Today was the beginning of a long goodbye to one of my mentors who has helped to lead me through my career and has combined what my parents taught me about work and this specific career path. I had the opportunity to start working with Barry when I was in Circulation back in 2011 when he first came to the paper to take our Finance Director position. Being a Circulation guy from way back we had an instant connection. For anyone in the newspaper business, you know, those circulation people stick together - it is a very unique position to be in. A lot of our time spent together from 2011-2012 was compiled of a lot of sarcasm with sarcasm on the side. My boss had already taught me a lot about the circulation and the newspaper business so my reliance on Barry was minimal. I often told him that I came by my smart a** ways naturally. So that was the beginning of our working relationship.
Today was our last weekly 1 on 1 meeting. I didn't come prepared with anything to talk about in hopes that he had prepared something for me. Sitting down I asked him to impart all of his wisdom on me to which he replied that, that would take longer than our scheduled 30 minutes. What he did have for me though did not disappoint me and I'll get around to that later on. I had the opportunity when I moved into advertising in 2012 to start working closer with Barry. And the last 6-9 months I've had the opportunity to work even closer with him since my boss has taken on an expanded role. He has taught me what battles to pick, how to respond, how to look at things a different way and included me in anything that he thought would be helpful for me to learn. No matter what my questions are he always answers and is a straight-shooter. With him, you always have to be prepared to hear an answer that you may not want to hear. He has taken the time to teach me when he could have just looked towards retirement and done his time in the office.
A lot of what he has taught me, I can't put in words. The things I can put in words that he told me today is this:
1) Have patience...No matter how quickly you advance, be happy where you are and look for opportunities to improve in your current position
2) Always look for opportunities to improve your organization
3) Don't let the small things become big things and follow the 2 e-mail rule - if something can't be solved in 2 emails, it is time to pick up the phone or see that person, in person
Of course there was a lot more to the conversation, but these were the highlights. And I'm sorry, but you just can't get that guidance from a book.
It crossed my mind as I was leaving his office that, that would be the last time I left his office from an official 1:1 meeting. It's hard to comprehend at 27 years old that the people that have been so critical in shaping your career are moving on and you still have another 30 years ahead of you without that person's guidance. Somehow I always thought I would work with these people forever. The same goes for parents - we never think about the time they won't be here to teach us anymore. And it makes you a little uneasy on how do you move forward without them.
There will be others that help to shape my career throughout the years, but Barry is one that I will never forget. I'm sure that the term "sewer monkeys" will be something I remember forever and I may even use it at some point in my career and give employees something to talk about :)
Maybe someday I will be someone's Barry and I think more than personal success, the influence you contribute to someone else success is the greatest measure of your success.
As I move through this life he makes the list of most influential people - he gets to be #3 since my official boss and others haven't retired yet.
1) Daddy and Mom
2) Barry
I saved the tears from falling as I walked out of his office today, but I still have to make it through a couple of "going away events."
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