Pros
The first pro is impact. We are on a mission to give hope to people and that context is at the front of everything we do. We are intentional about doing this with excellence, and every weekly staff meeting we hear about the lives that are being served and impacted, as well as the hard work the team is doing to carry forward a new product or channel to reach people. Another is trust. I love the people I work with. We work hard not to have hidden agendas or personal gain involved in the decision making. We are here for the mission, and that works so well when the team trusts each other and is unified about how the current discussion, decision, or project aligns with that. Another is opportunity. I have learned more about effective and healthy leadership at Lampo than at any other company that I have worked. One of the challenges that I have had to work through is how to look for opportunities for growth within the projects and priorities of the business. This has stretched me, and as I have walked into growing in that area, I have been encouraged, challenged, and coached on how to do that with excellence. And I have been given the ability to go after many of those opportunities! I am extremely grateful for their investment into my professional development as it aligns with the mission of the organization. The last is blessing. Dave is a giver, and that flows down through the leaders as well. I am blessed by the benefits they offer. We are blessed to hear amazing guest speakers every week, and often Dave buys us all the latest book that speaker has just launched. The environment is one of giving.
Cons
Growth is hard. It requires changing the way we used to do things. We are in the middle of great growth and that can take its toll on people, because it includes structural changes, communication flow changes, role changes, etc. We are moving out of the small business feel, and yet carrying a very entrepreneurial culture as we grow. We are learning about strategic planning. There is constant attention toward maintaining our fun culture while changing the daily activities that come with growth.
