How to Suck Less There’s no company that can claim to have all the answers, including us at Substantial, but we’ve managed to create a culture that permeates everything from the products we build to the spaces we inhabit. We’ve learned that culture, far from being a segment OF the business, IS the business itself. In this talk we’ll share some of the lessons of what we’ve done, with practical tips any organization can use to extend your culture to improve every aspect of your business.

1. HOW TO SUCK LESS
#howtosuckless
Donte Parks, VP of Culture

2. HI, I’M DONTE
@iamdonte

3. WHAT’S SUBSTANTIAL?

4. SUBSTANTIAL IS A
DIGITAL PRODUCT STUDIO.
Development | Design | Strategy

5. BLUESCAP
E

6. SUBSTANTIAL IS A FAMILY.
(THAT INCLUDES OUR CLIENTS AND
PARTNERS.)

8. SUBSTANTIAL IS
UNCOMPROMISING ABOUT
CULTURE.
(IT’S WHAT MAKES US GREAT.)

11. WHAT AM I GOING TO TELL
YOU?
(Your chance to escape.)

12. WHAT IS COMPANY
CULTURE?

13. YOUR CULTURE IS YOUR
BUSINESS

14. YOUR CULTURE IS ALIVE

15. FOSTERING CULTURE

16. A CALL TO ARMS

17. WHAT IS COMPANY
CULTURE?

18. CULTURE IS NOT...

19. PAID PAID
VACATIONS

20. CLIMBING WALLS

21. STOCKED BARS

22. NERF GUNS

23. DJ BOOTHS

24. FULLY STOCKED BARS
HAPPY HOURS
FREE FOOD
DJ BOOTHS
MORALE EVENTS
PAID CLASSES
YOUR PERKS ARE NOT
YOUR CULTURE. SNUGGIES
CLIMBING WALLS
ZEBRA
PAID PAID VACATIONS
NERF GUNS
OFFICE DOGS
ROOF DECKS

25. CULTURE IS...

26. YOUR INSPIRATION

27. YOUR
ENVIRONMENT

28. YOUR ROOTS

29. YOUR METHODS

30. YOUR PEOPLE
(and their little dogs too)

31. CULTURE IS A SET OF
SHARED BELIEFS, VALUES,
AND PRACTICES.

32. YOUR CULTURE IS YOUR
BUSINESS.

33. CULTURE IS EVERYTHING
Business
Practices
Culture

34. HR

35. STAFFING

36. OPERATION
S

37. SALES/BD/

38. THE WORK

39. YOUR CULTURE IS ALIVE.

40. CULTURE IS NOT LIKE...

44. CULTURE IS MORE LIKE...

46. THINK DIFFERENT

47. WHAT AFFECTS CULTURE?

48. SIZE

49. GROWTH

50. SHRINKAGE

51. WHAT SIZE FISH, WHAT SIZE
POND

52. MATURITY

54. NEW SKILLS

55. AN EXAMPLE
Development
Design
Development
Strategy
Substantial Then
Substantial Now

56. PROSPERITY

58. HARDSHIP

59. LET’S RECALL 2008

60. SO, WE CAN’T WIN?

61. ACCEPT IT

62. FOSTERING CULTURE

63. CULTURE IS A SET OF
SHARED BELIEFS, VALUES,
AND PRACTICES.

64. IT TAKES WORK

65. MASLOW’S
HIERARCHY
OF NEEDS

66. GET YOUR SHIT
TOGETHER

67. WHAT’S YOUR
MISSION?

68. SHORT & SWEET
“If I had more time,
I would have
written a shorter
letter.”
- NOT MARK TWAIN
ORIGIN DEBATED

69. SUBSTANTIAL’S MISSION
We create brilliant technology experiences
that empower and delight.

70. WHAT DO YOU
VALUE?

71. DO YOU
MEAN IT?

72. DON’T BE EVIL

73. DELIVERING WOW
“Your culture is
your brand.”
TONY HSIEH
CEO AND FOUNDER, ZAPPOS

74. SUBSTANTIAL’S VALUES
●
●
●
●
●
●
Collaboration
Continuous Improvement
Taking Initiative
Authenticity
Strong & Unique Community
Doing Good Work

75. COLLABORATIO
N

76. CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMEN
T

77. CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMEN

78. TAKING INITIATIVE

79. AUTHENTICITY

80. STRONG &
UNIQUE
COMMUNITY

81. DOING GOOD
WORK

82. ON AGILE/LEAN
10/30, 1010am, Rm
202

83. BUT WHAT ABOUT PERKS/
BENEFITS?

84. FULLY STOCKED BARS
HAPPY HOURS
FREE FOOD
DJ BOOTHS
MORALE EVENTS
PAID CLASSES
CULTURE DEFINES YOUR
PERKS.
CLIMBING WALLS
ZEBRA SNUGGIES
PAID PAID VACATIONS
NERF GUNS
OFFICE DOGS
ROOF DECKS

85. PAID PAID
VACATIONS

86. CLIMBING WALLS

87. STOCKED BARS

88. NERF GUNS

89. DJ BOOTHS

90. IT’S NOT ABOUT
MONEY

91. CULTURE IS A
SHARED
RESPONSIBILITY

92. BE UNCOMPROMISING

93. BE YOU

94. IS IT TOO LATE?

95. WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU?

96. CULTURE
PERMEATES

97. CULTURE IS EVERYTHING
Business
Practices
Culture

98. CULTURE EVOLVES

99. HAVE VALUES

100. DEMONSTRATE
YOUR VALUES

101. CULTURE
IS UNIQUE

102. IN CLOSING...

103. HOW TO SUCK LESS?

104. BUILD A COMPANY WHERE
YOU WANT TO WORK.

105. THANK YOU
(We’re hiring.)