Learning From Experience: Uncle Clayton's Ways

By Debby Nicklaus

Originally appeared in the International Creativity Network Newsletter, volume 3, number 1, 1993, pages 8-9.

Uncle Clayton has been one of my heroes for years, ever since he retired at age 55 as a postal carrier and decided to go to law school. Determined to become an attorney and ignoring friends and family who scoffed at his idea he spent four years living away from his wife and community, going to school. At graduation, he received his diploma to a standing ovation, attesting to the fact that he was clearly the oldest in his class. For the last twenty years he has been practicing law. . . his way. From our punch bowl conversation I surmise "his way" was:

• working with a purpose;
• working to create and enjoy relationships; and
• hiring good people who stay.

Uncle Clayton, clearly, loves his work. His goals aren't to build a large client base or generate huge revenues. His goal is simply to use what he knows to help people who need help. He doesn't talk about his clients or cases. He talks about "Mr. So and So", or "Mrs. X", or his friend "Y". The people he serves are not objects to be processed; instead, he enjoys a relationship with each one. When he talks about these clients, his face lights up like one who is talking about a favorite grandson. He talks about his work as a great chance to create relationships.

These relationships carry over to the office staff as well. Uncle Clayton's secretary/assistant has been with him ten years or so, and he thinks she's the best. She came to him directly from high school. He hired her because she was energetic, had good clerical skills and most importantly, because he liked her. He speaks of her as he would one of his daughters.

After working for him for a few years, she met a nice man, got married and later had her first child. Clayton wanted to continue to work with her and she wanted to be with her baby. So, in the mode of making it work for all, she brought her baby to work. No fancy or complex personnel policies were made and no one said, "You can't run a business like that. " Clayton and his secretary just decided, the two of them, that the solution was appropriate. How does this effect the way the office runs or the business? Well, for one thing, her attendance is nearly perfect. There are no problems with baby-sitters or illnesses picked up at daycare. Prior to reading his briefs for the day, Clayton starts his morning with two kids on his lap, telling or reading them a story. Not a bad way to start the day and he gets a lot more hugs, too.

I don't believe Clayton thinks he's different from anyone else. He's just doing what makes sense. Just for a moment, think what your day might be like if you started it with a four-year old on your lap, reading Green Eggs and Ham together. And what it would be like if you really, truly cared about the others you work with? What if you thought of your colleagues, supervisor, customers, suppliers, as if they were your relatives? And what it would be like if we thought about work as a great place to go where we could create effective relationships?

At this point, many readers may have come up with at least ten valid reasons (excuses?) why this is fine for Clayton, but doesn't apply to them. "I work for a major corporation, it can't be done that way. " Or, "In my company..." Putting aside all those excuses, just ask, "What is the one thing you could do in your life to begin to capture the simple, magical way how my Uncle Clayton works? What could you do differently and better, just because it makes sense to do it?" Now - "just do it!"

Contact Information: Debby Nicklaus, 370 Frederick Douglas Street, Rochester, NY 14608. (716) 477-1960.