Bob's Thought for the Week

Five years out of college I was not happy with the company I was working for so I started asking a lot of folks about what company I should pursue here in Orlando. I asked subcontractors, architects, engineers, and friends. I got a lot of suggestions, but the one company I kept hearing had a great reputation was Williams Company.

I hope all of you read Johnny Lawton's Farewell email. Johnny has a way with words and was always an accomplished writer (very important). In the second paragraph Johnny writes, "they want to be connected to this firm because of its reputation." Wow...that's why I signed up over 30 years ago! And that's why I have been carrying the torch ever since!

For anyone who has been here at Williams Company for any time, you have heard me say "All we really have is our good name and our reputation." We come into this world with a blank slate and we leave this world taking nothing with us, other than our name and our reputation. And so it is with our company. We always want to protect our good name and our reputation.

So what's that look like in the real world? It's about treating people fairly, both inside the company and with everyone we deal with. It's about empathy, considering the other side before taking action. It's about integrity, keeping promises that are made. It's about finishing on time and returning a phone call. It's about continuing to learn so that we can be the best in the business. It's about delivering a level of service that is superior to our competition. It's about watching out for each other every day.

Isn't this the kind of company that everyone wants to work for? I know Johnny thought so. And Johnny was a shining example of all these principles. I'm going to miss him.