Posted by Kevin Lofgren.

The Farstar motto is "We don't play fair." When people ask what it means, we say, "well, we don't play fair because we don't play by the same rules as our competitors. To make our clients as successful as possible, we had to make up our own rules." Here are some examples:

• Trust is the foundation of our client relationships. Without it, we don't engage.

• The customer isn't always right. Our clients come to us for guidance. They might think they want one thing, but that doesn't mean that's what they need. Our job is to give the customer what they need, regardless of what they think they want. That means another part of our job is to make the customer want what they need.

• There is no failure. Only feedback. We only hire people who are willing to fail and willing to shout it from the rooftops. If you aren't free to fail, you won't take the risks necessary to create something special. You are not only free to fail here. You are required to fail. It's the only way to succeed.

• There is a solution to every problem. Just keep working on the problem. The solution will reveal itself.

• Every human is capable of greatness. Our job is to make sure we're putting our humans in the best position to capitalize on that capability.

• The best idea wins. Seniority and titles mean little here. Everyone contributes. Cross-functionality rules the day. Sometimes our developers think of the best creative.

• If the work is fulfilling, it stops feeling like work. People come to work every day to be challenged; to stretch beyond themselves.

• Great strength lies in vulnerability. There is no light without dark. There is no right without wrong. There is no success without failure. If you're able to be vulnerable enough to admit to yourself and those around you when you need help, you'll get it. If no one knows you need something, you won't have a chance to receive it. The people who succeed here are humble-yet-confident souls. They are successful people who don't mind a little falling down here and there on their way to success.

• We're not saving lives here. While our work is important, we believe life goes better for everyone when we keep things in perspective. To that end, we don't do the traditional deadlines before results thing. No one's dying if we don't have a certain thing delivered by a certain made-up date. We'll aim for our goals, and we rarely miss. But we will never deliver something less than our best for the sake of someone's project schedule. Our clients deserve much, much more than the same old game the other guys have been playing for decades (we don't play fair, remember?).

• You must be willing to be vulnerable and transparent. Without that, self-examination can't really occur at the level necessary to succeed in this environment. That means you must make yourself vulnerable (by being transparent) with each other, our clients, and anyone else with whom you come in contact while representing Farstar. If this doesn't appeal to you, you don't belong here.

• Rapid growth requires intense self-examination. Looking inward and working to identify both strengths and areas for improvement allows us a better chance at being the best we can be.

• Love never fails. Love comes above and beyond all other things. Love your work. Love your client. Love your peer. Love your vendor. Love your city. Love your family. Love your friends. Love yourself. Before you act on behalf of Farstar, ask if you are coming from a position of love first.

We believe the world needs more companies like ours. None of our beliefs would be in effect if they didn't all contribute to increasing revenue for our clients. These beliefs don't exist because of our success - our success exists because of these beliefs.

kl