I started my working career as a newspaper carrier for the Omaha World-Herald. I was in 5th grade, and my first route had 53 customers. This was my first seven-day-a-week, 365 day-a-year job. The Wednesday and Sunday deliveries were a lot of work. That’s because the Wednesday paper included all of the advertisements, and the Sunday paper was filled with comics. Being a paperboy was good preparation for becoming an adult. It was also terrific preparation for my current position of leadership. Here are some leadership lessons I learned from delivering the Omaha World-Herald.
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Show up early.
In those years, papers where thrown in bulk onto a street corner that was located in close proximity to about a half dozen different paper routes. The bundles were covered with other paper, but they weren’t wrapped in plastic which meant that each bundle was subject to the weather. It seemed to rain and snow a lot in Omaha and customers wanted their papers delivered dry. Getting to the bundle pile first guaranteed that I could sort through the bundles and secure 53 dry newspapers for my customers.
Leadership lesson: Showing up on the job five minutes early is really ten minutes too late. Arrive early. Stay late. And look for ways to keep your “customers” satisfied. [bctt tweet=”Leadership Lesson: Arrive early. Stay late. And look for ways to keep your “customers” satisfied.” via=”no”]
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Keep the papers dry.
Dry papers made for satisfied customers, and satisfied customers usually meant a reasonable tip during the Christmas season. Keeping papers dry meant that I had to add quite a few extra steps to my route as I delivered papers inside the doorway, on the front porch, or in the mailbox. Keeping the papers dry was extra work, but it was worth the extra effort.
Leadership lesson: People have choices to make. Good leaders understand that a business relationship is earned and not a fait accompli. Going the extra mile to build a trusting relationship is always worth the effort. [bctt tweet=”Business relationships are earned. Going the extra mile to build a trusting relationship is always worth the effort.” username=””]
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Turn criticism into an opportunity for success.
On the first day of my new paper route, I clearly remember hand-delivering a paper to an older woman who promptly chewed me out for being too young to be a paperboy. She said something like: “I don’t know what’s the matter with the World-Herald—you’re too young to be delivering my paper!” I was crushed. When I finally gave up that newspaper route, the same cranky person had become supportive and sometimes even kind. During my last collection, she had a nice tip for me placed inside a very kind thank-you card, and she ended our relationship by telling me that I was the best paperboy that she’d ever had. That was 46 years ago, and I still remember it like it was yesterday.
Leadership lesson: Criticism can be a helpful motivator, but also a means to building a lasting relationship. Do your best every day, regardless of your age, standing in the company hierarchy, or education level. People notice hard workers and conscientious people, even when those who notice began as critics. [bctt tweet=”Leadership Lesson: People notice hard workers and conscientious people, even when those who notice began as critics.” via=”no”]
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Be nice to your mom—Sunday papers are heavy.
To this day, I don’t know why she did it, but my mother helped me deliver my Sunday papers. In those days, the Sunday paper was so large that I believe it may have been easier to deliver an entire collection of encyclopedias! I recall spreading an old bed sheet on the back seat of the car to keep the newspaper ink from staining the fabric. Slowly, my mother drove the car up the street or down the next alley while I walked alongside to re-fill my bag with more papers. There are a lot of Sunday’s during the course of a paper carrier’s career and I’m sure that my mother would have enjoyed a little extra sleep during that period of her life. Her example has helped me to get out of bed on behalf of my own children. I make breakfast nearly every morning.
Leadership lesson: Do your part to support those around you—even when you’re higher up the “food chain” than they are. Volunteer to pick up a passenger at the airport, clear a table after a company luncheon, or mop a floor after a cup of coffee has been spilled. It’s what is meant by the term “servant-leadership.” [bctt tweet=”Leadership Lesson: Do your part to support those around you—even when you’re higher up the “food chain”.” via=”no”]
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Show up for work everyday.
Somehow, those of us who delivered papers did not fall under the protection of child labor laws, and the thought that we should be protected never entered our minds. I wanted to earn money for a small motorcycle, and the only way to get there was to carry papers. I delivered papers when I had a bad cold. I delivered papers when I had the flu. I delivered the paper when it was 105 degrees in the summer and when it was 30 degrees below zero in the winter. Having a fever would not have been an acceptable excuse for missing Mr. Hagi’s delivery. I suspect that’s one of the reasons why I have more accumulated sick leave today than I’ll ever use during the course of my lifetime.
