A month ago, we asked ourselves a very specific question: "Can we run our business solely by our culture?" Our answer: A very enthusiastic, "Yes!" Since we started as a two-friend company, Digital Telepathy has always been known for our unique culture. As we’ve grown, friends and colleagues have warned us about the difficulty of maintaining great culture. In the last two years, we’ve organically increased our headcount by 166 percent, and yet, we’ve found a way to improve our culture in the process. We did this by putting our tribe first before growth and by making sure we found the right people before adding any business. We turned down plenty of opportunities, but preserved our culture and scaled the right way. Hopefully our experiences inspire you to power your business by putting your people and culture first.

1. THE TAO OF DT

2. THE TAO OF DT
THE TAO
OUR NOBLE CAUSE
OUR CRAFT
OUR CULTURE AND VALUES
WE ARE A TRIBE
CAT
03
17
29
39
116
128
02

3. THE TAO OF DT
DT’S PURPOSE
To create happiness for ourselves and the people
around us by infusing life’s experiences with our
passions.
Our accomplishments are defined by the
experiences we design and the impact we make
on the world around us.
Our No.1 priority is our people, so everything we
do is rooted in our culture.
03

4. THE TAO OF DT
WHAT IS THE TAO?
A way to use our
culture to guide our
journey of happiness
and accomplishing
great things.
04
In Chinese, Tao means way or path. It’s pronounced, “zh-
dáo,” or “dow.” We refer to it as our group of principles;
it is not related to the philosophy of Taoism.
We chose Tao because it’s more unique than “way” or
“path.” After this presentation, when you hear or say
“Tao,” it will have a greater depth of meaning.

5. THE TAO OF DT 05
WHY WE MADE THE TAO
Our culture has
never been
written down.
Half of the Tao is ancient DT history and
demonstrates the beliefs DT was founded upon,
the tough times we have persevered and the
breakthroughs we have made. A walk down
memory lane...

6. THE TAO OF DT 06WHY WE MADE THE TAO
When Arnold and Chuck
started their first business
together at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison.
1997
2000
2002 2007 2010
201220092005
When Bill and Chuck moved to
California and worked from a
boat in Mexico for a year.
When we stopped all
services and focused
only on UX design.
When Chuck moved
to San Francisco,
and Dave, David,
Jess and Dan
stepped up as
leaders.
When Bill and Chuck
first went to Burning
Man
When when we almost
closed our doors and
the team stuck together
(Dave, John, Arnold and
Chuck are still here)
When we
transitioned to the
subscription model.
When Laurence came on
board and we scaled to
who we are today.

7. THE TAO OF DT 07WHY WE MADE THE TAO
We are a 14-year-old company, but 50 percent of
the company has been here for 18 months or less.
You have all contributed to the direction of our noble
cause, craft and values.
We’ve talked about tribal leadership, we are now
choosing our tribe.
The other half is
from the new
wave of DT.

8. THE TAO OF DT
WHY WE MADE THE TAO
What we want
to accomplish
together is
aspirational.
Since we’ve never defined or written down
our values or mission, we weren’t able to set
clear expectations, or achieve complete
alignment on who we are collectively and
how to channel our culture towards a shared
vision.
08

9. THE TAO OF DT
We want to uplevel ourselves in order to break the pull of gravity and do amazing things in the
world. Move from great websites to impacting people’s lives.
In order to do so, we are making a statement of what we expect from each other, how we work best
together to pursue our dreams and accomplishments while preserving our culture.
This is no different than when we evolved to a UX only company or shifted to the OBD/subscription
business model. It was scary at first, but we prevailed, and set a new standard for agency/client
partnerships.
Remember that most of this is based on what we all discussed together. If something doesn’t feel good
to you, bring it up - no hiding out.
09WHY WE MADE THE TAO

10. THE TAO OF DT
We want to uplevel ourselves in order to break the pull of gravity and do amazing things in the world.
Move from great websites to impacting people’s lives.
In order to do so, we are making a statement of what we expect from each other, how we work
best together to pursue our dreams and accomplishments while preserving our culture.
This is no different than when we evolved to a UX only company or shifted to the OBD/subscription
business model. It was scary at first, but we prevailed, and set a new standard for agency/client
partnerships.
Remember that most of this is based on what we all discussed together. If something doesn’t feel good
to you, bring it up - no hiding out.
10WHY WE MADE THE TAO

