When I was a kid, my first real job was at a well known big box store. One time a customer stops me and asks where something is in a department that I’m not familiar with. Back then there were no handheld computers for easily searching inventory.
Customer becomes angry when I can’t find what he’s looking for so I call the assistant store manager on duty for help. Manager comes over and the customer proceeds to tell him just exactly how stupid he thinks I am.
The manager – whom I will call “J” – was a miserable, gruff, chain smoking SOB who is like 6 months from the end of his 36 year career. But he stops the customer mid-tirade and says, “Now wait just a minute. We’re happy to help you find what you need but JubilationTCornpone is a fine young man and one of our best associates and I am not going to stand here and listen to you talk about him like that.”
The customer leaves in a huff. “J” looks at me and says, “Just because the ‘customer is always right’ doesn’t mean they get to treat you like shit. He can go to hell. We don’t need his money.”
I never really liked “J” because he was a pain in the ass but he earned my respect for that.
I think it was just more that his job was incredibly stressful and unfulfilling and he was sick of it.
Another time he pulled me aside and said something to ge effect of, “you need to get the hell out of here and go make something of yourself. You do NOT want to do this for the rest of your life. Trust me.”
There was plenty of wisdom I ignored during my teen years but I heard that little nugget loud and clear and I actually listened to it.
When I was a kid, my first real job was at a well known big box store. One time a customer stops me and asks where something is in a department that I’m not familiar with. Back then there were no handheld computers for easily searching inventory.
Customer becomes angry when I can’t find what he’s looking for so I call the assistant store manager on duty for help. Manager comes over and the customer proceeds to tell him just exactly how stupid he thinks I am.
The manager – whom I will call “J” – was a miserable, gruff, chain smoking SOB who is like 6 months from the end of his 36 year career. But he stops the customer mid-tirade and says, “Now wait just a minute. We’re happy to help you find what you need but JubilationTCornpone is a fine young man and one of our best associates and I am not going to stand here and listen to you talk about him like that.”
The customer leaves in a huff. “J” looks at me and says, “Just because the ‘customer is always right’ doesn’t mean they get to treat you like shit. He can go to hell. We don’t need his money.”
I never really liked “J” because he was a pain in the ass but he earned my respect for that.
Tough but fair?
I think it was just more that his job was incredibly stressful and unfulfilling and he was sick of it.
Another time he pulled me aside and said something to ge effect of, “you need to get the hell out of here and go make something of yourself. You do NOT want to do this for the rest of your life. Trust me.”
There was plenty of wisdom I ignored during my teen years but I heard that little nugget loud and clear and I actually listened to it.