"I believe, indeed, that overemphasis on the purely intellectual attitude, often directed solely to the practical and factual, in our education, has led directly to the impairment of ethical values."
--- Albert Einstein
There is a line in the movie O' Brother, Where Art Thou? that seems to have been adopted as the official motto of some businesses today. It is, "I'm going to take care of me and mine!" That self-serving statement is also one of the reasons why many businesses fail. The focus is on serving self and not on serving the customer.
Countless examples exist of businesses that put serving the customer above serving the owner or stockholders. Chic-fil-A restaurants, Home Depot, and the new Dell are just a few examples of successful businesses that are striving to serve the customer first. Then, the bottom line takes care of itself.
"A man does what he must...in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers, and pressures...and that is the basis of all human morality."
--- John F. Kennedy
Business ethics is a class offered in most MBA programs today. We've come a long way from things that should have been learned in basic up-bringing to required courses for future business leaders. To learn about how to do the right thing in college seems just a wee bit too late.
As a business owner or leader in the sign industry, one of the most important jobs you have is to hire people with basic ethical skills and knowledge already in place. There are tests available (some free online) that can help you to determine if a candidate is ingrained with ethical balance, but the best option is to use your own judgment as well as colleague's references and recommendations.
"If you build that foundation, both the moral and the ethical foundation, as well as the business foundation, and the experience foundation, then the building won't crumble."
--- Henry Kravis
You want to have people on your team with the same or close to the same ethical standards and working values. Diversity is great in every other area except this standard. Diversity in working ethics does not work. You may be trying to navigate the ship in one direction, but those with unethical values will sabotage the course and may even cause the vessel to sink.
"We don't think of ourselves as do-gooders or altruists. It's just that somehow we're trying our best to be run with some sense of moral compass even in a business environment that is growing."
--- Craig Newmark (craigslist.org)
Standing true to your value system and a compass of good ethical standards may not bring in the quick bucks, but they will help your company to profitably succeed over the long haul.
Putting the customer first by supplying quality products and services, and doing all that you can to please the customer is but one ethical standard that has a proven track record of bringing in sustainable business, as well as a reputation that will outlast the competition.
Ethics is simply doing the right thing at the right time. It is treating everyone with respect and striving to do to others as you would have them do to you.
"If the firms that employ an increasing majority of the population are driven solely to satisfy the owner's greed at the expense of working conditions, of the stability of the community and of the health of the environment, chances are that the quality of our lives will be worse than it is now."
--- Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Making the Most of Application Fluids
By Jennifer LeClaire
Using application fluids isn’t rocket science, but it’s not child’s play, either. Discover what you need to know to make the most of application fluids.
Read the article...
A New Quick Fix for Small Business Borrowing in 2009
By Mark E Battersby
One program earmarks extra funding for loans and technical assistance by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 'microloan' lenders.
Read the article...
Light Boxes for Retail Display - Saving Dollars with New Technology
By Jeff Parry
Are all retail light boxes created equal? New developments in retail light box technology and demands for more sophisticated and energy efficient merchandising and display products may be signaling the demise of standard light box technology.
Read the article...
How to Wrap a Red Hot Ferrari
By Jennifer LeClaire
Wrapping a Ferrari may sound like a sexy job - and it is - but it's unlike most other vehicle wraps. Find out how.
Read the article...
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Advertiser - 4th Annual Digital Signage Content Strategies Summit
4th Annual Digital Signage Content Strategies Summit
May 12-13, 2009 - Caesars Palace in Las Vegas
Creative and content leaders will share their experience on how digital signage networks can engage customers and generate ad sales.
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The world's only content-dedicated conference for the digital signage industry. The two-day Summit will showcase tips on leveraging digital assets across platforms, and provide information on content strategy and sourcing.
SAVE $500: SignIndustry subscribers receive a special discount,
register by April 10th and mention code SI0410-500 to receive this discount.
Visit http://www.strategyinstitute.com/051209_content/dsp.php for more information.
Delegates also receive a free copy of Digital Signage Association's report - Best Practices: Digital Signage Content, priced at $750.00. The report will be distributed electronically post event.
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At a funeral parlor somewhere in North Carolina:
"Ask About Our Layaway Plan"
From one of our readers (Spencer in Colorado):
"Like they say in the drain business, "that's grate.""
At a Budapest zoo:
"Please do not feed the animals. If you have any suitable food, give it to the guard on duty."
We know those funny signs are out there. Take a moment and send them in to us and we'll share them with the world. Send all hysterical observations to: info@signindustry.com.