11. THE TAO OF DT
We want to uplevel ourselves in order to break the pull of gravity and do amazing things in the world.
Move from great websites to impacting people’s lives
In order to do so, we are making a statement of what we expect from each other, how we work best
together to pursue our dreams and accomplishments while preserving our culture.
This is no different than when we evolved to a UX-only company or shifted to the Objective-
Based Design and subscription-based business model. It was scary at first, but we prevailed and
set a new standard for agency/client partnerships.
Remember that most of this is based on what we all discussed together. If something doesn’t feel good
to you, bring it up - no hiding out.
11WHY WE MADE THE TAO

12. THE TAO OF DT
We want to uplevel ourselves in order to break the pull of gravity and do amazing things in the world. Move
from great websites to impacting people’s lives
In order to do so, we are making a statement of what we expect from each other, how we work best
together to pursue our dreams and accomplishments while preserving our culture.
This is no different than when we evolved to a UX only company or shifted to the OBD/subscription
business model. It was scary at first, but we prevailed, and set a new standard for agency/client
partnerships
Remember, most of this is based on what we all discussed together. If something doesn’t feel good
to you, bring it up: no hiding out.
12WHY WE MADE THE TAO

13. THE TAO OF DT
Noble Cause
Craft
Culture & Values
13
WHAT MAKES UP THE TAO OF DT
Our Tao is built
on three parts
of a whole.
1
2
3

14. THE TAO OF DT
This is the target of our highest aspirations
and accomplishments. It’s where we are
going and what gets us out of bed every day.
It’s our dent in the universe, the legacy we are
proudly building. It’s what we strive for
together. It directs our journey and generates
happiness, regardless of success.
14
WHAT MAKES UP THE TAO OF DT
1 Noble Cause
2 Craft
3 Culture & Values

15. THE TAO OF DT
It’s what we do everyday. Our labor of love. Our
special formula of work that sets us apart and
guides us on how we can make an impact and
accomplish our noble cause. Our craft represents
the passions of our life’s work and its output, which
people pay us to produce for them. It’s our art and
usefulness to the world. It’s our filter to concentrate
our daily and big-picture focus.
15
WHAT MAKES UP THE TAO OF DT
1 Noble Cause
2 Craft
3 Culture & Values

16. THE TAO OF DT
Culture is the foundation of DT and all decisions
flow through it. It’s what makes us completely
unique to any other business in the world. Culture is
made up of values that define our day-to-day
behavior. It’s our collective and internal drive that
powers us. Since DT values reflect our personal
values, it’s a sustainable resource that should never
run out and instead, just grow.
16
WHAT MAKES UP THE TAO OF DT
1 Noble Cause
2 Craft
3 Culture & Values

17. THE TAO OF DT
NOBLE CAUSE
Simply put,
this is our
WHY.
17
Over the last year, we were able to cull down the sentiment of our
noble cause with the following phrases:
We want to make a powerful impact on ourselves, our
team, our customers, their users and the world.
We believe that life is good, yet we are compelled to seek
richer, more engaging experiences. To create a life of
growth and happiness for everyone.
We combined this sentiment into four words...
1
2

18. THE TAO OF DT

19. THE TAO OF DT
Most companies start with “To” as a way to inspire
action. Well, we aren’t most companies, and “We”
symbolizes that we do it together. In addition, we
are accomplishing our noble cause right now, and
not in some far-off, distant future.
19
OUR NOBLE CAUSE EXPLAINED
We
Elevate
Life’s
Experiences

20. THE TAO OF DT
We wanted our verb to relate to betterment, not
just design, as betterment is our process and
design is our tool. We wanted to aspire past minor
improvements, so we chose to use elevate to
aspire to taking things to another level and raising
the bar.
20
OUR NOBLE CAUSE EXPLAINED
We
Elevate
Life’s
Experiences

21. THE TAO OF DT
We want to impact people on both a big and small
basis. It’s difficult to measure if we are impacting the
world, but life is all around us. It’s both big and small
as it symbolizes putting a smile on someone’s face,
or impacting their life in general.
21
OUR NOBLE CAUSE EXPLAINED
We
Elevate
Life’s
Experiences

22. THE TAO OF DT
Experiences are our end-product. The fabric of life
is made up of moments that we have the pleasure
of making better.
22
OUR NOBLE CAUSE EXPLAINED
We
Elevate
Life’s
Experiences

23. THE TAO OF DT 23
THE NOBLE CAUSE IN ACTION
In order to succeed, we have to nurture a culture
that wants to play a part in elevating people’s
experiences and making things better.
It starts with creating the habit of elevating the
experiences within DT to empower our team and
then elevating the experiences of our clients and
their users.
It then extends beyond what we do today, when we
then ask ourselves “How do we craft the best life
experiences for the world?”
05 World
04 Their Users
03 Customers & Users
02 DT Tribe
01 You
05
04
03
02
01

