Life Lived and Lessons Learned-2- Ken Williams

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At Trader Joe’s – Episode 2 – living the golden rule as an employee:

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12 NIV

This a passage from the Bible is as common as a John 3:16 poster held up during a televised NFL football game. But imagine the difference it would make if more of us believed and lived like Jesus.

Sharing mutual respect and kindness with all people is so rare today, that a retail store that practices the “golden rule” stands out, becomes attractive to new customers. Trader Joe’s hires people who like people and are willing to learn how to live the golden rule in the retail grocery business. It’s not as easy as it may appear.

Competent trainers taught me the necessary skills but after a couple weeks of making some humiliating mistakes it stopped being fun. A wise trainer explained why I wasn’t having fun, “Ken you’re thinking too much”. Confused I asked, “How can I not think when you have given me so many things to remember?” (my pride was exposed) He patiently asked, “How much do you think about walking while walking?” I replied, “Well … I don’t”. He said, “Not now, but you did at first. You must practice the skills you have learned until they become natural to you. You’ll start having fun with the customers again.”

So, I needed to get over making mistakes and start practicing fundamentals until they became muscle memory.

Being “self-reliant” distracted me from learning to rely on others. I learned to trust our team as we backed each other up. Experienced crew members looked for opportunities to encourage and help newbies. Other crew members would finish projects left undone by crew members who were called on to serve customers or fellow crew members.

So, Ken, allow others the opportunity to treat you as they would like you to treat them; learn how to give and receive.

I’m motivated by “getting a job done.” Getting one job done felt good so I tried to do another, and another, and… What may have been character strength became a character weakness, that of being inconsiderate. Experienced Trader Joe’s employees saw this in me and taught me to consider customers, our fellow human beings, before just “getting the job done.” They taught me to be aware of customers behind me when I faced a shelf that I was restocking. Viewed honestly, I saw my character flaw of inconsiderately putting tasks before people.

Learning body language to treat others the way I desire to be treated.

The one-hour “helms role” offered me the opportunity to sharpen my skill of reading body language and becoming considerate of others. This assignment requires being the store’s host, welcoming customers and treating them like welcome guests. Some customers want to be left alone while others welcome the offer of help. I learned to read facial expressions and look for customers holding checkoff lists or scanning cell phones while browsing the aisles. During the holidays the aisles are filled with shoppers, children, and carts, so I learned to stand at the entrance of an aisle and shout, “May I help anyone?” While walking through the crowd to the person with a raised arm others could now see my store T-shirt and name tag. They gathered to ask for service. It became fun!

I didn’t anticipate that practicing these skills for living the golden rule at Trader Joe’s would become transferable to family, friends, and neighbors. Wow!

Stay tuned for episode three

Ken and Nancy Williams served for some 25 years in pastoral ministry, and then almost another 20 years serving and mentoring other pastors.  With the heart of a pastor Ken continues to write and blog from upstate New York where he and Nancy live close to their grandchildren.