My Dad Taught Me How to Work: Forward

While working as a Management Consultant, one evening I was enjoying some tacos at the hotel restaurant with our project team after a long day of work in a Mexican silver mine. After 12 grueling days on a diagnostic study, I was looking forward to an evening of ease. I told our Vice President I was going to finish up my process flow diagram before bed, but he said, “Actually, I have something else in mind for you tonight. We have a 90 page slide deck written by 8 different people, three of whom speak Spanish as a first language. Everyone has a different writing style and capability. Everyone used different fonts and formatting. We need the deck client ready with a single look, feel, and voice by 7:30am tomorrow morning. I need you to put your editing skills to work tonight.”

I knew that meant at least six more hours of work and it was 8pm. He handed me a thumb drive with a look on his face that clearly said how he felt – I am so sorry to do this to you, but you are the guy I am turning to help me out of a jam.

“No problem” I said taking the thumb drive. I have been wanting to see how our presentation is taking shape.”

To which he replied, “I know you are not looking forward to this, but I appreciate your attitude.”

“Actually, I do appreciate the work,” I said with a smile. Then I added with emphasis, “My mom taught me how to write; my dad taught me how to work, and that’s all I need to say about how I got my attitude.”

When I was young, my parents started a family owned publishing company. My mom earned a degree in English and was a prolific author and my dad earned an MBA and managed the business. My dad taught me my first lessons on small business economics, accounting, and salesmanship. More importantly, he taught me that “if we are not having fun while we work, we are not doing it right.”

Since those early days, I earned an MBA at a top 20 business school, and I have spent twenty five years working in the corporate world at Ford Motor Company and Rio Tinto in Purchasing, Finance, and Marketing functions. I am presently the Supply Chain Practice Leader at USC Consulting, a fifty year old consulting firm specializing in operations improvement.

I have been blessed that my business career has afforded me the opportunity to not only work in many states of the US, but I have also travelled the world working in Singapore, Japan, China, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Germany, England, Sweden, Saskatchewan, Alaska, the Northwest Territories of Canada and Namibia.

I almost gave this book the subtitle of “Lessons to Jump Start Your Career in Corporate America.” While American industry leads many sectors, the corporate world is so much larger than just what is found in America.?Not only have supply chains become truly global, the workforce is likewise becoming global. New business students today are finding themselves not just competing with the others in their class for coveted jobs, they are competing with students in Singapore – whether they know it or not.

I decided to write this book for my son who also wants to go into business. I also write it for anyone who wants an inside view navigating a career in the corporate world. This book will offer practical, boots on the ground advice that will jump start your career and help ensure you are a valued member of any team, at any level of the organizations where you work.

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Finally, I dedicate this book to my dad.

Thanks dad. You have been my hero for as long as I can remember.