6 Friends and 60 Years

Community is the business of friendship.

Today on a train to Scotland, I met a group of women who all worked together. There were 6 of them.

After asking them if they were traveling for work they replied, "No! We are on our way home from a girls trip".

It was like a movie. A group of women who all meet at the office then become best friends. I couldn't believe my eyes.

It surprised me as most work friendships, if it even goes beyond friendly, don't leave the office. When the clock strikes 5pm on a Friday, you're practically strangers until Monday.

Not with these women! Their husbands new each other. Even their kids were friends!

The story gets better:

After asking them a bit more, I learnt something worth noting...

Their collective number of years at this company was 60!

Some of the ladies had been there for 9 years, others 11.

So what's this company doing different from everyone else?

Answer: cultivating community.

It's clear why these women have stayed for so long... Each other! And they have no plan on leaving.

In fact, when I asked them if they would have stayed as long if it weren't for the group, they all said at once, "NO", as if it was rehearsed.

Some of them told stories of how they were on the verge of quitting. It was the support of their friends that kept them in the job.

How did the they do it?

I was told the company runs frequent barbeques outside of work hours.

Even paid retreats at exotic destinations in nice hotels.

All costs covered and the topic of work is not on the table.

My point is this:

Companies that value community win.

Whether it's internally among employees - a heck of a lot can be saved in virtually cutting employee acquisition costs.

Or with customers - imagine a streetwear brand where customer retention is at an all time high and you can cut marketing spend by 50%.

The BBQ lunches and retreats cost $$$.

But not as much as not doing them.

Truly,

Elijah