“Embracing change with curiosity and adaptability opens the door to growth and new opportunities.”
— Richard Cruz
Navigating workplace culture can often feel like an unpredictable journey, filled with shifting dynamics, evolving expectations, and the challenge of embracing change. Richard Cruz, an expert in organizational development and effectiveness, has found a way to bring humor and insight to this ever-changing landscape with his latest book, Hermie. Through a unique blend of storytelling and psychology, Hermie transforms complex workplace issues into engaging, relatable narratives featuring a cast of animated characters. By combining his background in industrial-organizational psychology with his passion for illustration, Cruz has created a book that not only entertains but also educates professionals on how to foster a harmonious work environment.
In this exclusive interview, Cruz shares the inspiration behind Hermie, his creative process, and the valuable lessons he’s learned along the way. From overcoming writer’s block to collaborating with a team, he offers practical advice for aspiring authors and business leaders alike. Whether you’re an HR professional, a manager, or someone navigating the modern workplace, Hermie provides an insightful and fun approach to understanding workplace culture. Join us as Cruz dives into the journey of bringing Hermie to life, the power of storytelling in business, and why embracing change is the key to success.
Thank you so much for joining us, Rich! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your backstory?
Thank you for having me! It’s always a pleasure to be here. This is actually my third time on the show, and I’m really excited to talk about my latest project, Hermie.
I’ve spent my career in organizational development and effectiveness, helping businesses create positive work environments that foster collaboration and productivity. Last year, I co-founded Harmonious Workplaces alongside Cheryl Volpe and Ben Kleinman. Cheryl and I studied industrial-organizational psychology at Purdue, and Ben, who has an MBA from Northwestern, specializes in change management. We initially had separate ventures—Cheryl and I were consulting, and Ben and I were podcasting—before we realized that our work overlapped in so many ways. So we decided to bring everything together under one roof, launching both our consulting practice and The Harmonious Workplaces Podcast.
Through my work, I’ve always had a love for storytelling and visual communication. That’s what led me to create Hermie—a book that takes a fun, engaging approach to discussing workplace culture.
Your new book, Hermie, presents workplace culture in a very unique way. Can you share the inspiration behind it?
Absolutely! I’ve always been a fan of cartoons, and I’ve wanted to write a book for a long time. I’d start projects and never quite finish them, but this time, the idea for Hermie really stuck.
Cheryl, who worked in entertainment and was involved with Mystery Science Theater 3000, had experience with visual storytelling, so we started talking about ways to merge that with our background in workplace consulting. We wanted to create something that would resonate with professionals but in a way that felt fresh and fun.
The idea for Hermie came to life when I attended a comic convention in Chicago called C2E2. I was inspired by all the artists there and came back to Cheryl and Ben with a pitch: Let’s make a workplace cartoon book. They were immediately on board, and we started developing the concept, refining the characters, and structuring the book in a way that would be both entertaining and insightful.
How did you come up with the characters and the storyline?
We knew from the start that we didn’t want a traditional narrative with a single storyline. Instead, we structured the book around 10 short, standalone stories—each one representing a different workplace challenge.
The characters all represent common workplace personalities, but with an amusing twist. Hermie, our main character, is a hermit crab who serves as the HR manager. He’s always navigating change—just like real-life HR professionals who are constantly adapting to new policies, workplace dynamics, and employee concerns. Then we have Boss Betta, an aggressive betta fish who represents the overbearing boss, and Gary Gecko, the IT guy who’s always hard to find.
Each story follows a typical workplace scenario, and at the end, we provide a lesson rooted in industrial-organizational psychology. The goal was to make the book relatable and engaging while still offering real takeaways for professionals.
What was your favorite part of the writing process?
Definitely the collaboration. Writing a book can feel like a solo journey, but having Cheryl and Ben involved kept things dynamic and exciting. We’d meet regularly, bouncing ideas off each other and shaping the content together.
We started by researching workplace trends, looking at sources like the Gallup State of the Workforce Survey and Forbes articles on business concerns. From there, we brainstormed the biggest challenges employees and leaders face today, narrowed them down to 10 key topics, and built our stories around them.
Another favorite part was the artwork. I illustrated the book myself, but I brought in my nephew and my youngest child to help with the digitization and final touches. Seeing them contribute to this project made it even more special.
How did you overcome challenges in the writing and publishing process?
The biggest challenge was simply getting started. I had started and stopped multiple book ideas before, but this time, having a team helped keep me accountable. We set clear deadlines and broke the work into manageable chunks.
Publishing was another learning curve. We decided to use Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) because it allowed us to control the printing and distribution. While we’re still exploring additional channels, this was the best way to get the book into people’s hands quickly.
Many aspiring authors struggle with writer’s block. How do you deal with creative roadblocks?
Writer’s block happens to everyone, and I definitely had moments where I felt stuck. The key was collaboration. If I hit a wall, I’d hop on a call with Cheryl and Ben, and we’d brainstorm solutions together.
I also find that keeping a daily journaling habit helps. Every day, I write down 10 things I’m grateful for and 10 things I want to manifest. That practice keeps my mind focused and prevents me from getting stuck in creative ruts.
How do you ensure your book is inclusive and speaks to a diverse audience?
Diversity was a big priority for us. We wanted Hermie to reflect real workplaces, which means showcasing different personalities, perspectives, and communication styles.
We intentionally created a wide range of characters to represent different experiences in the workplace. Whether it’s generational differences, management styles, or communication preferences, our characters embody those dynamics. Our hope is that readers see themselves—or their coworkers—in the book and feel like the lessons apply to their own professional lives.
What advice do you have for aspiring authors?
Set clear goals. Writing a book won’t happen by accident—you have to make it a priority. Break it down into small, manageable tasks, and hold yourself accountable.
Find a team. If you struggle to stay motivated, collaborate with others. Having a team can push you through roadblocks and bring fresh ideas to the table.
Be open to feedback. It’s hard to let go of creative control, but constructive criticism makes your work better. Share your drafts with people you trust, and don’t be afraid to make revisions.
How do you balance entertainment and education in your books?
People learn best when they’re engaged. If a book feels like a textbook, no one is going to read it. That’s why we incorporated humor and visual storytelling into Hermie.
By making the lessons fun and relatable, we make it easier for readers to absorb the concepts. The goal is to make people laugh, see themselves in the characters, and walk away with something valuable.
What has been the most rewarding moment in your career as an author so far?
Seeing people’s reactions! I was consulting at a manufacturing company and casually mentioned I had written a book. The next day, I walked in and found that my book had been passed around to nearly everyone. People were saying, This is exactly what happened in our meeting last week!
Moments like that reinforce that Hermie is making an impact. It’s rewarding to know that something I created is resonating with people and sparking conversations.
Do you have any upcoming projects or books that you’re excited about?
Yes! We’re already working on Hermie Book 2, which will tackle new workplace challenges. We’re also publishing more Hermie comic strips on our website and social media.
Additionally, we’re continuing to grow The Harmonious Workplaces Podcast, bringing in more experts and discussing real-world workplace dynamics.
Where can people find your book and follow your work online?
Hermie is available on Amazon—just search for Hermie, The HR Hermit Crab.
You can also visit HarmoniousWorkplaces.com, where we share blogs, workplace resources, and new Hermie comics.
We’re also on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram under Harmonious Workplaces.
Thank you so much! This has been an incredible conversation, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for Hermie!
Thank you, Stacey! This has been a great conversation, and I look forward to coming back soon!
