Elevating Company Culture in 2025: A Focus on Core Values

Have you ever heard, or possibly uttered any the following statements:

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Kids can’t focus. They’re uninspired. They’re not committed. They’re Lazy. They don’t want to put in the work. Kid’s are softer today than ever before?

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In our business world I keep hearing these claims that kids today won’t work and give up easier than ever before. I’ve been told kids today don’t want to earn money, they don’t care about responsibilities, and all they really care about is themselves and their free time.

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I have a group of 10-year-olds that continuously prove these claims wrong. As their head coach, I saw their passion, hard work, grit, ability to respond, their commitment to each other, and their drive to push themselves firsthand every day.

I saw them grind when it was nasty hot and humid. I saw them respond to two of the toughest opponents in games as cold as 50 degrees. It didn’t matter how hard I challenged them, how much conditioning we did, the amount of work we put in, how many times we repeated drills, not one kid gave up, walked away, or quit.

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This team went 8-0, the perfect season in the hardest most elite division in the league. They were tested a few times and came out stronger.

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What’s the point?

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We had one mission, “next level.” In everything we did, we needed to reach that next level. If you asked them what our goal was they’d answer before you could finish the question. They found ways to apply our next level goal in everything they did offense, defense, school, and home.

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Business owners, If my 4th graders can achieve that, why can’t your 16+ employees?

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Hard truth time… It’s because you’re not leading the right way. Your leadership, your energy, your goals, your vision, your actions are inconsistent, and the employees can see it a mile away.

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It means what you say and what you do isn’t consistent.

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It could mean you talk about the business and yourself and fail to involve your employees. They are the main character in their life, not you.

How are you helping them see the difference they’re making? How are you showing them the growth their achieving along the journey? How does the journey of working for you look through their perspective?

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What does it feel like being recruited, onboarded, trained, inspired, developed, etc.

These kids continuously show me they’re as tough as us older guys ever were. The difference is on us as leaders to make the most out of what drives and what matters to employees today.

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I can tell you one thing, there isn’t a kid on this team that doesn’t like holding this trophy, and knowing they were a part of something meaningful.

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I hope your business has the opportunity to celebrate a perfect season in 2025!

#employeeengagement #leadership #culturematters