24. THE TAO OF DT 24
THE NOBLE CAUSE IN ACTION
How can I
elevate my own
experience at DT?
05 World
04 Their Users
03 Customers & Users
02 DT Tribe
01 You
01

25. THE TAO OF DT 25
THE NOBLE CAUSE IN ACTION
How can we make
the experience of
being on our team
first-class?
05 World
04 Their Users
03 Customers & Users
02 DT Tribe
01 You
02
01

26. THE TAO OF DT 26
THE NOBLE CAUSE IN ACTION
How can our client
experience keep
getting better?
How do we inspire
anyone that reads
our blog, or uses
our products?
05 World
04 Their Users
03 Customers & Users
02 DT Tribe
01 You
03
02
01

27. THE TAO OF DT 27
THE NOBLE CAUSE IN ACTION
How can our
design positively
impact its users?
05 World
04 Their Users
03 Customers & Users
02 DT Tribe
01 You
04
03
02
01

28. THE TAO OF DT 28
THE NOBLE CAUSE IN ACTION
How can we
create powerful
experiences for
enough users
that it impacts
the world?
05 World
04 Their Users
03 Customers & Users
02 DT Tribe
01 You
05
04
03
02
01

29. THE TAO OF DT
CRAFT
The Noble Cause is what we aspire to accomplish. Our values flavor our
culture. Our culture defines our brand and the unique way we do things.
Our craft is the magic formula that glues the two together. Simply put,
it’s what we do.
● It combines our passions and purpose with profits to grow our
impact on the world.
● It’s our filter to concentrate our daily and big-picture focus of our
products, services and what we write about.
● It’s what people pay us to produce for them.
● It’s how we generate impact and provide value to our team,
clients and users.
29

30. THE TAO OF DT

31. THE TAO OF DT
The Formula:
Betterment = simple + compelling - friction
31OUR CRAFT EXPLAINED

32. THE TAO OF DT
OUR CRAFT EXPLAINED
We love friction.
Friction represents the potential of betterment in any of life’s experiences. It’s our job to remove or
reduce friction for the people that use our design. It’s the fuel that drives our design, the North Star of
our creative process.
32

33. THE TAO OF DT
OUR CRAFT EXPLAINED
Simple is beautiful.
We want our solutions to be simple so they benefit as many people as possible.
33

34. THE TAO OF DT
Making the simple complicated is
commonplace; making the
complicated simple, awesomely
simple, that's creativity.
—Charles Mingus
34

35. THE TAO OF DT
OUR CRAFT EXPLAINED
Compelling.
In addition to simple, we’ve found if you compel people by bringing your design to
life with a bit of soul, it adds meaning and sets you apart.
35

36. THE TAO OF DT
OUR CRAFT EXPLAINED
Incremental improvements create
exponential results. Make
something better every day.
36

37. THE TAO OF DT
OUR CRAFT IN ACTION
Betterment By Design is our unique
process of actions. It’s rooted in our
culture, creates impact through
experiences and enables us to reach
our noble cause.
37

38. THE TAO OF DT
OUR CRAFT IN ACTION
Without our craft, our values and
noble cause would just be ideas and
never become experiences.
38

39. THE TAO OF DT
VALUES
Core values represent our shared beliefs, guide our
daily decisions and fuel our behavior. They make up the
foundation of who we are and everything we do.
When values are put into action, a culture forms. This
culture guides the way we run our business at DT.
We have seven values comprised of actionable phrases
instead of individual words.
39

40. THE TAO OF DT
OUR VALUES
BE DRIVEN FOR GROWTH
REALIZE THE POTENTIAL IN EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING
TAKE INITIATIVE TO MAKE IT BETTER
CARE ABOUT YOUR CO-WORKERS, CLIENTS, AND USERS
CHALLENGE THE NORM WITH SOUL
BE AN OWNER
CONTRIBUTE TO THE TRIBE
40

41. THE TAO OF DT
OUR VALUES
BE DRIVEN FOR GROWTH
REALIZE THE POTENTIAL IN EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING
TAKE INITIATIVE TO MAKE IT BETTER
CARE ABOUT YOUR CO-WORKERS, CLIENTS, AND USERS
CHALLENGE THE NORM WITH SOUL
BE AN OWNER
CONTRIBUTE TO THE TRIBE
41

