Take Your Job and Love It
Assuming an owners mentality while you’re an employee prepares you to be a boss
People-watching is one of my favorite low-cost activities to engage in; it ranks second to ear hustling. Shonda Rhimes suggests listening to random conversations to improve the dialogue in your writing. I knew I was on the right track, following my intuition led me to interview, Jon Castro the owner and founder of Prodigy Cutz Studio for my podcast.
I met Jon in 2016 in my local Dunkin, he was an associate, and I was one of those frequent customers who make a public space their satellite office, you know the type — don’t judge me too harshly. Jon worked the evening shift with a sense of purpose; his attention to detail piqued my interest. If the tables or restrooms needed cleaning, he’d clean them If they were short-staffed. Jon was always in motion during his shift; when he delegated a task to his team, he didn’t bark out orders; he provided direction.
I’d come in, grab a cup of coffee, a muffin, sit in the corner, and work on my blog. After a year or so, we talked about running; that’s when I found out Jon’s father was Miguel Castro. Miguel is the guy who convinced me to do my first marathon — talk about the world being small.
If You have to choose between character or image choose character
Jon’s character and work ethic as an employee prepared him for opening his own business.
How do you transition from being an employee to being a boss? If you’re interested in hearing how to take your current job and love it, tune into the BTW Podcast, and share it with someone you think could benefit from a shift in mindset.
Retail is a Petri dish where you get to practice your leadership and customer service skills; in time, they will flourish if you diligently practice. Every interaction is an opportunity for you to master your craft.
Invest in your people
In the late ‘90s, I was Sr. Case Manager, running a Dropout Prevention Program in East New York, Brooklyn, during the height of the crack cocaine epidemic. Working with my mentor Mr. Frank Mickens prepared me for that role; Mic was the principle of Boy’s & Girls High School. Mic, as he was affectionately known, was a strong, no-nonsense educated black man who chomped on a cigar like Columbo, he wore a trench coat and bow-tie.
Mic loved his students. I carried with the lessons I learned from Mic, with me throughout my personal/professional career. Mic drop gems regularly; I was a young man thirsty and hungry for knowledge with an impressionable mind soaking up his principles like a sponge.
Millennials dispelling myths
Boomers often accuse millennials of being lazy, but here was Jon, standing in front of me, living proof of this misguide cliche. Jon assumed responsibility for our local Dunkin Donuts’ as if he was the owner.
I watched this young man transition from an employee to a shift supervisor; it was clear that he was living with a sense of purpose. Dunkin was only a stepping stone to more excellent opportunities. Rather than begrudge his position he viewed it as a chance to acquire leadership and customer service skills and practice applying them in real time during his shift.
Invest in your personal professional development
In 2018 I ran into Jon CT Barber Expo, he was no longer with Dunkin; he was a licensed barber enhancing his skills by investing in his professional development. Jon worked two years faithfully in a local barbershop and teaching. In 2020, he opened Prodigy Cutz Hair Studios.
The following tips might empower you to take your job and love it:
- Take full advantage of all the training and development opportunities your employer offers.
- Avoid bitter complaining people like the plague, they’ll suck the life out of like a vampire.
- Utilize Overdrive to gain access to audio and digital books to expand your knowledge.
- Conduct a google search for top personal development, self improvement, leadership and management books then visit the Goodwill.
You may not love your current job, if that’s the case don’t quit but stay find a place that’s a better fit, you’re not a tree — you deserve to be happy.
Download a FREE Podcast Launch Checklist Be the first in line to receive a copy of Write Outta Hell: “Write Outta Hell!” Is the story of a man who wrote 104 short stories over a two years by only using the notes app on his phone and a microphone. In the process he delivered inspirational messages of hope to thousands of people all over the world, discovered his voice and found peace.