Treating Everyone Equally

Do you remember the last time you truly felt appreciated at work, regardless of your job title?

In the world of business and Entrepreneurship, it’s easy to get caught up in our race to achieve success.?

The continuous drive for profit margins, sales figures, and market share...It’s easy to forget about the most critical aspect that fuels our success – the people who actually make up our organizations.

Today I want to share a powerful lesson that every Entrepreneur should hold dear to their hearts: The importance of treating others equally, regardless of their “rank” or “status”.

Let me give you an example…

I remember watching a movie many years ago (I can’t remember the name right now), where the protagonist, a successful CEO of a large corporation, found himself in a tough situation.?

One day, while rushing to an important meeting, the CEO accidentally spilled coffee on his shirt…So he quickly ran to the restroom, where he came across a janitor who was busy mopping the floors.?

Frustrated, the CEO barked orders at the janitor to help him clean the mess on his shirt.?

“GET THIS STAIN OFF RIGHT NOW OR YOU’RE FIRED!” He yelled.

The janitor, completely taken back by the CEO's tone, quietly obliged.

Fast forward many years later, and the CEO’s company was facing MAJOR financial troubles. In short, they needed a vital partnership with another organization to stay afloat.?

So as the CEO entered the negotiation room, he was shocked to find the VERY SAME JANITOR from all those years before, now introducing himself as the CEO for the other company.?

Needless to say, the negotiations didn't go well, and the CEO's company suffered greatly as a result of his past behavior.

Quite the lesson learned, don’t you think?

This movie's plot serves as a powerful reminder that every interaction we have, no matter how seemingly insignificant, can have a lasting impact on our lives and our businesses.?

In this particular case, the CEO's failure to treat the janitor with respect and dignity ultimately cost him (and his company) dearly.

That’s why as Entrepreneurs and business leaders, it's crucial to remember that everyone has the potential to contribute to our success.

When we treat everyone in our organization equally, we create a positive and productive work environment that benefits not just our team, but our bottom line as well.

In contrast, when we treat people poorly or with disrespect, we not only damage our reputation…We also risk losing valuable connections and opportunities that could have otherwise?propelled our business forward.

And now that I think about it, this reminds me of a time during my days at Fabri-Kal, when I was tasked with building a new division.

(In case you don’t know, Fabri-Kal is a manufacturing company that produced everything from plastic cups to deli containers).

One day, I decided to take a walk around our plant up in Hazleton, PA.

I chatted with a group of workers who were stationed along a conveyor belt, packing cups into plastic bags. They inspected each cup, sealed the bags, and prepared them for shipment.

During our conversation, one worker said, "Well David, my job isn't really that important compared to yours."

Curious, I asked, "Why would you say that?"

She replied, "Well, you're building the whole division... My job is just to pack cups."

To say I was thrown off guard would be an understatement.

I mean, here I am, standing among the hardworking backbone of our company, hearing one of them downplay the significance of her role.

So, I looked at her and said:

"Let me tell you something…If you don't inspect the product and our quality drops, we lose customers. If we lose customers our reputation takes a hit, then I can't grow the company. So, in reality, YOU have the MOST IMPORTANT job!”

You should have seen the change in her demeanor. A broad smile spread across her face as she digested what I'd just said.

The following day, I brought a client to meet our team. The same worker was there, this time beaming with pride.?

Her and her co-workers' interaction with the client was genuine and enthusiastic. It was clear that our earlier conversation really impacted her perception of her role within the company.

The client, needless to say, was thoroughly impressed.?

Her passion and commitment was undeniable. Her interaction with the client showcased not just the importance of their role, but also the collective spirit of our entire team.

This brings us back to where we started: The importance of treating everyone equally, no matter their role in the organization.

Remember, every person in a company matters. Each one of us is a crucial cog in the machine. If even a single piece is missing, the entire operation grinds to a halt.?

It's a lesson many overlook, but one we should all strive to remember.

So, the next time you're tempted to disregard someone because of their position or status, remember the lesson from these stories and the potential consequences of such actions.?

As the old saying goes… “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” — Wendy Mass

To your success,

David

P.S. I know it’s not always easy to find other successful Entrepreneurs to connect with, share your experiences, ask for advice, and learn from their experiences…So if the opportunity to join, me, Bob, and a carefully curated group of amazing $2M+ Entrepreneurs like you in a new Mastermind we are creating, reply (MASTERMIND) and we can start the conversation to see if an invite is in order.