There is nothing quite like third-party validation to complete the picture when telling a story. A quick peek at our Customer Success Stories page and any number of Analyst Reports tell versions of the SAS story as a great source of business solutions in ways that we could never do on our own. Such is the nature of storytelling - different perspectives can shed new light and add nuances to provide a richer version of things.
Today’s announcement by FORTUNE magazine that SAS was once again named the #1 Best Company to Work For tells yet another version of the SAS story. It seems like everyone has heard about the M&M candies in our breakroom, the on-site healthcare, the breathtaking original artwork everywhere on campus, and seemingly endless other perks. Admittedly, those things are nice, but they’re not really “the story” and they’re not why FORTUNE bestowed their award. It’s the culture behind all the perks that make SAS special. It’s the story of a company where employees are valued and empowered in ways that I’ve never experienced at any other company.
For this year’s award, I offered to add to my own personal account of what’s so special about SAS in the application for the award, and I was honored to have it included. In my case, the SAS culture of empowering individuals and the high value placed on community service enabled me to support my children’s school in significant ways. I have been able to serve as president of the PTA, to coordinate used furniture donations to the school, and to log hours into a SAS fund created for donations to schools.
The SAS story for me is one of a company supportive of my desire to be involved in my childrens’ education, and offering ways for the company to directly benefit their school as well. Consequently, I am motivated and inspired to give my very best at work day in and day out – and my story is only one of thousands at SAS.
Perhaps not by coincidence, our company also announced our record annual earnings for 2010 of $2.42 Billion dollars, making 35 years of unbroken revenue growth. I suppose that makes for another “fortune” story – and both kinds of fortune telling indeed make for great storytelling.
3 Comments
Great post John! Really enjoyed reading it, thanks for sharing.
Informative and inspiring...Thanks for sharing
Let's not forget that Jim Goodnight and other senior SAS folks helped to found, and still serve, Cary Academy. This fine institution not only benefits its own students (like my daughters), it also serves to raise the educational tide that lifts all school-boats. Go CA and go SAS!