Real Perspective From One of the Big Boys
Our roles as fathers, brothers, sons, husbands, etc. are infinitely more important than our roles at work. At the end of our journey I assure you ‘Best Buy’ will appear nowhere on your gravestone.”
—Steve Jensen, VP of Best Buy, quoted in Interview With Tyler Shaw by Cali & Jody
Or mothers, sisters, daughters, wives. Like he said.
I want to help your business (and mine!) to soar in this new year. I believe in it with all my heart. Once in a while, I read something like this, and it reminds me to step away from the keyboard, the drawing board, and the work I take home. I take it home so I can be at home. It can wait until after The Kid goes to bed.
At the end of the journey, let it say that you were loved, and that you took time to love. Not that you were a slave to your career.
Grow wisely, and be well,
Kelly Erickson
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10 January 2009, 7:50 am
Kelly,
That guy rocks. That’s why it is taking me time to get my stuff going – I will, believe me, it is in the works – but as he said, “Brett, Inc.” won’t be on my gravestone. Family is more important than the business, and my health is also more important than the business, because without my health, I cannot be there for my family (or my business).
Good quote.
-Brett
Brett Legree’s last blog post…week 6 – final exam.
10 January 2009, 7:59 am
Brett,
You know, you hear things like this said in different ways all the time, but this off-the-cuff remark by a real VP reminding his people that his business doesn’t come first really got me. So profound. YAY for him, and a welcome reminder for me.
In the end, employees will become bigger fans than ever when they’re working for a company (and an individual) like that. So that’s the sneaky side benefit, for all the business owners out there, of treating your people like people. People will go to the ends of the Earth for a boss like that.
Slow and steady, Brett.
And with you—who’d dare call you slow?
Regards,
Kelly
10 January 2009, 10:36 am
I’m actually suprised the VP for Best Buy acdtually said that about his own company. It takes testicular fortitude to be that honest. He sounds like a boss who “gets it”.
I have another quote:
“Nobody ever confessed on their deathbed that they regretted not spending more time at the office…”
(Dunno who said this, perhaps it was professor F. Q. Meigh…but I’ve heard this expression many times…)
Friar’s last blog post…Unhealthy Crap I Love to Eat, but Probably Shouldn’t.
10 January 2009, 11:14 am
Kelly,
That’s right – I’ve worked for people like that, and it makes a big difference. (I worked for one fellow who had a beer fridge in his office, and it was often used on Friday afternoons for “employee morale”.)
Friar,
Yeah, Best Buy is the company from which Cali & Jody of ROWE-fame originated (results-only work environment). ROWE would be very cool if implemented properly. Would it work at The Factory? Hell yeah. Would people let it? Hell no, we’re a TOWE (time-only).
Brett Legree’s last blog post…week 6 – final exam.
10 January 2009, 11:46 am
@Brett
I like Cali and Jody. If only because you sent me the link, and I think they both look pretty HOT!!!
Friar’s last blog post…Perfesser Friar’s Psychic Predictions for 2009
10 January 2009, 11:56 am
@Brett
Beer in the fridge. Hmph. Must be nice.
As opposed to our workplace. If we have even ONE BEER with our lunch, in a restaurant off-site, we’re NOT ALLOWED to return to work for the rest of the day.
Even though we’d be perfectly legal to drive a car 60 mph on public roads. We’re NOT allowed to go back to work, to push paper around and fill out forms.
I bet you Steve Jensen would allow you to have a beer.
Friar’s last blog post…Perfesser Friar’s Psychic Predictions for 2009
10 January 2009, 12:17 pm
Friar,
I’ve heard that quote a lot, too. I don’t know who said it. I’ll have to hunt around.
Beer at The Factory? C’mon, remember the Exxon Valdez? Imagine you come back with just one beer in you and accidentally push the paperwork that causes a leak. (I’m only half kidding here.) It would make international news.
They don’t want to seem biased (and legally, they probably couldn’t) saying these positions MAY drink and these may not, so what choice do they have but to say all of you can’t?
Brett,
Steve Jensen was suggesting to Tyler Shaw that he take whatever time he needed for his new baby, since he knew he’d get BB’s work finished, as well. Imagine The Factory like that. Whew.
I know you all have safety issues and such, and some folks can’t work R-O there because they need to be on site, but surely a lot more flexibility could be built into a lot more positions.
Okay, surely *some* flexibility. A lot more would be pushing it, starting from zero.
Let your email buddy the CEO know that Cali and Jody’s book Why Work S*cks is a worthwhile read. Hey, maybe send it to him via interoffice mail!
