THE VALUE OF HARD WORK: WORK HARD AND NO EXCUSES!
This past week was a 7-day work week. Saturday night and all of Sunday, I was glued to my desk dealing with end of month activity reports, client crisis matters and general catching up. All of this hard work has me tired to the bone.
This weekend for some reason I was reminded of my days and years sweating away at a Bronx pizzeria, where I worked straight through from 1986 at the age of 12 making $2 an hour, until my post college rate of $6 an hour (although with tips often came out to more than $20 an hour). I worked a few months full-time to my mother’s chagrin as a college graduate delivering pizza.
When I reflect upon that experience, I realize the many life and business lessons I learned while working in this immigrant-owned, local Italian Bronx pizzeria, including:
- If you were on the schedule, you showed up to work no matter what because the team depended on you.
- I learned the value of hard work by sweating next to an oven for hours and hours – There was no task too big or small. If it needed to get done, I made sure to take care of it.
- During the Pre- Giuliani NYC Era, I always needed to be alert and move quickly amidst the hysteria of the Bronx.
- My boss taught me at a young age that the customer isn’t always right. He used to tell me “if they can’t pay, tell them to get out.”
I could go on about the many things I learned from the thousands of working hours I logged at a young age, but what it really boils down to is …there is nothing like hard work, and that translates to the success of our PR agency as well.
March 1st, 2010 at 4:06 pm
This is fantastic Ronn. In working with you and your company the work ethic shines through very bright. I too learned this work ethic working for my dad as a janitor starting at about the same tender age as you.
Hard work has certainly formed your work ethic that is now evident through all of 5WPR!
March 4th, 2010 at 2:12 am
Hi Ronn,
I definitely agree with the high importance of hard work. At 16 and 17, I worked at a movie theater. Even though I didn’t need much money at that age and the work was oftentimes mundane, it’s where I learned the value of treating every employee and person you meet with a genuine level of respect and realizing that enthusiasm put into every task really pays off.
Also, I was one of the college students you spoke to Wednesday morning about the PR industry. Needless to say, I just sent in my application for an entry-level position at 5WPR. Your advice was truly insightful and only made me even more excited to break into the industry.
Best of luck to you and 5WPR!