Talking behind our fellow MGAC colleagues' backs is unacceptable. If you have something to say, say it directly without an intermediary. We are all adults, and talking around someone builds office politics and mistrust.

We are here to solve problems, meet needs, and fill gaps. If things were perfect before you got there, you wouldn't be needed to solve things. Be positive about it. What could be more affirming than a client sorely needing your presence?

Our client's business mission is our own. Our clients put a roof over our head, buy our groceries, and feed our children. We always do what is best for our client. When our client has a need, we do everything we can to exceed their expectations.

Complacency is hardening of a company's arteries, and can be fatal. We are always looking for ways of improving, bettering our client's mission, improving our professionalism, and growing MGAC's diversity and economic strength.

In our appearance, our communications, and our everyday interactions. How we present ourselves has a direct impact on the perceived value we bring to our clients.

Not everyone needs to cold call for new clients, but networking, sharing information, keeping our ears open, asking current clients, vendors, and design teams what they see in the future, and looking for new opportunities is an expectation.

Two heads are always better than one, and the total is greater than the sum of its parts. Sharing issues, opportunities, and intelligence yields better results. Two brains should be always aware of your project, its needs and issues.

Everything we send out is a direct reflection of our values, our value to our clients, and who we are as a company (aka brand). Two sets of eyes on every client facing document is key to quality. Proof e-mails, spreadsheets, utilize built in "checks", and rely on the English majors to check your grammar.

Quiet your inner dialogue and commentary as someone is speaking to you, and truly listen to what they are saying. Don't compose your response while they are still speaking. Think twice before opening your mouth, or hitting send. No, actually think four or five times.

Be humble. We are guests of our clients during our tenure on their projects, and their projects are their children we are minding. Be honored by their trust and humbled by the responsibility.

If you don't know, find out. If we accept the "that's the way it has always been done" attitude, then we aren't a solution. We have become part of the problem.

Be knowledgeable about our company, our industry, and your client's business. Bringing an innovative "outside the box" thinking, and an execution- oriented mindset will be rewarded by our clients 99.9% of the time.

Endless deliberation does not finish projects. We make decisions; sometimes we make mistakes. It is OK to make a mistake, provided one executes and corrects with integrity.

Anticipate issues and turn them into positive opportunities for problem solving. Avoid the errors resulting from last minute decisions.

To our clients, our partners, and our MGAC colleagues. We don't look to blame, we look to solve. We say what we will do and we do what we say.

If you couldn't tell your mom or your spouse, or see it in the paper in the light of the day, you shouldn't do it. Similarly, perception is as important as fact. If you have a question about whether something smells right, ask. Disclosure of a potential conflict vets the issue and frequently solves the problem.

Whether it's a professional, civic, or charitable organization, your participation makes a difference.

We treat our firm's resources and our client's resources as if they were our own.

Being concerned with who gets the credit, who looks good, and who looks bad, is counter-productive. Making the best decision for the good of the client or MGAC must always be paramount.