Out of the Crisis.Org

[Louis Altazan]

Many, many years ago I worked for a manager who would intentionally drop things on the floor. He would then wait to see who would pick them up and how long it would take before someone did. Having done this, he would rate people from best to worst, depending on his “test.”

There was also a daily meeting. The normal topic was the low profits of the company. It seems all of these problems were created by the staff. Further, they might also be solved if we would just “put our backs into it.” Like the majority of the folks there, I did not stay long. A few years later, I heard the company went out of business.

My next employer was 180' from the first. He had started with a small grocery store and built a regional chain of very large stores. With fifteen stores, he still spent time in each, at least once a week. I remember being taken back the first time I saw him picking up trash in the parking lot. If he felt a floor was not clean enough, he might locate the porter and demonstrate by moping the isles himself, how he wanted it done.

I worked there for five years and only left to start my career in the auto service trade. Many years later, I still reflect on the styles of these two men. I cannot say what became of the first, but the second worked until he no longer cared to and then sold the chain of stores for several million dollars. Looking back, I think both of these managers taught me a great deal about running a business.

_________________
Louis Altazan
Owner/Manager AGCO Automotive Corporation
Baton Rouge, LA

[Bud]

Your second employer's name was Elmo, right?

Wasn't he the one that was building super large grocery stores that also sold appliances, and had pharmacies and banks inside them, years before the 'big name' store chains were doing that?

[MattFMN]

[Louis Altazan]

Hi Bud,

[Louis Altazan]

Hi Matt,