Joy Inc. by Rich Sheridan Summary
Overview of Joy Inc.
In "Joy, Inc.," Rich Sheridan reveals how eliminating meetings, sharing salaries openly, and welcoming dogs and babies transformed Menlo Innovations into an award-winning workplace. What if the secret to productivity isn't more pressure, but more joy?
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What If Work Could Actually Bring Joy?
A delivery person walks into a basement office in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and stops mid-stride. The space hums with conversation, laughter, and visible energy. No cubicles. No private offices. Just pairs of people huddled at simple aluminum tables, working together at single computers. "I don't know what you do here," the delivery person says, "but whatever it is, I want to work here." This isn't a tech startup riding a funding wave-it's Menlo Innovations, named "The Most Joyful Company in America" by Inc. magazine. Each year, thousands of visitors from Disney, Nike, and USAA make pilgrimages to witness something most consider impossible: a workplace where people genuinely love coming to work. In a world where 70% of workers report feeling disengaged, Menlo offers something radical-proof that joy isn't just possible, it's profitable. At thirteen, Rich Sheridan typed two lines of code that made a computer respond "HI RICH." That magical moment sparked a lifelong passion for programming. By high school, he was creating fantasy baseball games and leading teams. The early days felt intoxicating-filled with energy, camaraderie, and the thrill of creation. Yet by mid-career, despite climbing to vice president with stock options worth millions, Sheridan wanted out. Behind the facade of success lay exhaustion: endless nights away from family, impossible-to-schedule vacations, troubled projects, and constant customer complaints. He'd spend mornings taking long drives to arrive at work as late as possible, then waste half his day playing FreeCell with his screen turned away from the door. The part of him that loved his work was dying.
The Revolution That Changed Everything
The Power of Pairing and Open Collaboration
Rituals That Replace Rules and Finding the Right People
Extreme Interviewing and Understanding Real Users
Experiments, Safety, and the Courage to Fail Fast
Your Turn to Light the Way
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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