Hours – David Cummings” <comment+c34ql38vs7dvlix568bkuh@comment.wordpress.com> Date: Monday, February 11, 2013 8:05 PM To: Jeremy Porter <jeremy.porter@definition6.com> Subject: [New post] WSJ Piece on Corporate Culture at Pardot
David Cummings posted: “A couple weeks ago I was asked by some great Atlantans if I wanted to write a piece on corporate culture for the Wall Street Journal’s series The Accelerators. The Accelerators is all about strategies and challenges of creating a new business. Of course, “
David-
Great piece. Ultimately, it comes back to the Golden rule of treating others the way you’d want to be treated yourself. If that attitude permeates an organization then great things can happen. We’re applying the same philosophy to allowing employees to drive their own group fitness/recreational activities and seeing some great results with our employer clients. Would love to hear your thoughts on our approach.
thanks
Prem
David, this post’s timing couldn’t have been more apropos.
Just yesterday afternoon I received a package from Pardot, along with a book, card, and t-shirt, thanking me for the time spent demo-ing your product.
Thanks for sharing this — great read and very inspiring. ATL native myself, just moved to NYC to run marketing at a tech startup. Always learning from you and others.
Great job on highlighting culture and startups in Atlanta, David!
Aarjav (mobile)
Love this post, love the article, but I can’t help but laugh when I think of the term “great Atlantans” — idk why, I just imagine you being approached by two giant living statue men with scepters, asking you to write a blog post for the WSJ in order to save the world.