J. Michael Mooney
Chairman
MLG
13400 Bishop’s Lane, Suite 100, Brookfield
J. Michael Mooney says a company’s true essence goes beyond its bottom line.
“Soul. A spiritual person may view it as the non-physical part of a person, thought to continue in existence after death.
“To a music lover, soul may be Motown’s music. But the term ‘soul’ can also apply to the corporate world, where, in my mind, it is the essence of a corporate body, the aura emanating from the sum of its attributes.
“I grew up in the real estate business, making it my career in mid-1967. By my late thirties, I had gained a wealth of experience, including insights into real estate and, more importantly, into working environments.
“To me, every company has a corporate soul consisting of attributes – its ethic, energy, humanity, vision, resilience, creativity and pursuit of excellence. Some possess them in abundance. Others fall short, some way short.
“Finding none to my liking, I was determined to create a company with a soul. Out of that vision, and eventually with outstanding partners, MLG was born, with integrity and a desire to make a difference a major part of its soul.
“The corporate trash heap is littered with companies full of articulate, intelligent, educated and experienced people. While those qualities are valuable, their applicability is directly proportionate to the quality of their organization’s soul. Higher quality equals a stronger foundation, better teamwork, greater loyalty and a higher probability for success. An outstanding corporate soul attracts outstanding employees, who are more likely to foster a productive, nurturing and resourceful work environment.
“These attributes may never have been more precious than in the economic period we are experiencing right now. One of the proudest moments of my career, in fact, was a recent comment from the president of one our lead banks, who has observed our team from up close. ‘I love you guys, you are so resilient,’ he said.
“Auras may speak softly, but also very clearly.”
