Urban Meyer doesn’t coach my Florida Gators anymore but I have watched with interest his first year as football coach at Ohio State.

The Buckeyes are 11-0, a major turnaround from their losing season last year. Pete Thamel wrote an interesting article about the success story in Sports Illustrated this week.

According to Thamel, Meyer has used the word “juice” to define the culture he is developing in Ohio. Here’s what he wrote: “Who’s bringing the juice today? Who’s got the juice? It’s the mantra that energy equals production,” Meyer says. “I don’t want to be around energy takers, I want to be around energy givers.”

It makes sense doesn’t it?

I’ve worked in environments that have “juice” and those that don’t. Environments with juice are better. More productive. Lift all those who encounter the environment be they customers, colleagues or suppliers.

“Juice” doesn’t magically appear. I don’t know about you, but I can walk into an environment and discern pretty quickly whether there is any “juice” there. And, when there is “juice,” you can begin to look around and tell from where it comes.

It may start with one person setting the tone, just like Meyer has done at Ohio State. But, Meyer knew he wanted an environment with “juice” so he came with a plan to create it. He brought coaches who had “juice.” He identified players with “juice” and partnered up with them. Before long, the “juice” was flowing.

As more people allow the “juice” to flow, those without the “juice” begin to come on board. If they don’t they get left behind or redeployed.

“Juice” supplies energy. It takes energy to survive, to progress and to succeed.

So, here’s the test: You giving energy or taking it? Would a visitor new to your organization see you as having “juice”? I think people who bring “juice” will be in demand.