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Published Feb 1, 2016

Gunnar Lovelace on Creating a Thriving Company Culture - with Lewis Howes

Gunnar Lovelace, founder of Thrive Market, breaks down strategies for building a thriving company culture, tackling operational challenges during rapid business growth, and emphasizing the significance of affordable, healthy food.
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  • Early Challenges

    Gunnar Lovelace opens up about his early life challenges, including growing up on a hippie commune and dealing with deep-seated insecurities. He emphasizes the importance of embracing mistakes and learning from them, which has been a cornerstone of his entrepreneurial journey. Gunnar's approach to overcoming fear involves confronting it head-on, using it as a teacher to guide his actions and decisions 1 2.

    I've had coaches and I've taken classes, and I do, like, improv acting and do things that force me to get comfortable with it, but it's still.

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    This mindset has helped him navigate the complexities of building and scaling Thrive Market.

       

    Philosophy

    Gunnar reflects on his diverse entrepreneurial ventures and his passion for social enterprise. His journey began with educational software, teaching children how to read, which marked a significant shift from his activist roots. Gunnar believes in the power of business, media, and technology to create positive social impact 3 4.

    I was a full-time activist in college, and it was like the same thousand people that would show up at the rallies, and I was like, there's got to be a bigger way to have an impact.

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    This philosophy has driven his efforts to combine profit with purpose, aiming to make a meaningful difference in the world.

       

    Balancing Act

    Balancing the demands of running a high-growth business with personal life is a challenge Gunnar navigates with intention. He credits his partner's support and his commitment to self-care practices like intense cardio and taking probiotics. Gunnar stresses the importance of maintaining a balanced state to positively influence his team and company culture 5 6.

    The most important thing for me at this point is just to, like I said, is I'm just constantly working to build process among the leadership, interdepartmental process, facilitate a positive culture, and really just pace myself at this point.

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    His approach underscores the need for leaders to prioritize their well-being to effectively lead their organizations.

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