Your employees can walk into any Starbucks and get their very own special patent-able beverage...because that's the way they want it. They can tap Pandora to stream straight to their little eardrums any type of music at any time...because that's the way they want it. They can go to Nike and build any shoe in any color in any design with any feature...because that's the way they want it. They can ping Uber and choose the kind of ride they want at any time from any place...because that's the way they want it. And your employees can get their advanced degree from the University of Phoenix in any subject, at any pace, in their PJs...because that's the way they want it.

Because that's the way they want it and because...

Most (successful) contributors to our bustling economy have figured out that providing a 'customized experience' to their consumers is unadulterated magic-pixie-dust.

The ability to customize a product, solution, or service is hands-down competitive differentiation. I'm betting the very company you work for today has figured out how to do it for its customers and clients.

So can someone please tell me why the hell it is we haven't figured out how to provide a customized experience to our employees? Seriously. WTF? Why don't we afford them the same suite of options? Why can't they personalize their experience?

Most of you will say, "that's crazy, we pay them." And I say, "exactly!" You do pay them. You pay them for their mad skillz. And the good ones can walk down the street and find someone else who will pay them more to do exactly the same...according to Jobvite, 45% of them are ready to do so. And that makes them exactly no less a consumer than your paying customers are.

So start treating them like consumers - discerning ones at that. Figure out a way to let them customize as much of their job - and their experience with your organization - as possible. You do that, and you got yourself some seriously special sauce.