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Unleash the Pirates! đ´ââ ď¸
How to push through the doldrums by empowering your (corporate) troublemakers.
Weâre back after taking a short pause last week. The news outlets have been working overtime in the last 7 days. We hope you are taking care of your wellbeing during this heightened time. â¤ď¸
We would like to disclaim this weekâs newsltter by saying, we do not condone acts of ocean piracy. Please keep all pirate behaviors within the walls of your workplace and of course, obey laws and respect people at all times. âď¸
Career Advice: Donât Give Up In the Middle
In any transformation effort, everything looks like failure in the middle.
Here are some characteristics to look for in both stages of your journey:
A transformation that is better than expected: Progress, albeit slow, is visible. Setbacks are managed and provide learning opportunities. Motivation remains high, and commitment is sustained.
The Typical Middle: The enthusiasm felt at the beginning has tempered and the people are fatigued. People are tired, and there is ârealâ work to be done. There are still fundamental issues that persist without resolution. The need for a renewed commitment to the original intent.
If youâre stuck in a middle phase and progress is going slower than youâd like we have a concept that can help you shake things up!
Consider the pirate strategy - a method established by a small group of NASA engineers in the 1980âs that transformed old ways of working. The key principal being, in an organization struggling to innovate, unleash the âtroublemakersâ and give them a mission.
Here are some guiding principles for your pirates in residence:
Donât wait to be told something. Figure it out!
Challenge everything, and brace yourself for the inevitable cynicism, opposition, rumors, false reporting, innuendos, and slander
Break the rules, not the law
Take risks as a rule, not as the exception
Cut out unnecessary timelines, schedules, processes, reviews, and bureaucracy
Just get started; fix problems as you go along
As a leader, hereâs how you can support a culture where your pirates can be trailblazers and not anarchists:
Embrace a culture of challenge and positive dissent
Provide your pirates with initial funding, executive sponsorship, and time for experimentation
Shield your pirates from bureaucracy and politics as they emerge
Publicize their early wins and give others the permission to follow their lead
Sometimes a bit of aggressive experimentation is exactly whatâs needed to get to that next breakthrough. Donât be afraid to take risks in the middle stages because if you get stuck in the middle for too long, the middle becomes the end.
Arrrr you ready for an adventure?

Tell Me Somethinâgood:

Netflix recently updated their 15-year-old code on company culture and it appears the company is trying to model its culture after a professional sports team, not a family.
If this is the first youâre hearing of this approach, weâd like to call our shot right now⌠the convergence of sports methodology and business is the wave of the future. You better lace up those Jordans.

welovethegame via Giphy
The Netflix culture code core principles:
The Dream Team: We aim only to have high performers at Netflix â people who are great at what they do, and even better at working together.
People over Process: You get better outcomes when employees have the information and freedom to make decisions for themselves. We hire unusually responsible people who thrive on this openness and freedom.
Uncomfortably Exciting: To entertain the world, we need to be bold and ambitious. That means embracing the thrill of whatâs next â even when itâs uncomfortable.
Great and Always Better: We often say Netflix sucks today compared to where we can be tomorrow. We need the self-awareness to understand what should be better, and the discipline and resilience to get there.
At Nâgood Company, we believe that culture sits at the intersection of the brand, customer and employee experience:

Nâgood Company
Netflix serves as a brilliant example of this concept in practice.
Itâs why we care so much about the Dream Team, putting people over process and creating an environment where everyone feels a sense of responsibility to make us better. We believe this approach is the surest path to excellence and long term success.
Itâs also why we constantly seek to improve our culture, not preserve it. Every new employee helps shape how we work â finding new ways to accomplish more together. This creates a better experience for our members, employees, creators and partners, which in turn propels our long term growth and success. Itâs how we entertain the world and build a wildly successful business.
If youâre looking to improve your company culture we can help! Many brands have turned to Nâgood Company to run a culture excavation which will give you an actionable analysis on the current heartbeat of your business and a practical plan that you can start using immediately to inject new life into your culture.
Email us if youâre interested in learning more!
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đş We are holding our breath (in the best way) watching Apple TVâs Presumed Innocent. Swifties, please forgive us, itâs really good!
đ§ Greg Peters, co-CEO of Netflix talks to Decoder on the companyâs shifting culture.
đď¸ The New York Times profile on Scarlett Johansson is making us wonder if sheâs in the market for a pair of two new girlfriends?! đŻââď¸
đľ Noah Kahan and Kacey Musgraves perform at the Ryman, yes please!
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