Well, actually, it was over 36 years ago in a locally owned chain of jewelry stores owned by Larry J.B. Robinson.
I was out of a job, having quit my prior position after only 8 days. My husband at the time was nervous about bills and such (with good reason), and I had poured through the want ads in search of gainful employment. My skill set at that time was secretarial/clerical.
I called and was granted an interview. The offices were located downtown in the Schofield Building. Up to the seventh floor I went to meet with the woman in Personnel.
Tests were taken, interviews conducted. Then I sat and waited. And waited. Eventually, my interviewer came out and told me that the position I had applied for was filled. But they really liked my credentials, and would I be interested in a different position?
Sure. So, I was interviewed by a pair of men from accounting. One was the comptroller (Rob), the other his boss (Don). It was clear to me that Rob didn't feel he needed a secretary, but Don did.
They made an interesting pair.
Don grilled me about my relatively short work history. Before my ill-fated 8-day job, I'd been a receptionist then secretary for three years for a construction company. Prior to that, I'd worked at the print shop at my high school. I pointed out that I was part of a program whereby I went to school half a day and worked half a day. Don's response was, "When I was in high school, I went to school all day and worked all night."
Okay...coming out of the interview, I had no idea if I was in or out.
The next day, I found out I was in. And so it began.
J.B. Robinson Jewelers provided me with an amazing work experience. Over the course of the six years I was there, I went from being a secretary in accounting to working in print production in Advertising. My co-workers were the best of the best. It was a true work family, complete with sibling rivalry and an "I've got your back" attitude. Not an easy place to work, but if you wanted to be challenged personally and professionally, JBR was your kind of place.
When I was burnt out in Accounting and considering leaving, my boss's boss called me into his office for a chat. He asked what I wanted to do.
"Advertising," said I.
So, off to the land of make-believe went I. To do whatever needed to be done. Including peppy newsletters about top sales achievers and collecting polling results from stores about what radio stations our customers listened to. I had my first experiences with writing copy. And working Managers Meetings, including creating catchy lyrics for songs that were sung during the events. I worked on the company newsletter, The Ringleader. Wrote radio copy for Larry Robinson. Managed special promotions while Judy was on maternity leave. And did whatever anyone needed me to do.
It was challenging and harrowing and amazing. The people I met influenced me in ways that would stick with me for always.
And leading the charge was Larry Robinson. A graduate of the Harvard Business School, Larry had not planned on running his father's jewelry store. But when his dad passed away, he stepped up and took it on. He built a single store into a chain of locations. He espoused the golden rule. He hid behind planters in malls and paid passers-by to shop in our store and come back and report to him on their experience. There were store people who left the company in tears because they didn't get it right. He was a hard ass. But when the dust settled, those who remained were some of the best salespeople around.
I've been thinking about all of this because yesterday one of the best from JBR retired from my current company. Paul was one of the few remaining who survived two acquisitions, landing at the home office as a vice president. His retirement party lasted two hours, with speaker after speaker sharing funny and touching stories about his achievements and his mentoring skills. There was a lot of laughter and an equal number of tears. Personally, I worked with Paul more in the last few years than I had for most of the time he was with the company. We had fallen into a comfortable pattern of information-sharing that worked well. And I will miss him. Selfishly, what I will miss, too, is that link to JBR.
During the proceedings yesterday, I could feel Larry Robinson's presence. His legacy. I felt like Paul passed on that torch to a number of people. It made me sad and happy all at once.
I still strive to live up to the JBR standards. I can't help it, I still really care about what I do. I want to get it right for our customers.
Someday, when it's my turn to walk away, I hope there are a few people who take up the torch. Who do it the right way. The JBR way.
In the meantime, I will do my best to keep the torch lit.
No comments:
Post a Comment