Well hey there, welcome back to another edition of The Culture Junky weekly blog, I hope you’re having a good week as we make our way through this holiday week, and onwards to the long weekend ahead.

Before we shift gears and break out all the food that will be consumed, it’s time to focus in on our organizational cultures. Trust me when I say, this week’s blog is a good one.

This week I was flipping through tv channels, when I came across what appeared to be an old episode of The Simpsons. Now, I haven’t watched these guys in probably 20 years, so if you’re someone who is in the same boat, keep on reading because I promise the message will still resonate loud and clear.

At the time I happened to be scrolling past this episode I saw Ned Flanders, the happy upbeat neighbor that gets on Homer’s nerves. Only this time he was in the middle of a fit of rage. I wondered if I had simply missed out on some character development over the last 20 years because the character I remember was always friendly and polite, but here he was yelling at pretty much everyone in town.

After he finished his tirade, Marge Simpson says: “Ned, we did our best” which was followed by a response that reminded me of why I started ‘this whole Culture thing’ in the first place.

His response was: “Well, my family and I can’t live in good intentions”

Now, if you’re someone who has been following my Culture Junky blog for some time, that quote should have jumped out to you because it’s very similar to a quote of my own: “Having good intentions, and being intentional, are NOT the same thing.”

In the example from The Simpsons, it’s pretty clear that the good intentions fell short, and essentially pushed the nicest guy in town to his wits end.

Don’t let the same happen in your culture. Stay strategic, and stay intentional.

Think about that, The Culture Junky sure will.

Be good to each other out there and have a great Thanksgiving,