30 Lessons from 30 Years of Business

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2019 marks Compliance Poster Company’s 30th anniversary as a company!

We know that some of our valued business partners have decades of experience under their belts while others are just starting up. No matter how long you’ve been around, we think that we all have something to learn and teach from each other. We’re honored to have been operating long enough to share 30 of the lessons we’ve learned from our 30 years in the compliance business, graciously contributed by members of the CPC family who have been with us the longest.

And for your anniversary gift to us, please share with us some of the lessons you’ve learned from your own years in business! After all, the most important lesson of all is that there is always more to learn.

What we’ve learned about… growth

  1. Stay open to change! CPC has succeeded for 30 years because of our ability to adapt to a changing world and the evolving needs of our business partners.
  2. Trying something new will almost always make you better, faster, and more efficient.
  3. Even a failed attempt at change can teach you something valuable. You may learn why the old way works better or become aware of a hidden weakness in your communication or implementation process.
  4. Adaptability is as essential to the individual as it is to the company. You need to be able to grow with your business and into the responsibilities you’re given.
  5. It can be scary to be the first to try something new, but innovation is what keeps your organization from becoming stale and inefficient. Most recently, staying ahead of the curve has meant moving from traditional offset press printing to more efficient print-on-demand digital web printers.
  6. The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. We began by creating labor law posters for our local community, and now we serve all 50 states, U.S. Territories including Guam and the Virgin Islands, and Canada!

What we’ve learned about… serving our business partners

  1. The ability to listen is the most important skill for any customer-serving business. CPC began by telling companies what they need to comply with the law, but listening to what our business partners want has allowed us to expand our product line and offer new services unique to the compliance poster market.
  2. Our business partners value service and support as much as the products we manufacture. Since our inception, we’ve grown from a catalog company to a one-to-one customer service-oriented organization.
  3. With the fast pace of legislation, today our business partners need information as much as they need posters. We’ve responded by making our website an information resource for employers, with a daily labor law news blog and a growing knowledge base.
  4. Markets and regulations are always changing, so companies want stability wherever they can find it. We keep pricing stable by investing in new technologies to increase productivity while improving product quality.
  5. Our business partners value their unique company culture and brand just as much as we do! Demand for custom posters has risen 400% since the 20th century.
  6. Give your best to your customers, and you’ll get the best back. No relationship is free of disputes, but treating everyone with good faith and providing good work is what turns a one-time customer into a long-term business partner.
  7. No technology or process can replace trust earned over time. Our most valuable resource is the relationships we’ve formed with our business partners.

What we’ve learned about…leadership and maintaining excellence

  1. No matter how prestigious your role, there’s no such thing as a job that’s “below” you. A real leader serves as an example by doing whatever needs to be done.
  2. Learn to roll with the punches. There are always going to be surprises, whether you’re working with people or machines.
  3. It’s easy to get stuck in your ways. Bringing in new blood or just looking at your work the way an outsider would can help you reevaluate your processes and find places to improve.
  4. Take the time to evaluate interactions that go right as well as those that go wrong. Taking inventory of all our positive interactions allows us to identify and implement the items that work time and time again.
  5. Hard work alone is rarely enough to ensure the best return on your efforts. We strategize to ensure that we’re working smart as well as hard, using the proven resources that allow us to prosper in our field.
  6. Do it right the first time. It takes more time to fix a mistake than it does to implement the checks and double-checks that ensure your success.
  7. Speed is essential. We’ve implemented technology and channeled growth in areas that enable us to process posting changes faster, which means faster delivery times for our business partners.

What we’ve learned about… employee satisfaction and teamwork

  1. Every one of your colleagues can teach you something valuable, whether that means sharing their expertise, providing an outside perspective, or serving as an example for the interpersonal skills that help a team run smoothly.
  2. Take advantage of your team’s talent. Giving everyone the opportunity to shine has enhanced the services we are able to provide.
  3. Find the methods that make work faster and easier for your employees. Improving their workflow will improve your ability to deliver results to your business partners.
  4. Invest in your employees’ success. The team-building exercises and coaching strategies we’ve implemented have helped our employees improve as individuals and as a unit working towards a shared goal.
  5. Express appreciation for your employees’ achievements, regardless of how big or small the accomplishment. Recognizing their effort will lead to long term loyalty and commitment on both sides.
  6. Get to know your colleagues as people. Being able to communicate on a human level creates a level of trust and caring that will help you work together better.
  7. Take your team to lunch! Spending quality time in an informal environment can bring ideas to life that employees might not feel comfortable sharing in a more official context.
  8. We stumbled into being a pet-friendly company when we discovered kittens in need of a home on our property. Over time we’ve found that being a pet-friendly company reduces stress and creates a human-friendly environment!
  9. Celebrate holidays. Organize potlucks. Decorate your workspace. Have some fun at work!
  10. Above all else, focus on love. The best thing you will ever produce is your love for the work you do and the people you work with.

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH CPC!

To keep up with the latest in federal, state, and local labor law news and posting compliance, follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter or subscribe to this blog! You can also contact us by phone, via email, or by chat to order one of CPC’s signature labor law compliance products or learn more about posting obligations. 

Please keep in mind that we are unable to provide legal advice.