Leadership lesson: Having a job is a privilege, not a right, and one of the ways we remind ourselves and those around us how fortunate we are to be employed is by showing up ready to work—every day. It demonstrates respect for our employer but, most importantly, it demonstrates that we respect ourselves. Stay home if you have a fever, however! [bctt tweet=”Having a job is a privilege, not a right, and the best way to remind yourself of this is to show up early every day.” via=”no”]
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Collect on time, every Saturday.
In those years, paperboys purchased their newspapers from the World-Herald, and then were compensated through their Saturday collections. In other words, if customers didn’t pay their bills, I didn’t get paid for my deliveries.
Every Saturday from about 9 a.m.-2 p.m., I jumped on my bicycle with the cards of my customers attached to a big metal ring looped over the handlebar. For at least four hours, I made door-to-door collections. Responsible customers paid weeks in advance. But then there were always some less responsible customers, like those who hid in their kitchens when I knocked on the front door. Though I still remember their names, it’s probably best not to mention them at this point.
Finally, after having been stiffed for several weeks in succession, I learned two very valuable lessons in how to deal with customers who didn’t want to pay their bills. Lesson #1: Surprise them, and collect on Friday night. Lesson #2: Stop delivering the papers entirely. Eventually, customers would call and yell about not receiving a paper. It was kind of fun for that 10 year old kid to tell an adult that he or she would get their newspaper after he got his money.
Leadership lesson: Practice steps one through five above, and you’ll have the high ground when dealing with an angry client. Most importantly of all, stand up for yourself.
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Avoid corners where the rough kids hang out.
I got beat up once while delivering my Saturday morning papers. I was out of the house early, and had a good start on my route, when I made the mistake of crossing the street where a group of older kids stood. I wanted to shave a few minutes off my delivery time. I remember the leather jackets and the pointed shoes. I also remember being more scared than hurt, and having to go back to my paper drop-off site to gather more newspapers to cover my route. Half of my bag had been emptied by the rough guys. I learned a valuable lesson in paying attention to my surroundings.
Leadership lesson: There are bullies everywhere. Sometimes they exist as real people. Sometimes they exist in the form of a terrible disease or tragedy. And sometimes they’re just circumstances beyond our control. Know that running into bullies is just part of life, but how you respond to them says a lot about you and your character. [bctt tweet=”There are many things out of your control. How you respond to them says more about your character than anything.” via=”no”]
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Pay the extra money to buy a good quality paper bag.
I purchased my first paper bag on the cheap. I recall having three choices, ranging in price from the least expensive bag, to the bag version of a Cadillac. I purchased the bag equivalent of a Ford Pinto, and it lasted about as long as the Ford mistake. After several months, I eventually purchased the in-between model; a good, sturdy bag with an extra-wide shoulder strap. It lasted for years, and I still have a replica of that bag in my study.
Leadership lesson: When making an important investment, it’s always to better to error on the side of quality. I still have dress jackets that are nearly a decade old (but still look like new!). Your grandparents tried to communicate this lesson when they told you not to be “penny wise and pound foolish.” Buy quality on the front end and take care of the purchase. You’ll never regret it. [bctt tweet=”Leadership Lesson: Buy quality on the front end and take care of the purchase. You’ll never regret it. ” via=”no”]
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Learn from your mistakes.
Delivering papers was hard work. It required me to get out of bed when I would have rather slept in. It meant that I couldn’t play with my friends immediately after I got home from school. But it also gave me a sense of satisfaction. It’s a wonderful feeling to earn money, to put money away into a savings account, and to finally earn enough money to buy my first motorcycle. Unfortunately, it took me several cracks at it before I learned lesson number 8. When I purchased my motorcycle, I chose to spend $125 and buy the mini-bike rather than $225 to buy the Honda 50cc mini-trail bike. As silly as it sounds, I regret that decision to this day. Cheap stuff never lasts.
Leadership lesson: Mistakes are part of life. But try not to make the same mistake twice. [bctt tweet=”Leadership Lesson: Mistakes are part of life. Try not to make the same mistake twice though.” via=”no”]
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Always say “thank you.”
Despite what one of our Presidential candidates seems to imply, none of us makes it through this world without the help of others. For some of us, our parents helped deliver the Sunday papers. For others of us, that help may have come from a coach who knew exactly how to motivate us, or through a teacher who knew how to inspire us. Some of us are blessed with spouses who help us to become more than we would otherwise be, and still others of us have had our lives saved through such organizations as AA. Saying “thank you” is good to hear, but it’s particularly good for us to say.
Leadership lesson: In the words of a poet, “Blow, blow thou winter wind, thou art not so unkind as our ingratitude.” [bctt tweet=”Leadership Lesson: Exercise gratitude in all that you do. ” via=”no”]
Thank you for writing this. I enjoyed reading it.