42. THE TAO OF DT
BE DRIVEN FOR GROWTH
We exist to get
better at life and
make life better for
other people.
42

43. THE TAO OF DT
BE DRIVEN FOR GROWTH
As a member of the DT culture, you
should have an ongoing desire to
grow yourself and make an impact
on the growth of those around you.
43

44. THE TAO OF DT
BE DRIVEN FOR GROWTH
Why drive for growth?
Growth is extremely important for our business as it ensures its long-term health and survival.
It’s needed in order for us to become, and remain, a world-class company.
We strive to be thought leaders at what we do.
The secret to constant fulfillment is ongoing improvement and ability to make a difference.
44

45. THE TAO OF DTBE DRIVEN FOR GROWTH 45
“I didn’t back away from the
opportunity [to be blog editor] and
decided to put my big boy pants on.”
—Brent

46. THE TAO OF DT
BE DRIVEN FOR GROWTH
Brent’s Story
Brent recognized the opportunity to capitalize on the current blog and make it even better.
He started by creating structure for increased content production.
He set aggressive goals.
Personally, Brent came from a corporate structure, where he learned to use goals to drive him, not stress him.
46

47. THE TAO OF DT
MORE EXAMPLES
47BE DRIVEN FOR GROWTH
Brent & Dani
Brent: LinkedIn velocity experiment.
Dani: Introduced the concept of "mindshare" to the Strategists and it's been an amazing forum for
honesty, emotional connections and solution-driven conversations in their huddles.

48. THE TAO OF DT
BE DRIVEN FOR GROWTH
Ask yourself:
How do I grow personally and professionally?
How can I help my coworkers and clients grow?
How can I make an impact on the growth of DT?
48

49. THE TAO OF DT
OUR VALUES
BE DRIVEN FOR GROWTH
REALIZE THE POTENTIAL IN
EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING
TAKE INITIATIVE TO MAKE IT BETTER
CARE ABOUT YOUR CO-WORKERS, CLIENTS, AND USERS
CHALLENGE THE NORM WITH SOUL
BE AN OWNER
CONTRIBUTE TO THE TRIBE
49

50. THE TAO OF DT
Be inquisitive. There is
always more potential to
unlock in ourselves and
the world around us.
Unlocking this potential releases growth.
50
REALIZE THE POTENTIAL IN EVERYONE & EVERYTHING

51. THE TAO OF DT
The key is to see the potential in
yourself, your clients, projects,
relationships, and in your
surroundings, that others cannot see.
51
REALIZE THE POTENTIAL IN EVERYONE & EVERYTHING

52. THE TAO OF DT
Realizing potential empowers you
to be visionary and optimistic about
what’s possible.
Remember, it’s not only about being aware, it’s also about causing something to happen.
52
REALIZE THE POTENTIAL IN EVERYONE & EVERYTHING

53. THE TAO OF DT 53REALIZE THE POTENTIAL IN EVERYONE & EVERYTHING
“Show, don’t tell. Make something
awesome and show it to people.”
—Jamie & Shawn

54. THE TAO OF DT 54
REALIZE THE POTENTIAL IN EVERYONE & EVERYTHING
Jamie & Shawn’s Story
Jamie and Shawn saw the opportunity to leverage Middleman.
Jamie took the idea and ran with it.
When they saw the potential, Jamie customized it and shared it with the team.
Its time-saving qualities were huge and the tool quickly caught fire with the dev team.

55. THE TAO OF DT 55
MORE EXAMPLES
Bradley+Bethany & Bim
Bradley and Bethany: Up-leveling the DT coffee scene
Bim: Whiteboard notebook
REALIZE THE POTENTIAL IN EVERYONE & EVERYTHING

56. THE TAO OF DT 56
REALIZE THE POTENTIAL IN EVERYONE & EVERYTHING
Ask yourself
What is my untapped potential?
How can I support the potential of my team and clients?
What potential can I unlock in people’s lives?

