I saw an example a few years ago when I stopped by our job center at the Roosevelt property.
For those who don't know, this is where we help clients find work. We also do follow-up on how the job searches went that day.
While there, I noticed a twenty-something man at a desk in back talking with another client.
When I saw him my heart sank. He had sleeves of prison tattoos from the tops of his fingers and up his arms. But those weren't so bad. Many of our clients have these kinds of tattoos. What caught my attention was the tattoo on his neck. It depicted a knife wound with bright red blood gushing from it. Plus he had a couple of tear drop tattoos at the corner of one eye.
I thought, "This guy'll never find a job on his own."
But I was wrong.
When it was his turn to share about his job search he jumped up like a motivational speaker and spoke with animation.
He said he’d found a job working in the stock room of an auto parts store that afternoon - his first day out.
He'd looked all day without success but on his last stop he found work. While talking to the store manager he noticed his eyes were on his tattoos. Then the manager told him he had nothing available.
But as our client started out the door the manager called him back.
He told the client that though he didn't have anything he was going to create a job for him in the stock room.
He said that the client's enthusiasm about changing his life inspired him to help. He believed his enthusiasm would make him a good employee - regardless of his past.
And he didn't want to let him get away.
This client's enthusiasm not only affected the man who hired him. It also affected all of us in the room that day.
I thought, "This guy'll never find a job on his own."
But I was wrong.
When it was his turn to share about his job search he jumped up like a motivational speaker and spoke with animation.
He said he’d found a job working in the stock room of an auto parts store that afternoon - his first day out.
He'd looked all day without success but on his last stop he found work. While talking to the store manager he noticed his eyes were on his tattoos. Then the manager told him he had nothing available.
But as our client started out the door the manager called him back.
He told the client that though he didn't have anything he was going to create a job for him in the stock room.
He said that the client's enthusiasm about changing his life inspired him to help. He believed his enthusiasm would make him a good employee - regardless of his past.
And he didn't want to let him get away.
This client's enthusiasm not only affected the man who hired him. It also affected all of us in the room that day.
