Page 74 - How to Drive the Bottom Line with People

Built to Serve

who have spent 30 or more years in a position. Not
long ago, I attended a reception recognizing a

checker’s thirty-fifth anniversary with the company.
She had been at the same store, working in the same
checkout lane, for the past 35 years.

The reception was attended by hundreds of people
who had grown up with this checker. In some cases,
she had served three generations of the same family.
In addition to our team members, a large number of
guests came to express their gratitude.

I was astonished that someone could serve in the
same role for that length of time and maintain a steady
50
= sense of joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction. I asked her

about her motivation and dedication to service, what
kept her will to serve burning. Her response was
telling in that she never felt like she was going to
work. “I know all of these people, and I care about all
of these people,” she said. “I have a relationship with

these families, and they have a relationship with me.
This isn’t work. This is my joy.”
I was inspired to see firsthand that a team member

considered her work a faithful response to God. For
this particular individual, her desire to please God
helped her find significance.