Author and speaker, Simon Sinek, has a best-selling book and famous TED Talk called Start With Why. It is based on the premise that people won’t truly buy into a product, service, movement, or idea until they understand the WHY behind it. Based on how leaders think, act, and communicate… the principal concept provides a framework upon which organizations can be built, movements can be led, and people can be inspired.

In this context KTLLP set on a journey in 2018 to do some self-reflection and dig deeper into our WHY. In the process we identified and came away with five core values that are the hallmark of KTLLP. They are…

Be Excellent – Provide exceptional and accurate professional services delivering premium value and exceeding expectations.

Be Innovative – Offer knowledgeable teams dedicated to delivering strategic solutions to ensure our people, clients, and communities reach their fullest potential.

Be True – Foster our strong foundation of being a dependable, honest, and accountable resource generating continued trust.

Be Friends – Nurture a supportive environment promoting genuine interest, giving back, growth, and success.

Be Different – Encourage diverse thoughts and opinions through collaboration while delivering a variety of services and creating strategic relationships.

The process went much more smoothly than most anticipated. We realized that was due to the pride in a rich history and culture built on excellence. According to Paul Thorstenson, Partner and former CEO…” industry expertise, leadership, and building relationships” has been the recipe for success. Our founding partners implemented these values 85 years ago… and they hold true today. We came out of the process confirming what we all had already known but it was time to officially label it. By labeling it, and formulating definitions it gave the context for further adoption as well as a guide for decision making and strategic planning.

As we launched our findings in the fall of 2018 we have been able to adopt and employ the values in variety of useful and fun ways, for example, using hashtags such as #beexcellent when posting congratulatory pictures of recent staff passing the CPA exam.

When the pandemic struck and the foundational core of all that we know was shook…as an organization there was an underlying sense of gratitude for the values we possess and the definition of our WHY. It serves as a focal point during crisis to carry through with the purpose and mission set forth.

As we move into a new year we are hopeful for some return to normalcy. We hope for you, our friends and neighbors, success, good health, and happiness. Regardless of what happens… know that KTLLP is here to serve you. That is our WHY!