Solutions Current Issues > Jan.Feb.Mar_2009 > The Right Things Right
Email LinkKEEPING IT IN PERSPECTIVE
Doing the Right Thing and Staying Positive in Tough Times
If you are a regular reader of this magazine, you may have noticed that this quarter’s edition arrived in your mailbox a little earlier than usual. Normally at this time of year, we send our customers a beautiful Christmas card created by a talented artist in the Tulsa area.
Like most companies, we have reduced our expenses due to the current economic downturn. One item we cut from the budget was our annual Christmas card. In the spirit of the season, though, we wanted to do something good for others. So, as a company, we have adopted a local family in need. Under the leadership of our receptionist, Carolyne Som de Cerff (please see the cover story), RL Hudson employees have been busy buying gifts for a family referred to us by a social services agency. Carolyne has been wrapping those gifts in between phone calls. The company will provide some additional gifts as well as a beautiful holiday meal for the family. It’s a project that we’re all enjoying and one that we hope will make a real difference for this deserving family.
Speaking of the economy, let me take this opportunity to talk about how we at RL Hudson are weathering the storm. I have been telling my staff that it’s important to keep all the bad news in perspective. I am, above all, an optimist. I grew up listening to my parents’ stories of surviving the Great Depression — which made a powerful impression on me — and I have made it through numerous economic downturns as a business owner. In fact, a major recession hit back in 1982 when this company was just getting off the ground.
I have learned, however, that despite economic conditions, if we manage our business and take care of our customers, we’ll survive and come out stronger when the economic tide turns. This was true in 1982, 1993 and 1997. It was also true in 2001 when this company suffered a real setback following the September 11 terrorist attacks. Our sales fell that year for the first time in nearly two decades, but the next year we grew by 37%.
So, as I say, I am an optimist, but I am also a realist. Just because I believe things will turn around doesn’t mean we won’t take decisive action to navigate the rough waters. Our management team has been working aggressively to ensure that the company remains financially healthy in the face of real challenges.
Our guiding principle in all this is to continue doing the right things right. We are focusing on providing the absolute best service to our customers in every area. Our customers have always counted on us to deliver excellent products and services at competitive prices on time, every time, and that will never change.
We are also committed to doing the right thing for our employees. My promise to my employees is that I will do everything in my power to protect their jobs. As long as they are working hard for our customers, I will work hard for them. I believe business functions best when everyone is aiming toward the same goal. Here at RL Hudson, that goal is happy customers.
So, as you and your loved ones celebrate the holidays, I wish you happiness and peace. On behalf of everyone here at RL Hudson, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
