When I was nineteen , I answered an ad for a job. When I arrived, before I could fill out an application, they asked if I could start immediately. I was a little surprised and said yes.
The man took me to a large room with about 30 desks and sat me down with a large pile of computer printouts and said "Call these customers and tell them they need to pay this amount as he pointed to the past due amount on the page. I didn't know what this business sold, or what these people owed for.
Less than 5 minutes later, before I could pick up the phone- the same man returned and got everyone's attention. He began to point at people and said- you- you-you- you're fired- get out.
He fired everyone in the room except me and two other shocked people.
That was the first day in my 20 year career in the collections field.
The owner of the company brought in an executive the next day as a consultant, to help him grow his business- and groom this rag tag bunch of people into 'professionals'.His name was Harry.
I always thought he didn't know what he was getting into the first day..
Harry changed my life. Not a day goes by that I don't remember some 'pearl' of wisdom that he used to share with me. He taught me how to dress- how to talk- how to reason- how to take pride in a job well done. Harry was, in hindsight, one of those angels sent here to intersect my journey.
He was tough, loving and fair. He had integrity. He spoke his truth with love.
Even though I was a challenge- he never gave up on me and went to bat many many times when my mouth overran my better judgment. Harry was like a Father to me.
He used to force us for an hour every day to listen to Zig Ziglar motivational tapes till we could recite all the 'Zig-isms' like seasoned pros. He taped me while I was on the phone and made me listen to. it.
He trained me to develop a 'phone voice' and a come back for every argument.
I had a delinquent client one time that said "You act like it's your money"...I told him, "It is.. I'm a stockholder and right now you are not an asset- but a liability, so what can we do about that?"
Harry told me to ask myself two questions at the end of every day-
Did the job I do satisfy my employer?
and
Did the job I do satisfy me.
Eventually- there was no other option that to evolve professionally to the Banking industry.
Leaving Harry was like leaving home for the first time.
From the time I started,that company went from 20 employees to a multimillion dollar organization in less than 10 years with offices nationally. All due to this amazing man.
Harry passed passed away 10 years ago, peacefully(as it should be) and I miss him greatly.
So you're asking yourself, "What does this mean to me?"
How loyal are you as an employee?
We are all technically self employed and need to develop an entrepreneurial way of thinking.
Work smarter- not harder.
If you have an idea- or money saving proposal-document it and present it to the powers at large
Your paycheck is the reward for a job well done.
A companies success is determined by attitude and loyalty to each person's success, from the CEO to the parking attendant.
The client comes first- your coworkers and other employees are also a client.
While you're at work- be at work.
Stay away from gossip and gossipers- if they are talking to you- they are talking about you.
Someone is always observing you whether you know it or not.
Take your lunch away from your desk. You need to walk away for that time.
Touch it once- finish it now. It will come back to haunt you at the worst possible time.
Don't pass the buck- if it lands on you- do your best to resolve it.
If you can't, communicate it to the person you pass it to.
Get to know people in other areas of the business. Networking is vital.
Build business relationships.
Don't be a problem finder- be a solution finder.
Leave work at work- leave home at home.
When you finish with a client- they should think you are the nicest person they met today.
You attract more bees with honey than vinegar.
If you don't know- find out- 'I didn't know' is the worst excuse in the world.
Be a self starter.
Having a job is a blessing- show your gratitude.
If you help enough people get what they want- you can't help but get what you want.
Have an amazing day!
