Chuck Swindoll tells this story:A young fella rushed into a service station and asked the manager if he had a pay phone. The manager nodded, "Sure, over there."
The boy pushed in some change, dialled, and waited for an answer.
Finally, someone came on the line. "Uh, sir," he said in a deep voice, "could you use an honest, hardworking young man to work for you?"
The station manager couldn't help overhearing the question.
After a moment or two the boy said, "Oh, you already have an honest, hardworking young man? Well, okay. Thanks just the same." With a broad smile stretched across his face, he hung up the phone and started back to his car, humming and obviously elated.
"Hey, just a minute!" the station manager called after him. "I couldn't help but hear your conversation. Why are you so happy? I thought the guy said he already had somebody and didn't need you?"
The young man smiled. "Well, you see, I am the honest, hardworking young man. I was just checking up on my job!"
Swindoll concludes:
“Honest, hardworking employees are tough to find, and when you toss in competence, a positive attitude, teachability, punctuality, proper attire, a team spirit, loyalty, confidentiality, honesty, and an ability to get along well with others, wow! No wonder every boss I talk to answers my question "What is the key ingredient of your organization?" the same way: PERSONNEL.”
Chuck Swindoll, ‘It’s More than a Job’, Insight for Living, 21 September 2010.
Geoff Pound