2007 Soap Box Archives

Work Ethic

A few days ago at a retail store in Indianapolis Hazel and myself were waited on by a young lady, probably somewhere around 19 or 20 years old. She was neat, clean and friendly and it seemed that she went out of her way to make sure the customers got their orders in a timely fashion.

I only hope that the manager of that store realizes what a treasure he has in this young lady. If I lived in Indianapolis I would go out of my way to shop there because I had such a pleasant experience.

And no, this young lady didn't know me from John Brown's dog in my shorts and baseball cap, it was not special treatment, it was just good service, the kind of service that seems to be missing in so many of the places I go.

So many times it's the surly kid with the soul patch and pierced body parts who takes your order, acts as if he's doing you a favor by condescending to doing his job or the girl with her ear stuck to a phone while you stand
there waiting.

So many of our young people these days just don't seem to understand that the money that goes into the cash register is the same money that comes out of the cash register to pay their salaries.

I have said it so many times and let me say it once more. If you are a good employee and you make money for your employer you are worth more than the dullards who stand around and wait for their shifts to end.

If your current employer doesn't see your zeal and efficiency and advance you somebody else will. In fact, if I ran a retail outlet I would go around and seek out people like the young lady I mentioned and offer them jobs with the understanding that if you help me make money I will see that you advance to a job with responsibility and good pay.

My daddy told me a lot of things about life and work and two of the best pieces of advice he ever gave me were, find something that you like to do and if you're going to do something do it good.

The first piece of advice was easy to follow because since very early in my life all I wanted to do was play and create music and entertain people.

The second part about doing it good I had to learn through life's lessons. You soon find out in this business that you owe your living to the people who come to see you and buy your records and if you don't give them the best
you've got every time you walk on stage or into a recording studio they not only realize it, they will stop coming to see you and buying your records.

So if you walk on stage one night and don't feel up to par for some reason or the other and you take it out on the crowd by not doing your best, you'll pay the consequences somewhere down the line.

The same thing applies to the young people working in retail outlets. The people on the other side of the counter are the only reason for you being there and whether it's a summer vacation temporary job or a fulltime first
job, give it your best, take it seriously and if you try hard enough you're going to get tagged for a great employee and those are hard to come by and much sought after.

I should know, I've got a bunch of the best people who go the extra mile and stay the extra hour or drive the extra distance or set up tons of equipment when they're dog-tired or play an energetic show when they're dragging from
not enough rest.

They are my people and I will value them and take care of them the best I can. And young man and young woman you can make the same impression on the people you work for and go far.

It just takes a good attitude and a little extra effort.

Pray for our troops

What do you think?

God Bless America

Charlie Daniels

July 9, 2007