America…it's time we get back to the basics, And listen to your elders!
by Chef Joe Marosla Eidem
I am amazed at the knowledge Americans are wasting. Our work force has the knowledge and experience that is needed in so many industries. I am talking about the Traditionalist (1900- 1945) and our beloved Boomers (1946-1964). I don't know much about Traditionalist as they are our Seniors, but I do know a lot about Boomers. We may not know as much about computers like our children and grandchildren; but we still have a lot to offer.
As I mentioned before last year I decided to start a new career. I left Renown Regional Medical Center as the Director/Senior Executive Chef of the entire Food & Nutrition Services Department to find an easier life. My new career took me to Jackson, Mississippi to meet Jerry Peters who started his company in 1992. Jerry who is a few years older than I am, had only one other salesperson, who is a few years younger than I am. After I became associated with the company Jerry hired one other fellow who is closer to his age. So here we are, four baby boomers who all should be thinking about retirement. Instead we are all taking on the task of using our knowledge and experience to assist Jerry in growing his company.
What I find unique is that when most companies are letting their “older” staff go, Jerry did not. Boomers, with our experience and age, really have no other place to go. Once we dedicate ourselves to a company - we stay.
In our case, all of us were employed with previous companies over 20 years. None of us have worked for more than 4 companies, excluding part time jobs to earn extra money for our families. Yes, boomers worry more about health insurance than personal time off.
Jerry is one of the smartest men I have met. He has placed each of us in an area of our choice and near home, so nobody needed to relocate. My area is California, Oregon, Washington and Nevada.
So what is my new job? I am the Director/Account Representative of R&R Enterprises, Inc. We sell all the disposable products that hospital food services use to place their food in. We also sell a line of Faux Foods. Yes, I am a Chef who sells fake food!
After working with a large corporation with a purpose statement, mission statement and volumes on policy and procedures, I asked Jerry about his company. In his perfect southern drawl he said he didn’t need them as he runs the company with only one simple goal, “I want to go to heaven.” I am sure with the puzzle look on my face he felt he needed to explain.
“I am not a very religious man, I don't go to church every Sunday, but I do believe in order for me to go to heaven I need to do a few simple things. Never cheat a customer, sell only products that are the best value, never promise something you can't deliver, and never lie”.
For once I found a company with the simplest “statements” that I personally am proud to follow. I am on the ground floor of a new progressive company starting like so many companies did back in the 50s and 60s. So my question is why is Jerry Peters the only one with this vision? Maybe it's time our big corporations start running their business with the same goal…to go to heaven! It's so simple yet we have forgotten that most companies which are now in big trouble were started by their founders with the same goal as Jerry Peters. Somewhere someone took that goal and wrote a policy and procedure manual, they paid consultants to create catchy mission statements and somehow greed came in to power. Jerry told me he owes no one; home, cars, warehouse, property, all paid for. He does not believe in paying interest when not necessary. If you can't afford it you don't buy it. How have we lost this philosophy of good business practices?
So America I think it's time we get back to the basics, earn enough to live comfortably, keep out of debt, and accept life's daily challenges without getting stressed when things don't go our way.
We are empty nesters, may have a little money in the bank, and don't rely on material things as we did when we were younger. We also have a better sense of humor, as we are now making mistakes that we corrected our children for doing. Most of all we now realize our fathers’ were RIGHT.