Back during my magazine editor days I had an opportunity to lead a hardworking staff and dreamed of taking the publication to new heights. As things turned out, I changed entrepreneurial direction but have never forgotten the vision I had for leading my editorial, production, circulation sales and marketing teams.  A recent email conversation with my sister reminded me of this vision and although I’m not looking for a job, I think it’s still the kind of company that both my sister and I would love work at. It’s also one we’re beginning to think doesn’t exist, but we keep hope alive.

Our Corporate Culture

We understand that human capital can make or break a company and consider our people our most valuable asset. We hire skilled, qualified and experienced staff and build a corporate culture around them that promotes excellence, leadership and teamwork. By doing so we build a staff that will perform and deliver sustainable results.

The kind of company we are…

1. Our goal is to be the magazine that leaders and decision makers look to, rely on and trust as their primary source for information on the political and business climate.
2. Our emphasis is on quality journalism – in every issue, in every story, in every sentence.
3. We will take care of our employees, our staff and our co-workers first – and everything else will take care of itself. This starts with a generous salary and benefits package.
4. We will continually engage in probing conversation about our editorial subject matter because we understand that the quality of our stories can only be as good as the quality of our conversations.
5. Great stories come from great thinking. We will engage in great thinking at all times. This includes not only understanding our own points of view, but that of our many different readers, advertisers and interview subjects – even those with whom we don’t agree.
6. We will make sure you can take care of your family 24 hours a day. In return, we ask that you take care of us 8 hours a day.
7. We want YOU to be so good at what you do that your dream company offers you your dream job. We want to be so good at what WE do (see items 1, 2 and 3) that you won’t take it.
8. Working long hours is not a badge of honor. Go home and enjoy your family, your friends, your hobbies and your life.
9. Do not leave the office with a briefcase full of work. Go home, enjoy your family, your friends, your hobbies and your life and make sure you get it done tomorrow.
10. Our company believes that family comes first – and you are our family.
11. We are PROFESSIONALS in a CREATIVE field. Dress accordingly.
12. In our company, there is no such thing as a problem. There are only challenges and opportunities to excel. Think accordingly.
13. During the average week, we will probably spend more time with each other than we will with our families. It is important that we treat each other with respect, laugh often and feel comfortable in our environment.

And so today…

I no longer have – nor want – a large staff. Hell, I don’t want a staff of any size. I really like my solopreneurship, so instead I strive to incorporate the spirit of this document into my relationships of all kind – business and personal. That’s the spirit of teambuilding, leadership, respect, cooperation, excellence, purpose, family and fun. 

I like the way it feels. If you’re so inclined, use it or parts of it in whatever way you see fit. Hope it works for you like it’s working for me.

PEACE.
Rick