Issue #1: Aiming higher

Hey there. It’s February already and this one’s got 29 days. How are you managing those New Year resolutions of yours? Still on the right track? Take a look at this week’s issue, we’ve got decent food for thought for you.

Let’s dive in.

Today in a nutshell:

• Top performers quit toxic company culture

• A few words on no-code inspired by Bubble’s no-code manifesto

• Personal growth and fulfilment come from a place of authenticity and self-acceptance

• Palace of Knossos, a testament to the spirit of human innovation

— Sofia

TODAY’S INSIGHT

Top Performers Do Not Quit Hard Work. They Quit Toxic Culture

I work in tech.

During my career, I have seen a lot of talent quitting.

Jobs are not for life anymore but the rate at which top performers quit is insane. Smart, dedicated people bid their goodbyes and shut the doors behind them.

“Why oh why?” managers ask. “Is it the hard work? The impossible deadlines? The lack of leadership?”

Well, all that and much more.

It’s company culture in general.

A positive culture allows top performers to succeed and reach their full potential.

A toxic culture drains their motivation, happiness, and productivity.

Why this is happening

When top performers decide to leave, it’s not because they’ve grown weary of putting in the effort. No.

They often bid farewell to a toxic work culture that slows down their growth and does not allow them to reach their potential. Recognising this is very important for businesses that are looking to keep their best people.

Why culture is so important

Company culture plays a massive role in keeping great people. 

A positive culture promotes engagement, motivation, and loyalty.

A toxic culture kills all that.

It's not just about work. It's about building a community where top performers don't just survive but truly belong.

Companies that are prepared to invest in a culture of value and support aren't just employers; they're talent magnets.

How to recognise toxic culture

→ Constant negativity

When negativity is in the air, it drains employee morale and motivation, and undermines collaboration.

A toxic atmosphere kills innovation and enthusiasm.

→ Office politics

When leaders fail to share information openly and honestly, it breeds mistrust among the team.

Lack of transparency creates an environment where rumours thrive, and individuals feel excluded from important decisions and developments.

As a result, people become disengaged and disconnected from the company’s mission and vision.

→ Poor communication

When important information is kept from people, misinterpreted, or inaccurately passed on, it leads to confusion, frustration, and decreased productivity.

Effective communication channels are the life and blood of a company and promote collaboration, unity, and clarity.

Without them, misunderstandings and conflicts become the norm.

→ Favouritism

When certain people are given preferential treatment based on personal relationships rather than worth, it creates a sense of unfairness and undermines trust.

Favouritism not only demoralises employees who are overlooked but also affects the overall performance of the team.

It kills healthy competition and discourages people from making their best efforts.

→ Lack of growth opportunities

When employees feel like they are in a rut and without prospects for advancement, their motivation and commitment decrease.

We all feel the need to grow, and businesses that do not invest in their people’s development risk losing their top performers to more suitable environments.

How to fix it

To stop top talent from quitting, businesses must prioritise creating a positive work environment. This includes:

• Create an environment of trust, respect, and open communication. People should feel comfortable expressing their thoughts, ideas, and concerns without being afraid of being judged. Open lines of communication build trust and allow healthy collaboration among team members, which then leads to increased productivity and innovation.

• Provide growth opportunities, recognising employees’ achievements, and rewarding high performance. Employees crave opportunities to develop their skills, learn new things, and advance in their careers. By offering training programs, mentorship opportunities, and avenues for professional growth, companies show their investment in their employees’ success, which in turn boosts loyalty and motivation.

• Promote a sense of belonging. When employees feel valued, included, and connected to their workplace community, they are more likely to stay committed and engaged. Companies can cultivate a sense of belonging by organising team-building activities, promoting diversity and inclusion, and creating a supportive and inclusive culture that celebrates individuality.

By growing a culture of trust, collaboration, and personal development, companies can keep their best employees engaged and motivated.

Recognising employees’ achievements and rewarding high performance is another very important aspect of creating a positive work environment. Apart from making them feel good, it also motivates them to keep doing great work. This can be done by publicly acknowledging their contributions, providing rewards based on performance, or offering opportunities for career growth that align with their accomplishments.

Takeaway

It’s not about top performers avoiding hard work.

They quit because of toxic culture that lowers their potential.

By building a healthy and supportive work culture, businesses can keep their best talent and create an environment where everyone can succeed.

