So you make min wage, here’s how you get treated like you’re rich

Summary

This video script chronicles the speaker's personal and professional journey, from early jobs at a restaurant and Costco to lessons learned that shaped his instincts and perspective on business and life. Emphasizing the importance of responsibility, adaptability, and connecting with people, the speaker reflects on how each job contributed to his growth. His experiences highlight the significance of understanding the bigger picture, respecting rules, and navigating diverse social and professional environments. With a mix of humor and introspection, the speaker shares valuable insights on success and personal development.

Takeaways

• 😀 Understanding the bigger picture in any job can elevate your work ethic and help you take initiative without needing constant supervision.
• 😀 It's essential to take your job seriously but not take yourself too seriously—focus on the work, not on your own title or ego.
• 😀 Building strong character and trust with management can create more opportunities, even if you're not always following the traditional rules.
• 😀 Making a positive impact on customers or clients is key to business success—treating people well and making them feel at ease is critical.
• 😀 Honest communication and taking responsibility for mistakes, even when no one else notices, earns respect and builds trust.
• 😀 People appreciate the little things, like being engaged and proactive, which can separate you from others who just follow the rules without thinking.
• 😀 Having a strong work ethic and initiative, such as helping in areas outside your direct responsibilities (e.g., carts at Costco), can lead to special treatment and opportunities.
• 😀 It's crucial to build instincts for understanding people’s emotions and needs based on their behavior and context, which improves interpersonal communication.
• 😀 Business success isn't about fancy strategies—it's about how you make people feel and how they talk about their experience with your brand.
• 😀 Learning from different experiences—whether in high-stress environments or customer service roles—shapes your ability to connect with a wide range of people.

Q & A

What key lessons did the speaker learn from their job at Costco?

The speaker learned a variety of lessons at Costco, including the importance of initiative, understanding customer needs, and the value of working with urgency. They also developed a strong sense of adaptability and communication by working with a wide range of people, from customers to colleagues.

Why did the speaker feel it was important to take responsibility beyond their official duties?

The speaker believes that taking responsibility beyond one's official duties shows leadership and a broader understanding of business. They highlight the importance of recognizing the bigger picture and stepping up without needing permission, especially in situations like managing long lines at Costco.

How did the speaker manage their time and punctuality at work?

The speaker admits to having a habit of being just on time, often arriving right before they would be considered late. They struggled with punctuality, but one significant incident involving parking in a non-employee space led to them taking accountability for their actions and improving their approach to time management.

How did the speaker handle a situation where they were caught parking in the wrong spot?

Instead of ignoring the issue, the speaker took responsibility by going to management and apologizing. They acknowledged the mistake and expressed willingness to face any consequences. This act of transparency and accountability earned them respect from management.

What role did communication play in the speaker's various jobs?

Communication was crucial in all of the speaker's jobs. They learned to adjust their tone and approach based on the context, whether dealing with potentially dangerous individuals, elderly family members, or people in distress at a hospital. This ability to read the room and communicate effectively was central to their success.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of instinct in the workplace?

The speaker values instinct because it allows for quick, intuitive decision-making in real-time situations. They believe that while knowledge is important, it’s the ability to apply that knowledge effectively in practical situations that truly matters. Instinct, in their view, is built through experience.

What does the speaker mean by 'taking yourself too seriously' at work?

The speaker argues that while it's important to take your job seriously, one should not take themselves too seriously. They stress that some supervisors in their past roles focused too much on their titles and authority, which led to a disconnect with the people they were managing. The speaker's approach was more about understanding the bigger picture and acting with humility.

How did the speaker approach customer service in high-stress situations?

The speaker’s approach to customer service in high-stress situations was focused on making customers feel valued and understood. For example, when dealing with long wait times at Costco, they would engage with customers to make them feel comfortable and even offer personalized recommendations, turning an inconvenient wait into a positive experience.

What did the speaker learn from working in different environments, like a restaurant and a hospital?

Working in diverse environments taught the speaker to navigate varying levels of stress, customer expectations, and emotional states. They learned to handle everything from less sophisticated, more dangerous situations to deeply emotional ones involving people at the end of their lives. These experiences helped sharpen their empathy and communication skills.

How does the speaker view rules in the workplace?

The speaker acknowledges the importance of rules but expresses frustration with rules that feel arbitrary or unnecessary. They believe in following rules when they are meaningful but question those that don’t seem to contribute to the greater good of the business or the individuals involved.