If I had to name one indispensable quality of my workplace, it would be the flexibility I have to balance my family life with my professional life. I'm not alone. Outside of a living wage and health benefits, flexibility ranks as one of the most valued attributes in work environments, especially among younger workers. For Brian Sperber of The Folsom Group, who works just across the hall from us, the answer surely is Jake, a beloved half-rat terrier half-dachshund, who last year was found alongside a road and now comes to work with him everyday. Jake has so charmed everyone in our two-story building that 25 people attended his birthday party recently-even the FedEx woman dropped by for some cake.

I asked other businesspeople what workplace ingredients they couldn't live without. Here's what they said:

Harvey Vengroff, CEO, Vengroff Williams & Associates: "The glow in a person's face when they're allowed to solve a problem. It's like a kid who's hit a home run."

Sondra Guffey, media and communications director, LWR Communities: "A good sense of humor. I once worked for a radio network where people took themselves too seriously. You couldn't make an offhand remark for fear of offending someone. A controlling environment is not a good climate for business. You need to feel like you can risk and be yourself without being punished. People with humor are more outwardly focused and have an interest in making their co-workers happy."

Mel Klein, external affairs manager of FPL in Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto: "Relationships with FPL workers and customers. That's what I will remember after 30-plus years. The severity of our crisis situations, such as the storms, makes the relationships forged over the years important. We have sophisticated systems today, but behind every one is a man or woman I have high regard for."

Joanne Lain, owner and founder of Bradenton-based JoLain Virtual Assistant Services: "E-mail. I'm virtual, and that's how I communicate with my clients. I use a service that leaves phone messages on my e-mail. I can listen to the call, since it's a sound file. It works well because I have a visual reminder of who's called."

Tom Dowdy, CEO, National InStore: "I treasure my people who are thought leaders-people who create opportunities. Instead of waiting for a customer to tell them what they want, these people go in with a complete solution. They're always ready for a challenge. Oh, and I do like my Palm Pilot."

CORRECTION

In our April feature "College Choice," we neglected to include Everglades University, which opened its doors in Lakewood Ranch three years ago. With bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration, information technology, construction management, alternative medicine (one of the first in the nation to offer a B.S. in this field) and in aviation science, Everglades has expanded from 12 students to 152 and is moving to a larger campus in Lakewood Ranch. "We're trying to keep up with the growth," says Brad Brewer, vice president at the Sarasota campus.