Inspiring Workplaces 
The Way Work Ought to Be!

#1,049 - Nov. 27, 2024

If you visit Cam's Pizzeria in upstate New York, you'll be greeted with the oh-so-cheery sign: 

"Welcome pizza fanatics!" 

Their fun list of values includes,"Employees First: If y'all aren't happy, then the experience for our customers is no bueno!" 

Besides being a fun place to work and grab a pizza, Cam's Pizzeria demonstrates a business growth mindset by displaying a poster that pays tribute to their competition, expressing sentiments such as:

• "My competitors are the spice of life because without them life would be a bore! If I had no competitors, I would be complacent, inattentive, incompetent, and my growth would be stunted."
• "My friends are too polite to point out my weaknesses and faults, but my competitors go to great expense to advertise them!"
• "I salute my competitors, they've been good for me, and they bring out the best in me. I love my competitors and I wish them all well in their endeavors."

This doesn't, incidentally, just apply to businesses, it's also a healthy attitude to adopt at an individual level. And within organizations, an unhealthy view of competition can lead to friction between departments and fuel a silo mentality where employees and teams don't share resources or collaborate. 

So, what do you think? Is this a healthier outlook? Would this mindset fuel a healthier, more innovative, and service-focused culture where you work?