Building a Loving and Belonging Culture featuring Garry Ridge

In this episode of Culture From the Heart Podcast, hosts Larry Levine and Darrell Amy are joined by Garry Ridge, Chairman Emeritus of WD-40 Company, and bestselling author of 'Any Dumb Ass Can Do It.' Garry discusses how to build a culture that balances tough-mindedness with tenderheartedness, underscoring the importance of authenticity, values, and belonging in the workplace. He shares practical insights into creating a values-driven organization where employees feel appreciated, connected, and engaged. Key themes include the need for hierarchical values, the role of leadership in maintaining culture, and the significance of consistency. Garry also highlights strategies for removing fear, embracing learning moments, and maintaining integrity, ultimately advocating for a culture that generates positive, lasting memories while achieving business success.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• True organizational culture is built on belonging, purpose, and consistent values—not just strategy or products.
• Leaders must balance being tough-minded and tenderhearted; the genius is in the middle.
• Culture is not a “microwavable event”—it requires daily, disciplined, and courageous effort.
• Empowerment comes from a clear, hierarchical set of values that guide decisions at every level.
• Removing fear and reframing failure as “learning moments” fosters growth and engagement.
• Coaching, not managing, helps people become the best version of themselves.

QUOTES

• “Culture equals values plus behavior times consistency.”
• “Happy people create happy companies, happy companies create happy communities, and happy communities create a happy world.”
• “You can have a balance between being tough minded and tenderhearted.”
• “We manage our bank account. We don’t manage people. We are there to coach people to their best performance.”
• “You cannot sprinkle fairy dust on an organization with one or two training programs. You have to live it from the top down.”
• “We didn’t make mistakes, we had learning moments.”
• “If a company that puts oil in a can can create positive, lasting memories, anyone can do it.”

Learn more about Darrell and Larry.

Darrell's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrellamy/

Larry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larrylevine1992/

Connect and learn more from Garry Ridge.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/garryridge/

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