A car manufacturer where labor and management are in continual strife over a prolonged period of time will eventually begin producing automobiles of an inferior quality to those made in an environment of goodwill and cooperation. That was certainly true in America during the seventies and the Japanese ate our lunch when it came to producing reliable automobiles. We lost market share, foreign imports soared and we’ve been fighting back ever since. By the way — we’ve been gaining ground. Of course, the confrontational environment between labor and management has also lightened up considerably.

The point is that every job is indeed a self-portrait of the person who did it… And if that person is in a continuous state of being disgruntled, the product they will likely produce will reflect that disgruntledness. In the case of American car manufacturers in the seventies, entire assembly lines of workers were disgruntled. It came out in their product and in time, the customers who purchased that product became disgruntled.

Whether we know it or not, we always autograph our work. Some autograph their work with excellence, others with negativity or a poor attitude. In the end, those who rely on your work will read your signature. Will it be autographed with excellence? It’s your choice.

Important Announcement: I am very pleased to be able to announce that on Wednesday, September 3^rd, 2008 Os Hillman will be giving us a summary of his widely acclaimed 9 To 5 Window teaching. That’s tomorrow! Watch your inbox for details!