So I’m a week back home from my visit to Google headquarters in Mountainview California for a 2 day “Think Tank” and needless to say, I’m overwhelmed. The campus and business is everything we think it is and more. The campus was absolutely beautiful with unique designs and sentimental artifacts and statues in the main building and throughout campus. I hope I didn’t leave anything out, but here’s what I learned. 

Interesting Google Campus finds:

• Our tour guide informed us that no matter where you were on campus, you were never more than 150 feet away from food. Don’t know if this was a joke or not, but I can tell you that there was food everywhere. No, I don’t mean like a vending machine. I mean fresh fruit and yogurt stations, cafes, and restaurants. 

• The campus has more than 23 cafes, restaurants and places to eat.

• Employees can bring their dogs to work as long as they are calm and don’t bite. ( I took a photo of one guy’s dog)

• They have a TEDx room for TED talks and the room is complete with microphones built into the ceiling, so no matter if you’re in the audience or wherever you are in the room, you can hear ( I included a pic of the room, it’s black with white chairs)

• Some of the restaurants are named after the first dogs who used to come to the office with founders.

• There is a true to size replica of a dinosaur ( I included this pic)

• There is an employee grown garden. Some of the employees tend to this- this is their relaxation and super cool to me.

How they love their employees:

• One “Googler” joked that their dress code was “ Come wearing clothes”.  How cool is that?  No one was focusing on what you were wearing, more on what you could produce and your thought processes. I noticed that most Googlers wore Google t-shirts and jeans to work.

• They FEED their employees. They never have to worry about food. Remember the 150 foot rule and employees eat free in all of the campus restaurants, cafes, and shops. I immediately thought, if I were working there, I’d be fat. But amazing, most employees were absolutely not overweight. They were used to it and that brings me to the next thing…

• They totally have everything at the employee’s fingertips to keep them sane and healthy. There was a lovely gym on campus where Googlers could take classes like kickboxing and Pilate’s, and they had I think 3 pools for a quick dip/workout. Also, the campus is so big, they offer their employees Google bikes that they can ride around the campus or you could just call “G-Ride” to come pick you up wherever you are and drop you off at another building.

• If you need your oil changed or your hair cut, there is somewhere on campus to do it, so you can focus on work. When we asked our tour guide what she had to pay for, she thought long and hard about it and said, my dry cleaning I guess… that’s the only thing I can think of. Most days, I don’t even bring my wallet to work.

• Googlers don’t have to work from their desks. Actually, collaboration is encouraged with MANY spots throughout campus where teams can meet up, have a snack and hash out their work in comfy couches or cafes.

• Errr ufffff of course, the internet was SUPER duper fast ( I was able to participate and still stream our live conference from anywhere on campus) So again, wherever the Googler’s were, inside or out, they could get their work done.

 

    

 

Amazingly, with all of this access to distractions, the employees we saw were uber focused. It was absolutely inspiring that they worked as hard as they do with so many other things that they could be doing. But I guess there are some pretty intelligent people of there at Google that understand, giving the employee absolutely nothing else to worry about except the project that they are working on at their job, is pretty dang smart. This makes for a pretty engaged, focused and productive worker. They don’t have to jet off to do “life” activities like the rest of us, because most of them can be taken care of while they work. I mean, if we didn’t have to run off and run errands, get our oil changed, go to the gym, etc. wouldn’t we get more done?

The program that I was participating in was strictly for engineers/entrepreneurs/developers. I know, most of you didn’t know I got my bachelors in Computer Engineering, minor business. Then once I learned that I wanted to really jump into this entrepreneurial life, I got a Masters in Business ( MBA) focused on Marketing and International Biz. But this programs was actually wonderful. It was organized and was an encouraging environment to learn more about Google Tools, Android, and new developments. The team was also open to questions. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and got a fresh boost to my business. I can’t lie, it’s very hard to look at Google today, and imagine that they were a small startup in the past. Because now, they just look like a HUGE cool azz company to work for and be affiliated with.

Each night after we learned more and more info, networked and toured, Google treated us to a catered reception that was nothing short of fabulous. I mean, like WOW, they really know how to make you feel welcomed and special. Those lamb chops you see in the photos, yep, little waiters with fresh white shirts and shined black shoes, delivered us catered food, chops and scallops, with wine and imported beer. The next day we ate with all of the other Googlers…… hymmm, can you imagine, I my whole breakfast was organic and I finished my pancakes with lavender butter ( can’t make that up) that some lovely company makes fresh in Cali. Hymmmm, did I mention that they fed us well?

I have included pics of the campus, the gardens that the employees grew themselves, our catered receptions, and some of our swag. I don’t know how to share the knowledge, I will figure it out over time. For now, check out this post on the AWESOME Google for Biz Apps that I so love and how to implement them into your business now.

I am trying to be more affiliated with Google and will let you know of any developments, but for now, just know, the company is everything we think it is and they treat their employees and visitors like royalty.