“Write a brief systems document that goes over the founder’s philosophy of how we act in our personal and professional life. Define the characteristics and virtues of the individual.”
Jim Collins writes that great companies go beyond a mission statement. Mission says what you do. A credo defines who you are and how you do it. It’s the philosophy that makes a company enduring through markets, leadership changes, and competition.
Every lasting organization has its “Way.” The Marines have theirs. Nordstrom has theirs. At our company, we call it The McLean Way.
Why a Way Matters
When I worked at Focus Air Cargo, our pilots came from United, American, Southwest, even the Air Force. At first, that sounds like an asset—so much experience in one cockpit. In reality, it was a red flag. Each pilot brought “the way we did it over there.” The result? Confusion, conflict, and inconsistency.
The number one goal of training wasn’t just safety procedures. It was cultural assimilation. Every pilot had to fly The Focus Air Way. No exceptions. Because at 35,000 feet, there’s no time for disagreement about how things get done.
The same applies to real estate teams. Too many leaders shortcut onboarding because an agent is “experienced.” That’s the fastest way to erode your culture. Experienced agents must be retrained into your systems and your values—or they’ll infect the team with the habits of their last brokerage. That’s why The McLean Way is non-negotiable.
The McLean Way: Characteristics & Virtues of the Individual
Our Way is a system for how we act—personally and professionally:
- Integrity – Do the right thing, especially when it costs you.
- Dependability – Be on time. Be prepared. Be consistent.
- Service – Put clients, teammates, and community before self.
- Excellence – Every CMA, every showing, every call is done with pride.
- Discipline – Follow systems without shortcuts.
- Growth – Invest in yourself; become better every day.
- Team Before Self – Lone wolves don’t last here.
- Resilience – Pressure is a privilege. We grow stronger under it.
How We Do Things
The McLean Way is execution with character.
- We don’t cut corners.
- We follow the process before preference.
- We don’t make excuses—we deliver solutions.
- We treat every home as if it were our own, every client like family.
- We measure, review, and improve relentlessly.
As Jim Collins said: “Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice and discipline.”
That choice—the conscious choice to live and work by The McLean Way—is what binds us together.
The real question for every teammate is this:
Can I count on you to live The McLean Way?
