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The Advantages of Being a Que.
ALL I NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT CORPORATE AMERICA I LEARNED FROM BEING AN OMEGA
by Bro. Brian C. Egeston
Rho Psi Spring '92 (Tennessee State University)
While in a school I once noticed a sign that read "Everything I ever needed to know I learned in Kindergarten." This is a popular theory I'm sure many of you have heard of. Sharing, how to interact with others, following rules, responsibility, etc. are characteristics we acquire at a very young age. Well after returning from a business trip in Torreon, Mexico, I couldn't help but notice that what I had encountered in Mexico drew a strange resemblance to a situation I had been in before. You see I had traveled to Mexico to address some Quality Control Problems our customer plants were having. When I arrived everyone looked at me with cautious eyes. They sort of circled around me and pointed me out to others in a business-like manner. The people in the plant wanted to know who I was, why I was there, what plans I had, and what knowledge I possessed that would benefit their situation.
Finally, one of the lead managers approached me and insisted that I stay with him because he had numerous questions for me. Once in his office he immediately went for the jugular(figuratively). He began criticizing our processes, quality, ability, and dedication to the business organization. While he was giving me a verbal "wrecking," another member of his staff came in with data, sample parts, and reject sheets to further pounce on me. When this gentlemen finished you can probably guessed what happened next. That's right, more members of his staff came in with more dissatisfaction with our quality control.
After all of the abuse I sat back and thought to myself with much resentment, "Damn, this is worst than a Road Trip." Then in that same instant I thought to myself, "No, this is a road trip!" I can handle this. This situation is simply the brothers all over again. I can handle this. With my new-found perspective on the situation, I began my negotiations.
I began by telling them who I was and that I was a newly hired member of a technical training program and the parts and problems they were displaying were not a result of my work. Then I explained to them how processes function at our plant, which allowed us to see the differences in what was supposed to be a duplicated inspection process. After everyone had calmed down, they took me to the receiving area where numerous rejected parts were. I inquired about the failure of all of the parts as opposed to a few of the parts inside one container. They responded by telling me that they didn't have the time or labor to sort through the parts. As a negotiation deal I agreed to pay for the extra labor for sorting through all of the parts. Well, they sorted through the parts and we saved $70,000 in material. After we aired out differences we began talking about life in the United States and life in Mexico: labor wages, taxes, homes, food, families and worker
morale. You name it we talked about it, and surprisingly we learned from each other. There was one thing missing I sensed as the day drew to a close. Then my new-found friend for the day turned to me:"Amgio, tonight we are going to dine at Parisso del Deserto(Paradise of the Desert), and dinner is on me my friend." I in turn simply replied, "Gracias." So this "road trip" so to speak was complete after we had the ever popular "set out". I sat by the pool, waiting for the food to come and laughed as I thought to myself, if the brothers could see me now.
This is very true story as well as a rewarding experience for me. It prompted me to reflect back on the lessons Omega has taught me and continues to teach me to this day. One of the older brother at Rho Psi pulled me aside one day and told me that if I could be Basileus of the "Mighty" Rho Psi chapter, I could do any thing in the world, I could run any company, and accomplish any task. All of this compelled me to apply lessons learned in Omega to my career.
PEOPLE SKILLS
There are many brothers in the Fraternity and all cannot be approached and treated the same way. Omega is a microcosm of the most interesting professional men in the world.
Interacting with all the different brothers allowed me to learn about interacting with different personality types in one of the toughest learning environments. The only place you may find more different personality types is in Corporate America. Having trained with the brothers in the art of people relations, I was already ahead of the game.
WORK ETHIC
One month at Rho Psi we had what we called "Project 100" where we emphasized 100% chapter participation during that month. During November of 1992 we performed 27 service projects and had 98% participation.