57. THE TAO OF DT
OUR VALUES
BE DRIVEN FOR GROWTH
REALIZE THE POTENTIAL IN EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING
TAKE INITIATIVE TO MAKE IT BETTER
CARE ABOUT YOUR CO-WORKERS, CLIENTS, AND USERS
CHALLENGE THE NORM WITH SOUL
BE AN OWNER
CONTRIBUTE TO THE TRIBE
57

58. THE TAO OF DT
TAKE INITIATIVE TO MAKE IT BETTER
All progress in human
history has occurred
because someone decided
to take initiative.
In other words, everything happens because of initiative,
and nothing happens without it.
58

59. THE TAO OF DT
TAKE INITIATIVE TO MAKE IT BETTER
Taking initiative is about being
empowered to make a difference, but
not being afraid to make mistakes.
59

60. THE TAO OF DT
TAKE INITIATIVE TO MAKE IT BETTER
If your initiative doesn’t work, pick
yourself up and try again until you
make something better.
60

61. THE TAO OF DT
TAKE INITIATIVE TO MAKE IT BETTER
We value the effort and intention
towards betterment, not just the results.
61

62. THE TAO OF DT
TAKE INITIATIVE TO MAKE IT BETTER
Initiative doesn’t require permission.
62

63. THE TAO OF DT
TAKE INITIATIVE TO MAKE IT BETTER
You have so much more control over
your own experiences than you think.
Take the wheel.
63

64. THE TAO OF DT 64TAKE INITIATIVE TO MAKE IT BETTER
“Don’t spit out an idea and just expect
it to fly. If you have an idea, run with it
and see who runs with you.”
—Cody

65. THE TAO OF DT 65
TAKE INITIATIVE TO MAKE IT BETTER
Cody’s Story
It started with how people were sharing work and receiving feedback on work.
Cody asked around and realized it wasn’t just him.
He hacked PDFs to gather design feedback and quickly drew a parallel to InVision’s workflows.
He started using InVision and teaching others how they could make the most of it.

66. THE TAO OF DT 66
MORE EXAMPLES
Birman+Jimmy+Jess+Maurice &
Jamie+Chuck
Birman, Jimmy, Maurice & Jess: Office rearranging
Jamie & Chuck: Reducing staff emails and improving sharing of information through G+ Community
TAKE INITIATIVE TO MAKE IT BETTER

67. THE TAO OF DT 67
TAKE INITIATIVE TO MAKE IT BETTER
Ask yourself
What am I making better for myself, my clients and our company?
What am I making better every day?
Am I willing and able to take action on my ideas?

68. THE TAO OF DT
OUR VALUES
BE DRIVEN FOR GROWTH
REALIZE THE POTENTIAL IN EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING
TAKE INITIATIVE TO MAKE IT BETTER
CARE ABOUT YOUR COWORKERS,
CLIENTS AND USERS
CHALLENGE THE NORM WITH SOUL
BE AN OWNER
CONTRIBUTE TO THE TRIBE
68

69. THE TAO OF DT
It’s more than just having
lunch, getting coffee and
being friendly.
It’s truly connecting, building trust and being highly dependable to
everyone: your team, customers and community.
69
CARE ABOUT YOUR CO-WORKERS,
CLIENTS AND USERS

70. THE TAO OF DT
We are humans. Be empathetic
and treat others like humans.
70
CARE ABOUT YOUR CO-WORKERS, CLIENTS AND USERS

71. THE TAO OF DT
Give a damn, get each other’s
back and freely share the burdens
and the rewards of your work.
71
CARE ABOUT YOUR CO-WORKERS, CLIENTS AND USERS

72. THE TAO OF DT
The work you perform is so much
more powerful and complete if you
care about the people you are
working alongside of.
72
CARE ABOUT YOUR CO-WORKERS, CLIENTS AND USERS

73. THE TAO OF DT
If you find yourself not caring about
something, or someone, it’s a
powerful indicator that change is
needed.
73
CARE ABOUT YOUR CO-WORKERS, CLIENTS AND USERS

74. THE TAO OF DT 74CARE ABOUT YOUR CO-WORKERS, CLIENTS, & USERS
“I couldn’t have done this without being
empathetic. It’s important to stay true to
my word and follow through. I want to
be that reliable person for someone.”
—Dustin

75. THE TAO OF DT 75
CARE ABOUT YOUR CO-WORKERS, CLIENTS, & USERS
Dustin’s Story
Dustin and Rocky originally met at Valio Con.
Dustin made it his mission to get Rocky hired at DT. Woot!
Having moved from Idaho himself, Dustin knew what it felt like to uproot and relocate.
He offered up his time, coordinated a group of people from DT to help Rocky move and settle into San Diego.

76. THE TAO OF DT 76
MORE EXAMPLES
Bradley+Bim & Arnold
Bradley & Bim: Whiteboard notation framework that allows for easier
hand-off to designers and alignment with the client.
Arnold: Making coffee everyday and replacing whiteboard markers.
CARE ABOUT YOUR CO-WORKERS, CLIENTS, & USERS

77. THE TAO OF DT 77
CARE ABOUT YOUR CO-WORKERS, CLIENTS, & USERS
Ask yourself
Am I thinking about the people my work affects instead of just the deliverables?
Do I have the back of my team and clients?
What could we change to enable us to care more about our projects?

