Not Your Typical Holiday Work Party

Reflections on Connection and Culture

Last week, at our company’s holiday party, something remarkable happened. The room was buzzing with joy and celebration—laughter, heartfelt speeches, and those small, unexpected moments that make you pause and smile. There were happy tears as people were recognized for their work, not just for what they achieved, but for how they lifted others along the way.

What struck me most wasn’t just the emotion, though there was plenty of that. It was the overwhelming sense of connection—a shared understanding that we’re building something bigger than any one person. It felt like a living, breathing example of the culture we’ve worked so hard to build: a place where collaboration is celebrated, and success feels like something we all own together.

It’s not perfect. There’s always room to grow. But that evening reminded me of what’s possible when we embrace interconnectedness—not as some lofty, idealistic goal but as something we choose to live out every day.

As I left the party, I kept turning this thought over: Where does a culture like this come from? How does it take root? And why does it feel so rare in the world we live in? Those reflections brought me back to a pivotal moment in my own journey. A few years ago, after careful research and preparation, I chose to explore a guided journey with plant medicine. This was done in a ceremonial environment, with the utmost respect for the tradition and intention behind it—not as a recreational experience but to seek deeper understanding.

In that state, I was struck by a profound truth: we are all deeply connected. This realization wasn’t just a belief or an idea—it felt absolute and timeless, something beyond words and concepts. That clarity reshaped my path, reaffirming my commitment to embody these values in every aspect of my life, including my work.

The Tension Between Unity and Individualism

Living with this awareness of unity can feel like swimming upstream. American culture loves a good individualist hero—the self-made entrepreneur, the lone wolf, the person who beats the odds to rise above the crowd. It’s the stuff of movies and motivational posters. But as compelling as that narrative is, it misses something important: none of us truly succeed alone.

This story of rugged individualism often isolates us. It tells us that success is something we achieve on our own, sometimes at the expense of others. But life doesn’t really work that way. Everything we do ripples outward. When we lift others, we rise too. When we harm others, we harm ourselves. It’s that simple—and that profound.

This understanding shapes how I lead. At our company, we prioritize collaboration over competition. We’ve created a culture where everyone feels valued, supported, and rewarded for their contributions. And it works. We’ve been recognized more than seventeen times as a best place to work, and our staff tenure is three times the industry average. Sure, those accolades are great—but what matters most to me is knowing that we’ve built a place where people actually want to be.

At the same time, I get why individualism is so deeply ingrained. Achieving something on your own feels good, and personal growth matters. The trick is to find the balance—to celebrate individual wins without losing sight of the bigger picture. When we let go of the idea that it’s either-or, we open space for something richer: a collective success where everyone has a part to play.

Still, it’s not always easy. Some people are more tied to the individualist mindset, shaped by a lifetime of cultural conditioning. And that’s okay. Everyone’s on their own journey. My role isn’t to force change but to model the values I believe in and trust that those who are ready will follow.

Practices for an Integrated Life

These practices have smoothed out my reactivity. Earlier in my career, I could be reactionary. A stressful moment might lead to defensiveness, frustration, or rushing to fix a problem without really understanding it. Now, thanks to mindfulness, I approach challenges with more clarity and calm. My team knows they can count on me to be steady in tough moments. It’s a better experience for them—and for me, too.

Nature is another anchor. My daily walks, mountain bike rides, and quiet moments outdoors reconnect me to the larger rhythms of life. They remind me of how everything is interconnected. Journaling has also become a key practice—a way to reflect on these experiences and deepen my understanding of how unity shows up in my life.These practices don’t live in separate buckets labeled “work” and “personal life.” They’re all part of the same flow. They reflect what I’ve come to believe: life isn’t a series of compartments we try to balance; it’s one seamless, integrated whole.

Unity as a Way of Being

The holiday party reminded me of something profound: when we create spaces where people feel seen, valued, and connected, we’re not just building better workplaces. We’re tapping into something much bigger—a deeper truth about what it means to be human. The Buddhist teaching of dependent origination captures this beautifully. Nothing exists independently. Every action, every choice, reverberates through the web of existence. The Golden Rule—“Do unto others as you would have done unto you”—isn’t just a nice moral suggestion. It’s the way the world works.

For example, the gratitude and joy we saw at the holiday party weren’t accidents. They were the result of intentional choices: systems that reward collaboration, time set aside for recognition, and a culture that prioritizes relationships over competition. Small, deliberate actions like these have a way of rippling outward, creating something bigger than we might imagine.

When we live with this awareness, everything changes. The love, gratitude, and connection I saw at the party weren’t a fluke—they were the fruits of years of intention, collaboration, and trust. And while there’s always more to do, it was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we embrace unity in all we do.

Work, relationships, nature, mindfulness—they’re not separate silos. They’re expressions of the same whole. Recognizing this doesn’t just transform workplaces; it transforms how we see ourselves in the world.

When we start living this way, we reflect the deeper connections that make life so extraordinary. And really, isn’t that what it’s all about?

MIKE SULLIVAN is president and CEO of LOOMIS, the country’s leading challenger brand advertising agency and a top Dallas advertising agency for digital, social, mobile and user experience. For more about challenger branding, advertising, and marketing, leadership, culture, and other inspirations that will drive your success, visit our blog BARK! The Voice of the Underdog and catch up on all of our posts.

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