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Entrepreneur
2 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
How I Discovered the Incredible Power of Employee Engagement
When leaders move from control to culture, engagement stops being a perk and starts becoming the engine for growth. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. In 2024, Gallup reported that low employee engagement is costing U.S. companies an estimated $1.9 trillion in lost productivity. The message is clear: How you engage your team isn't just about morale — it's about performance, retention and long-term growth. Early in my career, I didn't think much about employee engagement. To be honest, I didn't expect much from my employers either. My mindset was simple: Work hard, deliver results, get paid, get promoted. That was the implicit contract. Time and effort in exchange for money and power. It was the 1990s, and that was considered normal, especially in the world of enterprise software sales. There's a famous line from Mad Men where Don Draper responds to a subordinate's request for appreciation with: "That's what the money is for." It captures a certain mindset of leadership — results over relationships, control over connection. I lived that mindset for years. But over time, as I rose through the ranks and led larger teams, I started to notice something: I was no longer motivated just by money. During my years at Citrix, the motto, per our CEO Mark Templeton, became: "Work hard, play hard, get results and have fun doing it." I wanted to enjoy the work, learn something new, feel valued and laugh with my teammates. And even though I always gave 100% — even when those things were missing — I began to realize that not everyone is wired the same. Nor should they be. Related: Top 10 Employee Engagement Strategies That Matter The turning point My first CEO role at getAbstract was a game changer. Suddenly, I was responsible not just for outcomes, but for culture. We sold a product that gave companies access to over 14,000 curated business book summaries, including the best thinking on leadership and organizational effectiveness. People like Simon Sinek, Lisa McLeod, Ken Blanchard, Mark Miller, Stephen M.R. Covey and many more have become regular voices in our work and conversations. In addition, our clients, mostly (offices of the) CHROs at large corporations, put our solution to work inside their incredible organizations. Being surrounded by amazing content, customers, cultures and colleagues becomes my version of an advanced study in human behavior at work. Through this, something clicked: The best leaders don't just lead for results; they lead with purpose, meaning and service. I became intellectually curious. I began testing what I was learning — leading with gratitude, aligning around purpose, creating space for constructive feedback and growth. And the results? Employees showed up with more passion. Customers noticed the energy. Sales grew. Profit followed. What started as theory turned into practice. Practice turned into belief. Belief turned into who I am as a leader. Related: The Key to Employee Engagement Is Purpose. Here's Why — and How to Foster It in Your Workplace. Engagement is a business strategy Too many leaders still think of engagement as a "nice-to-have" — a soft skill or HR metric that doesn't directly connect to the bottom line. I know because I used to be one of them. But here's what I've learned: Engagement is not fluff. It's a strategic lever for business growth. When employees feel seen, heard, challenged and appreciated, they bring what I call discretionary effort — that extra energy and initiative that can't be bought, only inspired. And when you create value beyond salary — through recognition, purpose, learning and belonging — people aren't constantly looking elsewhere for more. Another way to think about it: Engagement is what makes people actually look forward to Monday. As MD Rafi, founder and CEO of Bison Life, told me in an interview: "We started treating culture like a product — something to design, build and iterate. It was no longer about keeping people happy. It was about helping them grow, take ownership and feel essential to the mission." Engaged teams innovate more. They sell more. They stay longer. They attract great talent. They treat the company like an owner would. It's not just the right thing to do; it's the smart thing to do. Investing in career development isn't just good for morale — it's a measurable business advantage. A 2025 report from LinkedIn Learning found that companies with strong internal mobility and growth programs experience higher engagement, more internal promotions and stronger leadership pipelines. With 88% of organizations now citing retention as a critical concern, supporting employee development has become a top priority for leaders who want to keep their best