Hi Bill, I’m not sure what you were suggesting when questioning the need to certify.
No matter the endeavor: business, sports, etc. if you keep breaking your own record, well sir, you own it until it’s surpassed. And it’s still “the record to beat”…again.
Guinness or no Guinness, it’s still a record.
Certifying just adds a level of authenticity to the achievement.
Maybe I needed to expound (or not talk at all!) but my thought was that theoretically you could set and certify a new record every day you continue after the original record. So, the record for Big Macs is 50 years. Now it's 50 years plus 1 day! Now 50 years plus 2 days! If I ran the zoo I suppose you'd certify when you broke the old record and when you finally stopped adding to your own record. But I don't run the zoo!
Now there's one record I won't be beating, longest tenured employee. The right fit has been difficult for me to obtain. I just didn't want to settle for being treated like garbage. I've grown intolerant to poor working conditions as I grow older. It's amazing what employers think they can get away with. There's probably a book in me about that very thing, well, at least a novella.
Saying that, I had worked for one employer for 17 years so it's not like I'm a fly by night or anything.
Question for my fellow Understandably readers, what's the longest amount of time you've stayed with one employer?
As long as they treat you right, it's all good. Thinking about retiring soon? That's quite a long haul. Staying with the same employer is a good thing, pension plan-wise. Sadly, long tenure was not to be for me.
Treated very well - most of the time! Lots of different positions through the years. Great mentoring and experiences! Not always great but I always thought it was "worth it". Then it seems like all of a sudden I was at the 30 yr mark... and then, here we are almost another decade.
I was with one employer for 2 years, my second employer for 16 years, and will celebrate my 25th anniversary on July 1 with my third and present employer.
* 4 years working for an Internet startup... basically stayed through the time that I vested my stock.
* 15 years working for myself, in one way or another. Sometimes, f/t, sometimes p/t. But I've been at least a Schedule C guy on my income tax since 2007.
Kudos to Industrias Renaux S.A. for realizing that they have a valuable employee at their company. So many companies would have thought he was too "out of touch" to be in his position this long and would have shown him the door. Love his philosophy of being happy in the moment, finding purpose, and embracing commitment. We can all learn from Mr. Orthmann!
I worked at a hospital for 17 years. There was a long-running joke about long-tenured employees and the gifts received for years of service. At 25 years, you would get a ring. At 30 years, I believe it was another piece of jewelry. At 35 years, you would get a beautifully framed photo of the front of the hospital (why?). At 40 years, we joked that you'd get a photo of the back of the hospital.
Typically long-tenured employees were not encouraged to stay on, placing them in jobs that would, hum, hum, encourage them to retire. I believe that is no longer the case, at least when it comes to nursing staff. I made it to the 15-year mark in terms of gifts, a pin at 5 years (underwhelming), a lovely pen at 10 years that I actually used (no standing on ceremony for me), and at 15 years lovely old fashioned glasses with the hospital emblem of course that my husband enjoys much more than I do.
I must mention something else. I worked for a medical transcription service after working for the hospital. The first year I worked there I really looked forward to Christmas, as it was their practice to give their employees very nice gifts, the last gift having been a tennis bracelet worth about 500 bucks. Well, the year I started, they decided to send us simply a card with another envelope that I thought would contain a gift card. Nope. Guess what it was? Confetti!!! Can you imagine? I don't know about you, but when I open an envelope I expect to actually have something in it. I could not hold back on that, pointing out that it was in poor taste, just could not hold my tongue. The following year, I believe they sent us $100 gift cards (at a store nowhere near where I lived, another story there).
I find it notable that my current employer sent me a lovely welcome package in the mail, including an insulated drink bottle, a fancy notepad and pen, and a gift card for $25 worth of groceries. I must say, that is a nice touch. I am also automatically a gold member of Air Miles, a blue member no longer. I guess that's enough writing for today. It's Victoria Day here in Canada so I'm enjoying a rare day off.
I was with one employer for 2 years, my second employer for 16 years, and will celebrate my 25th anniversary on July 1 with my third and present employer.
I agree with Mr. Ray. (below) If it were in America, he would have had someone half his age kick him to the curb. I just retired, spending 48 years with 3 firms!
Just a side note, I read the article on Mr. Gorske. You would have thought that Mcdonald's corporate would have fixed their sign before posting his picture. Bad marketing!
My parents have been married 73 years. They attribute it to commitment; you don't quit when the going gets tough. I promised my husband that I would work for my current company for ten years. Even though there were times when I wanted to quit, I stuck with it because I had made him a promise. Sometimes just the value of your honor, when you make a commitment, is the juice that gets you through.
I was with my second newspaper employer for 35 years. Was with the first one for three. My second should count for 38 as my second newspaper chain purchased my first!
Bill, my Mom is not quite in a class with Orthman, but she did work two careers - a HS teacher for 33 years and then worked for five banks doing senior’s tours for another 32 years. She retired at 87. She loves being around people and the organizing of trips. The tours job netted her trips to five continents and 32 countries!
Perhaps passion is one result of purpose meeting opportunity, because I believe purpose is the master lever.
Hi Bill, I’m not sure what you were suggesting when questioning the need to certify.
No matter the endeavor: business, sports, etc. if you keep breaking your own record, well sir, you own it until it’s surpassed. And it’s still “the record to beat”…again.
