What was your first job?

Paper boy for the Toledo Blade. I had a route of 70 customers on Glenwood Street in Toledo. I would go to the Central and Detroit Station, pick up my papers and ride my bike through the neighborhood to deliver the papers on Saturdays and collect 62 cents for the week’s deliveries. After my route was finished I would return to the station to pick up 50 more copies of the Blade and sell them on the corner of Central and Detroit Avenues in the west end of Toledo, Ohio.

How old were you?

Eleven

How much were you paid?

About five dollars a day

How was your first job different than you thought it would be?

Some customers were very nice and would tip you a few cents a week. Collections were 62 cents and I would frequently get 75 cents and was told to keep the change. One customer always gave me a dollar and said I could keep the balance. There was one block where the houses were quite large and they seemed to tip less, which seemed odd to me.

What important lessons or skills learned in your first job have been instrumental in your success?

The customer is always right and those who treated me better were treated better as well. Also, another lesson learned was that co-workers (other paper boys) were different. Some were easy to get along with and some were not. And lastly, that everyone has a boss. The station manager (probably 20+ years old) could be your friend or not, based on how you approached your day’s work.

Did any of those lessons specifically carry into subsequent jobs after your first? How do you use those skills in your position today?

Every day on the job is the same in human terms. The more helpful you are, the more industrious you are, the more positive you are the more likely things will go well for you. I’m always looking for the employee who goes the extra mile—who is willing to help in any situation. These are the leaders.

Have you seen how lacking those first job skills could have negative effects on others?

Absolutely! Examples: The employee who does nothing except the job description. Those who cannot play team ball. Those who always complain, care only about themselves not the organization. Those attributes and behaviors stop careers—period.

Was there a specific event in your first job that taught you something you still use today?

My older brother had a paper route two blocks over on Scottwood Avenue and on Sundays we would deliver the papers from the back of Dad’s car and then go to church. We did my brother’s route first and would frequently come up one or two papers short, and my Dad always wondered why I couldn’t get my order correct. I convinced him to do my route first and magically it was my brother who couldn’t get the order correct. Lesson being that things are not always as they seem and logic can bring a different answer.

Did you face any obstacles that had a significant impact on your career path?

Trying to get along with those who thought they were superior or better taught me to simply work harder, be more diligent and over time earn their respect. Sometimes that wasn’t achievable and you learn to move on because the problem they have is theirs and has nothing to do with you.

What people or outside factors affected your work ethic or motivated you the most to succeed?

My parents, without a doubt —They always believed you should do your best and work hard. My grandfather taught me to do all jobs with pride because they were your signature. Mom said trust everyone to be fair. Dad said your word should be your bond and always be on time.

What advice would you give to someone starting his or her first job?

Dig in. Find out what the business is about; learn every day and progress in your own attitude and the rest will fall in place.  Do not take credit you don’t deserve and pass credit around. As President Kennedy said years ago, “Success is the child of 1000 parents while failure is an orphan.”

What do you find most rewarding about your position today?

The chance to influence so many lives within the workplace and in the customer environment. The chance to influence national and state policy. The chance to see young people succeed. The chance to teach and watch people grow. Lastly, and most importantly, the chance to learn every day.