e-Talk Radio: Lister, Tim, 10 October 2000

it, and you need an outsider perspective to come in. Those two companies in no way surprise me. I see all variations or forms of that, where you can tell a story about one company to another company, and they can't believe it. And then you can tell the story back the other way to the first company, and they won't believe that. I have clients who are… I now keep track of what the local dress habit is, because the dress code goes from jacket and tie to Dockers to blue jeans to anything short of being naked. And I have a client where you can bring your pets to work. And so you'll talk to somebody and there's a Golden Retriever kind of slobbering on your shoes, and that's cool, and then you go tell another client that people bring their cats and dogs in to work, and they think they're insane. I think, especially now, what I'd say is, look, if the corporate culture you're in doesn't make you feel comfortable and safe and secure, and as though you're really participating and feeling good about your surroundings, take a look around. Now's a great time to interview other companies. It's turned the other way. You interview them, they don't interview you if you've got some skills. And find a culture that you fit. If you're a young, single person and think the best thing in life is getting into the corporate jet to work hard and play hard in Las Vegas, well, okay. But we all know, not everybody's thrilled with that culture. Nor would they be thrilled with the kind of maternalistic, paternalistic culture of SAS in North Carolina. You can have enormous variations and still have health. You're going to draw certain kinds of people. Clearly, not everyone is thrilled with the idea of jetting off to Las Vegas with everybody you work with all the time. You have a different life, and a family, and things like that. But certain people fit right in. What worries me is when the culture is kind of counterproductive, where people don't feel like they've got a real shot at giving their best productivity to an organization, and feeling pleased and satisfied with their work. I live in New York, and in New York, the cultures of the companies I see around New York City are hilarious. There's one company I won't name, because it kind of sounds ……., they're very, very aggressive. They pay better than anyone else, even in New York City, and they tell you, they say, "If you're really good, we'll give you a job offer. And if you work okay for the first year, we're going to fire you. Because you have to be very, very good." And they'll fire anywhere from 10% to 25% of their staff every year and then hire new people. And every year, you have to be really, really good and you get to play. And they work hard and they play hard. And they pay super well. And some people hear about this and say, hmmm, this sounds interesting to me, and I'm not afraid. Other people don't even want to have an interview.

Carol: That almost sounds like they're a certain tolerance for change, or… Your corporate culture has to kind of fit your own personality and what you feel comfortable with.

Tim: Yeah, and whether you're feeling like you're… Let's be honest, whether you fit in and feel as though your contribution is appreciated. Put it that way. Sometimes, if you're on a different wavelength

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