The Christmas Lesson

Tom was a seasoned leader in the staffing industry in Florida. For years, he’d built his reputation on metrics, profitability, and efficiency. To Tom, staffing wasn’t about changing lives—it was about filling roles, hitting quotas, and making sure the bottom line stayed in the black. He ran his team like a machine, expecting them to churn out placements as quickly as possible. Christmas was just another opportunity to push seasonal hires.

As the holidays approached, Tom noticed his team buzzing with an unusual energy. There was talk of a "Holiday Helping Hands" initiative—a charity project spearheaded by his recruiters. They were working to place individuals from underserved communities in jobs that could carry them through the season and beyond. Tom dismissed it as a distraction. “We have targets to hit,” he reminded his team in a meeting. “Focus on the numbers.”

One day, one of his recruiters, Sarah, approached Tom with a request. “There’s a man named Joe who came to us last week,” she said. “He’s been homeless for months, but he’s skilled and eager to work. If we can place him, it could turn his life around.”

Tom frowned. “Does he meet the client’s qualifications?”

Sarah hesitated. “He does, but he doesn’t have a permanent address or reliable transportation yet. I think we could work with him, though.”

Tom sighed. “Sarah, we can’t take risks like that. Clients expect reliability, and we don’t have time to babysit candidates.”

But Sarah persisted. “Just give him a chance. He doesn’t need a handout—just a hand up.”

Reluctantly, Tom agreed, more to avoid the argument than out of any real belief in the idea. Joe was placed in a warehouse job with a client known for giving second chances.

A few weeks later, Tom received an unexpected thank-you note. It was from Joe, who explained how the job had changed his life. With his first paycheck, he’d rented a small room and bought a used bicycle for transportation. For the first time in years, he could afford warm meals and was even saving for a better future. The letter ended with, “Thank you for giving me the chance to start over. You’ve given me hope.”

Tom was stunned. He’d never thought much about what happened to candidates after they were placed. They were numbers on a report, not people with stories. Intrigued, he began paying closer attention to the team’s efforts with “Holiday Helping Hands.” He saw how they worked tirelessly to match people like Joe with opportunities, often going above and beyond to ensure their success.

One afternoon, Tom overheard Sarah on the phone with another candidate. “You’ve got this,” she said warmly. “You’ll do great in the interview tomorrow. We believe in you.” The joy in her voice was genuine, and Tom realized that, for his team, this wasn’t just a job—it was a calling.

As Christmas neared, Tom decided to attend a gathering where his team celebrated their work in the placements from the initiative. They shared stories about the candidates they’d helped, from single mothers now able to buy gifts for their kids to older workers who’d found dignity in employment after years of being overlooked. The atmosphere was electric, filled with a sense of purpose and pride.

Tom reflected on his own approach to leadership. He’d always valued results, but he’d found that for years he had overlooked the human side of staffing—the lives that were transformed by a job. He realized that his team’s impulse to help others wasn’t just a nice gesture; it was at the very heart of their work.

The next morning, Tom called his team together. He thanked them for their dedication and apologized for dismissing their efforts. “I’ve begun to think of this job as all business,” he admitted. “But you’ve shown me that it’s so much more. You’re not just filling roles—you’re changing lives. And that’s something to be proud of.”

To show his support, Tom announced that the company would formally adopt “Holiday Helping Hands” as an annual initiative, with resources and recognition for the team’s efforts. He also committed to spending more time with the recruiters and candidates, learning their stories and understanding the impact of their work.

Tom on the Lessons Learned from his team.

A job can do more than provide income—it can restore dignity, hope, and a sense of purpose. By giving someone a chance, you can help them change the trajectory of their life.

True happiness doesn’t only come from hitting metrics or maximizing profits but from the joy found in helping others succeed. The season of giving wasn’t just about charity—it was about empowerment.

Watching his team in action, Tom came to appreciate their passion and dedication. Their work was more than transactional; it was transformational. Their commitment to the success of others inspired him to work hard to become a better and more connected leader.

That Christmas, Tom joined his team in delivering care packages to the families they’d helped. As he handed a gift to a child whose mother had just started a new job, he felt something he hadn’t in years: the warmth of the Christmas spirit. It wasn’t in the spreadsheets or the quotas—it was in the joy of giving and the lives they’d touched.

From that year on, Tom approached his role differently. He still valued results, but he also prioritized humanity behind the numbers. And every Christmas, he reminded his team—and himself—that the true meaning of the season was in the stories they helped write, one job at a time.