\nA hardworking woman turns into an aggressive and impatient boss after her most recent promotion at the store. She gets away with it until insulting and firing an old janitor. It had only been a week since Nia\u2019s big promotion, and she still couldn\u2019t believe it. She was now the general manager of one of the biggest outlets of a fashion retail giant.\n
Years before she got the promotion, Nia had filled up a binder with ideas on how she would improve the store if she ever got the chance. That morning, the binder sat proudly on her desk as Nia addressed the staff shortly after the shutters went up\u2026\n
\u201cAlright, guys. Is everyone clear on the new protocols we\u2019re going to follow?\u201d she asked.\n
The staff replied in nods, kind smiles, and a few gentle yeses.\n
\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want anybody to be lax or deviate from my new guidelines. To ensure that, here\u2019s what we\u2019re going to do.\u201d\n
\u201cAnybody who fails to follow the new rules \u2014 whether it is about uniform, customer greetings, display arrangements, punctuality \u2014 will lose their incentive for that month.\u201d\n
Nia looked at the faces turn serious and grinned proudly at her own idea.\n
The staff, however, were utterly shaken by such a drastic decision. They were afraid that any small mistake, conscious or unaware, would cost them the money that paid most of their bills.\n
The men and women looked at each other in shock, wondering if they should try to reason with Nia.\n
Even though she had changed a lot in the past week, every employee in the store was happy for her. They all knew how hard Nia had worked for it for the last three years. They were all aware of how passionate she was about this industry. And they were happy that someone who started as an intern on the floor had risen to such heights.\n
However, Nia\u2019s newfound power was doing more damage than good for the store and the people who worked there.\n
Since day one on the new post, she had been changing things, setting unrealistically high expectations from people she knew were hardworking, and reacting to the smallest mistakes with excessive anger and impatience.\n
\u201cCan I have your attention, please?\u201d Nia called out to everyone. \u201cI just had an important meeting with the clients, and I have some good news \u2014 we are planning to increase our sales volume this quarter. So, here\u2019s what we\u2019re going to do\u2026 I\u2019ll send a list of names by afternoon, and those mentioned will have to extend their shifts.\u201d\n
\u201cIf anyone has any plans for the weekend, drop them off coz we\u2019ll be working on weekends, alright?\u201d\n
The employees grinned and were upset. They all had families, and weekend time off was their only getaway to unwind. They could do nothing to change Nia\u2019s mind because they knew how stubborn she was.\n
Each day, Nia introduced some new strategy that demanded more input from the staff. She began setting unrealistic goals that could degrade the quality of work. But she kept convincing herself and the others that whatever she did was for the company\u2019s profits.\n
Then, one day, she sent the loaders away and ordered the salesmen and women to unload products to reduce loading costs. Nobody was allowed to take a break for more than five minutes, and talking in groups during work was strictly prohibited.\n
Day by day, the employees were nervous whenever Nia gathered them to make a new announcement. She banned sales staff from sitting or relaxing during their shifts.\n
No sick leaves were permitted for cold and flu unless it was something serious. Nia was strict with the punching system, and the employees were not allowed a minute more beyond a half an hour lunch break.\n
\u201cWhen customers see we are always busy and running around, they get a very good impression of us. We\u2019ll have to show them we are never tired of serving them. And always serve them with a smile. Am I clear?\u201d she sternly said.\n
Nia was overly pleased with the way she was conducting things. She\u2019d always dreamed of proving she was no less talented. She sat in her new office and sighed with pride, sipping coffee and thinking about her way to success. Reaching such a height was not that easy for her.\n
She still remembered the rough days when she climbed up and down several offices and was turned down by almost every recruiter.\n
Nia was raised by a single mother after her father died in a car crash. She was a bright student in college, and after graduation, she tried her hands at various pursuits. But nothing worked. Nia was a dreamer. She wanted to achieve big and not settle down with any ordinary job like her mother.\n
Nia was so desperate for a dream job. Then one day, she saw a pamphlet with an advertisement for an internship in a fashion outlet. She attended the interview, proposing new strategies and ideas that could be profitable. Nia was hired on the spot as the recruiters were impressed with her potential.\n