people. The flywheel of authentic leadership Today, my team and I coach leaders through this same evolution. At first, we help them see that engagement is a driver of performance. Then I encourage them to try it — lead with more purpose, invest in their people and build a culture of meaning. They often see an immediate lift. People respond. And then something wonderful happens: They start to like the way it makes them feel; good! Not just the business results, but the energy, connection and personal fulfillment that come from leading well. What began as an experiment becomes a habit. A new leadership style emerges — one that's not just effective but authentic. And that authenticity creates a flywheel of trust, passion and performance. We see this all the time at great companies we work with. Restaurant Brands International (RBI), the parent company of Burger King, Tim Hortons, Popeyes and Firehouse Subs, prioritizes a culture that cares for its team members so it can translate into great customer experiences and business performance. Jeff Housman, RBI's Chief People & Services Officer, emphasizes this connection: "Our culture is built around hard-working, good people who care deeply about each other and the guests we serve. When our team members feel supported and valued, they bring that same care to every customer interaction, creating a cycle of positivity that drives our success." Freeman, one of the world's leading live event and brand experience companies, exemplifies this approach. Recognized twice as a Top Workplaces USA winner in 2024 and 2025 among large employers, Freeman's commitment to embedding purpose and innovation into its culture has earned it multiple awards, including honors for Leadership, Work-Life Flexibility and Purpose & Values. Chair of the Board Carrie Freeman Parsons captures this ethos, stating, "It has been my lifelong experience that events connect people in ways that leave them more inspired, better informed and better prepared for what lies ahead." This values-driven model has been widely recognized as a catalyst for employee engagement and long-term retention — demonstrating how purpose, when embedded into daily operations, can shape a resilient and motivated workforce. Related: 6 Employee Engagement Tips for Strong Retention If you're a leader who's still stuck in the old mindset — if you're thinking, "That's what the money is for" — I encourage you to try something new. Lead with purpose. Start with why. See how people respond. Watch what happens to your culture, your customers and your company. You might be surprised by how great it feels. And even more surprised by the results.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘I'm glad I'm still alive': Jon Hamm and John Slattery on ‘Mad Men,' 10 years later
It has been 10 years since Don Draper bought the world a Coke — but the legacy of Mad Men lives on, in (somewhat) good health. "I'm glad I'm still alive, basically, because of the amount of cigarettes I smoked," joked Jon Hamm. "But the amount of work we put into it feels commensurate with the amount of love we're feeling as well. So that's pretty awesome." More from GoldDerby David E. Kelley on the secret of his prolific career: 'Don't ever assume you're smarter than the audience' 'King of the Hill' cast and creators on revival: 'Bobby's got a little bit of fame and a little bit of swagger' Watch the first 6 minutes of 'Wednesday' Season 2, from Netflix Tudum 2025 Hamm reunited with his Mad Men costar John Slattery to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the finale of Mad Men, the multiple Emmy-winning drama, at the ATX TV Festival in Austin, Texas. At the panel, which was moderated by Fargo showrunner Noah Hawley, the two actors about their experiences making the groundbreaking series. Slattery recounted that he'd originally auditioned the role for Don Draper. "I called them back and said, 'Are you sure that's the part they want me to read?'" he said. He went ahead with it, and did all of his homework. "And then they said, 'Here's the thing, we already have that guy.'" (Turns out they thought he wouldn't have come in if they knew they only wanted him for Roger Sterling.) Quipped Hamm, "I'm glad I told you that I had the part because they didn't tell me I had the part." Hamm recalled that he had about nine auditions, and only got confirmation that he'd landed the iconic role when someone made an off-handed comment during an elevator ride. The show's impact was near-instantaneous. "It rang a bell pretty quick," said Hamm. "It was almost immediately kind of recognized as something. Now that doesn't mean anybody saw it, but people heard about it." Mad Men, which was created and executive produced by Matthew Weiner, won the Emmy Award for Best Drama Series its first season — it would go on to win that trophy a total of four times during its seven-season run, earning 16 Emmys overall — but while that early success was exciting, it was also 'intimidating,' Hamm acknowledged. 