Giorgio Ponticelli’s Post

No! Culture does NOT Eat Strategy! "Culture eats strategy for breakfast." This is the mantra of every consultant and business guru who stands in front of a flipchart with a marker in one hand and a clicker in the other. But let's pump the brakes on this adage and ask ourselves: is it true? Does culture eat strategy, or is this saying just another serving of corporate batata? First, let’s state the obvious: culture is important. It’s the secret sauce that makes companies like Google, Netflix, and Nike stand out. But does it have the superhuman ability to eat strategy for breakfast? Not quite. You can have the most vibrant, inclusive, and employee-centric culture, but without a solid strategy, you're just a well-decorated sinking ship. Imagine a group of highly motivated employees, all high-fiving each other while the company heads straight toward a financial iceberg. No amount of kumbaya can save you from bad planning. Evidence, You Say? Let's take a quick trip down memory lane with some real-world examples. Both Nokia and Kodak had robust cultures. Employees were proud to work there, and motivation was served with every meal, yet they failed spectacularly. Why? Their strategy was outdated. They didn’t pivot fast enough to smartphones and digital photography, respectively. Culture? Great. Strategy? Nonexistent. Result? Catastrophic. Or how about Blockbuster? It had a culture of fun and customer service, but when Netflix rolled in with a killer strategy, no amount of employee enthusiasm could keep Blockbuster's doors open. Strategy: The Real MVP So, what makes strategy the unsung hero in this melodrama? For starters, a well-crafted strategy provides direction. It’s like a GPS for your business, telling you where to go and how to get there efficiently. Culture, on the other hand, is more like the car's interior – it makes the ride pleasant, but it won’t get you to your destination on its own. A robust strategy can also adapt to changing circumstances. Market conditions shift, consumer preferences evolve, and technology advances. Even the best cultures can be obsolete without a flexible and forward-thinking strategy. The Dynamic Duo Of course, the secret to success isn’t picking sides in this brawl. It’s about recognizing that culture and strategy complement each other like peanut butter and jelly, not compete like cats and dogs. When strategy sets the course and culture fuels the journey, that’s when businesses truly thrive. Final Thoughts So, the next time someone parrots that "culture eats strategy for breakfast" line, give them a hearty serving of skepticism. Remind them that while culture makes the workplace enjoyable, it's the strategy that keeps the lights on and the wheels turning. In the grand buffet of business success, strategy isn’t the main course or the dessert – it’s the plate that holds everything together. And without it, well, you're just left with a mess to clean up. Bon appétit! 

Feeling stuck in a routine? As we get older, it’s easy to stay in our comfort zone—choosing only what we know will satisfy us. But that choice is weak, boring, and not where growth happens. The good news? You don’t have to decline as you age. But choosing growth means embracing a bit of discomfort. It’s a tough balance, but we can all get used to stepping out of our bubble. 💡 Start by ordering something new the next time you’re at your favorite restaurant. -- Want that weekly dose of push? Join the 4K Weeks newsletter and choose growth with us!

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” This quote from our CEO at KnowBe4, Stu Sjouwerman, SACP continues to resonate with me every day. It’s not just a catchy phrase—it’s the truth. 🟣 Culture is the foundation that enables strategy to thrive. Without a strong, positive culture, even the most brilliant strategies fall flat. You can have the perfect plan, but if the people executing it don’t feel empowered, supported, or connected, those plans lose momentum fast. 🟠At KnowBe4, our culture is our competitive edge. It’s what allows us to push through challenges, stay resilient, and innovate every single day. Here’s what makes our culture so powerful: • Radical Transparency: Information is power, and we don’t keep it hidden. Everyone at KnowBe4 has access to what they need to make decisions and excel in their roles. • Extreme Ownership: At KnowBe4, we don’t point fingers—we own our tasks, our decisions, and their outcomes. This mindset isn’t just encouraged; it’s expected. We know that success starts with each one of us. • Having Fun: Yes, work can be fun! We celebrate small and big wins, engage in light-hearted moments, and foster a joyful, creative environment. This isn’t just about boosting morale—it’s about fueling innovation through genuine connections. • Empathy & Teamwork: We focus on people first. Relationships are the backbone of KnowBe4, and empathy is key. It’s how we build strong teams, nurture collaboration, and deliver incredible service to our customers. The result? An organization that’s not just achieving goals but shattering them. Culture really does eat strategy for breakfast, and I see it every day at KnowBe4.