On her first day at work, she put on a smile, promising herself to earn a promotion very soon. Her dedication paid off well, and in just six months, Nia was promoted as the outlet\u2019s general manager.\n
It still felt like a dream when she sat in the rolling chair and stared at the street she once wandered, looking for a job from her private office on the third floor. Nia did not wish to go back to those hard days again, not even in her thoughts.\n
She was incredibly proud of the changes she brought about in the store while making her rounds. Everyone was occupied with work. It was more work than they could handle, and they were forced to finish their tasks within the deadlines Nia had set.\n
But as time passed, overworking started taking its toll, and the sales volume drastically dropped. It contradicted Nia\u2019s plan for the upcoming quarter. She was furious and started blaming the employees for the loss.\n
\u201cOur ratings are dipping. We will be ruined at this rate,\u201d Nia yelled at her staff. \u201cI don\u2019t care what you guys do, but I want all of you to work even harder. Extend your shifts, cut down on breaks\u2026do whatever it takes, but we have to do this. I can\u2019t let the sales drop.\u201d\n
Nia was so disappointed and could not guess what had gone wrong all of a sudden. Instead, she bombarded the employees with more work.\n
One day, when she was already tense after a meeting with a client, Nia entered the trading room and saw Maya, a saleswoman, had fallen asleep on the counter.\n
\u201cHow dare you sleep during work??\u201d she yelled, startling Maya.\n
\u201cNo, mam, I was just\u2026I\u2019m\u2026I\u2019m sorry. This won\u2019t happen again,\u201d the lady panicked.\n
\u201cMeet me in my office,\u201d Nia fumed and gathered all the staff in her office. She was already upset about the drop in sales and was convinced her employees were not working hard enough. She decided to show them her power and the extent to which she could go if they disobeyed her.\n
\u201cHere\u2019s your paycheck. YOU ARE FIRED! GET OUT!\u201d\n
Nia hurled the check at Maya and sacked her in front of all the employees. Everyone shuddered. Nobody dared to stop her and tell her that the woman had dozed off as a result of constant overworking.\n
\u201cWhat are you waiting for? Take your check and get out,\u201d Nia yelled again. That\u2019s when Victor, a 68-year-old janitor, unexpectedly spoke up from the crowd.\n
\u201cNia, child, I\u2019ve got something to say,\u201d Victor raised his shaky hand and smiled.\n
Nia reluctantly turned to him. She was in no mood to take feedback or suggestions from the old custodian.\n
\u201cFirstly, let me tell you that we\u2019re all very happy to help you with your vision for the store, Nia,\u201d Victor said, bringing a smile to her face.\n
\u201cBut I think this new challenge will make us work in fear. None of us wants to lose our incentive, and maybe we could find a way to let go of the small mistakes and\u2026\u201d\n
Nia frowned at Victor\u2019s suggestions. She couldn\u2019t stop imagining what the others on the team were thinking as they nodded in agreement with him. She just could not stand Victor speaking up for all of them.\n
\u201cI can\u2019t let Victor talk to me like he\u2019s on my level. I don\u2019t want to send those vibes to the others here,\u201d Nia thought.\n
\u201cThat\u2019s enough, Victor!\u201d she blurted, much to everyone\u2019s shock.\n
\u201cHow about we fix our own mistakes before throwing suggestions around, huh? Do you think I haven\u2019t been noticing how late you arrive to work every day? Or how long your lunch breaks are? You may have been allowed all that in the past, but not anymore. From now on, as per my rules, you need to\u2014\u201d\n
\u201cNia, there\u2019s a reason why I\u2019ve been coming later than the others\u2026\u201d\n
Nia couldn\u2019t believe that the older man had interrupted her again. Looking at the other employees stare at her, anticipating her reaction, she decided to put her foot down and set an example once and for all.\n
\u201cI don\u2019t care about the reason! And you weren\u2019t given permission to interrupt me, were you?\u201d\n
Victor froze in disbelief, as he had never been on the receiving end of Nia\u2019s anger or insults before.\n
\u201cLet this be an example, folks,\u201d Nia said. \u201cAnyone who makes excuses on my watch will be fired. Just like Victor and Maya here are about to be!\u201d she declared.\n
Victor\u2019s face turned pale, and he was prepared to beg for his job back.\n
\u201cThat\u2019s right. Hey! You\u2019re both fired! Thank you for all those years. But I don\u2019t see you fit to work here anymore. You may leave now!\u201d Nia sounded almost jubilant as she laid the janitor and the saleswoman off.\n
Realizing that nothing could change Nia\u2019s mind, Maya and Victor quietly walked out of the store as the staff watched them go, shocked and with tears in their eyes.\n
