Army of Entrepreneurs

CHAPTER 2Creating a Core Culture

CORPORATE CULTURE IS LIKE THE FOUNDATION OF A HOUSE. A strong foundation leads to a strong house. A weak foundation portends that even the best, most expensive construction will eventually crumble. This analogy is perfectly suited to the business world. Good companies—businesses that are thriving and filled with happy, productive workers—often cite their corporate cultures as a key component of success.

Malcolm Gladwell, author of many illuminating essays on the nature of business behavior in his books The Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers, and What the Dog Saw, goes so far as to stress corporate culture as a key ingredient to overall success. It’s not, he argues, a matter of hiring the right talent or stars into ...