This document summarizes the mission and culture of Palo Alto Software. Their mission is to revolutionize how small businesses set goals and track performance by being the "Fitbit for Small Business." Their culture focuses on relying on data to test ideas and make decisions, solving problems for customers rather than focusing on their own success, being transparent in sharing information, giving employees autonomy over their work, being selective in hiring top talent, and valuing the community.

1. Mission & Culture

2. WHAT IS CULTURE?
A set of shared beliefs, values,
and practices.

3. WHY DO WE CARE ABOUT CULTURE?
Great culture attracts great people.
A great culture helps people deliver
their best work.

4. This document is
about our culture:
Who we are and who
we aspire to be.

5. But first...
What are we trying to do?
What’s our mission?

6. Most businesses fail in 5 years
DID YOU KNOW...

7. That number is NOT GOOD

8. We can (and do) make a difference.

9. There are 29 Million small
businesses in the US

10. 500,000 new businesses
are created every month

11. If just a fraction last a few
years longer, the entire
economy grows.

12. A rising tide
lifts all boats
(our company & our customers)

13. We help people succeed in business
OUR MISSION:

14. We’re revolutionizing how
small businesses set goals
& track performance.
We’re the FitBit for Small Business

15. Culture will help us get there.

16. The Palo Alto Software
Culture
1 We rely on data
2 We solve for the customer
3 We’re transparent
4 We give you the autonomy to be awesome
5 We’re picky about our peers
6 We value community

17. We rely on data
“Without data, you are blind and deaf in
the middle of a freeway.”
-Geoffrey Moore

18. Test everything
No matter how good we are,
we can always get better.
Changes and experiments are encouraged,
but they need validation.
1. WE RELY ON DATA

19. Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
Distill ideas down to the basics before
investing time & money in the real thing.
1. WE RELY ON DATA

20. Bias for Action
Moving fast is important.
Don’t get bogged down by chasing
perfection.
Validate assumptions and take it to the next
level if it works.
1. WE RELY ON DATA

21. But quality is always important
“Minimum Viable” doesn’t mean
low-quality, shoddy work.
1. WE RELY ON DATA

22. Question the status quo
All ideas are welcome.
Not all can be implemented.
1. WE RELY ON DATA

23. We aren’t a democracy
Data will be analyzed, and at the end of
the day, the project lead has to decide.
Not all decisions will be popular.
1. WE RELY ON DATA

24. Solve for the customer
It’s not about our success,
it’s about our customers’ success.

25. “What’s in it for Garrett?”
Garrett, the bike shop owner, is our target
persona. Would he be happy with this
product or this marketing campaign?
2. SOLVE FOR THE CUSTOMER

26. We love to teach
Success comes from educating our
customers, not exploiting them.
2. SOLVE FOR THE CUSTOMER

27. But a bankrupt company
can’t help customers
Customers pay a fair price for things that
have value.
2. SOLVE FOR THE CUSTOMER

28. Transparency
Power is gained by sharing knowledge,
not hoarding it.

29. We share everything
Weekly company updates with
sales reports and team priorities
keep everyone in the loop.
3. TRANSPARENCY
For obvious reasons,
salaries and HR issues are not shared.

30. Have a question? Just ask.
Anyone. Any time.
3. TRANSPARENCY

31. Financials? Strategy? Hiring?
We share everything that we can
realistically and legally share.
3. TRANSPARENCY

32. Autonomy to be awesome
“Work is a thing you do.
Not a place you go.”

33. Results are most important
Every job has metrics and goals. How
we attain them can be different for
each person.
4. AUTONOMY TO BE AWESOME

34. Where you do your work
is not important
As long as people know where you are and can reach you,
do your work where you’re most efficient.
Need flexibility for family, appointments, or anything else?
No problem.
4. AUTONOMY TO BE AWESOME

35. But we value in-person
collaboration
Sometimes the best ideas come from casual interactions with
your co-workers, especially those that aren’t on your team.
If that means you might bring your kids to the office
sometimes, great!
4. AUTONOMY TO BE AWESOME

36. Take as much responsibility
as you can handle
There’s always more to do
than people to do it.
4. AUTONOMY TO BE AWESOME

37. We support you
Unlimited free books.
Just buy them and turn in the receipt.
Continuing education
Just talk to your manager.
Healthy bodies = healthy minds
We have a generous gym benefit.
Paid parental leave
Because you should have the time you need.
Standing desks
Want one? Just ask.
4. AUTONOMY TO BE AWESOME
Generous PTO
Start with three weeks and get an extra day every year you work
with us.
40-hour work weeks encouraged
You have a life outside of work and we want you to be happy to
be here.
Paid volunteer time
Because our community is important, too.
Family friendly office
Kids are always welcome.
plus, excellent health/vision/dental, 100% 401k match up to 4%
of your salary, and much more…

38. One policy:
“Use good judgment”
Make informed decisions, be frugal and
take action.
4. AUTONOMY TO BE AWESOME

39. Just don’t ruin it for the
rest of us
4. AUTONOMY TO BE AWESOME
We don’t want to have a bunch of policies so don’t
force us to create them because of poor decisions.
Just think, “Am I doing the right thing for my team
and the company?”

40. For some people, this much
autonomy can be uncomfortable
Our inclination towards as much
autonomy as possible can come off as a
lack of direction.
We do have big-picture goals, but no fixed
way of achieving those goals.
4. AUTONOMY TO BE AWESOME

41. You're the expert
We don’t just help entrepreneurs, we want
everyone in the company to be entrepreneurial.
You must be an expert at what you do.
(or be working hard to become an expert)
4. AUTONOMY TO BE AWESOME

42. We’re picky about our peers
Our employees make us
who we are.

43. PAS employees are:
Effective Get shit done
Dynamic Bring on the change
Interesting Sushi lessons?
Curious Don’t stop hunting
Smart There’s always more to learn
5. WE’RE PICKY ABOUT OUR PEERS

44. Hire to elevate
Bring in people that are better
than you at something. They’ll
elevate the rest of the team.
5. WE’RE PICKY ABOUT OUR PEERS

45. Our products are world class,
and we’re building a
world-class team.
People in 180+ countries have
used our software and tools.
5. WE’RE PICKY ABOUT OUR PEERS

46. We support each other and
the community in which we
live and work.
We value community

47. One for all:
We care about the people who make it all
happen. We can’t do it alone. Sometimes you
put your work aside to help a colleague or put
what’s good for the team, first.
6. We value community

48. The bigger picture:
Palo Alto Software and our employees
depend on the Eugene community. It’s our
duty to give back by donating our time and
resources to causes we care about.
6. We value community

49. The PAS culture
We rely on data
We solve for the customer
We’re transparent
You have the autonomy to be awesome
We’re picky about our peers
We value community

50. Thank you for being
part of our team!