The Greatest Job You Will Ever Have

“Mr. Bizzarro, this is the greatest job you will ever have.”

It’s 1991, and I'm sitting across from Mr. C, my regional vice president. I’ve just resigned from my position as District Supervisor of 19 pharmacies in Palm Beach, Florida.

Mr. C was not my favorite. His leadership methods drew on the worst of old-school management—he didn’t celebrate people, rarely offered a kind word, and even record-setting results were not good enough for him.

Sitting to my right is my boss, Mr. A. He’s five-and-a-half feet, silver-haired, high-energy, the fiery product of Greek immigrant parents. He leads by example, embodies customer-centricity, and gets things done through people. He is tough-minded but fair and caring and could manage in today's world. He also knows me well. As I instinctively lean toward Mr. C to unleash my retort about why he’s dead wrong about this being the greatest job, Mr. A shoots me a look that implies, “Think twice before you speak.”

I gather myself and say to Mr. C, “That's doesn’t fit my plan, but you might be right.”

Mr. C didn't know a damn thing about me, my capabilities, or my aspirations. Every ounce of me wanted to launch into a rant, but if I did, my boss would bear the brunt since I was moving on. Not fair to a person who took me under his wing, taught me about P&L, and made work the right combination of challenging and fun. So, I held back.?

I have proved Mr. C wrong many times over: that job was in no way the best I ever had. Over the years, my profession has presented me opportunities to learn, grow, accept challenges, overcome obstacles, and achieve. I’ve worked with some of the best. I’ve made a good number of mistakes and still do. Business growth and personal growth are not always easy, but always meaningful. I would often get frustrated, but as a friend and mentor suggested to me along the way, new capabilities lie on the other side of frustration. ?

Fast forward past ten jobs to my second go-round at MVP and the opportunity to work with dozens of talented, dedicated leaders in the company’s rebirth. We’re working as a team to take on aspirational goals and be there for our customers like never before. I fully expect this to be the greatest work, the greatest accomplishment, and the greatest job I will ever have—and prove Mr. C wrong once again.

?But is that really the case?

?A recent trip to New York City shed new light on that encounter thirty years ago. My wife and 14-year-old granddaughter met my 24-year-old daughter to see the Rockettes, grab dinner, and walk the city. My family is incredibly close with this granddaughter, whose life has not been easy. My wife and I took action early on to stay deeply involved. Since she was six weeks old, we have had her on the weekends, and she is with us on most vacations, holidays, and school breaks.

?In New York, we ate dinner near Bryant Park, saw the Rockefeller Center Tree, and wandered around Times Square before settling into our hotel directly across from the architecturally stunning New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue. Our room had a huge window, and the view was amazing. We turned the lights low, the room was quiet, and I dozed off. I awoke about a half-hour later but kept my eyes closed. I heard my wife telling my granddaughter stories about her from those weekends, vacations, and holidays when she was much younger. I listened to them talk and laugh. When I opened my eyes, I saw them sitting on the windowsill facing each other—the beautifully illuminated public library accenting their silhouettes.?

?At that moment, it hit me that neither Mr. C nor I were right. The greatest job that I or likely any of us will ever have will never be rewarded with a paycheck, bonus, equity, or options. Our greatest work impacts the people closest to us: grandchildren, children, parents, siblings, family, friends, neighbors, and people in our community. For them, you naturally extend yourself to your fullest to make their lives better—to give them as many good days as possible. My wife and I have tried to do that for our granddaughter and this unexpected blessing is far more worthwhile than any contribution to any company.

?Work is meaningful, but life is defining. At best, work is a calling, and at worst, simply a means to earn a paycheck. Over the years, I’ve known many people almost exclusively in a work environment. But I’ve heard stories about your lives during meetings and encounters. How you help a sick family member or friend, provide guidance to loved ones when needed, or celebrate their successes. I’ve listened to how you volunteer to support noble causes. You’ve recounted how you gather with family and friends and support them as they experience the joys and miseries that life inevitably introduces. It has not been lost on me that you are indelibly and positively touching them.

I offer that whatever your job is, it will never be the greatest job you’ll ever have. Your greatest work is not compensated in dollars, but in the currency of precious, preserved moments you unselfishly deliver to others in your life. It is inspiring.

?“Work is love made visible.”

Khalil Gibran

?Keep doing great work in 2022.

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