Be more Efficient with a Flexible Schedule I've learned that having a flexible schedule is really important. I mean, life is unpredictable, and things don't always go as planned. But for me, having a flexible schedule is crucial because it allows me to do what I do best: cook amazing food for my family and friends. I've been cooking since I was 12 thereabout, and I've gotten pretty good at it. My family and friends love my food, and I love making them happy. From fluffy Amala with delicious and well spiced Efo Riro to other delicious meals, I enjoy cooking a variety of dishes for them. But sometimes my plans change because my dad needs help with something. Like, I might plan out my whole day, but then my dad asks me to cook for him at a time not really favourable for me or run some errands. If I didn't have a flexible schedule, I'd stress out about not being able to do everything. But instead, I can just adjust my plans and help my dad out. It's nice to be able to help my family and spend time with my friends, and having a flexible schedule makes it easier. Plus, it's good to be able to go with the flow and not get too stressed out when things don't go exactly as planned. And to be sincere, when I'm cooking, everyone is always happy, and that's all that matters! #FlexibilityIsKey #BalanceInLife #CookingWithLove #FamilyFirst #FoodForThought #Foodie #CookingPassion #NigerianCuisine #AmalaAndEfoRiro #HomeCooking #FoodLover #CookingCommunity #LifestyleBalance #AccountingLife #BusinessMindset #ProductivityHacks #TimeManagement #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusinessOwner #FinancialLiteracy #AccountingTips #BusinessGrowth #14daysgrowthchallenge with Alfa Abena

What if scaling your food business is the fastest way to fail? “Scaling a #foodjoint is the fun part,” I said. The air smelled like fryer oil and fresh paint. The manager leaned against the counter, arms crossed, looking at me like I was supposed to hand him the secret to success—or at least an excuse to take a break. “Second outlet, tenth outlet, hundredth. Watching numbers climb, systems clicking. That’s the rush.” He raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, but what if the first one flops?” And there it was—𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝘁. Scaling is sexy—speed, growth, playing in the big leagues. But the first step? It’s awkward, messy, and slow. It’s the grind of figuring out if people even like what you’re selling. Are they walking through the door? Do they like the food? Are they okay with the price—or are they swallowing hard at the check? If they’re not coming back—or worse, if they’re not telling their friends—scaling isn’t progress. It’s just digging yourself a deeper hole. Getting it right isn’t glamorous. It’s wondering if your “great location” was a bad call. It’s testing the menu again, rethinking the service flow, and figuring out why Tuesdays are dead, but Fridays are chaos. It’s standing in an empty dining room, questioning if the chairs are wrong—or if it’s something bigger. It’s boring. It’s frustrating. But it’s where the magic starts. When your food, vibe, price, and service click, that’s 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁-𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝘁. The foundation. The point where 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦 and starts being the next logical step. Because scaling without nailing the basics? That’s just spinning your wheels. Get it right first. Then hit the gas. #scaling #productmarketfit #foodbusiness #foodoperator

"Culture eats strategy for breakfast”, is an absolute reality! Culture eats strategy for breakfast, lunch and dinner. A message that is too often forgotten when drafting corporate strategies especially in public service delivery. Don’t let culture eat strategy for breakfast. Have them feed each other.

🤔❓What does HelloFresh have in common with Melissa Wright MWC?❓🤔 Last night, as I cooked my Chipotle Beef Bowl (with Lime Soured Cream and Pico de Gallo), I realised something: In the same way HelloFresh helps me make impressive meals by following simple steps (that I don't think I'd ever make time to do all by myself).... The simple steps and skills that Melissa is going to be sharing with us on Friday (on her Processes and Productivity Workshops) will help me improve my business *beyond*what I thought was possible - and probably to the point where it's unrecognisable! 👉*THIS* is why I’m getting a feeling in my waters akin to being back at 🚸 school and *so* looking forward to an exciting day trip out of the classroom! I'm *certain* that if I apply what Melissa will be sharing with everyone on Friday, it's *absolutely* going to transform my business, my work-life balance - AND my life. 🤩😍 (I'm secretly hoping by the time 430pm comes around this Friday, I'm going to feel like the business equivalent of a Michelin-starred chef! 🧑🍳⭐⭐⭐) (🤫Confession time: it was actually a "Green Chef" meal box - I believe they're a sister company of the HelloFresh brand; - they've "niched" in low-carb and other specialist dietary requirement meal plans. Their meals are very tasty and filling (despite being low on carbs) and they're worth checking out. 👉I've probably got a discount intro code lurking somewhere... drop "green chef" in the comments if you'd like one!) 🧑🍳Want to have a go at mastering a Chipotle Beef Bowl yourself? (Yes it was as delicious as it looked - although not presented *quite* as finessed as the picture on the menu card! Note to cal self: buy some fancy crockery!) 👉 If so, then comment "recipe," and I’ll share it with you in a pm! 📈 Want to know more about Melissa's In-Person and Virtual workshops on 4th Oct & 29th Nov? (So you too can transform your business into something that runs like a lean-mean-business-machine?) 👉 Drop the word "workshops" in the comments and I'll send you a link with more info (looking forward to seeing a lucky one or two of you reading this on Friday (online or face-to-face). #HelloFresh #productivity #processes #Kaizen