78. THE TAO OF DT
OUR VALUES
BE DRIVEN FOR GROWTH
REALIZE THE POTENTIAL IN EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING
TAKE INITIATIVE TO MAKE IT BETTER
CARE ABOUT YOUR CO-WORKERS, CLIENTS, AND USERS
CHALLENGE THE NORM WITH SOUL
BE AN OWNER
CONTRIBUTE TO THE TRIBE
78

79. THE TAO OF DT
CHALLENGE THE NORM WITH SOUL
Since day one, DT has
challenged the status quo.
As a result, we’ve developed a unique and soulful business philosophy
that sets us apart from the competition.
79

80. THE TAO OF DT
CHALLENGE THE NORM WITH SOUL
We ask you to continue the tradition
and… make shit up.
80

81. THE TAO OF DT
CHALLENGE THE NORM WITH SOUL
Be fearless and original with your
work. Set the standard.
81

82. THE TAO OF DT
CHALLENGE THE NORM WITH SOUL
Be adventurous; bravely take the
uncharted path and be proud of
being different.
82

83. THE TAO OF DT
CHALLENGE THE NORM WITH SOUL
Get outside of your comfort zone.
Make mistakes and take risks. Just
don’t be normal or play it safe.
83

84. THE TAO OF DT
CHALLENGE THE NORM WITH SOUL
Soul is what brings any interaction to
life, whether it be human or digital...
84

85. THE TAO OF DT
CHALLENGE THE NORM WITH SOUL
...so add a dash of soul to everything
you do and make it meaningful.
85

86. THE TAO OF DT
CHALLENGE THE NORM WITH SOUL
We value the unconventional and one-
of-a-kind approach instead of tried-
and-true.
86

87. THE TAO OF DTCHALLENGE THE NORM WITH SOUL
“We both really like to have fun.”
—Bethany & MK
87

88. THE TAO OF DT 88
CHALLENGE THE NORM WITH SOUL
MK & Bethany’s Story
The challenge: Throw an amazing Holiday party.
They thought about who DT is and decided that, since we’re all kinda nerdy, why not throw a Prom party!
Bethany really wanted to contribute to the company as a whole and MK’s experience at last year’s Holiday
Party helped her to build lasting relationships; she wanted to pay that forward.
Working through time constraints and making time after hours, the whole planning committee (Dani, Melanie
and Shannon included!) banded together and threw one hell of a party.

89. THE TAO OF DT 89
MORE EXAMPLES
MK+Nate+Dan & Culture Team
MK, Nate and Dan: Office and conference room designs
Culture Team (and others): Client visits, Infobip all the time, small train bags for Yekra and Fullscreen
CHALLENGE THE NORM WITH SOUL

90. THE TAO OF DT 90
CHALLENGE THE NORM WITH SOUL
Ask yourself
Am I taking the ordinary or extraordinary path? Am I making shit up?
How can I add soul and purpose into everything I do?
Am I being fearful or fearless?

91. THE TAO OF DT
OUR VALUES
BE DRIVEN FOR GROWTH
REALIZE THE POTENTIAL IN EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING
TAKE INITIATIVE TO MAKE IT BETTER
CARE ABOUT YOUR CO-WORKERS, CLIENTS, AND USERS
CHALLENGE THE NORM WITH SOUL
BE AN OWNER
CONTRIBUTE TO THE TRIBE
91

92. THE TAO OF DT
BE AN OWNER
You have the
freedom to own
your path at DT.
Don’t be limited to
your job
description.
92

93. THE TAO OF DT
BE AN OWNER
You could be at DT for two weeks or 20
years. Know that everyone has a voice...
93

94. THE TAO OF DT
BE AN OWNER
...everyone has the autonomy to make a
positive impact on the company’s
success, as well as the happiness of
everyone around you.
94

95. THE TAO OF DT
BE AN OWNER
Do what you say, and do it well.
See things through to the end.
95

96. THE TAO OF DT
BE AN OWNER
Everyone involved in a project, owns
the project. Be honest, accountable
and hold others accountable.
96

97. THE TAO OF DTBE AN OWNER
“You can’t plan innovation. You have
to do it. If you believe in There, you
don’t care about failing Here”
—Jessica, David, & Nate
97

98. THE TAO OF DT 98
BE AN OWNER
Jessica, David & Nate’s Story
The needs: Increase creativity, promote growth, reduce stress and create space for betterment on the regular.
Chuck heard the needs and put the team together.
They locked themselves in a room and out came the BetEx program.
BetEx rolled out in its infancy and received some tough feedback.
But they persevered. They were willing to make shit up and just do it.