In order to accomplish this feat we had to have the attitude that whatever we did was not enough. There was more we could do and we had to keep doing something. There were even moments when so many brothers were doing so many different projects we didn't know who was where and didn't know about a service project until it was over and reported back to the rest of the chapter. Imagine what men of that caliber can do when it comes to making deadlines, staying a few hours over and coming in a few hours early.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT/ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS
In 1993 during Omega week, we attempted to have a free Jazz Festival in Hadley Park. This was a park noted for its ambiance back in the day. There were free concerts given by one of the Rho Psi chapter brothers and as a result there is a bandstand named in his honor in Hadley Park. Needless to say it's not easy to have a party or a ball, but we were putting on a free Jazz Festival! Equipment, Insurance, Marketing, Artist, Bandstand, Fundraising, Sponsors, Food, Vendors, Security, and any other obstacle we might encounter. By conceptually sitting down and imagining a Jazz Concert we were able to list every variable that would be needed to have the show, implement a schedule to accomplish all tasks and even outline back up plans. The result...A free Jazz concert for the African American community of Nashville, Tennessee in a bandstand named for one of our chapter brothers--you may have heard of him...Don Q. Pullen, composer of the Omega Psi Phi Sweetheart
Song.
Having done this it's very simple to sit down and learn Microsoft Project or be involved in Project Management assignments.
MEETINGS
If you've ever had the opportunity to observe everyone in a meeting you've already had a course in "Attending a productive meeting." Notice who in the audience dominates the meeting, who has the most to say, who makes the most motions, who gets their motions passed more. When you make those observations, notice how they achieve this. Take those characteristics and when you have motions or ideas in a meeting, use the ones you saw that had the most success. Brother Frank Thomas, who pledged Rho Psi in the 1950s taught me my first lesson when I attended a Gamma Phi Meeting. He told me when you have something to say raise your hand, when you're recognized stand up state your name and your chapter. So I started doing it and Brothers noticed me and listened to what I had to say.
Now apply those lessons in corporate America. The first meeting I ever attended at work was a morning production meeting. The gentleman conducting the meeting got into an argument with another person in the meeting and they were yelling at each other and cursing each other. I couldn't believe it ...FRAT MEETING!!!! I remembered that a brother once told me that a good meeting was a fight. This was true because by the end of this meeting they had reconciled and accomplished what needed to be done. When I had something to say or a suggestion I would run it by the most open-minded person that would be in the meeting, as I did at Frat meetings. If he gave me the green light I would run it by the most influential person in the meeting, as I did in Frat meeting. So before the meeting began I already had initial support. Whenever I have a presentation for my training program, the first thing we do is introduce everyone. So we'll go around the room, people will
stand and say "Charlie Thomas, Manager, Bloomington plant" very methodically and very stiff. Everyone will do this. I usually try to sit near the back of the room to be last and when it's my turn I always say "Good Morning everyone, my name is Brian C. Egeston, I am a second year member of the training program and I bring you greetings from the Indianapolis plant." The people in the room smile, laugh, and know who I am in a room full of people and now it's sort of become my trade mark. Who do I have to thank for that? Omega Psi Phi and Brother Frank Thomas who taught me how to introduce myself in a Frat meeting.
When college was over I took all of the lessons I learned in Omega and took them on the road... to interviews,that is. When I went to interview, companies were impressed that I had been involved with programs like Sleep With the Homeless, organized a Jazz Concert, and already possessed organizational skills. This was before they even knew I had any people skills. If it sounds like I'm bragging, I am. That's because the people who taught me are the ones reading this story. Everything I needed to know about Corporate America you brothers taught me and the very best of teachers are ones that live their creeds.
In conclusion, I would just like to note that it behooves us as individuals, not just as Omegas, to reflect on lessons learned throughout life's experiences, no matter how small, no matter how tragic. As a child we learn that by touching a hot stove how to stay away from hot objects. As slaves we learned of an episode that we never want to encounter again as well as learning how to rise above adversities from the lives of oppressed people. As Omegas we learn about "Living our Creeds," "Seeing It Through," What it takes to be a man, being that "master of our fates and the captain of our souls". All of which are the basic tools needed for spiritual fulfillment, success, and prosperous living.
FIETTS
Friendship Is Essential To The Soul
Last edited by Wolfman; 04-08-2009 at 11:24 AM.
Reason: typo
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