That may have been the end of Victor\u2019s job as a custodian at the store. Still, something unimaginably bigger was about to come his way the following day.\n
Mr. Gordon, the owner of the multi-million-dollar store chain, paid a surprise visit the next day. He wanted to meet Nia to discuss the rapid drop in revenue and to figure out what had gone wrong.\n
\u201cGood morning, everyone! How are things going?\u201d Mr. Gordon first met his employees and observed the disappointment on their faces.\n
\u201cMr. Gordon, it could\u2019ve been much better,\u201d a worker answered as everyone nodded in approval.\n
\u201cI see! What\u2019s up, everyone? Aren\u2019t you guys excited? Christmas holidays are nearing, so what are your plans?\u201d\n
\u201cMr. Gordon, some of us wanted an extended break this Christmas to spend more time with our families. But Miss Ferguson has permitted us to take just two days off,\u201d said another.\n
Mr. Gordon partially understood what was happening and called Nia to his office.\n
\u201cMiss Ferguson, I see the revenue has gone down drastically. What happened here? I thought you\u2019ll take care of everything on your own. Do you need any help?\u201d Mr. Gordon asked Nia.\n
She made vague excuses and blamed the staff. \u201cMr. Gordon, I keep trying, but they are so lazy. I have to monitor each of them closely to get things done. They were used to lagging with work, and when they were asked to do things at a faster pace, they found it difficult.\u201d\n
\u201cI see\u2026We had the same \u2018lazy\u2019 staff with us the last month, didn\u2019t we? But everything was much better. We didn\u2019t hire anyone recently, so I don\u2019t understand why they are suddenly acting lazy.\u201d\n
Nia pressed her lips tight and nodded when Mr. Gordon gave her a month to rectify the situation and get things back in order.\n
\u201cJust one month, Miss Ferguson!\u201d he said, and as he left the store, he asked about Victor, the old custodian.\n
\u201cWhere\u2019s Victor? He would be the first one to greet me every time I visited, but I didn\u2019t see him around today\u2026Where\u2019s he? Can you please call him? I would like him to join me for a cup of tea.\u201d\n
Nia had no idea Victor and Mr. Gordon were so close and hesitantly revealed about firing him.\n
\u201cMr. Gordon, I was forced to do it because Victor was always late to work. He violated our policy. And he\u2019s too old to work.\u201d\n
\u201cWHAT DID YOU DO? WHO ASKED YOU TO FIRE HIM? Do you know what a hasty mistake you made by firing the co-owner of this store?\u201d\n
\u201cNow I understand why our business is falling,\u201d Mr. Gordon fumed.\n
Until that moment, Nia had no clue who Victor was. \u201cWhat? The co-owner? But\u2019s he just a janitor,\u201d she exclaimed.\n
\u201cWho said??\u201d began Mr. Gordon.\n
\u201cWhen I was little, my dad owned only this store. It was his first start-up. And I still remember Victor, our janitor. He was a middle-aged man who worked very hard. I\u2019ve never seen such a kind and sincere man all my life.\u201d\n
Mr. Gordon\u2019s eyes teared up, and his glasses fogged as he went on. \u201cI still don\u2019t remember what happened that day\u2026but my dad told me I ran after an ice cream van and almost got hit by a car. Victor had seen me while emptying the trash and rushed to my rescue. He pushed me away and saved my life but ended up in intensive care after being hit by the car.\u201d\n
Mr. Gordon\u2019s father had covered Victor\u2019s treatment, and when he recovered, he offered him a share of his business for saving his only son\u2019s life.\n
\u201cDo you know what Victor said when my dad wanted to reward him? \u2018I just did what any normal human was supposed to do. Tom\u2019s life is more precious than this reward, and I\u2019m glad I was able to save him!\u2019 Such a heart of gold Victor is!\u201d\n
\u201cMy father kept persuading Victor, and eventually, he accepted the offer to co-own our business but on the condition that he be allowed to work as a janitor. My dad agreed, and Victor has been working here ever since.\u201d\n
\u201cHe doesn\u2019t have a family. He lost his wife and baby during childbirth, and he regarded the staff here as his only family. Victor donated all his earnings to homeless and orphaned children.\u201d\n
\u201cEvery morning before coming to work, he visits the shelters to offer food to the homeless children. Sometimes, he would be late for work due to traffic. He was always hardworking and fair, but it is so disappointing and sad you could not get along with such a kind man.\u201d\n
Mr. Gordon hurried out and paused again to reveal something Nia was not prepared for. \u201cYou have to apologize to Victor. He will take over this unit tomorrow. I\u2019ll come again, and it\u2019s up to Victor to decide whether or not I should fire you.\u201d\n
Nia was alarmed when Mr. Gordon left, leaving her future with the company in her new boss, Victor\u2019s hands. She immediately drove to meet him, certain he would fire her the next day.\n
