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By Stacy Ward, Managing Editor fedastacy@ver izon.net L ike oversized bean bag chairs lounging in spaces branded as cool places to work, culture is "squishy. Not what you'd expect as a starting point to unbun- " dle an intangible that's either been tough to pin down or altogether ignored in workplaces across the country. But coming from Dr. David Vik, it makes perfect sense. From the 149-pound throne chair he used to help empower employees as a coach at online retailer Zappos to the spinning hubcaps on his white Denali (one of many props he uses to reinforce his "Spin it andWin it" philosophy), there's nothing common about Vik,which also explains the name of his consulting firm—The Culture King. Using his five years at the e-retailer as a blueprint for success, he started the company to help others conjure up the same workplace bliss that's led to multiple high rankings for Zappos on Fortune's best places to work list, including its best showing at No. 11 this year. Prior to being recruited by Zappos to help strengthen its com- pany culture,Vik spent 22 years building one of themost successful chiropractic clinics in the country, and used that expertise to teach other health professionals howto duplicate his success. Success is something he's worked hard to master, having spent years trying to figure out what separates those who have it fromthosewho come up short."I've spentmore than $250,000 over 20 years studying the "Science of Success, " says a visibly-tannedVik,who looks more like an avid surfer than a doctor, and comes across as a free spirit willing to try any and everything for personal enrichment.Over the years, betteringVik has includedwalk- ing on fire, purification, seminars, retreats, stints with life coaches and countless hours digesting best practices from self-help bestsellers. continued on page 12 1 0 FEDA News & Views