There's nothing like a changing market to keep you on your toes. And to think that the market will adapt to you is deadly; successful companies must -- I say, must -- adapt to ever changing conditions. What worked in the 80's and 90's doesn't work in the 2000's. And what worked last year won't work this year. This is a huge challenge for a small business in a relatively small geographical market. For not only are there the economic constraints all businesses are dealing with right now, in the painting business there are the fluctuating seasons and construction cycles to cope with as well.

But adapt we must, and adapt we will.

So what are some the steps we're taking to change? First, we've sought out to re-identify who we are. Simply put, we're a painting company. We paint. It doesn't matter what type of project it is, where it's at, or who it's for; we're in the business to paint. Secondly, we're realizing that the way our organization is structured must suit the work we do and the market we're in. So, in short, we've been doing a lot of shuffling, trying to get the right people 'on the bus' and in the right seats. Third, we've gone strategic with our pricing, meaning that in large part, the market dictates what we can charge for our services, and we must adapt our operation to meet the market. Fourth, we've expanded our scope -- both in terms of the services we offer and the area in which we offer them. We paint, yes, but we've also determined that there are other things we can do by way of serving our customers, things like carpentry, drywall, roofing and building repairs. Geographically we've expanded our marketing area to a 75-mile radius from Lansing, providing us with the greatest opportunity for growth while maintaining a competitive edge. And marketing? We have set our goal to be the best marketed business in the mid-West. There is really no hope for companies which are unrecognized by the public; effective marketing let's people know who you are and what you do. Finally, we are changing the way we operate, meaning that to truly serve our customer's needs long-term, we've got to improve upon the way we manage our projects. Our aim is to be the best managed painting company in the mid-West.

Will it happen overnight? Realistically, no. Is it a work in progress? Definitely.