As a child, my playtime had a peculiar rule: no toy left behind. I couldn’t just pick one Beanie Baby to play with—every single one had to be involved. Whether I was creating a school for stuffed animals or reenacting a barnyard drama with my 28 tiny horse figurines, every character had a role. Every voice had to be heard.

It wasn’t about fairness in the traditional sense; it was about connection. Leaving one out felt wrong, as if its exclusion disrupted the imaginary ecosystem I was building. Even then, I instinctively understood something that I now know to be true in the adult world: systems work best when everyone has a place and a purpose.

Tired of the same old corporate platitudes wrapped up like holiday gifts? So are we. This year, instead of fake cheer and stale cookies in the breakroom, let’s talk about what really matters: workplaces that don’t leave you emotionally bankrupt.