What President Hitt understood in 1998 – and what our clients have come to expect – is the relevance of these Steps to any
industry. Whether you run a Fortune 500 company or a hot dog stand, are a senior-level consultant or a recent graduate, the
steps still apply. We’ve served many clients through the years from a broad range of industries, relying on the Five Steps to
guide countless decision-making crossroads and the worst of crises. Regardless of the strategy we’re executing – whether
it’s generating publicity, communicating internally, or managing outreach to the community – we succeed through Steps that
focus on core business principles, not simply PR tactics.
Five Steps to Professional Success
1. F
ocus on what keeps the client awake at night –
Clients who hire service-industry consultants, be they attorneys, accountants or public relations
professionals, don’t want to be bothered with tactical minutiae; they expect bottom-line results.
Measure success by whether your client is sleeping well.
2. A
nalyze the big picture, not just the snapshot –
Especially in today’s “instant news” social media environment, it’s easy to overreact to quickly emerging
issues. That’s tactical, rather than strategic, thinking. Anything you do or say should be measured
against whether it drives long-term results for your organization.
3. B
ring our clients solutions, not problems –
CEOs expect consultants and employees to fix problems, not just identify them.
4. A
nticipate, don’t want to be asked –
Pilots are trained to look over the horizon so they don’t crash into it. The same is true in
business. You need to anticipate emerging issues and opportunities and take action.
5. A
ccept total responsibility and be accountable for everything you do –
Do what you say you will do, measure your performance and learn from mistakes.
Curley & Pynn relies on these steps as a unique brand promise to our clients. As Inc. explains, “Any company can sell
Product X or provide Service Y, but what differentiates you from everyone else in your field is your company philosophy.”
Framed on our desks, printed on the back of our business cards and published on our website, the steps are a constant
reminder of our core values, dictating every element of our team’s approach to client service. Although seemingly simple,
this philosophy has been our “Old Faithful” for 30 years in business.
While we don’t suggest companies copy and paste our business philosophy, the core principles can help any business
succeed. After all, if you bring your CEO solutions to problems, take the initiative to address emerging challenges, and
take responsibility for long-term strategic success, your CEO will sle \