Most people think culture is something you talk about.

A slogan. A speech. A framed list of values on the wall.

But culture isn’t what you say. It’s what you do.

And most people get action backward.

They think motivation comes first. That a team has to feel inspired before they commit. That buy-in has to happen before accountability can.

But that’s not how it works.

The runner doesn’t wait to want to run. She laces up anyway. Three miles in, she’s flying.
The writer sits down uninspired. T...