Personal Space
Looks like an office, smells like an office . . . well, even if it doesn't, it's an office.
Gone are the days of oceans of gray pinstripes and coffee breaks
at precisely 10 a.m. Today's office cultures are as distinct
as, well, you are. Offices reflect not only entrepreneurs'
personalities but those of your employees as well. Here's a
peek inside the headquarters of three very different companies: Pretty Fly Headquartered in San Francisco, flyswat Inc., a company that
creates tools and services for Internet browsing, epitomizes young
Net culture at its finest. Twentysomething founders John Rodkin,
Raymond Krouse and Leo Chang, have dumped 3,000 pounds of sand in
their office to create an indoor beach complete with banana plants
and tiki torches-a good complement to walls emblazoned with green
grass and blue skies, and a central boardroom turned game room. Why
the outdoor motif? When you and your 60-plus employees often work
70-plus-hour weeks, the office better be fun and convenient. And
convenient it is--flyswat buys dinner four nights a week, has a
fully stocked kitchen, futons for sleepovers, laundry facilities
and a shower. Content Continues Below
A Place Like Home When you enter the 1912 converted farmhouse of Mission Critical
Systems Inc., a systems and network security firm in Fort
Lauderdale, Florida, you may be greeted with wagging tails and
loving licks. No, owners Susan Crabtree and Frank Darden aren't
that desperate for business; they have a pet-friendly policy.
Alongside Crabtree's two shelties, you'll find 10 casually
dressed employees with professional clothes (khakis and polo
shirts) at the ready for client calls. The crew relaxes during
Friday happy hours and office barbecues.
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What makes a good client gift?
What guidelines do you follow when buying gifts for your clients? Have you ever received an unusual or inappropriate gift?
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