A nice view.
Posted: October 16, 2006 Filed under: Uncategorized 8 Comments »I was asked by Cyrus, my personal trainer, to meet with a young woman who worked at the gym. Seems she just graduated from business school and Cyrus told her that I was the person to talk to about how to create her future. Flattering, yes. Hyperbole, yes. But what could I do? So I got her email address on my way out the door and set up a meeting at a local coffee shop, Mad City Coffee.
Having the schedule and workload that I do, I had to cancel our meeting (with 48 hours notice) and reschedule for the following week. Deadlines. You know how it is.
So the day came and here I was dreading it. I was wasting an hour and a half of my life on a total stranger and not only would I never get it back, I would get nothing out of it.
Curse you, Cyrus.
I got to Mad City right on time. On the way, I daydreamed that she’d be late and I’d be aggrevated. But she was there sipping her coffee. Waiting for me.
I got a nice cup of mocha and sat down. Deep breath.
She told me she had great news. A job she’d applied for last week was offered to her. She had accepted. She’ll be a product manager at one of the ecommerce sites for AOL. Good work if you can get it. And great for her resume, too.
My first thought was, great, I’ll take my coffee to go. Nice to meet you. Gotta run. But she had a question.
Cyrus has told me about your work and your life. It sounds amazing. To what do you attribute your considerable success and independence?
What does one say to that?
I had to stay and drink the coffee evidently. Don’t you think? So I started telling her about my business philosophy. About how managing people doesn’t mean being a tyrant. I told her about how I keep in touch with everyone I’ve ever had good business or personal experiences with and how knowing those people and what they are doing over time has been very helpful. Not to mention interesting and fun.
We talked about work ethic. About doing what is expected and more. We talked about not asking for more from a company until you’ve proven that you are worthy. We talked a long time. She’s a bright and interesting young woman and I know she’ll go far.
Particularly since she sent me a note after our time together telling me that I was one of the people that she’d like to keep knowing.
I think she got it.
I always say you were the best boss I’ve ever had. And I mean it too.
Wendy,
I have to tell you, you are one of the best writers I have ever seen. If you ever get tired of the business world, you should seriously look into a career in OPED writing. Your entries sound exactly like professional pieces. Keep writing!
Dang- you are shaping our nations youth. How cool is that?
That’s a feel-good story, and I feel all proud that I know you for real now!
I read often, but have never commented. What an awesome story. Managing without being a tyrant is a skill and a talent. Too few people, even (or maybe especially) in the synagogue world do not seem to be capable of this. This young woman is lucky to have found you.
See, it wasn’t such a waste of your time after all!
The whole time I was reading your post I was thinking I would be dreading such a meeting too – and then look what happens – I think you are offically a mentor!
I would also recommend Barbara Stanny’s book – “Secrets of six figure women” It’s got some great advice.
work ethic is a problem in Hollywood – so many people that I work with just think they are entitled to a promotion or pay raise and then don’t understand why they didn’t get it.
that’s awesome, wendy.