99. THE TAO OF DT
MORE EXAMPLES
John & Chuck+Laurence
John: DT Beta Brew
Chuck: “Betty” bathroom record library makeover
99BE AN OWNER

100. THE TAO OF DT
BE AN OWNER
Ask yourself
Am I taking control of my career?
What can I do to move any project forward?
Am I doing what I say and doing it well?
100

101. THE TAO OF DT
OUR VALUES
BE DRIVEN FOR GROWTH
REALIZE THE POTENTIAL IN EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING
TAKE INITIATIVE TO MAKE IT BETTER
CARE ABOUT YOUR CO-WORKERS, CLIENTS, AND USERS
CHALLENGE THE NORM WITH SOUL
BE AN OWNER
CONTRIBUTE TO THE TRIBE
101

102. THE TAO OF DT
CONTRIBUTE TO THE TRIBE
Contribution has
been in DT’s DNA
since the beginning.
We’ve contributed to movements, such as, The Lean Startup
and Coworking. We freely give away details about our culture
and design process, and we even lead our sales process by
freely giving our time and ideas.
102

103. THE TAO OF DT
CONTRIBUTE TO THE TRIBE
We are givers, not takers. Be open and
willing. Be abundant with your mind,
time and efforts.
103

104. THE TAO OF DT
CONTRIBUTE TO THE TRIBE
Contribution leads to great fulfillment in
life. It gives you a sense of ownership
and impact, and it’s not so hard to do.
104

105. THE TAO OF DT
CONTRIBUTE TO THE TRIBE
Contribution is a secret way to get the
most out of life… it’s a gateway value!
105

106. THE TAO OF DT
Be the change you want to see.
—Gandhi
106

107. THE TAO OF DTCONTRIBUTE TO THE TRIBE
“I like when we have video footage.
It captures fleeting moments. Effort
is more important than success in
things like this.”
—Jamie
107

108. THE TAO OF DT
CONTRIBUTE TO THE TRIBE
Jamie’s Story
It started when Stieler gave his talk about being a Sweeper; Jamie wished we’d had this recorded!
He’d been thinking about the best way to capture moments.
He didn’t ask for permission and just started filming huddles.
Side note: He noticed huddles became increasingly more polished ;)
Armed with self-purchased equipment, he is now our resident photographer and videographer.
108

109. THE TAO OF DT
MORE EXAMPLES
Arnold, Nate & Eric
Arnold: Service leadership. (Random acts of caffeine: “I’m leaving, do you need anything?”)
Nate - Yoga and stretching lessons
Eric - Video games
109CONTRIBUTE TO THE TRIBE

110. THE TAO OF DT
CONTRIBUTE TO THE TRIBE
Ask yourself
Am I giving, or taking?
What mark do I want to make at DT?
What’s my role in contributing to the sum of our parts?
110

111. THE TAO OF DT
Fireside Chat
with Sir Jason Amunwa
111

112. THE TAO OF DT
Our values make up our
culture. Our culture guides
our behaviors and beliefs
while performing our craft.
BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER
Betterment by Design is our
tool for impacting people’s
experiences.
Our noble cause is to work
towards Elevating Life’s
Experiences, everyday.
Our Values Our Craft Our Noble Cause
+ +
112

113. THE TAO OF DT
Our values make up our
culture. Our culture guides
our behaviors and beliefs
while performing our craft.
BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER
Betterment by Design is our
tool for impacting people’s
experiences.
Our noble cause is to work
towards Elevating Life’s
Experiences, everyday.
Our Values Our Craft Our Noble Cause
+ +
113

114. THE TAO OF DT
Our values make up our
culture. Our culture guides
our behaviors and beliefs
while performing our craft.
BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER
Betterment By Design is our
tool for impacting people’s
experiences.
Our noble cause is to work
towards Elevating Life’s
Experiences, everyday.
Our Values Our Craft Our Noble Cause
+ +
114

115. THE TAO OF DT 115
We Elevate Life’s Experiences
Betterment By Design
Be driven for growth
Take initiative to make it better
Challenge the norm with soul
Realize the potential in everyone and everything
Care about your co-workers, clients and users
Be an owner
Contribute to the tribe
Culture
Values
NC
Betterment
Design

