Positively Perfect

Michael R. Morris Editor in Chief

There's a lot you can do to change your company culture for the better, and it doesn't require you to hire an expensive consultant or fire your worst employees. You can change your company culture more quickly and easily than you might think.

It all starts with you.

As the leader of your firm, how do you react when the going gets tough? Keeping a positive mental attitude when things aren't going smoothly is important for the owner of a small remodeling firm. Everyone in your company takes their cues from you, and if you can't keep it together under duress, how can you expect your employees to do so?

The success of most professional remodeling firms, I've found, is driven by the personality of the owner. As your company becomes successful and grows, the stress and anxiety it brings can whittle away at your ability to remain the same person who gave birth to and nurtured the climate that allowed for all that success.

When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Is there a positive, confident, self-motivated person staring back at you? Are you still the type of individual that you yourself would do anything for when the going gets tough?

If not, I suggest you try and change the way you project yourself in your company culture. That image can significantly affect the level of success you achieve in the future.

There are a lot of great ideas and theories about how to adopt a positive mental attitude. One effective tool that's helped me through some difficult times is the use of affirmations. An affirmation is a strong, positive statement that tells your brain that all is well, no matter what negative circumstances the day may bring.

Try this exercise: When you get up in the morning, repeat to yourself 10 times out loud, "Today is going to be a perfect day," or some similar positive statement. Repeat this exercise daily for a week or more. Don't worry that you may not believe it. When your brain receives that positive message, it will have a subliminal impact on your attitude and how you interact with others.

Give it a try, and let me know how it works for you.

630/288-8057 michael.morris@reedbusiness.com