As I arrive at the end of my fourth week at my new job, I thought it might be wise to jot down a few thoughts and impressions on my life, career and family. Concerning life, I’m very much in a happy, content place right now. Relaxed and comfortable are the two terms that most readily come to my mind. Am I still single? Yes. Am I OK with that? Yes, actually, I am. When it’s right, it will be right and until then, I’m enjoying time with my family and friends, doing the things that enlighten, excite or just plain entertain me.
The family couldn’t be better right now. Both boys are settling into school nicely. Although, I’m running my tail off to soccer and football practices. Everyone is elated about the impending additions to the extended family from my baby brother and my two cousins. Babies. Babies. Babies. I couldn’t have started working for an infant formula company at a better time. Funny how that’s worked out.
Now on to the fun and exciting part, the new job. Culturally, it is a foil of the environment that I came from. Some of that is probably due to the fact that I reside in the corporate office and not at a manufacturing site. People here aren’t directly tied to production or a product, so they aren’t under the constant strain to produce, produce, produce at lower and lower costs with fewer and fewer people. But, even the mindset at the plants is very different from the commodity, drive to a lower cost, maintain minimal margin mentality that I came from.
We build a product that helps babies live. We help them thrive. Quality is absolutely the number one priority and it is never sacrificed…not under any circumstances. Wow! Defect ratios? PPMs for field failures? Total cost of quality? What are those? They just don’t exist in this company. Yes, reject, scrap and rework exist, but only at the plant level or if a product isn’t purchased before it’s expiration date. Do we strive to reduce in plant waste? Absolutely. But, the pressure is more on producing to demand and on innovation, developing products that make a difference for babies and their families.
Everyday, I wait for the curtain to fall so that I can see people that are cynical, beaten down, unhappy or just plain tired and mistrustful. I must say that I’m happy bleakness and disparity are not present here. Is there pressure to be more efficient? To maintain market share? Increase profits and revenue? Yes, and it’s stressful, but in a really good, I make a difference and I’m important kind of way. People are treated with dignity and respect. Everyone is a contributor and everyone does their part to live up to those expectations. It’s a thing of beauty that the lifers here do not appreciate.
Finally, I commend the company on assembling what I truly believe is a diverse and balanced work force. With the exception of the “top” floor, the glass ceiling does not exist here…not for anyone....regardless of sex, creed or nationality. Individual thought and creativity are rewarded and encouraged. It’s an amazing thing.
Perhaps, this is what many employees experienced in the 50s and 60s, but it seems a rare commodity now, to find a place where people enjoy their jobs, look forward to coming to work, where their individual contributions make a difference.
As many of my friends can attest to, I truly believe that you reap what you sow. Everyday, I make a conscience effort to be positive and to appreciate the many gifts that I have in my life. My life isn’t perfect; it never will be. But, that is why it is just perfect me.
