First In, Last Out
Reminder: Wednesday Wisdom comes out on the first Wednesday of the month. If you missed any past articles or posts, they can all be found here: https://www.jamrog.group/wisdom
My Dad used to tell me that his best work got done early in the morning before anyone else showed up to the office. He believed in these additional principals: be proud of the work you do, try to learn something new every day, and take great care of your people. I took that advice to heart when I became a financial advisor. That started with being the first person to work every morning.
Back in 1997, being the first person to work meant pulling into a completely empty parking garage. I’d park in my usual spot since there were no other cars besides the one belonging to the security guard.
I’d walk from the empty garage to the door of the building, carrying my stiff, new leather briefcase. I’d disarm the alarm, turn on all the lights, and make my way to my cubicle. I also carried a travel mug filled with my morning coffee. As a brand new financial advisor, I had no extra dollars for Dunkin’ Donuts drive through. My thinking was that every extra hour I spent working on my business, and every dollar I didn’t spend buying to-go coffee, would all eventually make a difference some day. And I reminded myself all the time of my vision: to one day be able to buy my own building, to be able to hire an awesome team of people to work with me, and no longer need to be the first into the office.
My cubicle had one of those green bank lights with the gold chain to turn it on. Every cubicle looked the same. I’d spend the first two hours of the day prepping my files. Then I’d drive to my clients’ houses where I would meet with them and ask about their dreams and goals and priorities. At the end of the day, I’d return to the office to complete my forms, print hundreds of pieces of paper, and then use the spiral binding machine to carefully put the clients’ plans together.
I had no help in the beginning. I was the advisor as well as my own assistant. When the “workday” was done, I’d spend another hour or two finishing calls, tidying up paperwork, and prepping for the next day— all under the green glow of my desk lamp. Even back in those early days of uncertainty and insecurity, I loved the work. I loved helping the clients. And I committed to doing whatever it took to build a successful business over the long term.
That often meant that in addition to being first in, I was often last out.
At the end of the day, I’d turn off my desk lamp, pack up my briefcase, shut off the foyer lights, and set the building alarm. I remember feeling a sense of pride after a productive day, following my Dad’s advice, and hoping that one day I would “make it.”
My Dad was young when he started his own business. He and his partner were in their early 20’s. They committed to working hard together, treating their employees like family, and taking excellent care of their customers. Eventually Dad and Ed were able to buy their own building, expand, and experience the pride of self-employment. During the work week, I remember my Dad leaving the house early for his job. And on the weekends in the summer, he’d return to his shop to mow the lawn, pull the weeds, and make sure the place looked tidy before everyone else returned to work on Monday morning. All those details mattered to him. To him, the office work and the lawncare were all parts of his job. He was so proud of his work, his business, and his employees. He talked about it all the time.
I’ve been thinking about the simple but poignant lessons from my Dad that have stuck with me all these years.
My Dad passed away on May 4, 1998. Today marks 24 years that he has been gone.
So you probably won’t be surprised to hear that I was first to my office this morning. Before heading into my building, I walked across the parking lot, pulled a couple of weeds out from the fresh mulch the landscapers delivered last week, and poured some water in the flower pot on our front porch. Then I unlocked the door, shut off the alarm, and turned all the lights on. My routine hasn’t changed that much after all these years...
But my life has.
Instead of work being stressful and uncertain, I now can show up confident and clear. My dream of one day owning my own building has come true. I still get to work with clients I love, and I still look forward to sitting down with them to ask about their goals and priorities. And instead of having to do the work myself, I have an amazing team of dedicated people who care as much about the clients as I do. What a total treat!
At the end of the day, I am often still the last one out. Those final few minutes before leaving the office give me a chance to walk through our building, shut off the lights in each room, and appreciate what we have built together as a team. I pause for a quick moment of gratitude before locking up the door, setting the alarm, and heading home.
I often wonder what my life would be like if my Dad were still alive. It’s impossible to know. But what I can be certain of is this: My team and I will continue to show up early, work together to help as many awesome clients as we can, and be proud of the work we do. We’ll appreciate the new things we continue to learn, and vow to always treat our clients and each other like family.
It doesn’t matter if you’re the business owner or if you’re the newest employee at someone else’s company. Once in a while, show up first to work. Appreciate the quiet time you have to yourself in the early morning before the hustle and bustle begins. And I recommend that you occasionally stay after everyone else leaves. Give yourself that moment to be proud of who you are, what you do, and those you helped today.
I am sure my Dad would appreciate your efforts.
This Week’s Resources
Faces of Medicine
Did you know that only 2% of all doctors in America are Black women? Local physician Khama Ennis knows this fact all too well and has committed to exposing the stories and changing the future. In her documentary Faces of Medicine, she shines a spotlight on the extraordinary: First generation college graduates. Second generation physicians. Immigrants. People with ancestry going back 200 years in the deep south. Pediatricians, Oncologists, Surgeons, Emergency Physicians. All Women. All Black. All Doctors. Check out this incredible project of hers: https://facesofmedicine.org/
Clean the World— with Soap
Ever wonder what happens to all those little bars of soap you use when you stay at a hotel? What do the hotels do with the leftovers? A non-profit called Clean the World has figured this question out and is recycling millions and millions of bars of soap each year. Read here for the scoop: https://cleantheworld.org/
Happy Mothers’ Day!
Sending love to all the Moms out there. Whether you’re a mother, a step-mother, a foster-mom, a grandmother raising your grandkids, or a mother to your fur babies— all of you deserve to be acknowledged this weekend on your special day for a job well-done! And for anyone whose mother has passed away, all of us at The Jamrog Group will be keeping you in our thoughts this weekend.
Disclosure: Securities and investment advisory services offered through registered representatives of MML Investors Services, LLC, Member SIPC. The Jamrog Group is not a subsidiary of MML Investors Services, or its affiliated companies. Supervisory Office: 330 Whitney Ave. Suite 600 Holyoke, MA 01040 Telephone: (413) 539-2000.