S03E20 Culture Classics: A Tattoo-Worthy Culture that Leaves a Lasting Mark, with Erik Lilla

Rethink Culture

“I always think of culture like a garden... We're always in the middle of the journey. There's no real finish line to culture. It's always like that garden. You're always replanting it. You're always finding new crops. You're finding a new kind of seed to plant. And sometimes it doesn't work out and it's a failure. That's okay, too. There's learning in that as well.”

We're republishing one of our "Culture Classics" featuring Erik Lilla, founder and CEO of Metro Star Gymnastics, a powerhouse program that celebrated its sweet 16 in January 2023 and now teaches over 3,000 students every week. Erik’s “why” is simple: to coach and inspire others so we can celebrate their success. And the culture he’s built? So strong that some staff members are getting the Metro Star logo tattooed on their bodies!

📢 Do you want to build a high-performance culture? It all starts here: www.rethinkculture.co

Production, video, and audio editing by Evangelia Alexaki of Musicove Productions.

Listen to this episode to discover:
· How clear values and customer-focused welcome boxes attract the right team and customers.
· How EO’s Master's Program turned Erik into a culture champion.
· How “learn and grow” shows up through monthly training and an annual summit.
· How the High Five board builds appreciation and highlights values.
· Why Erik’s staff members want Metro Star Gymnastics logo tattoos!
· How Erik tracks “confidence with humility” using monthly NPS.
· Why culture, your “why” statement, and authenticity should drive everything.
· How shared decision-making makes everyone a culture keeper.

Further resources:
· Erik Lilla on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eriklilla/
· The Song of Significance: A New Manifesto for Teams, by Seth Godin: https://www.amazon.com/Song-Significance-New-Manifesto-Teams/dp/0593715543