Oh, boy. Psychic predictions from the Perfesser. I’m out of here. (I love my CommentLuv!)
Until later,
Kelly
10 January 2009, 12:42 pm
@Kelly
Yeah, I can understand if you’re operating a nukular reactor or something. You obviously can’t be sloshed like Cap’n Boson from the Exxon Valdez.
But c’mon. Most of the factory is just officework/paperpushers. No different from any other workplace.
Actually, the “official” procedure (that they always drill into our heads that we must follow) says you’re obligated to show up “fit for work”. It says nothing about banning beverages altogether. The zero tolerance thing is only a knee-jerk over-reaction.
Yet, they see no problems in making staff work around the clock, if there is an emergency or major deadline. (I wonder how “fit for work” a sleep deprived manager is who’s been answering emails at 4:00 AM?).
I also wonder if the CEO and marketing VPs abide by the same rules?
I can just picture them taking a prospective client out to dinner, for a potential billion-dollar sale.
Sorry, Mr. Client. I won’t have a glass of wine with you. The rules, you know.
(Okay..I’m done rantin’ now!).
PS. WHAT was your post about again?
Friar’s last blog post…Perfesser Friar’s Psychic Predictions for 2009
10 January 2009, 1:29 pm
Kelly,
I know what you mean about them being biased, but it still exists on different levels regardless. Two examples – sleep deprivation, and smoking.
The first one – sleep deprivation. While I know it is hard to quantify, I also find it quite hypocritical when a former manager (who is very well known for surviving on 3 hours sleep, and boasting about it) tells us we cannot return to work after one beer at lunch. Sure, I understand that some jobs are critical and so they have to paint all of us with the same brush.
So where is the pupil response testing at the gate to see if we’ve had enough sleep? Blood tests for presence of antihistamines, cannabis, etc.?
(Funny, Friar wrote this and I didn’t even notice until now.)
Second one – smoking. There are certain areas where people are not allowed to drink or eat or even chew gum. But, special allowances have been made for smokers. And maybe there should be. But as a gum chewer, I feel as though I’m being discriminated against – maybe I should be allowed to go outside every two hours and chew gum for 5 minutes.
Figured I’d better add to Friar’s rant since he’s gone skiing for the afternoon…
-Brett
Brett Legree’s last blog post…week 6 – final exam.
10 January 2009, 2:49 pm
@Brett
Hah! Funny how much you and I think alike (we write about the same thing without even knowing what the other guy wrote).
Argh. Didn’t ski. Parking lots were full. Finaly found a spot, then I had a stomache ache. Backtracked to the visitor center, could barely find a spot there.
And I’m still not feeling great (cough cough). So I bailed out and listened to my body. I’m back home, to get some more sleep.
Good think I didnt’ go. I also forgot my lunch..I would have starved on the ski trails.
Guess it’s one of those days (sigh).
10 January 2009, 2:55 pm
Friar,
That’s too bad – it would be a good day to ski really. Well, rest up, get better, there’ll be other days for sure.
Brett Legree’s last blog post…week 6 – final exam.
10 January 2009, 10:45 pm
Great dual rant, guys, proving my point, I think—that we should all remember to put having a life first. So we can get some sleep. And not wish for beerz to pass the time at work.
There. Neatly back on topic.
Feel better, dear Friar. It’s tough to be cooped up and sick.
Until later,
Kelly
11 January 2009, 10:58 pm
Kelly: That quote means a lot to me. And what matters even more is that I finally, finally feel the truth of it doing something I never dreamed I would be doing, something I even pompously thought was beneath me: being a receptionist. In an unexpected turn of career paths, however, I’ve finally been given the opportunity to realise just how much I affect people, to be told just how much, by patients and bosses alike. Who knew.
steph’s last blog post…Rocking Chair Musing
12 January 2009, 3:54 am
Aw, Steph, you didn’t know that already? I haven’t done my job, then, because you’ve been a wonderful force in my life, and a lot of others.
But I know what you mean. In REAL life. Much as I like this keyboard and screen, affecting those folks who are right in front of you is awesome.
How often do I talk about shoe leather, get out from behind the screen, and “real” people here? Go read this one from Seth:
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/01/time-to-start-a.html
When I read the last sentence, I felt like he’d been reading over my shoulder!
Anyway, I am very glad your job is such a power for good in your life.
Regards,
Kelly
12 January 2009, 4:09 pm
Which is why I choose fun with Raul over money almost every chance I get (with reason I course). It might mean I’ll never been one of the super rich, but I will be one of the super happy!
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome’s last blog post…When just surviving is the only choice: Kelly Erickson Interview