Plenty of good memories of past employees

Time slowly creeps by, but at times it comes rushing back to meet you.

I don’t know where to begin estimating the number of people I’ve supervised as a manager in 30-odd years. I’ve managed to have some long runs in a couple of industries that run through people like crazy, so that number is pretty crazy.

Recently I had two former employees contact me to ask if they could list me as a reference. Neither registered immediately with just the name. One had been nearly 15 years ago but the other was pretty recent. Both got my blessing to list me.

It was good catching up with both of them. One had even lived abroad and worked in a lot of different professions. Most of the contact with former charges, whether reference related or just by chance, are good ones. But then I guess the ones that hated me probably wouldn’t seek me out.

I’ve had a couple or three with the brass to immediately chum back up to me after I fired them, however. After losing in an unemployment hearing one guy took advantage of the conference call connection to laugh and tell me it was worth a try and ask how things were going at the office.

The other one landed a job across the street despite my carefully telling that employer that he wasn’t eligible for rehire. I ended up working with him a few times professionally and he was jovial as he ever was but he didn’t last long at that job.

The good employees far and away outweigh those bad apples. Sure, some were a handful but on performance reviews I could always list strengths. Some of those folks have made me really, really proud. Sometimes by mastering things in the environment in which I was directing, winning awards and achieving big goals and some by moving on to bigger and better things along a career path.

One person I worked with more than supervised quickly improved in the area he was pursuing and very soon I was no match for his talents. With every award he received I would remind him I had taught him everything I know and add that I was sure proud he hadn’t stopped there.

I’ve given numerous folks crash course training in graphic arts over the years and I know my creativity is pretty basic. Within a few hours of working with someone I can tell if they are absorbing things and I can also detect those that have that creativity that I don’t possess.

I know I’ve been too impatient with too many trainees over the years. But as I reflect on those I’ve watched grow and go on to great things it’s getting easier to show that patience.

When I impart everything I know it may not be much but if the seed takes root, through my assistance or not, I have those bragging rights for the rest of that overworked individual’s life.

Karl Terry writes for Clovis Media Inc. Contact him at:

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