A visit from the past - Listening and Passion

An ex-client of mine called me up about 40 minutes ago, to catch up with me, find out which industry I am working in and called to take an opinion or two. We talked about the latest happennings in the school scene, the programs that are being implemented and also I figured that if he calls, there is a reason. After listening intensly for 20 minutes. I found out and i understood where he was coming from. And the conversation carried on.

Then he made a distinction, he said : You know the difference between you and your successor ? I replied no, ( simply because I am not there anymore ). He said, you listened and you were so much easier to talk to.

I realised that I have been practicing all the skills I picked up on the crisis phonelines and somehow has came across relating to people. I realised that my hundred of hours of training was not wasted 2 years ago.

I am disappointed however at how my ex-client was treated after I left the company. My client obviously was too, or he would not have called me ! So, doing as much as I could to make the conversation less 'sad'. I touched on the good people that are still working in the company and I touched on a key person that really gave his 150%. Kudos to him, he stayed in the office till late to improve his work, and he keeps going no matter how tired he is.

Then my client asked why I am different, ( yeah ! see two post ago ), I gave him the best answer I could, I said I taught for a long time and it is not difficult for me to get into the mentality of an educator. Then I also realised that its not about the mindset, its the passion that keeps on going and the love for 'right education' that sparks me, kept me going. It was not about the profits, it was not about the commission, it was about the education. Sure, its doesnt always work out in my favour but that is fine coz I know I made a difference to a child's life.

So. to Mr C, you made my day, you reminded me that i did the right thing, standing up against profits but for education. You reminded me that the most important thing in a job, is not the job but the listening.
Its not the commission that you chase but the passion.
Its not how well you can do the job, its how well your clients remember you by and its not how much people talk behind your back, its how well you sleep at night knowing you made a difference to another person's life.
And you taught me, its pride, dignity and quality over money.

Recounting how I spent my Sunday ..

I told a friend who is much younger than myself and not yet in the corporate world.
Anyone can hold a job, but how many really have the passion.

Think about your teachers who have been teaching for 20 or 30 years. Its not their job to nurture you, its the passion that did.