Why Successful Culture Design Requires More Than Recipes

Don't Mistake Simplicity for Shortcuts

Goce Ilievski (Macedonia)/Stocksy

I bet you don't know I’ve loved cooking since I was a kid. For many years, I experimented with new recipes, threw cooking parties, and thought I was really good. I made fancy French recipes that impressed my friend. They took pictures of my dishes and asked for recipes, which made me feel more confident – until I took formal culinary training.

Talk about a reality check. What I thought was mastery was merely passionate amateur status.

Mastering cooking wasn't just about learning new recipes – I had to understand the underlying principles. The techniques, the science, and the precise sequence can change an okay dish into an amazing one.

What does my cooking journey have to do with culture design? Everything.

I see the same pattern play out: Many think having a recipe – completing one of my templates – is enough, and they overlook the hard work required.

I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, I’ve invested a lot of time and resources in democratizing the dis…