What an incredible year it has been for the Irresistible Workplace Initiative!

We started 2025 on a wing and a prayer—and not much else. In January, we launched our first table group with the mindset that we would “build the plane in flight.” Those early members taught us a great deal in a very short time. By March, we had discovered and clearly defined the Six Key Components of an Irresistible Workplace: Leadership, Feedback, Compensation, Recognition, Growth, and Balance. These components became the foundation for everything we will do moving forward.

I won’t sugarcoat it—the first three table gatherings were rough. But the enthusiasm, encouragement, and commitment of the group carried us through. When our second table group launched in September, it hit the ground running.

Our table group members represent a wide range of industries, including construction, engineering, healthcare, college athletics, IT, nonprofit organizations, real estate, manufacturing, and faith-based organizations. Some of my proudest moments have come when members share what they’ve implemented or changed since the previous gathering. Organizations have begun offering health insurance, retirement plans, flexible work hours, personal time off, increased training and growth opportunities, regular feedback, and more competitive compensation—just to name a few. Beyond the gatherings themselves, table members regularly challenge and support one another throughout the month.

A personal highlight for me this year was attending a seminar by Jim Collins, author of Good to Great. My biggest “aha” moment came when he said, “You can be the best in the world at what you do and still be small,” and “Never confuse scale of impact with scale of enterprise.” Those insights were eye-opening and fundamentally reshaped how I think about the future of IWI. I was also encouraged to hear Collins reference Peter Drucker, noting that much of Drucker’s most influential work came after the age of 70.

Looking ahead, our goals for the coming year include launching at least one additional table group, hosting two Irresistible Workplace Initiative seminars, and officially launching the Irresistible Workplace Initiative Podcast. We also plan to expand our one-on-one culture coaching sessions, offer more focused resources for table members, and develop an IWI Table Group Facilitator’s Handbook. A stretch goal is to launch a training initiative designed to prepare organizations for hiring their very first employees. I’d like to call it For Those About to Hire, We Salute You—though I suspect that name may get vetoed.

Finally, I want to thank everyone who has played a role in launching the Irresistible Workplace Initiative, as well as those who have provided strength and guidance along the way. Everyone at DSC has contributed to the success of this initiative—even if you don’t realize it. Together, we will continue to positively impact current and future leaders throughout our community.

In the immortal words of Timbuk 3, “The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades.”