A positive attitude and having fun is how the employees at Bridgeway Apartments operate.

“If our staff has a good morale…,” said Bridgeway Executive Director Daryl Bruno, “it’s just going to spill over.”

Bridgeway Apartments is a supervised living facility for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, but works to create independent members of society by showing them how to obtain and keep a job.

Bruno said the residents live in their own one-bedroom apartment and participate in the facility’s supported employment program.

Bridgeway residents contribute to their community by maintaining employment at places such as fast food restaurants, local retailers and churches.

The key to the success of the facility is in how his staff looks at their jobs. The goal is for the residents to become independent and eventually move into their own place.

As part of the Greater Picayune Area Chamber of Commerce’s Morning Call Breakfast, held Friday at Bridgeway Apartments, Bruno showed attendees a video that he shows to his employees to inspire them to maintain a positive work environment.

The video highlighted a seafood store in a major city where the employees use four simple tactics to not only entice repeat customers, but draw in new customers, while also creating a fun atmosphere.

They implement the philosophies of  “Play”, “Make Their Day”, “Be there”, and “Chose your attitude.”

In the video the seafood store employees interacted with each and every customer in a playful manner, which made their day. As for being there, the idea is to actually listen to the customers. And the philosophy of choosing their attitude meant employees left their personal problems outside of work.

“No Jerry Springer show at work,” Bruno said.

Bruno tells his employees that they choose the attitude they bring to work; if it is positive their feelings will follow.

Bruno said his staff implements these philosophies with the residents of Bridgeway Apartments, and suggested business owners in Picayune could do the same to build relationships with their own customers.

“That’s the difference between a job and a career,” Bruno said. “A job is to make money, a career is where you put your heart and soul.”