Maybe you’ve heard James repeat this phrase before, but have you ever stopped to consider what this phrase actually means? If so, please read on.
James’ dad was a great man. He spent his entire professional career working for Eastman Kodak Company. He started work in the mail room while studying for his bachelor’s degree at the University of Rochester– when James and his four brothers were young. His mom took the kids out of the house every Sunday so Poppa could study, complete his coursework, and earn his degree, which he did for more than thirty-five years until he reached retirement.
I have often wondered why Poppa and many others in the baby boomer generation decided one workplace is more than enough. As a consultant, this is the opposite of what we know– the need for change, moving from company to company; these things require us to sharpen our skills often and with purpose and intent. Some argue working for a larger global company provides a similar environment of change– if you have an opportunity to move across departments within the organization. So, why would someone choose just one company . . . for life? We have given this some serious thought and research, and here is what we found:
- You believe you are part of something special: culture, team, environment.
- You believe in what you are doing, and it has purpose and meaning.
- Your work is recognized and appreciated.
- You have a mentor who encourages you positively and professionally.
- You have trust in the business and the leadership.
- You are emotionally invested – and genuinely care about the company.
- You believe you are treated fairly.
Considering that approximately 30 percent of human life is spent working, this discussion becomes even more critical. The list above represents what so many of us seek in our personal lives, in our relationships with those we care about, and even with the company we work for. At Miller & Associates, we are deeply invested in each of those individual points. These reasons guide our decision-making. We wanted to create a company that truly reflects the personal values that are important to so many of us.
Don’t just take our word for it; you can see it in the real lives of people who work here. It starts with a resume, a connection, and a candidate selection. As time passes, a genuine relationship begins to form, and you realize you don’t have to feel like a number. As time passes, M&A consultants feel connected;. At the same time, the project-to-project lifestyle can come and even go, and the relationship continues.
We see this development over time as consultants move from one place to another. They have sometimes become our customers, and even our customers have become M&A consultants. “Once a Miller, Always a Miller” defines who we are as a company. No matter where you end up in the world, once a Miller, you will always be a Miller, whether you’re a consultant, customer, referral, reference, and friend. We’re so glad you’re here!