'I just remember looking over at Matt and going like, 'My God. This guy has to do all of this again, from a blank page.' And I thought, 'I wouldn't want to trade with him.' But you just have to enjoy the terror.' And while the pilot made an impact, the show only improved from there. Recalled Slattery "I remember walking in early on with Lizzie Moss to a table read of the second or third episode, and I said, is it me, or is it are these things getting better?" he said. Given the amount work that goes into a pilot, he said, "sometimes the quality drops off. And this didn't." Weiner always had a clear vision for the finale, said Hamm. 'Matt had the end scene during season one. He knew he wanted Don to end up somewhere on the West Coast and dreaming up that Coca-Cola commercial,' said Hamm. 'He didn't know how many episodes he would have between here and there, he didn't know how many seasons, he didn't know any of that. But he knew that he wanted this guy to end up there. The rest of it was very murky. ... But I trusted him as the caretaker of all of these characters to not bang on a key that comes out with a false note.' That said, he admitted to being initially disappointed in the final season, which saw Don off on his own journey, removed from his colleagues — and Hamm, separated from the co-stars he'd grown close to. 'I really had a hard time with that,' he said. 'And now, of course, in retrospect, I thought, well, that's perfect. What better way to feel the ambiance and the loneliness of this character's journey than to be like, 'You've got nobody left, and you're on the road by yourself. In retrospect, good job, man.'' The actors reminisced about Weiner's infamous meticulous attention to detail, shooting in L.A. for New York ('We never went outside,' said Hamm), the martinis ('The vodka was fake, but the onions were real,' said Slattery). and all those fake cigarettes ('Somebody did a count and in the pilot alone, I smoked 75 cigarettes,' said Hamm). 'I remember at some point having a conversation with the executives at AMC, the network that aired the series, when they said, 'Do they have to smoke?'" said Hamm. "And I was like, 'Are you f--king kidding me? Yes, they literally have to. They're addicted. Kinda why they're sold.' Asked about the now-infamous blackface episode, Slattery recalled his initial hesitation when he got the script. 'I felt like, well, this is probably something that occurred, and it's probably something that this character would have done,' he said. 'And then I got all dressed up in the outfit and got in the van and rolled to the set. And the first person I saw when I got to the set was a very large African-American Los Angeles motorcycle cop who was helping me open the door.' Hamm acknowledged the show dealt with issues that are 'problematic,' adding 'That's how we learn,' he said. 'It's a wonderful thing to learn. ... We had to lean into the good, the bad, and the ugly of all of it, and understand that in this lens of the now, and part of it was representation of Black people in the '60s. Why aren't there any black people in here? There are you just don't see them because they were not seen. That's not great. But the versatility of it is there. And the show ended up dealing with all of those issues as uncomfortable as they made those characters.' Hawley asked the actors about the feeling of the show being about "we don't understand this world anymore," as the '50s transitioned abruptly into the '60s. ("I wonder what that's like," quipped Hamm.) "There's a moment when Don puts on a Beatles album and just is like, 'This is garbage. I don't get this, what is this nonsense?'" said Hamm. "People have to understand, Frank Sinatra was still on the top 10 list when the Beatles were selling records. It was very much a a crash of the Eisenhower era and the new era." He pointed to the 1966 Best Picture nominees, which included The Graduate, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, In the Heat of the Night, Camelot — and Dr. Dolittle. Having worked with Hamm on Fargo, Hawley asked him about his creative process with Weiner, and what conversations they had about the inconsistencies in Don Draper, 'At a certain point, he's this person because at the very base of him, as we find out over the course of seven seasons, he is not the person who he says he is,' he said. 'His foundation is profoundly fake.' Hamm revealed that the first-season episode '4G,' where we meet Dick Whitman's brother, was written in response to a note from AMC asking for more understanding of Don's behavior. 