Here is the first in the Fifty-Over-50 Series. These professionals make the cut because of their extraordinary achievements. Meet Bob Scott of Guilford, Connecticut, The Renaissance Working Man.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Bob Scott has become a financially comfortable man. He owns a home in the charming Connecticut town of Guilford. When his wife wants to travel, they have few constraints on where they want to go or how. They educated three children. Now in his late 60s, Scott doesn't have to work. But he, along with his wife who doesn't like him hanging around the house, always makes sure that he is out there, employed.
One recent job was for an $8-an-hour- gig in a retail establishment for garden supplies. "I have never been embarrassed to work at what would teach me something," Scott told me this afternoon. He wanted to deepen his knowledge of gardening. After this phone interview, he returned to planting asparagus in his own garden, something he had never done before. That retail job has given the confidence to take this leap into the soil.
"How did you get that retail job?" I asked. Those I coach seem to have a hard time getting a job, any job.
"I showed up and applied," he answered. His wife had spotted the ad and they agreed it might be the next step on his career path.
Scott's other jobs have included being a Captain in the Navy and a commercial pilot for United Airlines.
I met Scott when he was doing his latest job. That job was heading up the East Haven, CT new branch of H&R Block Services. In a bank that was about a mile from that branch, Scott sold me on trying out H&R Block for my taxes. And that's exactly what I did, as well as a number of others, both bank staff and customers. Scott is a natural salesman, in addition to his other gifts.
His H&R branch office, although a startup, took home the gold for this tax season, including the first prize for the most business over quota. His team got to share $50,000 in bonus money. As soon as I walked into that branch on 684 Foxon Road what was palpable was the focus on the customer. Everyone, every system, every follow-up was geared to making my tax ordeal easier - and less expensive.
"How did you get into doing taxes?" I asked, puzzled. Preparing taxes is a stretch from flying planes.
"I learned accounting when there was a layoff at United Airlines. I took advantage of the GI Bill to pay for that." That accounting expertise led to his doing part-time work for H&R Block and eventually to his leading his tax team to victory this year.
Scott believes in education and training that can be applied - and which can satisfy his natural desire to figure things out. In terms of formal degrees, he hasn't piled on anything more than an Associate's. But, he says, "It seems that wherever I was, I was noticed and given leadership responsibility" when those with Ivy League educational credentials or a family pedigree didn't even get on the radar.
I asked Scott how we was able to stand out and do so consistently in diverse settings, be it the Navy, the airlines, a retail establishment, or tax preparation.
"Jane, I tell my son John and I tell your readers: It's not how smart you are, how charming you might be, how wonderful you appear on paper. What counts in the world of work is what you produce that day in that specific job for that specific employer. Sure, there are disappointments, setbacks, even jobs we shouldn't be in. But our careers are primarily determined by what we do. That ability to get results for employers is what we used to describe as 'the cream rising to the top of the bottle.' That cream does rise. It does get noticed. And we keep it rising when we do our all for employers."
H&R Block does operate year-round services. I asked Scott if he considered pitching in doing that now that the official tax season is over.
"No, Jane," he answered. "My wife wants me to work, but not all the time. H&R Block would like me to continue to work on an annual basis. But my wife enjoys travel. We also have free airline transportation from when I was employed by United."
What Scott didn't articulate but what he might be living is that life isn't all about doing paid work. When tax season was over, he immediately drove to Rhode Island. His son-in-law is in Iraq and his daughter needed yard work done. When he was there, Scott also managed to paint her house. In life, there is also the joy of family life, along with sharing one's gifts with them. Among Scott's gifts is his incredible energy level.
Those wishing to be profiled in the Fifty-over-50 series, please contact us at Mgenova981@aol.com.
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