Happy Bucks were taken, and my main recall is that Jerald was $20 happy for his 20 years as a member of Mtka Rotary. That coincides with the birth of his daughter Vanessa 20 years ago.
Sorry for omitting you others, we’re all glad that you’re happy.
The speaker today was Mark Forsberg with his vocational. Mark took us through all his W-2 jobs (skipped lawn mowing and paper routes) and told of the lessons he learned along the way.
He worked at the town grocery store and recalls the importance of customer service and creating a place where they will come back for regular shopping. His boss there was a good start as a mentor.
Mark’s education was in accounting, and after some time in North Dakota, he and his wife moved to the Twin Cities. Along the way, he learned a few things on how not to provide the best service, and not put the customer first.
Mark also learned about the importance of treating his fellow employees and underlings well, and tell them how important they are. He is very strong on recognizing these employees and clients, and thanking them with a history of written notes.
He told of seeing one of his thank-you’s on a customer’s cubicle wall, and how important that thank you has been to her for many years.
One may never know how much the impact of a kindness and appreciation will travel.
Mark’s longest vocational stay has been with Culligan Water, I’m guessing for over 30 years. They have grown significantly during Mark’s time of leadership there, and now as the CEO.
More importantly, Mark creates a workplace where he balances the importance of the business, customers, and employees.
Mark keeps a quotation from Teddy Roosevelt on his desk, to read every day and inspire him to continue these values.
“The credit belongs to those who are actually in the arena, who strive valiantly; who know the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spend themselves in a worthy cause; who at the best, know the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if they fail, fail while daring greatly, so that their place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
In regard to an attitude of accepting life’s twists and turns and always being positive, Mark also likes the adage, “Life turns out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out”
Thanks Mark; your talk today goes well beyond the places you’ve
worked. It’s a wonderful guide for all of us to follow. Thanks
