make every job count

In 2003 my nephew Adam graduates from Johns Hopkins.  We celebrate the night before at a local restaurant.

The next day is graduation.  

Mayor Bloomberg is the keynote speaker. (http://www.jhu.edu/news/commence03/speeches/bloomberg.html).

Mostly I find graduations boring.  But this one isn't.  All these years later, I still remember Bloomberg's message.  He says in part...

If your first job or your first graduate school isn't the job or graduate school of your dreams, which is not unusual... you must convince yourself that it is... and that will ensure the right attitude to succeed. In fact, and this applies to all of you, while luck plays a distinct part in success -- it's not gone unnoticed. The harder you work, the luckier you'll get. It's that simple…

So in summary, let me give you a little bit of advice. Go to the best school that you can, get the best job you can, but in either case, whatever is offered to you, convince yourself it is exactly where you want to be. Attitude is everything. Work as hard as you can, you've got to get lucky -- go to work early and stay late, and be scrupulously honest at all costs. You are ultimately responsible for your success or failure.

I remind Alexander of Bloomberg's message as he looks for summer employment. He’s been applying for jobs at Lululemon, Abercrombie, Bloomingdales, and even today at a health club, where instead of pay, he can “work” a few hours in exchange for membership. 

I always appreciate when someone performs a job the best they can, whatever that job happens to be.

A couple of weeks ago Alexander packs up his belongings and brings them to Ithaca Storage.  He uses the local cab company to get to and from the storage place and is unnecessarily charged an extra $15 for waiting time.

I call and speak to Ken.  He is quick to apologize and promises to send a check that day.  Today I get my mail and there is an envelope from Ken.  I open it and see a $25 coupon for Ithaca Dispatch.  It’s not cash, but it’s more than the $15 owed, and Alexander will use it when he returns to school.  I’m satisfied.  But then I see that Ken has also sent me check for $15. 

Perhaps Ken heard Bloomberg’s speech too.