The Worst Boss I've Ever Had

The day I met Roger Younce was also the day I interviewed with him.

He asked me if I liked sports.

“Biiiig sports guy,” I replied.

After that first meeting, I didn’t hear back from him for at least three to four weeks. I left a couple emails and sent a few text messages. Nothing in return.

Until the day before my wedding—January 2016—Roger called to offer me a job. I dropped to my knees and thanked God for sports and full-time employment as a married man.

Thus began my time with the worst boss I’ve ever had.

Some Context

So what was the job? Roger offered me a position as Teacher + Job Coach at Kinwell Academy—a nonprofit organization and alternative education program for kids who have been kicked out or dropped out of high school.

In addition to a second chance at a high school diploma, Kinwell offers mentorship and interpersonal skills for students in Marion, Indiana.

I joined a staff of about four to five teachers—Roger was our director. I spent three years with him as my boss, and here’s why he was one of the worst.

Time

As a boss, Roger never cared about his own time.

He was always “on call” of sorts with the students. Whenever a need arose, Roger was available to serve them.

It’s important to note—Roger has a wonderful wife and two sweet boys. As a family, because they’re hitched to Rog, they get a first hand glimpse into giving up their own time for the good of others.

Imagine growing up with that? As a kid—your family always includes others in activities and dinners and things.

In my time with Rog as a boss, I saw a lot less “4-hour work week” and more of a “everyone always” approach. And I’m just not too sure how well that set me up for success in this world.

Money

Maybe the most blatant and applicable example of Roger’s worst-boss-ness.

He always gave his money away. At a restaurant and a student forgot his or her wallet—Roger would pick up the tab.

Leading initiatives to fundraise food and necessities for students (when we could have used that money for extra vacation days or higher salaries) was always the goal for Rog.

Sure fundraising is important, to give money away, but what about the money we could have had as teachers? I still don’t believe someone like Roger exists.

It’s like his life is an open pocket book, and people are free to take as they wish.

Energy

When I met Roger, eight individuals lived in his home.

“But I thought you said he had a wife and two kids?”

Yeah . . . he does. But for the few years I worked alongside him, Roger and his bride ran a Hope City home which essentially meant a halfway house for young adult men who were struggling in life and needed a place to get back on their feet.

As a boss, I saw someone love down-on-their-luck youth all day and then go home to love his family and four grown men at night. How was this guy even functioning? What energy did he have leftover for employees like me?

I’ll tell you how much . . .

A Helluva Lot.

Roger Younce gave me everything he had. He gave me time. He gave me his energy. And he provided me with gainful employment in my first three years of marriage.

In other words, I started out my career with someone who gave away his time, money, and energy on a regular basis.

And for that, I rue the day he called me before my wedding and offered me a job.

I wish I had told him I hated sports.

Those three principles, on some of life’s greatest resources, are now all I think about when it comes to a career—a career where I’m told to “get mine.”

When you have a boss like Roger, that mentality unfortunately goes from “get mine” to “it’s all yours.”

So here’s to the worst* boss I’ve ever had. For helping me think a little bit less about myself.

And a lot more about others.

*best

Love you, Rog.

PS—Sign up for the Kinwell Academy newsletter to hear consistent updates from this wonderful nonprofit and their stories of God changing lives. The only bad part is that Roger writes each one.