At Findaway, we led with culture, scaled with strategy and drove profitability with execution. Whenever we spoke about success, we talked team first and the strength of our beliefs to build a unified, trusting group of outstanding talent in Northeast Ohio. We were definitely different and unique from other companies in the longevity of our team and seemingly endless inspiration of individualism yet togetherness that existed. Beyond my belief that culture was a driver of financial success, I always thought of the responsibility we had to the journeys of so many.
An underestimated yet powerful way to build a great team is by focusing on two interconnected themes:
- Look for moments.
- When giving you always receive much more in return.
Moments are happening around you every day of your life, but if you aren’t looking for them then they pass by without a thought. Moments are opportunities … and, more specifically, opportunities to give.
- Give your time.
- Give your empathy.
- Give your energy.
- Give your wisdom.
- Give your thanks.
- Give your soul.
None of these givings cost you anything financially. They cost you emotionally, which is much more powerful to the person on the receiving end.
The big moments are easy to spot — the birth of a child, a wedding, the death of a parent. And all of these moments should be recognized. But recognizing the smaller moments have the biggest impact. These small moments include a sick child, buying a first house, showing kindness to a co-worker who needed someone to just care, volunteering on a key initiative when it would have been easier to be too busy. These moments are happening constantly, all you need to do is look then act in impactful ways.
If you desire for someone to deliver at the highest level, then create deep, unshakable bonds by giving without any expectation in return. What you receive back will always exceed expectations — yours and theirs — because you captured their soul for all the right reasons.
Once you start giving, the ideas to expand giving opportunities are sprouted throughout your organization. One year for our Findaway Holiday party, we organized the team into groups and gave each group an envelope of cash with a single stipulation that they had to go into the community that morning and give all the money away however they wanted. Three hours later, we regrouped for a holiday lunch to share stories of what happened — driving around the streets in downtown handing out money in random acts of kindness, going to toy stores in Cleveland and paying for holiday gifts, visiting a women’s shelter, donating at a Food Bank, and on and on. We ended with our own company holiday bonuses for everyone — a day to remember and so much more impactful than a formal holiday party.
By giving over and over and over to everyone on the team when you look for moments, a revolution occurs: they give back to the company, they give back to customers, they give back to you and, most importantly, they give to each other, and the magic happens. Everyone wins.
Business is always about winning — in value-driven, moral and ethical ways. ●
Mitch Kroll is Co-Founder and CEO of Findaway and Founder & CEO of Amber