'There is certainly that mercurial nature to Don. And he's searching, as he is over the course the of the of the 92 episodes for what is the truth? Who is he at the end of it? He ends up on a cliff at the end of the things — but on a cliff in a good way.' As for Roger Sterling, 'Those scripts were so well-crafted that there weren't a lot of questions as to how to play those scenes,' said Slattery. Slattery said they often learned what was coming up in table reads, calling them 'electric.' He recounted the season three episode with the schoolteacher. 'There's like 35 people with scripts, and everybody turns the page at the same time. 'Exterior, and the schoolteacher's still sitting in the car,' and everybody's like, 'Oh my God!' Everybody had forgotten that the schoolteacher was still sitting outside. It was incredible. So that's how we would find stuff out.' The actors also praised their costars at length, including Christina Hendricks (Joan), January Jones (Betty), and Elisabeth Moss (Peggy), and the characters they embodied. 'It was an amazing thing to watch Peggy's ascendancy and confidence and place in the world, not just of the agency, but in the world of the business, in the world of the culture, in the world of New York City — the comfort level from being a bridge-and-tunnel kid to fully owning being a Manhattanite was amazing,' said Hamm. 'It was so definitely handled, and those actresses especially just f--king crushed it in every in every possible way.' Best of GoldDerby 'I cried a lot': Rob Delaney on the heart and humor in FX's 'Dying for Sex' — and Neighbor Guy's kick in the 'zone' TV directors roundtable: 'American Primeval,' 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,' 'Paradise' 'Paradise' directors John Requa and Glenn Ficarra on the 'chaos' of crafting 'the world coming to an end' Click here to read the full article.
Business Insider
7 days ago
- Business Insider
In my 20s, I dreamed of a wild weekend in Vegas. Instead, I went as a sober mom in my 30s.
In my younger years, I dreamt of hitting Sin City for a hedonistic weekend that could only be remembered via poorly scribbled notes written in an inebriated haze. Like many would-be writers, I longed to recreate Hunter S. Thompson's "Fear and Loathing" firsthand. Las Vegas has a reputation, after all, for being the sort of place one goes to make endless mistakes in, hopefully, enjoyable ways. As a lower-income lush in my 20s, the trip never happened. Back then, it felt most important to invoke my inner Don Draper and sip Manhattans at local bars in my hometown of Miami or occasionally slip into harder habits. I was, what you might call, an experimental gal. This meant I never had much more than $100 to my name. The long and short of it is I had not only a drinking habit, but a drinking problem. Luckily, things change. I changed. The long and short of it is I got pregnant and quit drinking, lost the baby, and binged one final time. After I realized it wasn't going to fix my trauma, I stopped drinking. Now, roughly a decade later, I do, on rare occasions, nurse a low ABV beer during a meal out with friends, but for the most part, those days are long behind me, and I'm grateful for it. Over the years, I became a journalist, a wife, and a mother. I left Florida behind and built a new life in Colorado — hundreds of miles away from where I started, and from my best friend. No longer someone who was getting blackout drunk on the regular, I also finally had enough money to go on a girls' trip. So I asked my BFF to meet me in Vegas so we could paint the town red, in our own way. Booze-free days in Vegas As I arrived in Las Vegas a few hours before my friend did, and a few hours before check-in, I got into my own form of trouble. No, I didn't hit a bar. I picked up some goodies from the Hello Kitty Cafe, and then went and got a massage. When my friend finally arrived, we both checked into our shared room at the Park MGM — which is the only non-smoking hotel on the Strip. I had developed an aversion to the smell of cigs in recent years, and was pleased to find out they don't even allow smoking in the casino. I'll admit that seeing the glittering lights of the Strip at night and seeing all the folks dressed up for the clubs and casinos did give me a pang of FOMO. But that feeling went away once I woke up the next day sans hangover and ready for more adventures. While I immediately recognized Las Vegas' potential for being a blast on psychedelics, it was still plenty of fun without. We visited Wink World, rode the Haley's Comet zipline, and explored immersive art at Meow Wolf's Omega Mart. Drink-less nights in Vegas In the evenings, we found ways to have fun that didn't involve getting plastered while talking to strangers and making regrettable decisions. One night, we sat near the front row for "Kà," which is exactly the way you want to enjoy a Cirque du Soleil show, where people are flying over you. Another night, we went to the Neon Museum to check out their "boneyard" — a collection of retired neon signs, all lit up like they were in their prime. We even ventured into the casino and quickly played, and lost, a few bucks playing blackjack and roulette. But we still managed to make it back to our rooms with enough time to catch an episode of "SVU" and fall asleep without the aid of booze. Leaving town, my wallet didn't hurt, nor did my head. No regrettable calls made, no regrettable actions taken. If I'd gone to Vegas in my 20s, it's possible I might've had more fun in certain ways, but I likely wouldn't remember much of it. I felt good about the fact that nothing I did in Vegas had to stay in Vegas.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Vancouver riders take to the streets for men's health
