Good morning and Happy Monday!

I am currently with a Dream Team of executives at beautiful Dream Valley Resort and I want to talk to you about The Story of Squeaky and other similar cases in Belize.

Several years ago, Squeaky was known as the annoying older guy who hung around the Belize Bank downtown area who bothered staff and the employees to wash their car.

After being noticed by a senior manager many complaints and positive comments about him, the manager brought him into his office. He found out what his employees already knew. Squeaky wasn’t there to open an account or bother anyone he just wanted to have conversations and talk to people and make a living.

Squeaky had liked the coffee and atmosphere so much he came back to hang out daily. The Belize Bank realized that he wasn’t looking to bother anyone. He was looking for a family.

Instead of telling Squeaky to get lost and stay away from the Bank, he actually hired him to be part of their customer service team. He helps people park, cleans cars and delivers on the outside with passion the Belize Bank. Jim Scott GM at the Radisson also hired Cici a crack addict who used to hang around the Radisson talking to guests to pick up cigarette butts. She is now fully cleaned up and drug free as a full-time staff at the hotel, because he decided to give her a chance.

“What does he/she do,” I asked?

“Anything we ask,” Is the answer I got from both men “He/she does a little bit of everything.”

At first the employees weren’t happy with the leader’s decision. But the more they worked with them and learned their stories, the more they grew to love and appreciate them. They have now become so popular and indispensable to the team.

Both created opportunities for themselves by being the people no one wanted to now a beloved team member that represents the brand of the businesses they now serve all because these managers took time to listen.

It’s a great lesson for all of us. Everyone we work with and everyone we meet has a story to tell. I’ve learned that amazing things happen when we get to know their story.

If you are a leader or member of a team, remember that everyone you work with is bringing their story to work. Your job is to get to know their story. When you know their story, you will know them a lot better. When you know them better, you will be less likely to see them as annoying, difficult or negative and more likely to see them as someone who is searching to belong; to matter and to add value.
When you look for the good and see the good in others you find the good in them and yourself.

They took the time to listen and look for the good in both these people and give them a chance and they found it (all of us have positive attributes to bring value) and the beauty is that both Squeaky and CC found a job and a new family.

Start looking around for the beauty in others. Please share with me someone you gave or will give a chance to and how? Or what will you do to start?

All the best for a great week. Namaste!

Remember to book your tickets with super promo price for Leadercast at 610-3032 and block your calendar for May 4th.

With love,
Dionne