Guinness or no Guinness, it’s still a record.
Certifying just adds a level of authenticity to the achievement.
Maybe I needed to expound (or not talk at all!) but my thought was that theoretically you could set and certify a new record every day you continue after the original record. So, the record for Big Macs is 50 years. Now it's 50 years plus 1 day! Now 50 years plus 2 days! If I ran the zoo I suppose you'd certify when you broke the old record and when you finally stopped adding to your own record. But I don't run the zoo!
Now there's one record I won't be beating, longest tenured employee. The right fit has been difficult for me to obtain. I just didn't want to settle for being treated like garbage. I've grown intolerant to poor working conditions as I grow older. It's amazing what employers think they can get away with. There's probably a book in me about that very thing, well, at least a novella.
Saying that, I had worked for one employer for 17 years so it's not like I'm a fly by night or anything.
Question for my fellow Understandably readers, what's the longest amount of time you've stayed with one employer?
I'm in my 39th year with the same employer.... crazy right?! :0)
As long as they treat you right, it's all good. Thinking about retiring soon? That's quite a long haul. Staying with the same employer is a good thing, pension plan-wise. Sadly, long tenure was not to be for me.
Treated very well - most of the time! Lots of different positions through the years. Great mentoring and experiences! Not always great but I always thought it was "worth it". Then it seems like all of a sudden I was at the 30 yr mark... and then, here we are almost another decade.
I was with one employer for 2 years, my second employer for 16 years, and will celebrate my 25th anniversary on July 1 with my third and present employer.
Not a trick question but a trick answer for me:
* 4 years working for an Internet startup... basically stayed through the time that I vested my stock.
* 15 years working for myself, in one way or another. Sometimes, f/t, sometimes p/t. But I've been at least a Schedule C guy on my income tax since 2007.
Forget work. I'm still laughing about the walk on song. Thank you!
Loved it! I'm bookmarking it so I can watch it every morning before work. This boy has the right idea!
Kudos to Industrias Renaux S.A. for realizing that they have a valuable employee at their company. So many companies would have thought he was too "out of touch" to be in his position this long and would have shown him the door. Love his philosophy of being happy in the moment, finding purpose, and embracing commitment. We can all learn from Mr. Orthmann!
I worked at a hospital for 17 years. There was a long-running joke about long-tenured employees and the gifts received for years of service. At 25 years, you would get a ring. At 30 years, I believe it was another piece of jewelry. At 35 years, you would get a beautifully framed photo of the front of the hospital (why?). At 40 years, we joked that you'd get a photo of the back of the hospital.
Typically long-tenured employees were not encouraged to stay on, placing them in jobs that would, hum, hum, encourage them to retire. I believe that is no longer the case, at least when it comes to nursing staff. I made it to the 15-year mark in terms of gifts, a pin at 5 years (underwhelming), a lovely pen at 10 years that I actually used (no standing on ceremony for me), and at 15 years lovely old fashioned glasses with the hospital emblem of course that my husband enjoys much more than I do.
I must mention something else. I worked for a medical transcription service after working for the hospital. The first year I worked there I really looked forward to Christmas, as it was their practice to give their employees very nice gifts, the last gift having been a tennis bracelet worth about 500 bucks. Well, the year I started, they decided to send us simply a card with another envelope that I thought would contain a gift card. Nope. Guess what it was? Confetti!!! Can you imagine? I don't know about you, but when I open an envelope I expect to actually have something in it. I could not hold back on that, pointing out that it was in poor taste, just could not hold my tongue. The following year, I believe they sent us $100 gift cards (at a store nowhere near where I lived, another story there).
I find it notable that my current employer sent me a lovely welcome package in the mail, including an insulated drink bottle, a fancy notepad and pen, and a gift card for $25 worth of groceries. I must say, that is a nice touch. I am also automatically a gold member of Air Miles, a blue member no longer. I guess that's enough writing for today. It's Victoria Day here in Canada so I'm enjoying a rare day off.
Great point about the company!
I was with one employer for 2 years, my second employer for 16 years, and will celebrate my 25th anniversary on July 1 with my third and present employer.
I agree with Mr. Ray. (below) If it were in America, he would have had someone half his age kick him to the curb. I just retired, spending 48 years with 3 firms!
Just a side note, I read the article on Mr. Gorske. You would have thought that Mcdonald's corporate would have fixed their sign before posting his picture. Bad marketing!
My parents have been married 73 years. They attribute it to commitment; you don't quit when the going gets tough. I promised my husband that I would work for my current company for ten years. Even though there were times when I wanted to quit, I stuck with it because I had made him a promise. Sometimes just the value of your honor, when you make a commitment, is the juice that gets you through.
I was with my second newspaper employer for 35 years. Was with the first one for three. My second should count for 38 as my second newspaper chain purchased my first!
Bill, my Mom is not quite in a class with Orthman, but she did work two careers - a HS teacher for 33 years and then worked for five banks doing senior’s tours for another 32 years. She retired at 87. She loves being around people and the organizing of trips. The tours job netted her trips to five continents and 32 countries!
Tremendous!
Thank you for the commemoration of Bitcoin Pizza Day. The story never gets tired.
I love everybody finds something in this newsletter :)