Four Person Card Rule

Scott Galloway's innovative approach to building company culture and retention through a "4 person rule" for company expenses.

Core Concept

• Any 4 employees together get access to Scott's credit card
• Can use it for activities like Broadway shows or trips to Tulum
• No permission needed as long as 4 people are together
• Designed to foster relationships and build company culture

Strategic Benefits

• Retention

  • Friendship at work is the #1 lever for employee retention
  • More effective than compensation or culture alone
  • People who have friends at work look forward to coming in
  • Less likely to leave if they have strong workplace relationships

• Culture Building

  • Employees organize their own group activities
  • Creates organic opportunities for bonding
  • Encourages cross-team relationships
  • Employees plan company-related travel together

Implementation Details

• Cost Management

  • Saved $800-900k annually by giving up office space
  • Reinvested savings into employee relationship building
  • No formal approval process needed
  • Trust-based system

• Scale Limitations

  • Works well for small companies (under 50-100 people)
  • May not be practical for larger organizations
  • Most effective in smaller, tight-knit teams

Results

• Employees organize group activities independently
  • Travel to speaking events together
  • Plan group vacations
  • Attend cultural events
• Creates natural friendship opportunities
• Builds strong team bonds
• Increases overall job satisfaction