Every story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Here is one story that appears to still be in its middle. It’s a story of struggle, growth, and success. It’s a tale of courage, innovation, and leadership. It’s a … okay, it’s just a story but with all that build you’re probably expecting to read about some great person who achieve great things for his people. Right? Wrong.
Believe it or not, but corporations both large and small have their own stories. They live out virtual lives as legal entities. You can see some corporate stories ended rather sadly if you drive down certain roads. You’ll see old abandoned buildings that once proudly sported large marquees with well-known business names on them. But the businesses are gone, sometimes having been defunct for decade. It makes you wonder what happened to the people who owned those companies, their workers, and their customers.
Some companies survive tough times to thrive, however. For example, look at regional custom window manufacturer Penguin Windows. That company was founded in the early 1980s, which means it has survived at least two economic downturns (1998 and 2000) and it’s still in business during the Great Recession of 2008-2009. Of course anyone who has lost their income will tell you that there is nothing great about a recession, but the fact that so many companies can make it through a very rough economic downturn is simply amazing.
And perhaps the neat thing about Penguin Windows is that they have not only survived, they celebrated their 25th (silver) anniversary in business in the year 2009. By offering a sweepstakes to celebrate its anniversary, Penguin Windows was able to attract new business and show its community of customers that it was grateful for doing business with them.
Who is to say whether Penguin Windows will be around after the next big recession. But we can say one thing for sure: there will always be business survivors, and every company has its own story to tell. You might want to check out the history of your own company. They might have some interesting tales to share with you.
