Your Legacy May Surprise You
Your Legacy May Surprise You —
At age 63 I had the fortunate opportunity to retire from my Operations job of 35 years and start a job I love: helping owners sell their business. For over 40 years after college, I was General Manager of a service business. This included over 1,000 people who worked with me in some capacity.
Daily thoughts included managing people, making budget, growing the business, hiring, terminating, warning reports, random drug test, vehicle safety, employee reviews, pay adjustments, customer complaints, buying equipment, new Industry regulations, buying a nearby business…the list is endless.
I still reside in a nearby community and have a chance to see former employees at random times. I am no longer their boss—just an old guy with a tan in shorts. They often tell me how I am remembered: almost like a living eulogy.
The one thing they share with me (what they don’t share is probably best left unshared) is how I knew everyone’s name and how I often took time to say hello and use their name. I saw our business grow from 75 employees to nearly 300. I did 40 acquisitions, I started before email, the internet, and routing software and I navigated a pandemic. AND this is how I am remembered.
I learned the value of using names in a Dale Carnegie class at age 23. I was more interested in meeting the girl sitting next to me than finishing the class. I have a BS and an MBA, I have a 6 Sigma belt of some color, I have read over 100 business books…and this is how I am remembered.
People remember how you treat them—pretty simple.
Bob Williamson
Pest & Lawn Director, Cetane Associates
August 2023
PCO in the Know | Blog #3