🏢 If you were working in a large(ish) office in the UK back in 2008 then you would have been familiar with the oooos and intrigue that accompanied each delivery from graze. For those who aren't familiar, Graze delivered packs of snacks. Each one containing 4 individual portions. A mix of sweet and savoury. All healthy. All delivered to your desk (or at least your office). 😁 It really was a little treat. And this new way of ordering and delivery captured people’s imagination. There was an element of surprise to liven up your workday. 😯 There was intrigue, as you opened the pack to see what new flavour combos they’d delivered. 🌶 And curiosity from colleagues who wanted to try the spicy sriracha mix – before sriracha was a thing! By distributing this way, Graze were able to cover a lot of ground. They were reaching people across the country. They included ‘introduce a friend’ vouchers to help spread the love for Graze. A discount for you and your friend, what’s not to like? With an ever increasing range of snack combos and flavours there was no chance of getting bored. 😴 And of course Graze were getting great feedback on which products were being reordered enabling them to trial so many more products than would have been possible if they were in stores. 🎯 The timing was also spot on. Tapping into a desire for tasty yet healthy snacks. And what better environment than in the office. You literally didn’t have to leave your desk. Of course, Graze is now also available in supermarkets. And in larger packs. Yet by starting with the subscription model they spread the word first gaining a band of followers. ⭐ When it appeared in store, plenty of people were already familiar with it. They knew they were great tasting, healthy snacks. ❓ What other great subscription stories are out there? Challenge assumptions. Talk to Hummingbird Insights. #marketresearch #consumerbehavior #foodandbeverage #innovation #branding

2024 ACC Employer of the Year Finalists Profile: DELIVEREASY Fast Food, Faster Career! Delivereasy delivers food and they're serving up a feast of workplace satisfaction! This plucky team has cooked up a recipe for success that's as tasty as the meals they deliver. With over 80% of staff starting as driver partners, Delivereasy proves that the path to success can start at any level. Their secret? A young, hungry team with a median age of 22, spiced up with an employee share ownership plan that gives everyone a slice of the pie. "We are super proud that over 20% of staff have Delivereasy tattoos” boasts Co-founder Tim Robinson. Hmm - talk about “brand" loyalty! With a 49% growth in sales and a 28% boost in profits, Delivereasy knows that when it comes to workplace culture, they will always deliver. LEARN MORE: www.delivereasy.co.nz

As a restaurateur, I thrived on late nights and endless challenges. But the relentless pace took its toll... My eating habits deteriorated, my energy plummeted, and burnout hit hard. Facing this crisis, I realized something had to change... I immersed myself in nutrition, not just the science, but the daily practice of eating for fuel, not just to be full. Over three years, I transformed my relationship with food... I shed fat, gained muscle, and rediscovered my strength. This transformation provided me with a new mission... Initially, my goal was to empower others with intentional cooking strategies that bring purpose and joy to their kitchens. But as I stepped out of the kitchen and into the digital world, I saw my previous struggles mirrored in other busy professionals and creators... I noticed others caught between creative ambition and well-being. That's when it clicked: I could guide others with practical, sustainable strategies to nourish both body and creativity... Because eating well isn't about perfection; it's about persistence and balance. Understanding that food can be a tool for personal growth... That being healthy is a journey, not a destination. Now, armed with the lessons from my own journey, I'm passionate about sharing these insights with others... My mission has evolved from running kitchens to guiding creatives and busy professionals to increase their focus, improve their health and enhance their creativity through food. While the path ahead is still unfolding, I'm excited to continue exploring how food can be a powerful tool for personal growth and balance in our fast-paced world!