NO-CODE, NO PROBLEM

Recently, the Bubble team has released a revised version of their no-code manifesto. This comes out 10 years after the original.

It’s really impressive to see how far they have come as a platform to build applications and also to see some of the things companies have built with Bubble. Their user base has grown massively and it doesn’t look like they have any intention of slowing down.

Some of the things they discuss really appeal to us both, as software engineers who have worked in start-ups. They talk about their ambitions as a business and how they are positioning the platform as a bridge between no-code and programming. They also discuss how they are optimising their platform for performance and scale, which as any product company will tell you, is as important as speed to market (something else Bubble is great for).

One other feature that is coming up, and particularly exciting, is being able to create native apps using Bubble. If this delivers in line with the rest of the platform, then making advanced apps could become a breeze.

All-in-all, a lot has happened in the last 10 years and building products is becoming much more accessible to people without specialised programming knowledge.

Everyone should be empowered to become a creator, unlock economic potential, create jobs, and solve problems independently.

Starting next week, I will begin a series of articles on how to create a web app in Bubble.

The articles will span multiple weeks, starting from the very beginning of the application lifecycle and leading to the final delivery of the app.

Don’t miss out on this.

BITS AND BOBS

So I came across these tweets by Sherry and they spoke straight to my heart.

People find it so difficult to practice self-compassion. We often push and criticise ourselves because we are aligned with an ideal version of who we think we should be.

We need to start accepting ourselves for who we are and be more authentic. Don’t fall into the trap of conforming to external standards and societal norms. There is a lot of joy in self-discovery and embracing our true selves.

Self-imposed expectations will only lead to discomfort and dissatisfaction. Aligning with our individual natures allows us to be kind to ourselves.

Personal growth and fulfilment come from a place of authenticity and self-acceptance.

CORNER OF THE WORLD

Last summer, Nick and I went with our son to Heraklion, in Crete. We took a day trip to the Palace of Knossos and we were amazed by the history, the architecture, the art. Everything about it had a purpose.

It was the religious, cultural and political hub of the Minoan civilisation. The palace and all the structures around it were the core of the settlement and they were so intricate that rumours had it that it looked like a labyrinth. When we started wandering around the site, what stood out most for me was its architecture. The palace was another example that showcases our ability as humans to overcome challenges and shape the world around us. 

It was built on five floors, some above and some below ground level. The royal chambers were below ground level so that they were protected from the intense heat and the earthquakes. The longest walls of the central court ran from north to south to maximise sun exposure. Porches and air shafts were built to help ventilation. A network of pipes and drains transported clean water from the mountains into the palace and the surrounded buildings and removed the waste. The Minoans had clean, running water 24/7 - can you believe this? We are talking about 1650 - 1450 BC.

I couldn’t help but notice the bull horn statues in various parts of the palace and the double axe symbols engraved on some of the outside walls. Double axes were symbols of protection by the female goddess. Bulls were sacred animals and they were used in religious ceremonies. They also took part in sporting events.

A very popular Minoan sport was called Taurokathapsia, were young males and females were trying to leap over the back of a bull. It was a dangerous sport, resulting in youth losing their lives and that’s what inspired the Minotaur myth. According to the ancient Greek legend Minotaur was a half-man half-bull creature that lived in a maze called The Labyrinth. The myth had it that he fed on young men and women. They were sent by the Athenians to Minos, the King of Crete, as a punishment following his son’s death during a sporting event in Athens.

There was so much colour around us. The frescoes, the murals, and the rest of the structures; everything around us resonated with a feeling that the Minoans held culture in high regard. The vibrant pictures on the walls brought their stories to life, mixing scenes from everyday life with mythology. There was even an amphitheater in the yard of the complex where festivals and religious dances were performed, highlighting the important role culture played in the daily lives of the Minoans. As we strolled through the complex, we couldn't help but feel immersed in their world.

The Palace of Knossos stands not only as a testament to the remarkable achievements of the Minoan civilisation but also as a testament to the spirit of human innovation. The detailed design, advanced engineering, and cultural significance of the palace reveal a society that thrived in the face of challenges. It really is a living legacy, and we were left to reflect on the past and appreciate the resourcefulness that has lead the way for our modern world.

That’s all for today and thank you for reading!

If you’ve got a spare minute, we’d love to hear what you thought of this email.

Until next week,

Sofia & Nick