Paying it Forward: See everyone, learn something #133
Respect — greetings or holding a door — these small actions connect us as each journeys through another day of life's challenges and potholes. Smile and greet others as you pass. Peace be with you.
Jack Browne, Wichita Falls Times Record News edition, Sunday September 21, 2025
Returning to the workforce in retail sales is eye-opening. I’m surprised by the respect and courtesy so many people have for others in the simple engagements of purchasing hardware or gasoline.
Our community is more respectful than most places I lived in my life, and I’ve come to treasure this.
Still, we could be better. Tech CEOs draw salaries that dwarf Lotto prizes, while expecting workers to give 80 hours a week, sleep at the office, and accept a ‘good 40-hour’ salary.
‘Sleep when you die,’ becomes a mantra as recruits flock like lemmings to ‘make their mark,’ giving their all, only to be replaced by Artificial Intelligence or discarded in a right-sizing of the workforce.
There are still employment opportunities with organizations of character, solving problems that make people’s lives easier.
We don’t hear so much about these jobs as news and social media report outlandish behaviors far outside the norms where most live.
Retail business transactions start with an earnest greeting and looking one another in the eye as merchants seek to understand, then satisfy the customer’s problem with their products and services.
Savy merchants know taking the time to understand what the customer is trying to do, increases sales as many customers haven’t completely realized all the elements and skills necessary to complete a task.
Leaders respect their entire workforce, recognizing the intrinsic value in an energized skilled group of workers focused on common goals. Every job matters, or it wouldn’t exist. Respect means understanding and appreciating what each and every person does.
Recognizing people work to provide for their family, work-life balance is a consideration.
Workers at the company are the most valuable resource as their understanding and motivation fuels their desire to contribute more.
Training refreshes and grows the skills and knowledge for success by the worker and the organization leading to growth and rewarding performance.
New opportunities renew an organization while inspiring new hires with hope for longevity in a world speeding past most.
It all starts with respect for one another. Respect makes life better for all.
Respect starts with little things, for example holding the door for another person. Or as people address others by ‘Ma’am’ and ‘Sir.’ I see respect in how some pick up the trash on the ground.
How about you, do you walk the talk? If so, I hope to run into you and learn something new together.
Jack Browne is a community activist and former technology engineer, sales and marketing executive at Motorola and other top tech companies.
Caption: Making life better for citizens, TxDOT repaves Seymour Highway. Without the workforce, life is bumpy and full of potholes. Photo Jack Browne Times Record News