Have You Heard of Justin Jones-Fosu?

I have.  I listened to him speak at a conference recently.  He did a great job. So much so I feel to share some concepts he discussed. And, to be clear, the picture you see here is not him.  It is just a shot designed to capture your attention.  

Jones-Fosu spoke at the NCPDP Annual Technology and Business Conference.  As you know, NCPDP stands for the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs.  What you may not know is NCPDP does more than provide you with that magic number you use to bill third-party payers.  They set the standards that allow your pharmacy systems so share information with other systems.  

But I digress, let’s get back to Jones-Fosu.  His remarks focused on getting people to be better workers by helping them find satisfaction in what they do.       

One counter-intuitive thing he said was, “Don’t look for your work to bring meaning to your life; rather, bring meaning to your work.”   The statement reminded me of President John Kennedy’s inaugural address, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”

While this notion may not immediately provide you with dozens of energized and committed employees it is, he maintains, one of the secrets to your success as a person, as an employee and an employer.   Jones-Fosu is on a mission to help people, no matter how menial their jobs, realize everyone’s job has meaning. He maintains, if you can find meaning in your job, you can help others find it in theirs. 

He shared the story of walking through a busy airport after a long business trip.  He was tired and grumpy.  Then he noticed a maintenance worker smiling and whistling as he pushed a trash cart down a hallway sweeping the floor.  He decided the time had come to remember all the big ideas he’d shared during his recent speech and thanked the janitor for what he was doing. 

The maintenance worker responded with a thank you.  Jones-Fosu asked him if he’d mind chatting for a few minutes while he recorded the conversation on his cell phone.  The short video clip showed a a smiling maintenance worker who was obviously flattered by the attention.  The question was asked, "how do you stay so happy doing this kind of work?  The response, “I know my job is not glamourous but what I do matters to people like you.” 

He showed a second clip.  This one featured a cafeteria worker cleaning tables in a busy corporate lunch room.  She said that despite the fact most people might feel what she did was insignificant, she disagreed.  She said she came to work each day, not only for the money, but because what she did helped other people, even it was only her co-worker who would need to pick up the slack if she was not there.   

As you deal with employee turn-over or the challenges of getting people to do their jobs well, it might help to explain the tasks involved in a specific job from a different perspective.  Your pharmacy does more than take pills from big bottles and put them in little ones.  Your pharmacy helps people live healthier, happier lives.  In short, like the janitor, you help people. That’s why you need people working with you who understand the importance of their job. 

Here's hoping something said here help you do more and be better.  Because, what you do matters!