What one word would you use to describe your company culture?
I loved this brief, recent article in Xconomy. The author, Gregory T. Huang, asked six CEO’s for one simple word to describe their company culture. And to defend it. The words selected for the various company culture descriptions were:
- Paranoid
- Execution
- Competent
- Humble
- Easy
- Obsessessed
Of course, I had to think about the single word for Daily Grommet, and I’d have to go with what D.C. Denison said about us in a recent Boston Globe article: Adventurous
When we started the company Joanne and I agreed that our goal was to give our customers a daily “ten second adventure.” That early wordsmith-ing is still posted on an office door. So when we read the article we all just smiled and said, “Wow. He got us.” The reality is that no one has ever done what we do before: combining original content, community, actual commerce and live conversation in one simple vehicle. And trying new technologies all the while. As one of our writers, Emily Costello recently said, “It’s just hitting me. Daily really does mean daily.”
Beyond that we take personal and commercial responsibility for the Grommet choices. We test a lot of crazy products. We back young unknown companies. And we stick our faces on video. How many company teams wake up to that reality every day? Adventurous covers it.
But, I would love to know what words other people would use to describe their own company culture. Feel free to leave an anonymous comment if you need to protect your job! (Or also feel free to re-do the Daily Grommet word, if you think we might be better served with another idea.)
Photo sourced here.
P.S. As a follow on, Bob Buderi of Xconomy did a nice Boston version of this article. You can see it here. Some interesting CEO answers coming out of the local leadership and their companies.
Jules Pieri 
9 Responses to “What one word would you use to describe your company culture?”
CONTAGIOUS!
That’s my word.
I just started my business six weeks ago and was blessed to have received my first 1,000-piece order this week.
I’ve hired nine employees and after today’s meeting, four told me that my energy and enthusiasm is “CONTAGIOUS!” Two just left me messages and said, “I’m 100% committed” and “I am so excited to be a part of this experience!”
I’m lovin’ doin’ some good in the world!
Smooth. Since I got started, everything seems to have fallen into place! It hasn’t been cheap or easy by any means, but I do feel sure that going into business for myself was what I was supposed to do! It’s slow and steady but I think I’m on the right track…
Tamara–I think the majority of entrepreneurs who read your word “smooth” will be envious! What is your secret?
Well, my secret is probably an over-active sense of optimism. 😉 I tend to make lemonade when given lemons. We’ve had some setbacks and I’ve made some mistakes, but looking back on them, they always seems to have led me to better things!
@Tamara I like your style.
I just wanted to drop in and thank you for taking the time out of your very active day to write this. I shallbe back to read more in the future as well..berore long
wow… nice!!!! I love it!
An interesting discussion is worth comment. I think that you should write more on this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers
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