Integrity- Always do the right thing -with exception to what upper management directly tell you to do oh and the Mr. Heat hotline , which isn't confidential, at all.
Accountability- Own the outcome- unless you're upper level management and it's easier to blame it on someone else. Don't worry, if you're liked, they will help you cover it up.
Customers-Put customers at the center of all that you do - and take all their money while you do it, these poor students who work 3+ jobs to afford college and buy textbooks. It's ridiculous.
Each and Every Associate- Be open, honest, and transparent - this one makes me laugh, and then I want to vomit. Open, honest and transparent will get you fired. Remember this is FMART, not Starbucks.
Innovation-Challenge yourself to find a better way - and let the company steal your ideas. It's less expensive than hiring a consulting firm to determine better, smarter, easier ways to do things - especially because you know what you're doing.
Teamwork-this my friends is the only saving grace within most of our bookstores. Your team, the team, those wonderful people you work with every day. They are what makes the difference, they are what keeps you there. It's upper level management and the snakes in the grass ruining it for everyone else.
SPRING RUSH ADVICE:
Attn: RM's. VP's do your stores a favor and STAY OUT OF THEM DURING RUSH! No one wants you on campus, we promise, in fact, the reason why you're not able to get a meeting with the contact? THEY DONT LIKE YOU! All the good VP's have moved on to bigger and better things and the shift will begin because people do business with people they like and trust, and you new idiots don't stand a chance. It's time to go work for LLBEAN my friend.