We have an open-seating office plan designed to foster collaboration and camaraderie.

It works very well but inevitably we become absorbed in client calls, firing off emails, and generally grinding through the day. Headphones go on. Screens glow. Conference call notifications ping. Conversations shrink to quick nods and calendar invites.

We sit next to each other — but not always with each other.  And then it happens. Like clockwork. The glorious snack cart!

We can hear it before we see it — the faint rattle of wheels against the floor. Someone inevitably whispers, “It’s here.” And suddenly, the frenzy begins.  People jump from their seats and gather around the cart like giddy school children. It feels like the recess bell ringing on a beautiful spring afternoon. We stampede toward the cart which holds all sorts of delicious treats: chips, granola bars, sparkling water, chocolate.  Who would have thought Peanut M&Ms could deliver so much corporate value?

The snack cart isn’t about the snacks. It’s about the signal.

It says: We see you working hard.
It says: Take a break.
It says: You matter enough for us to invest in a small moment of joy.

For ten minutes, the office transforms. Laughter replaces laser-focus silence. We ask about each other’s weekends. We debate the merits of gummy bears versus dark chocolate. Someone grabs two bags “for later” and gets called out for it. It’s communal. It’s human.  Then we disperse, re-fueled and refreshed from the impromptu community event — noticeably lighter. Happier. More productive.  It doesn’t take much.

And those small gestures of appreciation are so important in our work and personal lives.

Consistency Matters in the Workplace

In our work lives, it is so easy to get lost in our everyday routines.  But it’s important to pick our heads up every now and then and go that extra mile.  Small gestures of appreciation matter.

A manager who takes 30 seconds to say, “I noticed how well you handled that client call.”
A colleague who sends a quick note: “Your deck made the pitch so much stronger.”
A handwritten thank-you card instead of a templated email.
A leader who publicly credits the team instead of quietly absorbing the praise.
A text after a long week: “Proud of you. Keep going.”

These are the Peanut M&Ms of leadership.

Individually small. Collectively meaningful.

Professionally, appreciation fuels performance. People don’t burn out simply from hard work — they burn out from hard work that feels unseen. Recognition validates effort. It reinforces behavior. It builds trust. And trust builds teams.

We don’t need a massive bonus structure to shape culture (although that is ALWAYS appreciated!) We need consistency in acknowledgment.  That is the straw that stirs the drink of high-functioning teams.

We Can’t Assume Appreciation

And the same principle applies in our personal lives.

A note to a friend telling them we’re grateful for their steady presence.
Thanking our partner for something they “always do” that we’ve stopped noticing.
Calling a parent just to say we appreciate their support.
Telling a mentor their advice changed the trajectory of our lives.

We assume people know.  But knowing and hearing are not the same.

Gratitude can quietly become internalized. We think, “Of course she knows I value her.” Or, “He knows I appreciate his help.” But unexpressed appreciation has zero personal impact.

The snack cart works because it rolls through the office. It is seen. It is shared. It interrupts routine in a positive way.  We need to roll the snack cart through our most cherished relationships.  It will continue to fuel our connection.

Appreciation Fuels Resilience

In business and in life, small acts of appreciation go a long way toward building culture.

There’s also something powerful about appreciation as a rhythm. The snack cart doesn’t come once a year. It comes consistently. Culture isn’t built on annual awards banquets. It’s built in small, repeatable moments.  Small deposits. Compounded over time.

In a world that celebrates big launches, bold strategies, and headline wins, it’s easy to overlook the quiet levers that actually sustain performance.

Moments of shared humanity. Micro-celebrations. Gratitude made visible.

The snack cart won’t show up in the annual report.  But the culture it reinforces will.

And that’s the resilient part.

Resilience isn’t only about pushing harder. It’s about sustaining energy. It’s about building environments where people feel supported, noticed, and valued enough to keep showing up at their best.

Sometimes resilience looks like grit.

Sometimes it looks like Peanut M&Ms at 2:30 p.m.

It doesn’t take much.  So go ahead and say thank-you.  Send the note.  Share the gratitude.

And keep on rolling that snack cart!

It matters more than we think.