My parents taught me, through example, the value of working hard. My mom always said, “Any job worth doing, is a job worth doing right”.
Today is my first day as a retired person! Over the past few days, I’ve been reflecting on my work life and experiences and I’ve come to some conclusions.
She was correct! At the end of a job or a career, if you can look back and feel that you did the job to the best of your ability, you will come away with a sense of accomplishment and pride. I feel that today, and so much more.
Some history…I’ve worked since I was approximately 12 years old. First it was the odd babysitting gig, then at 13, I graduated to book keeper for the small business owner that lived around the corner from us, inputting his expenses and income in a big log book. Eventually, during high school, I became a waitress and ice cream scooper, a customer service rep at Zellers, and an assistant at the DBIA in Brockville. After high school, I took a fulltime job working at a local factory, driving fork truck, working on the line and doing maintenance until they offered an early retirement package that I took at the age of 21. They paid for my college tuition, and I headed back to school. I graduated then did marketing for a local shopping mall until we moved to Peterborough where I decided to open my own home daycare while my own kids were small. A few years later, I was back in the work force, taking a financial services job, where I remained until yesterday when I retired.
This diverse set of jobs, careers and co-workers have taught me so many things.
Attention to Detail is key. Whatever task you do, giving it your full attention is important! A misplaced number, a message not delivered, a task forgotten all have consequences. In business, that translates to costs and to lost customers. These days, we have so many distractions to contend with. I will admit to having an addiction to my phone, like so many of us. Over the past several years, I’ve struggled with wanting to be connected while on the job…it has definitely affected my work… if I can offer some advice, with the value of hindsight, I’d say develop a habit of keeping your phone off of your desk, away from your work. Distractions cause mistakes and mean you are not fully present. This I am also trying to take into my retired life. I want to enjoy the present, not through the lens on my phone, but through sight, sound and touch.
Customer Service– Yes, it is true, the customer is always right…or at least you need to make them feel this way! Case in point- when I was working at the customer service counter at Zellers, we had someone call in to complain about a hair dye product that we sold. She said it was faulty. The lady on the line was very distraught. It turned out that she had lost a considerable amount of hair! I could have pointed out to her that it likely wasn’t’ a great idea to have a few drinks and fall asleep with hair dye on her hair, but I didn’t. Instead, I tried to be compassionate with her and quickly transferred to our manager.
When driving anything, keep your wits about you! Turns out that working the midnight shift and being “really tired” is not a good enough excuse for why you ran into a warehouse pillar, driving your clamp truck at full speed at the end of your shift! The consequences- a stern lecture from management and a very sore neck and back that lasted a long time; also, the embarrassment of driving by said pillar for the rest of my P&G career, seeing the destruction that I had caused. I should also note that when I started this job, I was so shy that I barely spoke. By the time I left there however, I had not only learned to speak but also how to swear like a truckdriver! I am also proud to say, I became quite handy…changing bearings, working on machinery, and doing maintenance!
If you are unhappy, do something about it. I loved my job at P&G, especially my teammates, but knew it wasn’t what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. When they offered the early retirement package because they were closing our division, I was only 21. It seemed crazy for someone my age to take a package. I was making great money, had great benefits and a brand new car but something felt off. My then, new, hot, boyfriend (who I’ve now been married to for 34 years) was my sounding board and he helped me to make the decision to go back to school. I’ve never regretted either – going back to school or marrying him!
Use your imagination. When I graduated from college, I was offered my dream job as Marketing Manager at the local mall in Brockville. I loved it. I had some responsibility and I was able to be creative at the same time. I loved coming up with promotions for the mall and working with all the various tenants. I loved my co-workers. My boss helped me to develop some self confidence. My very first day on the job, he told me we needed a promo for back school. He apologized that he had to leave for the rest of week… could I come up with something for the next weekend? He said he had faith in me. I was terrified, but in the end came up with something that included student lockers and balloons and some giveaways. It was a small success but I will never forget how I felt after. His mentorship and confidence in me, gave me wings.
Be playful. Life eventually moved us from Brockville to Peterborough, where I decided to stay home with the kids and do day care. This folks, is one of the toughest jobs there is! It is physically and emotionally draining but I felt humbled that these parents entrusted their children to my care. These kids quickly became part of our family and I loved almost all of them! There were some challenges! Kids are wonderful beings but they are difficult at times, as are some parents! Daycare helped me develop so many skills- multi-tasking, conflict resolution, arts and crafts, time management, diplomacy. Being around children everyday, gives you the great gift of seeing life through their innocent, wide eyes. We played. We laughed. We cried together. It was the most exhausting and at the same time, most rewarding job. It is a calling. Sadly, I was not cut out to do it long-term.
Take a chance and trust the un-expected. All of this lead me inevitably into my financial career, where I have spent the last 24 years. A job in wealth management was never on my radar and never something I would have aspired to. Ask Kevin, I am not good with my money! I fell into the job because I was lucky and the gentleman that hired me, went to my church. I took a chance, accepting this job, hoping that I would be able to do it and like it. Turns out, I was kind of good at it! After several positions within our office, I went into my final position as a licensed assistant to a financial advisor. This job, soon, became my home away from home; my coworkers, part of my family. I have learned so much from this team of people.
You are worthy. I was an assistant. In most hierarchies, the low man or woman on the list. Day one, I was told we worked in partnership with one another. We were a team. I was never once made to feel inferior. In so many offices and businesses, this is not the case but I want you to know that these workplaces do exist! You can have a voice and it is valid.
Good business is Built on Integrity. In all things, strive to do what is right for the client, no exceptions.
Support one another. I was blessed to be surrounded by people whom I respected and came to care for deeply. My coworkers taught me how to be a better person by their example- caring for ailing parents, going above and beyond to help elderly clients, raising children, navigating marriage, health issues and life’s challenges with grace, wisdom and strength. My management team consisted of two of the strongest, bravest, intelligent woman I have ever known. I am grateful to have been mentored by them all. They are heroic, intelligent, beautiful, brave woman and men whom I am forever grateful to have met.
My boss/advisor has been my voice of reason, my counsellor, my friend, my challenger, my confidant. He always made me feel like I was a partner with a valued opinion. He helped me to grow as a person in so many ways. I grew a backbone through his tutorage! I have learned to laugh at myself (and, behind his back, at him!). I am a stronger version of myself. His guidance helped me through some very dark times – death of a parent, challenges at home, mental health struggles and illness. His generosity and friendship has changed my life and me as a person, forever. I take the wisdom that he has imparted into this new phase of my life.
In writing this blog, I wanted to honour those people who have been part of my working journey. I ‘ve mentioned just a few. There have been so many more. If you are reading this and you are newly into your working life, I hope you found some insights. If you are, like me, retired, I hope this prompts you to stop and reflect on the people in your journey that have guided you along the way. There are so many memories, good and bad, that have made you and I, the people we are today.
Observations from the cottage and my life... 