Over 220 dapper Vancouver riders participated in the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride, raising $52,456 for men's health, contributing to a national total of $383,498. Globally, the event saw 125,000 riders across 108 countries, raising $7.17 million USD for prostate cancer and mental health initiatives. The ride, starting at International Motorsports, aimed to break the silence surrounding men's health issues. Dressed in sharp suits and riding vintage motorcycles, more than 220 Vancouverites took to the streets as part of the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Whether it's a quiet battle with depression or a delayed checkup for a growing concern, silence has long been a killer for men. Over 220 Vancouver riders put on their finest suits and kicked up their kickstands to break that silence as they participated in the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride on Sunday, May address these issues, this global event aims to raise funds and awareness for men's health issues, particularly prostate cancer, the most common cancer among men along with mental health , in partnership with the Movember Vancouver ride successfully raised $52,456, contributing to Canada's national total of $383,498, with 1,869 riders participating across the the 2025 event saw over 125,000 riders across 1,038 cities in 108 countries, collectively raising $7.17 million ride route commenced at International Motorsports in East Vancouver, winding through the scenic Stanley Hermansen, fundraising director for Movember Canada, noted the positive public reaction: "People would stop and stare, honk their horns, and wave. It was good because that's the whole point. It captures people's attention."'It's always hard to know how these events will turn out in Vancouver, it could be raining or sunny, but we still had plenty of riders out today all wearing their dapper outfits, so all in all we're pretty happy,' he Distinguished Gentleman's Ride was founded in 2012 by Mark Hawwa in Sydney, Australia, inspired by a photo of Mad Men's Don Draper astride a classic motorcycle while wearing an expensive its beginning, the event has supported numerous men's health projects, including 12 in Canada, seven focusing on prostate cancer, and five on mental Thiene, part of the organizing committee for the Vancouver ride, emphasized the event's dual purpose: "The idea was to have a themed ride, getting riders together in one big community to ride classic and vintage rides. A themed ride where people dress up dapper to create interest and raise awareness."
Belfast Telegraph
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Classic motorcycle riders don their Sunday best for charity spin around Belfast streets
Sunday afternoon shoppers were treated to a spectacular parade of finely dressed bikers astride their machines as they moved in convoy as part of The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride. Billed as the world's most stylish motorcycling charity event, Belfast joined thousands of other cities and towns in hosting the parade in support of men's mental health and prostate cancer research as part of the Movember campaign. The ride has now become an annual event in May, with hundreds of bikers donning their Sunday best for the cavalcade through the streets The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride was founded in Sydney, Australia, by Mark Hawwa in 2012, with more cities getting involved in the spectacle every year. It was inspired by a photo of Mad Men's Don Draper (actor John Hamm) astride a classic motorcycle and wearing his finest suit. The hit TV show leaned heavily on the style of the Sixties. Mark decided a themed ride would be a great way of connecting niche motorcycle enthusiasts and communities while raising funds to support men's charities. Riders taking part are encouraged to wear monocles, sport jaunty trimmed moustaches, silk vests, crisp shirts and tailored suits. Aside from their two-wheeled transport, all they need to bring is their finest manners, a sense of fun and a ready smile. More than 250 signed up for the Belfast ride, with almost £20,000 already raised for the Movember charity ahead of the event.