\u201cHow am I going to boost the sales in one month?\u201d she panicked. \u201cHow will I face Victor? He should have told me he was the co-owner. It\u2019s his fault. He just walked out when I fired him. Now everything is turning against me. God, what will I do now?\u201d\n
Several thoughts bombarded Nia as she pulled over outside Victor\u2019s shabby little house. Despite being a co-owner of a multi-million-dollar business, Victor did not live in a posh mansion. He still lived in his old house, where he once led a beautiful life with his late wife.\n
Nia could not still believe Victor co-owned the fashion outlet after seeing the state of his house. She walked up and anxiously knocked on his door.\n
\u201cNia?! Mr. Gordon just called me, and I knew you would be visiting. I made an apple pie\u2026I hope you like pies! Please come in,\u201d Victor invited Nia inside. He was kind and polite and did not hold any grudge against her for what she did to him.\n
\u201cForgive me, Nia! After my wife died, this house lost its charm. Please make yourself comfortable.\u201d\n
Victor plated a pie in front of Nia and observed her. He knew she was restless and could quickly guess Mr. Gordon would\u2019ve lectured her about the outcome of her reckless decisions.\n
\u201cWhen Mr. Gordon\u2019s father was alive, everyone was intrigued by his secret of success,\u201d he broke Nia\u2019s silence.\n
\u201cUnlike most businessmen who think about profits first, then about customers, and their staff last, he thought differently.\u201d\n
\u201cMr. Gordon\u2019s dad always thought of his staff first and tried to ensure they loved their work and were comfortable with their shifts. He offered them nap rooms, a generous system of bonuses, corporate events, and weekends off, and most importantly, he did not allow customers to be rude to them. He treated his employees like family.\u201d\n
Nia shyly nodded, partially realizing what had gone wrong. \u201cBut how does that help with the growth of the business? If employees get such perks, how will they work without distractions? Won\u2019t they take it for granted?\u201d\n
\u201cIt\u2019s simple, my dear! When employees love their work, they only provide top-notch service. Now those services will satisfy customers. When customers are pleased, they return in more numbers. As a result, the business grows, and profits increase! A smart boss will not fire his employee but will find a way to make them devote themselves to their work.\u201d\n
As Victor hungrily devoured his pie, he requested Nia to call Maya back to work. \u201cYou may never know how fate works for others, Nia. You joined as an intern, but you became the general manager. You may never know what potential a simple salesgirl like Maya can have. Never underestimate and judge others by their appearance or job!\u201d\n
Nia grinned, and just as she was about to leave, Victor stopped her. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, Nia. I will not fire you. But we will decide later together with all the employees and Mr. Gordon by a vote, alright?\u201d\n
Assured she still had a second chance, Nia returned to the store and gathered all the employees in her office. They were afraid about what more rules she was going to impose on them. But none of them had expected to see what was about to happen next.\n
\u201cGood day, everyone!\u201d Nia began with a smile. Everyone thought it was unusual because she had never greeted them with a smile since day one of her promotion.\n
\u201cI would like to tell everyone that Victor, the company\u2019s co-owner, will be heading us from tomorrow!\u201d\n
The employees were shocked at the revelation. Some of them didn\u2019t have a clue that the custodian of their store was their boss.\n
\u201cDon\u2019t be shocked, guys! I am young and new to this trade, and I made mistakes. I hope you\u2019ll all forgive me for what happened in the last few days. Maya and Victor will be back tomorrow, and we will work as a team. Is that clear?!\u201d\n
From the next day onward, Nia followed Victor\u2019s advice and implemented Mr. Gordon\u2019s dad\u2019s principles. She treated her employees respectfully and did not show authority over them. She thought more about them and made sure each and every employee loved their job.\n
As days passed, Nia\u2019s efforts worked in her favor. The employees started giving their best, and as Nia had wanted, the sales for the next quarter surged with impeccable results.\n
Mr. Gordon was impressed with Nia\u2019s efforts, and with Victor, he decided not to fire her. Five years later, Nia was promoted to the position of CEO of all the outlets. As for Victor, he chose to keep working as a janitor because he loved his job.\n
What can we learn from this story?\n
Tell us what you think, and share this story with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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