I have worked in great business cultures in which employees are appreciated and respected and generously rewarded. I have also witnessed the fall-out from negative environments in which employees are routinely criticized, given minimal compensation and work in an atmosphere of competition rather than cooperation.
As a business owner for 15 years, I came to realize that cultivating a healthy company culture is one of the highest priorities for a successful business.
Workers spend the best third of their day and their lives at work (and business owners usually a lot more). So I sought to create an environment where employees feel valued and appreciated and know the work they do is recognized.
I have had a long career working in a wide range of industries and see that regardless of company size or type, we all aspire to have jobs that are meaningful and have a workplace that nurtures its people and their talents.
It is with this in mind that I decided to create this new business, Wellness Workx, Inc.
Small Business
The Sachem Company & Sachem Foods, Oak Park, IL
I spent almost 10 years working for a small business, The Sachem Company, founded by Paul Beckwith. We were a food brokerage/ sales organization representing manufacturers of Consumer-Packaged Goods (CPGs) to the grocery retail industry.
Paul had created a unique and successful business, which is still going strong. He was completely dedicated to his customers and suppliers. His passion was infectious and generosity and empathy to his employees was something I had never experienced. Rather than criticizing the sales team for the inveitable missteps that could even lead to a lost sale, he helped us improve and consequently we became strong decision makers. You may have had to wait in line to see Paul as he was very busy, but when you did, he would advise, coach and encourage you with your specific challenge until you had a direction you felt confident with.
The retail grocery industry fosters an extremely competitive – and typically lopsided – business dynamic whereby retailers wield most of the power and manufacturers far less. Due to the cutthroat nature of the industry, food companies are often obliged to do business that is not profitable in order to keep the relationship.
In 2010, some significant industry changes forced us to split up this business, so Paul, generously allowed me to take some accounts and a few of his employees and start my own brokerage company, Sachem Foods.
Sachem Foods Workplace and Business Culture – Our Apples
Although the retail industry often creates a high-pressure atmosphere, a key value for our company is that we always try to lower the temperature of any given situation. We are kind to each other, jump in whenever anyone needs help and forget quickly if the heat leads to tension.
We have a wonderful team, with our own principles and values guiding our work. We call ourselves a “Barrel of Apples” and everyone in the barrel is committed to making sure nothing spoils it. We have managed to foster great loyalty, and I am proud that in 15 years no employee has ever left for a competitor or other food company.
Sachem Foods – Core Ideology
Before starting Sachem Foods, I had already grown weary of this Win: Lose industry dynamic. Therefore, I decided to make the focus of our business about the employees. The industry may not have cared about us, but I did!
In the first months of starting the business, I gathered our small group of employees to brainstorm about our business values. We considered the traditional mission statements such as “providing the best service to customers” but I encouraged everyone to envision what an ideal workplace would look and feel like.
We came up with a core ideology as follows:
To cultivate a workplace that attracts and retains the best “apples” by respecting and nurturing each employee’s ability and creativity to create win-wins for our business partners and ourselves.
We achieve this by:
- Listening for understanding
- Creating trust
- Allowing AND learning from our failures and mistakes
- Insisting on continuous improvement in ourselves, our processes and the business partners we select
Performing all of the above with transparency, authenticity and humility
Sachem Foods became a very successful enterprise and three years ago I sold the business to a large international food manufacturing company, the Kruger Group, and became President of their USA office.
Simon Sinek is a well-known thought leader who espouses that “Leadership is not about being in charge, but is far more about taking care of those in your charge” and that great insight is one which I aspired to once I started my own business.
I have since gone on from Sachem Foods and the Kruger Group to devote myself to offering wellness services to entrepreneurs, employers and employees via Wellness Workx.
Corporations and Government
My first job after graduating from Southbank University in London was as an Assistant Underwriter in the Lloyds of London insurance market. This was a large company who had defined programs for Graduate trainees and a supportive culture with low employee turnover.
Afrer moving to the US, I transitioned into information technology with a large life insurance company in Chicago. The company had an excellent business culture with supportive managers and great employee comaraderie.
I also took a position for the Cook County Risk Management Department in Chicago which gave me some insights into governmental culture which, to say the least, was often uninspiring!
Passion Jobs
After time in the insurance industry and frustrated with the rat race I decided to take a year to work in an industry I was passionate about which became my first sales job.
I worked for a guitar retail chain on a fiercely competitive sales floor which was 100% comission. Unfortunately the business culture was not so good, with unsupportive management, poor benefits and a generally unhappy staff. The competition on the sales floor was ugly with sales staff often “snaking” each other (stealing each others deals or customers) leading to constant staff turnover. This job, however, would prove to be a good lesson for me to experience the huge effect a poor business culture can have on a sales organization.
I have also had a side job selling prestigious European motorcycles at a Chicago area showroom in addition to my Monday – Friday job. This was a great place to work. The atmosphere was special, where the customers and employees were treated fairly and with respect. This position, while in competitve sales, was very rewarding due to the culture of partnership which was evident at the store.
As a result of this postion and all that went before, I vowed to ensure in the future that I would always work in or create a win: win business environment wherever I landed.
