It’s a familiar refrain in many workplaces: "It’s not my job." Perhaps not voiced aloud, but whispered behind cupped hands, barely audible over the hum of activity. These are the words that make my ears prick up, my eyebrows knit in puzzlement. The clock-watchers among us, those who are always wondering what’s in it for them, might find the notion of stepping beyond their prescribed duties unpalatable. They might even deem customer service beneath them or balk at unforeseen challenges, surrendering with a nonchalant "Good luck with that!"
Then there are the A-Team members - individuals always ready to adapt their schedules, to lend a hand without a second thought. It's these exceptional individuals I want to talk about today. It's about a transformative event that saw us shifting gears and rallying to solve an unexpected challenge, something that left an indelible mark on my professional outlook.
Rewind several years to a time when the flower industry was dominated by two major players, FTD and Teleflora. Teleflora, the ambitious gem of Lynda and Stewart Resnick. Despite Teleflora's advancements in product and technology, which saw us matching, then surpassing, FTD's market share domestically, FTD retained the lion's share of the international market, with Teleflora holding only about 25% of it. Then, in the midst of the Christmas rush, FTD's system crashed. As they went dark, their customer base flooded to Teleflora, creating a deluge of orders we were unprepared for.
The unprocessed order count spiked suddenly from a manageable 100 to an overwhelming 1500, and that was just the beginning. The snowball turned into a fully fledged avalanche. What was initially FTD's crisis swiftly became our problem. Our team, initially prepared for a typical Christmas rush, was now facing an avalanche of demand. While others clocked out, we kept marching on, fueled by a sense of duty and camaraderie that transcended regular work hours.
Remembering it now, I can still hear the echoes of our impromptu choir belting out “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,” as we worked through the night, lightening the heavy atmosphere with our harmonious strains. We supported each other, respected each other’s beliefs, and even found time to laugh amidst the chaos.
By the time the sun rose, our team had devised a game plan. We briefed the early morning teams on our progress and prepared them for the influx of staff coming in later. Our CEO, Gregg Coccari, graciously asked us to rest, promising that we would have all the support we needed upon our return.
This experience was a turning point, reshaping our company culture, reinforcing the idea that silos are barriers to success and shared goals are the key to triumph. Every employee, from the CEO, to the facilities team took a renewed interest in operational support. Each one understood that their contribution, however small, was essential to our collective success.
It wasn't about whose job it was, but about a team pulling together, reframing their goals, and harnessing their collective power to overcome a major crisis. The outcome? A shared victory, and individual professional success stories that reverberate to this day. The can-do attitude of the team that stayed, myself included, led us to positions of influence and achievement in diverse fields.
In contrast, those who had chosen to abandon ship in our hour of need were left wondering why others were receiving accolades and promotions. It wasn’t favoritism, as they might have thought, but the recognition of an extraordinary collective effort that had the potential to steer the company in a new direction.
That fateful night's lesson has remained with me: when faced with challenges, "What’s in it for me?" is never the right question to ask. Instead, by saying "yes" to the unforeseen, we transform obstacles into opportunities and learn more in those critical moments than we ever could by merely clocking in and out. By sharing the same focus, we can all contribute to the success of a company, and, in turn, to our own professional growth. The power of shared responsibility is truly transformative. The question we should be asking ourselves is not "What's in it for me?" but rather "How can I contribute?"
You'll be surprised about how unexpected blessings unfold in your life, when you move with a purpose and intention.
Thanks for reading,
William Rochelle, but you can call me Bill
#NotJustMyJob #ATeamHeroes #AboveAndBeyond #TelefloraFTDLegend #CrisisToOpportunity #TeamSpiritTriumphs #UnyieldingCanDo #OwnTheChallenge #SharedResponsibility #UnityInCrisis #ExtraMileForSuccess #StepUpStandOut #YesToChallenges #GrowthInAdversity #UnitedWeStand #BreakingSilos #EnduringSpirit #CompanySaviors #TurnObstaclesIntoOpportunities