When people talk about good workplace culture, it’s easy to default to clichés like pizza parties and beer in the fridge. That’s not a culture. That’s a perk, and while those perks can be fun, at Ideation, we believe culture is built on something far more substantial. It’s about having a shared mission, a common vision worth striving for, living by our core values, and continually raising the standard of excellence while holding each other accountable for our unified success.
Shared Mission and Common Vision
At Ideation, our mission is clear: “Make our Customers Look Like Rock Stars” using promotional products and unparalleled service. This mission drives every decision we make and every action we take. Our vision is equally compelling: to become an industry leading, most trusted full-service promo agency. We want to become the one stop shop for promo, decoration, warehousing and fulfillment. Achieving this massive vision requires more than just good intentions; it requires dedication, hard work, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Living by Core Values
Our culture is rooted in our core values, which are the bedrock of everything we do. They are our guiding lights to how we think, act and operate. These values are not just words on a wall; they are lived and breathed by every team member, every day. Here are Ideation’s:
1. Do the Right Thing: The golden rule of do unto others as you want done to you. This is for each other, our factory partners and our customers. Candid care and integrity are at the heart of our operations. We believe in doing the right things as it ties back to our Mission to Make Our Customers Look Like Rock Stars.
2. Loyalty: Loyalty to our clients, colleagues, and company is paramount. However, we also encourage our teammates to be loyal to their own personal goals and aspirations. If their journey takes them beyond Ideation, we fully support that.
3. Take Initiative: We encourage everyone at Ideation to take initiative and be proactive. Whether it’s solving a problem for a client or coming up with a new idea, taking the initiative drives innovation and success. When you see something that needs to be done, do it.
4. Accept Responsibility: Accountability is crucial. We accept responsibility for our actions and their outcomes. We encourage people to own their mistakes and work to make them right. Learning from our mistakes helps us all continually improve.
5. Fostering Success: We are dedicated to creating an environment where success is not just an outcome, but a journey we embark on together. Our core value of Fostering Success is built on the belief that the growth and achievements of individuals contribute to the collective success of our entire organization and our customers.
Raising the Standard of Excellence
We are relentless in our pursuit of excellence. This means setting high standards, striving to exceed them, and holding each other accountable. It’s about creating an environment where everyone is committed to personal and collective growth. Although growth can be painful, it is a sign of moving forward and evolving. It’s a culture that understands that our great today won’t be good enough in the future, so we constantly have to raise the standard.
Celebrate and Recognize
Ideation has a recognition program that daily recognizes teammates for operating in our core values. They are given a Kudos on our messaging platform, and that is recorded. A pin is given to someone every time they reach a certain amount of Kudos for a specific core value that they can pin on a desktop cork board. They then get to spin a wheel for added prizes like free merch, gift cards and bonus time off. At the end of the year, we host a yearly awards banquet for our factory partners and team members to recognize individuals who have exemplified our core values throughout that year.
Culture at Ideation goes beyond surface-level perks. It’s about creating a meaningful, value-driven environment where everyone is aligned with our mission and vision. We invite you to learn more about how we’ve built this culture by watching the “How Nate Built This” vlog (link below👇). Discover the principles and practices that have shaped Ideation’s growth into the company that it is today, but with continued standards raised, won’t be tomorrow.
