Richard A˳ Chambers (Rik, his nickname, for short) was my Training Manager/Coordinator in Guinness Nig˳ Plc Ikeja Brewery, Lagos in 1994/95˳ During the approx˳ one year period I reported to him, he repeatedly challenged me to “build” myself up to be highly competent as a brewer and manager˳
By the time I left for Benin Brewery, I had four thickly spiral bound training reports (typed by myself) littered with many large pictures (taken by Rik) of virtually every process area/plant I had been trained on˳ These documents – just like Rik assured me they would – turned out to be very useful references all through my later years in the company˳ As a matter of fact many new entrants (and some older managers) at various points found need to borrow them and make copies!
But that’s not all˳ It was Rik’s prowess in Lotus Spreadsheets Macro Programming that really brought us close˳ Over a 6 month period he – in line with formal role assigned him – single handedly developed an automated brewery Variable Cost Analysis Spreadsheet Application that was adopted by both Lagos and Benin Breweries for formal MONTHLY brewery performance reporting purposes˳
Luckily for me, he noticed the interest I showed in watching him doing the furious coding for various data entry/report generation interfaces, and decided to involve me by giving me a laptop, and having me check for errors in the formulas˳
As time went on, he began to give me copies of ALL the code in the different applications – for brewing and packaging departments˳ I was still a trainee, but 6 months after resuming in Benin brewery, I was formally responsible for maintaining/updating Rik’s software for the Benin Brewery˳ This was ALL senior management level work – the very complex formulas for computing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) would have intimidated most people, but Rik had prepared me well˳
Little wonder then that by 1997, I had successfully developed four custom reporting applications to replace manual data handling systems in the Brewing department˳ Over time, other departments would find use for my skills – including Engineering Services and Packaging Departments˳
But do you know the best part? I did all this INFORMALLY – in my spare time – while still functioning full time as a brewer/manager˳ Nobody gave me any time off – and I never asked for it˳ The challenge was there – and I was up to it, and the passion/excitement of making a tangible difference was enough˳ Having watched Rik do so many things OUTSIDE his brief, I had no problems doing the same˳ He had set a good example˳
The time I spent with Rik prepared me for the successes I would later achieve in Guinness˳ Examples include nomination to the company-wide Project Insight team that developed comprehensive formats for computerisation of technical report data collection, analysis etc˳ High profile secondments to relieve senior managers in different departments/sections would be followed by promotion, and then more secondments – including trips abroad to attend international courses˳
But I did not rest on my oars – indeed, by the time I was leaving the company (to start my own business), I had successfully acquired MS Excel-VB programming skills via self-tutoring, taking advantage of the company’s shift from Lotus Smart Suite to MS Office˳ So, I did not just JUMP into custom spreadsheet solutions development˳ I’ve been doing it for YEARS before going into it as a business˳
It is important not to get swollen headed, or think yourself superior to those not as gifted at what you do˳ I will NEVER get big enough to call ANYBODY – even a 5 year old – a small boy or girl˳ The last thing I ever want to become is a BIG Man – you know the kind who put on all sorts of airs because they have money/power or position˳ It’s ironic that billionaires like Warren Buffet who have MORE reason to act BIG still use old model cars and remain humble!
This article has been written to encourage any person(s) currently in paid employment who may feel that allowing themselves to get drafted to play roles they consider outside their job description, would not be in their best interest˳ Many times opportunities for growth, advancement and success WILL come disguised as work – to paraphrase Thomas Edison˳
And that’s why most people MISS them! If you want to equip yourself to achieve lasting success, ensure you achieve full mastery of your primary responsibilities in a way that will enable you take on ADDITIONAL challenges successfully, making decision makers SEE you have the ability to hold positions of higher responsibilities˳
Some people get carried away by the “status” they think their jobs confer on them˳ They become obsessed with acting as BIG men and women˳ This mentality makes them feel there are certain roles they are too big to play˳ And this causes them to lose out in career advancement – especially in a company that’s looking for selfless leaders, to make things happen˳
No serious minded decision maker is going to hand you a promotion or a career advancement opportunity without being sure you have the capacity – and enduring passion – to deliver the desired results˳ Develop the habit of Going The Extra Mile (GTEM) on your job, from today, and see yourself moving to NEW levels of success!
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