Pick Up Garbage When You See It

There is an odd habit that is shared by many successful business owners. Believe it or not, many titans of industry can be seen picking up garbage from the floor and throwing it in the trash can. Why do they do this? Surely these men and women have more valuable ways to use their time. Plus, there must be a janitorial team responsible for keeping the offices clean.

There are a lot of theories about why this habit is pervasive among successful people. Personally, I feel like there are two important reasons that make people with this skill more likely to become successful.

If you take a tremendous amount of pride in your work, anything that reflects negatively on that work will likely bother you. Something as small as a gum wrapper on the ground will bother you - and you’ll take the time to fix it. People with this sense of pride are likely to go the extra mile in every aspect of their work. It’s no surprise that they are successful.

Secondly, these people are also leading by example. Those who see this behavior can’t help but emulate it. This leads to a culture of excellence that reinforces the leader’s success.

Every staff member at camp is expected to lead by example. Children are always watching. Staff members are role models for the campers. What types of behaviors will we choose to show them? A counselor who takes pride in the camp and keeps it clean will result in campers that do the same. I encourage you to be the best possible role model. That starts with taking pride in your camp.

I hope that you will find a place where you feel a sense of pride and ownership. If you find yourself not caring about the success or failure of your endeavors, it is probably a strong indication that it is time to move on. When you’ve found the right place, you will feel the passion that those successful

CEOs feel. Your work will become part of your identity, and you will go the extra mile to make it as perfect as you can.

Discussion Questions

• Have you ever been to an amusement park that was dirty? How do you think the employees felt about working there?
• Besides picking up garbage, what else do you think these CEOs do on a regular basis?
• In what situations have you noticed that people emulate the actions of their superiors?