Every company has a vision, a mission, a logo, and a branding scheme.  I have adopted these fundamental business principles into my own career.  I am my own company.  I try to bring the best of the best to my customers.  Over the years my company’s 5-year and 10-year plans have changed and evolved.  The mission and vision have been reformatted and structured to align with my growth.

About 2 years ago, I was being questioned on how I carry myself at work and how I don’t seem to let anything bother me.  I answered “…nothing is personal, this is just work”.  I continued to explain how I am my own company.  My work product is the output of my company.

My company’s goals are not to make millions, to be rich and famous, or to have a fancy car and a big house.  The goal is to provide the best service and work product I can to my customer (the corporation I work for).  I always have thought that if I provide the best service the money and promotions will come.  So, I don’t fixate in that area, and I always ask for feedback positive and negative.  If my customer is unhappy, I want to know before anyone else.

I have a style of working and I try to remain consistent.  In my work product I only use certain colors, I format tables in a specific way, and I have a defined font and font size.   There have been a few benefits to the consistency of my work product branding.  I can track my work and who shares it and how it’s being used.  People now recognize my work and know its mine, this limits people taking credit for my work.  One would think that credit would be given where credit is due, but you would be surprised.  I’ve gotten my work and ideas copied multiple times in the past and at this point I know how to navigate that scenario.

After years of carrying myself as company, I found there is a certain relief knowing that nothing is personal.  Don’t get me wrong I still get angry, push back, and manage up.  At times I forget I’m company and get myself over involved.  And I also complain and cannot wait till Friday comes along.  But when I feel my emotions overcoming me, I tend to come back to the basics and try to provide the best work product no matter the circumstances.

My company has a strong board of directors; they don’t know they are part of my board, but they are.  My board provides me with guidance, advice, and lessons.  They also listen to my work stories and console my feelings of injustice.  My board is diverse and provides different perspectives. Without my board of directors, I would have given up my corporate journey a long time ago.

Even when I hate Mondays and need a coffee to get me going, I can’t wait for my company to continue to flourish and provide the best services.