The Ultimate Test of Engagement:
A Personal Story

Excerpt from HR Solutions' upcoming book Building a Magnetic Culture^®: Attract and Retain Top Talent to Create an Engaged,
Productive Workforce.

When I was much younger, my friend got me a job working for his Dad. It was blue collar work and we specialized in a variety of trades, such as plumbing and electricity. Since these are practical skills to have, I felt fortunate for the opportunity to learn, as well as make some money during college summer breaks. Overall, I enjoyed the job, but I will never forget the day my motivation and determination were put to the ultimate test.

Our company was called by a local kindergarten that was having serious sewage problems. For those of you who are not familiar with working with and around sewage systems, it can be much worse than you probably even imagine. I will try to spare most of the details, but that week, I could have starred on Discovery Channel's television show World's Dirtiest Jobs.

When arriving at the school, we determined the holding tank for waste had become backed up due to an electrical failure to the pump within the holding tank. The only way to fix the problem was to empty the tank, and in doing so, allow for someone to get inside of the tank and check the pump for the source of the electrical failure. Much to my initial horror, my boss recommended me for the job. I certainly had no desire to complete such a foul task, but it was something that had to be done. The kindergarten could not operate without a functioning sewage system, so I felt the importance of getting the job done quickly and effectively. I also knew how rare it was for us to have an assignment that was this terrible, and I would gain some respect from my boss and colleagues if I was able to rise to the occasion. I made the decision to simply suck it up and do it.

I would like to say I valiantly completed the task, but in reality, I threw up three times before I could even get all the way in the tank. I was determined though, and I refused to give up before fixing the problem. I was told the tank had been cleaned out, but that was the furthest thing from the truth. I ended up being ankle deep in sewage, with more sewage dripping onto my head from leakage above. The work boots and rubber gloves my company had given me for protection did virtually nothing to shield me from the crap. The fact that it was 90 degrees that day with absolutely no ventilation certainly did not help the situation. The problem was so catastrophic, we learned it would take a full week to fix. I wore my own clothes while working, which I determined should be thrown out upon completion of the task. Rather than ruin all of my clothes, I wore the same shirt and pair of jeans every day. When I went home, I peeled them off at the end of my driveway and left them there until morning. The worst part of those days was waking up and changing back into crap-hardened, crusty clothes. The first day, I brought my lunch, but soon realized I was too grossed out to eat. Rather than take any breaks, I worked straight through each shift, simply trying to finish the task as quickly as possible. It was, to this day, the most disgusting thing I have ever done on the job.

After I finished the job, the staff at the kindergarten was extremely grateful. They would once again be able to use the restrooms at the facility and the deplorable smell would soon subside. Although the execution of the job was not at all enjoyable, it felt good being able to help them. My co-workers and boss also had a new level of respect for me; my boss especially, since he took the liberty of watching me much of the time from the comfort of the sidewalk 20 feet from the holding tank. I proved to them I was committed overall, and did not let day-to-day frustrations keep me from working hard. The difficulty in successfully completing the task ended up making it more rewarding. It certainly was a once in a lifetime experience, but best seen in my working life rearview mirror.

I like to use this example in consulting because it can really put things into perspective for people. While some jobs have lower lows than being surrounded by sewage, I think it is safe to say that most do not. If you can continue your focus on the big picture during temporary low points, before you know it, challenges will pass right by and the "average" work day will begin to look absolutely stellar. This is truly a better way to live life in general, not just in the workplace.

Building a Magnetic Culture^® is being published by McGraw-Hill. The anticipated release date is at the end of the 2011. For more information, please contact info@hrsolutionsinc.com.