Last week, a former ShowClix teammate sent me an unexpected message.

It gave me all the feels — and got me thinking about culture. In it, she said:

"I’m a big believer in telling people how they’ve impacted your life ... what you built had a huge impact on me. ShowClix literally changed the trajectory of my entire life — professionally and personally. It changed so many of our lives for the better. I just wanted to let you know, and say thank you!”

I truly believe that culture is one of the most overlooked competitive advantages a company can have.

Real culture. The kind you feel in hard conversations, in late-night product pushes, in how your team shows up when things don’t go as planned. (Kraftwerk, anyone?)

So what makes this kind of culture happen? In the teams where I’ve seen this magic take shape, a few things were always at play.

✅ People actually like each other
There’s mutual respect — for the work, the customer, and each other. And it shows in the little moments.

✅ Feedback is safe, not scary
Great cultures invite feedback. Ideas, concerns, fixes — they can (and should) come from anywhere, and they’re actually heard.

✅ Innovation isn’t the exception — it’s the expectation
Teams are wired to push boundaries, experiment, and take risks — knowing some things just won’t work. And that’s because👇

✅ Failure is OK
When things break (and they will), no one hides. The best teams dig in, figure it out, and come out the other side stronger.

At the heart of all of it? TRUST.

That’s what makes this possible — and what makes great culture so damn hard to fake.

I was still thinking about that email when I talked to Nathaniel Minto a few days later. I shared it with him, and he paused for a second, then said:

“That was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for all of us.”

And he’s right. That kind of culture doesn’t come around often. But when it does, it’s unforgettable. And unbeatable.

Have you been lucky enough to be part of a magical culture? What made it so special for you?