116. THE TAO OF DT 82

117. THE TAO OF DT
We choose to be here because we believe in what DT stands for.
We work with people who we care about, trust and are inspired by.
We expect those around us to be talented, ambitious, high performers and dreamers.
We work together all share ownership of the wins, losses and collective effort that it
takes to do great things.
WE ARE A TRIBE 117

118. THE TAO OF DT
We choose to be here because we believe in what DT stands for.
We work with people who we care about, trust and are inspired by.
We expect those around us to be talented, ambitious, high performers and dreamers.
We work together all share ownership of the wins, losses and collective effort that it
takes to do great things.
WE ARE A TRIBE 118

119. THE TAO OF DT
We choose to be here because we believe in what DT stands for.
We work with people who we care about, trust and are inspired by.
We expect those around us to be talented, ambitious, high-performers and dreamers.
We work together all share ownership of the wins, losses and collective effort that it
takes to do great things.
WE ARE A TRIBE 119

120. THE TAO OF DT
We choose to be here because we believe in what DT stands for.
We work with people who we care about, trust and are inspired by.
We expect those around us to be talented, ambitious, high performers and dreamers.
We share the ownership of the wins, losses and the collective effort that it takes
to do great things.
WE ARE A TRIBE 120

121. THE TAO OF DT
WE ARE A TRIBE
A Tribe is different from a
family or a team.
121

122. THE TAO OF DT
WE ARE A TRIBE
Each of us choose to be part of the
tribe based on our shared beliefs,
passions and a desire to contribute
and make us better.
122

123. THE TAO OF DT
WE ARE A TRIBE
We choose who is part of our
tribe based on their cultural fit
and what they will contribute.
123

124. THE TAO OF DT
I am because we are.
It defines who we are collectively. Each person makes a
difference on each person, and DT as a whole.
WE ARE A TRIBE
124

125. THE TAO OF DT
WE ARE A TRIBE
It’s not about you, it’s about us
and our journey.
125

126. THE TAO OF DT
WE ARE A TRIBE
When anyone grows, we all grow.
When people join or leave, our
tribe evolves.
126

127. THE TAO OF DT
WE ARE A TRIBE
We are DT, and DT is the Tribe.
Without DT, there is no tribe, and
without us, there is no DT.
127

128. THE TAO OF DT 128
SO WHAT’S NEXT?
Using culture to guide our business.
The Tao must balance the needs of the company and fit within each role, department and experience within the
company.
We are putting programs in place to embed our culture into our daily jobs and decisions.
We will gather feedback and evolve the culture, as needed, to best guide our company.

129. THE TAO OF DT 129
The Culture Action Team (CAT)
We’ve created the CAT as an employee-driven team to develop the programs that embed the Tao into
everything we do and hold us accountable to running our company via our culture.
Potential Upcoming Programs:
● We will lean on the Tao when making big and small business decisions
● Tao notebooks and book: How to live our culture
● Library and learning program
● Jason: Fireside chats to share and record our stories
● Hiring and reviews
● Culture Alignment Contract for new and current team
● Live Your Life programs (Flexible work environment and sabbaticals)
● Set big goals together
● Intrapreneur program
● Celebrate fund
SO WHAT’S NEXT?

130. THE TAO OF DT
CAT: How to get involved
The team: Jess, Nate, Bethany, James, Dana, Chuck, Laurence, Jason and you?
1. See a need
2. Think of a solution
3. Find a wingman
4. Do it and have fun
130
SO WHAT’S NEXT?

131. THE TAO OF DT
CREDITS
The Tao of DT was created by you. Whether it’s your 3rd day or 3,000th day, you’ve contributed to our culture in
some way. Your comments in 15Five, surveys, pow-wows, participating in Delivering Happiness and Tribal
Leadership, your actions each-and-every day inspired the Tao of DT. The Tao is because we are.
Specifically, we’d like to thank...
● The original CME noble cause and values team and participants.
● Nate for being our spiritual guide through all the renditions of our culture.
● Jason and David for their German interstellar calculations.
● Arnold for being a huge part of Vision Quest #2 and Jess for being online late and giving instafeedback.
● Laurence for making the space for us all to do this crazy thing.
● Dana for making this awesome presentation; Nate/Jess for Chuck-hacking it together; James for the crafty
designs...crap here comes the send-off music! Ummm, Bethany/Jess for their secret missions and Jason for
being so inspired by your examples of Tao that he inspired us; John and Dave for sticking with us for so
long and everyone who was included as a value example. Phew! :)
131