“Mattering is our inherent need to feel significant and to feel significant to the people around us,” explains Zach Mercurio, an expert on mattering and its crucial role in creating meaningful and engaging workplaces. In his conversation with Alex Raymond, Zach stresses that mattering is more than just a feel-good concept—it’s a fundamental human need that can transform motivation, productivity, and overall well-being. When people feel like they don’t matter, it often leads to disengagement or even quiet quitting.

Zach explains how crucial it is for leaders to make their teams feel noticed, affirmed, and needed. Why? Because when employees believe their work contributes to a larger purpose, they find deeper meaning in their roles. By fostering an environment where individuals feel valued and connected to the organization’s mission, leaders can inspire greater engagement and long-term success.

Quotes

• “Mattering is our inherent need to feel significant and to feel significant to the people around us. And it’s three primary things. It’s a fundamental human instinct. So, for everyone listening, the first thing you did when you opened your eyes was tilt your head upward. You looked for a caretaker, then reached out your hands and grasped for significance. And so, your very survival as a human, depended on you procuring mattering to someone else, enough to keep you alive. It’s a basic survival instinct. It’s a fundamental need for motivation. When we look at motivation in life and work, it is almost impossible for anything to matter to a human being who doesn’t believe that they matter.” (02:47 | Zach Mercurio)
• “It’s hard for anything to matter to someone who doesn’t believe that they and what they’re doing matters.” (03:47 | Zach Mercurio)
• “Meaningful work is doing what matters to us and what matters to the world. It’s mattering by default.” (05:47 | Zach Mercurio)
• “Mattering is really at the core of these concepts: it’s I feel valued and I know how I add value.” (06:07 | Zach Mercurio)
• “Feelings of not mattering either result in acts of withdrawal or acts of desperation. What’s an act of desperation? I matter more than you think. Complaining, blaming, protesting. A lot of difficult employees are, in my practice, the most difficult employees are employees who feel the most unseen, unheard, unacknowledged, and misunderstood.” (08:16 | Zach Mercurio)

Links

Connect with Zach Mercurio:

Website: https://www.zachmercurio.com/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“The main lesson I’ve learned is to distinguish what’s like the E=mc² of culture—simplifying something extremely complex. And what I see is that the simplification of culture rides on trust, but the currency of trust is really in agreements,” Robert Richman shares as he reflects on his research while writing his book The Culture Blueprint: A Guide to Building the High-Performance Workplace.

As a former employee of Zappos, Robert shares insights into the company’s renowned culture under Tony Hsieh, where trust was built through clear agreements and a commitment to values. He introduces the concept of “culture hacking,” which refers to small but powerful changes that can significantly transform a workplace. How can businesses adopt this mindset to make meaningful improvements? Drawing from Zappos’ success, Robert points out the importance of hiring for values rather than just skills, and how a thoughtful onboarding process creates accountability and commitment. Is culture really just a luxury in challenging times, or is it essential to long-term success? Robert argues that by building explicit agreements and continuously gathering employee feedback, companies can create cultures that stand the test of time.

Quotes

• “The main lesson I’ve learned is to distinguish what’s like the E=mc² of culture—simplifying something extremely complex. And what I see is that the simplification of culture rides on trust, but the currency of trust is really in agreements.” (07:02 | Robert Richman)
• “So how clear are our agreements and are agreements upheld? You don’t just say, ‘Yeah, I agree to uphold the values.’ You literally sign a contract and you swear an oath to uphold them. So that's a very, very clear agreement. Most companies' cultures suffer because they don’t articulate the agreements well, and don't get an opt in for those agreements, and then hold people accountable to those agreements. I think that, especially with corporate culture, that’s really the currency of a great culture.” (07:24 | Robert Richman)
• “I think what most companies need, and are missing, is some sort of Director of Communication, because that’s where culture lies. It’s all in the communication—how you’re relating these things, how you’re sharing them, and how you’re getting the message out. So I’m less about having a Head of Culture, because I believe the CEO really needs to own that role as the head of culture.” (21:28 | Robert Richman)
• “Engagement is how connected to the task somebody is, how much passion they have for it, how much energy they’re putting toward it, right? Whereas empowerment has to do with authority. What level of authority do I really have? That’s what people are actually talking about when they mean empower.” (25:03 | Robert Richman)

Links

Connect with Robert Richman:

Website: https://robertrichman.com/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“This is ancient knowledge and cutting-edge technology brought together into a product that is helping thousands of people all over the world,” says Anna Gudmundson, the CEO and co-founder of Sensate. She sits down with Alex Raymond in this episode to explore how Sensate is transforming stress management with its innovative technology. Sensate’s device combines sound and infrasonic therapy to help users regulate stress and anxiety, and Anna breaks down how it works on a physiological level, particularly its role in improving vagal nerve tone—a key factor in managing stress and enhancing overall well-being.

Anna also talks about her current fundraising strategy, highlighting Sensate’s crowdfunding campaign on WeFunder. What makes crowdfunding such a powerful tool? It isn’t just about raising capital; it’s about building a community of engaged users and investors who are truly passionate about Sensate’s mission. By opening up investment opportunities to everyday people, Sensate is creating a supportive ecosystem that democratizes access to the company’s growth. Anna’s approach blends traditional venture capital with crowdfunding, showing how a diverse investor base can be built while driving the company forward.

Anna reflects on her personal journey as a leader and the unique challenges of running a wellness startup. How can stress management be woven into the fabric of a company’s culture? Anna shares her strategy of fostering mindfulness and resilience within her team, ensuring that Sensate’s core mission is reflected not only in their product but also in their workplace.

Quotes

• “I think stress is part of life, but many of us have a bit too much of it. So, it’s really important to have a way to self-regulate.” (04:56 | Anna Gudmundson)
• “The reason this is really helping so many people is that they are feeling calm and relieved. They actually enjoy the experience, which makes it accessible even when people are feeling quite wound up. I think that’s a really important part because then we begin to self-care, taking out our Sensate and using it when we need it. It’s so important in life to be able to self-regulate during stressful moments.” (05:58 | Anna Gudmundson)
• “We are accepting money from VCs. We have several VCs that are already in, but we have also tried to allow our customers to invest as well. So our customers, practitioners, partners, and people who really care about the product are able to invest via the SPV on WeFunder under exactly the same terms. That’s important, and it is very much part of our ethos.” (14:32 | Anna Gudmundson)
• “The nice thing about adding crowdfunding is that it democratizes around. Typically, at this stage, when we’re at an $18 million valuation, it’s usually larger investors who are able to participate. But this allows smaller investors to come in and really diversifies the cap table.” (15:02 | Anna Gudmundson)

Links

Connect with Anna Gudmundson:

Website: https://www.getsensate.com/

Website: https://wefunder.com/sensate

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm