A Pair of Black Pants

Today, we celebrated our 2nd “I am On – Track” ceremony, it is a celebration of newly regularized associates. This is to celebrate their journey while they were on nesting period or on probation, and finally making it through their 181st day that makes them regular associates. We just started this program this year, as the 3rd phase of Total On – boarding Program for new associates.

As expected, there were exchanges of speech. I myself have had to deliver the Pinning Speech to all, and lead everyone to recite the Oath of Allegiance, which is basically the “I am Always” standard of behavior.

What struck me on this event was the reciprocity piece delivered by the batch president, he is one of the two who just recently joined the ranks of talented HR Team in St. Luke’s Medical Center – Quezon City. The batch president shared an experience he had when he was called in for an interview in the office. He just got off college, and while in school; his pants were all white as part of their school uniform. He may have few colored pants but none were black. He never owned a Black formal slacks other that these colors. So when he was called and was told to come for an interview in Black pants, blue shirt, and blue tie, he didn’t know what to do. The poor fellow rushed to the most convenient department store near him, got himself pair of black formal pants, and asked the sales lady if they can cut the length since most pants are longer in stock sizes. The sales lady had to decline his request, though this is part of their customer service, because he came on the closing hours and the lady doing the sears had just packed up and was leaving. He had to explain that if he missed to cut his pants, he might miss his interview the following day, and he will miss the chance of employment. Somehow, the sales lady took pity and accepted his request for sears. Had the sales lady escorted him to leave instead of trying to find ways to help, he would have ended up telling another story in another company. That simple YES from the sales lady made his life totally different. And so as his story goes, he said, “Opportunities are everywhere. When we say NO to any request, it will open another opportunity to someone else and with a different outcome. Surely, it is still an OPPORTUNITY. When we say YES to someone, it will do the same or even better to someone else. Opportunities are endless; it will all depend on how you want to be part of that opportunity. Will you choose to be the one who will say NO or the one who will say YES? In both cases, there will still be opportunities, the only difference is, when you say YES, you will become part of that someone else’s opportunity and leave a mark in someone else's life.” A 20 something kid, just fresh off college, just got regularized, and yet spoke so wisely. While he humbly joked about his story, and while the rest of the audience laugh, I sat in admiration and envy. I admired him for having that insight, such focus, determination I didn’t expect. I envy him at the same time and wished that I have had those in me when I was his age, I wish I had that insight, that focus, and his determination.

I left the event hurriedly so I can be intimate with the joy that I felt. I left the event knowing that we have ONE TALENT in our team who will soon rise up to any occasion; I left the event wishing that I will stay long enough in the company and bear witness to his journey, to be even there alongside him, not as a boss – but as his big brother.

Keep it up! You know who you are!

You will surely see better days ahead of you…. With your Pair of Black Pants.