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"In any compromise between good and evil, it is only evil that can profit. In that transfusion of blood which drains the good to feed the evil, the compromiser is the transmitting rubber tube." – Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged.

The above quote from novelist and philosopher Ayn Rand is the foundation of the culture here at Fenner, Melstrom & Dooling. At FMD the "good" is the quality of our work, the service and dedication we have to our clients, and the integrity of our people. The "evil" is anything short of that. If we compromise the quality of our work, our service and dedication to our clients, or our integrity, the "good" is lost, and "evil" wins. The compromiser of this corporate culture, the one weak link that compromises our quality, our service, our dedication or our integrity, destroys that which so many have worked so hard to create. That compromiser is the enabler of mediocrity. Once a compromise is made, our corporate culture is breached and we lose our exceptionalism.

Our culture is reflected in all aspects of our being. It is the foundation of our stated mission. It is embedded in our business tenets and influences the way we approach our work and interact with our colleagues. It is our self respect and our respect for others. Our culture manifests itself in ways big and small.

The way we present ourselves to clients is a simple example of implementing our culture. Within the business world, it has become popular to establish casual days for employee dress. At Fenner, Melstrom & Dooling, casual dress is inconsistent with our corporate culture. The reason: we don't take our work casually. The way we dress is a statement of who we are. The way we dress creates a perception and sends a message to our clients. In all other important events in our lives, from funerals to weddings, formal dress is an expression of the significance we place on the event. The service to our clients should be given the same importance and respect, as expressed in our dress.

One of our business tenets is "good enough is not good enough." Simply stated, it means that if we can do better, we should do better, and we will do better. It means we don't stop until the job is done, that we will put forth the extra effort that distinguishes excellence from mediocrity. Therefore compromises are unacceptable. This concept of excellence applies to the quality of our work, but also to how we service our clients. It is calling that client back now, rather than later. It is being available to that client at all times. It is about having real people answer the telephone, rather than machines. We don't do things that are "good enough." In the culture of Fenner, Melstrom & Dooling, we strive to do things the right way, every time.