Thursday Thoughts: Culture Doesn’t Just Happen

As someone who travels for work and has the flexibility to live just about anywhere, I’ve had the opportunity to choose where I call home. That choice for me is Sterling, Kansas.

Now, City of Sterling, Kansas isn’t a big town. With around 2,200 residents, it’s the kind of place some people might overlook on a map. But to me, and to the people who live here, it’s proof that greatness isn’t about size. It’s about intentionality.

I believe there are five key pillars that make any community a great place to live: education, access to services, health care, outdoor spaces, and culture. Sterling checks all five boxes, and it does so in a way that’s rooted in consistency, creativity, and care.

Education: Sterling has a track record of academic excellence that speaks for itself. Sterling Grade School was named a National Title I Distinguished School in 2016, a National Blue Ribbon School in 2018, and just this year was recognized again as a National ESEA Distinguished School in Category 1 for sustained performance and growth. That’s not a one-time fluke, that’s sustained excellence. Our high school has a 94% graduation rate and encourages well-rounded students rather than single-sport specialization. This year alone: a state basketball championship, a state tennis champion, and every single band student receiving a 1 rating on their solos and ensembles. Oh, and 27 Kansas State Forensics titles. We also have Sterling College, offering higher education right here in town.

Services & Access: For a town this size, we are incredibly connected. We’ve got three fiber providers (I personally pay less than $60 a month for fiber internet). Dillons, part of the Kroger national chain, covers our grocery needs. And I can be parked at Eisenhower National Airport in Wichita in about an hour. That’s access.

And just for perspective: the median home price in Sterling is more than $150,000 less than in cities like Dallas, Atlanta, or Minneapolis. I genuinely don’t understand why more people choose congestion over community.

Healthcare: Sterling has four medical doctors, two mental health providers, a dentist, and a complete wellness center that costs $30 a month for your entire family. That’s not a typo. It’s community health done right.

Outdoor Spaces: We’ve got a lake with a lighted walking trail, a splash pad and swimming pool, three playgrounds, multiple parks (with more playgrounds), disc golf, traditional golf, pickleball, tennis… you name it. And they’re well maintained and actively used. If you want to be outside, you’ve got options.

Culture: And this is where I really want to land today. Because culture doesn’t just show up. You can’t buy it. You build it.

Sterling doesn’t have a massive shopping district or a movie theater. But we’ve got something even better - people who care enough to make culture happen.

Take Cocktail Club. A few friends of ours, who bartended in college, decided to start something special. Every month, they send out a vote with several drink options. The top two become the featured cocktails for the evening. They teach us how to make them (including homemade mixers) and we bring food, laughter, and community. It’s a blast. Ten or so couples and their kids gathering to share life. That’s culture.

Or Main Street Market Day. For years, it was known as Pots and Pedals. But recently, some local folks on the Sterling Chamber/Mainstreet rolled up their sleeves and gave it a full reboot. The result? Vendors, live events, blocks full of families, kids running around, and a buzz that reminded everyone why we love where we live. It’s exactly the kind of thing that makes a town feel alive.

None of that happens by accident. It takes effort. It takes people who say, "This matters enough to make it happen."

Sterling is full of people who show up, who create, and who take ownership of their community. From educators and entrepreneurs to volunteers and everyday neighbors, it's their effort that gives this town its heartbeat. And the truth is, that same kind of cultural richness is possible anywhere… if people are willing to build it.

That Leads Me to This Week’s Challenge...

Who’s creating culture in your community? In your workplace? In your family?

This week, take a moment to thank them. Show appreciation to the ones organizing events, starting clubs, hosting gatherings, and thinking creatively. And more importantly, don’t just admire their effort. Join in.

Great culture isn’t someone else’s job. It’s everyone’s. Be part of what makes your community or your workplace amazing.

If this week’s Thursday Thoughts made you think, I’d love it if you’d like, share, or pass it on. Thank you for taking the time to read this, for choosing to work, and for being part of what makes this world amazing.