Kathleen's Blog

Remember the good ‘ole days, before Monster and online job postings?  We’d start a job hunt by sorting through the weekend classifieds. I still remember this one, particular ad in the classified employment section of the Orange County Register. I also remember I wasn’t *quite* qualified for the job, but I was also young, naïve and not long out of college, so I decided I’d try for it anyway.

And I tried. I showed up for the interview in my new, pin-striped, Liz Claiborne pant suit. I don’t recall much about the content of the interview, just that Bob was easy to talk to, incredibly smart and liked to laugh. As the interview was ending, he quickly walked me around and introduced me to everyone. I later learned this “quick” walk was part of the interview – could I keep up with him? He need not have worried, I walk quickly. And ever since that day, I’ve followed behind him and tried my best to keep up.

That was 18 years ago. And I must still be in the honeymoon phase, because I still love my job. I love my bosses, Bob & Cathy. I love my co-workers. I love our customers. I love our mission. I love the challenge. I love the mistakes I’ve made. But most importantly, I love the lessons I’ve learned:

-Every day is a great day.

-Integrity is our most important asset and although it is slow to establish, it can be lost quickly if not nourished at every opportunity.

-The return on showing respect to people, even those who don’t deserve it, is high.

-Use challenges as motivation for progress. Repeat again and again.

-You have to like and respect the people you do business with. If you don’t, find other people.

-We have to try because not trying is worse than failing.

-Even if it isn’t always profitable, we have a duty to do the right thing for our customers, employees and the community around us.

-Proactive trumps reactive every time.

-The glass really IS half-full.

-I’ve also learned that The Ohio State Buckeyes are God’s team and that when they are winning championships, life is much better at the office 🙂

In the end it isn’t the volume of sales or buckets of profits that are the true measure of a business, it is whether we have made life better for others. And for the last 18 years I have been honored to work for two amazing people who are smart, of high integrity and are passionately committed to achieving something significant.

Love, me