Sep
21
Bucket Brigade
Filed Under human resources, my business | Leave a Comment
Last week after 45 days of absolutely no rain in Little Rock, we had a flash flood. The ground was so hard it could not absorb the water fast enough, so rain rushed into my warehouse. Moments before we noticed the warehouse was flooding, lightning struck the cell tower across the street knocking out my telephones and computers.
Since nobody in the offices could work, we all gathered in the warehouse to start bailing water. The water was just an inch from reaching the bottom shelves of our inventory, so we were bailing fast. At first I had everybody with Rubbermaid trash cans scooping and running to the front door (the water was coming in the back door) and throwing it in the street. We were barefoot, pants rolled up and the concrete floor was wet and so slippery, I was just waiting for someone to slip and crack their head open.
Then words of wisdom from Kirk, an ex-Navy man, “Form a line to the front door and start passing buckets of water. You on the end start scooping water and passing it. When you get tired move to the other end of the line and the next guy moves up to scoop.”
Glory Be! We drained the warehouse so fast, efficiently and with distributed work effort. Thank you Captain Kirk.
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Aug
21
President or Personnel Manager
Filed Under human resources | Leave a Comment
Just when I think things are smoothing out, something changes again. I know change is good. In fact, I am kind of a change junkie. But it is still a lot of work.
With approximately 25 employees, it seems my job has gone from managing growth and expenditures to human resources. I feel like I am always in the hiring mode. This month I have hired a seamstress, a salesperson, a shipping clerk and a telemarketer. And in the weeks to come I loose my Purchasing Agent (pregnancy), Marketing Director (better job) and layout seamstress (back to school). Now that will make your head spin.
But like anything, the more you do it the better you get at it. So don’t be intimidated, fellow entrepreneurs, you can’t grow without good employees. Make time to hire.
Posted by kerry
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