We should all take the opportunity to get to know a business top to bottom, side to side. There isn’t a job you shouldn’t want to take on.
For example, in order to learn the motorsports marketing business, you should try taking on any job at a national event. If you are a marketing guy, try selling tickets. If you are a finance person, try being an usher. If your expertise is in HR, maybe you should work in concessions to see the depth of the business.
The Nordstrom family, or so it’s told, used store experiences to train and groom their family members in the business. Many Nordstrom children worked as stock room people, sales people and many behind the scenes jobs before they ever got to see a manager’s nametag.
The value is obvious: you know the people at all levels and how the business is run from a grassroots level, you are better equipped to make sound decisions when it comes to personnel, purchasing and P&L.
Consider that the next time someone suggests they want to learn about trade shows. Think how much he or she would learn if you could take one of your C-level execs out to a show to unload crates and roll carpet?
TTSG
