I just read an inspiring article on CNN about a 56 year old man named James Robertson who hasn’t missed a day of work at his factory job. Come rain or shine he shows up every single day and has a perfect attendance record. What’s so amazing is that James Robertson doesn’t have a car, but he still makes the 21 mile commute walking 7 miles, and riding the bus part of the journey. He doesn’t make enough money to afford to replace his Honda that went out on him years ago.
In the CNN news report, the plant manager said, “I say, if this man can get here, walking all those miles through snow and rain, well I’ll tell you, I have people in Pontiac 10 minutes away and they say they can’t get here — bull!” The plant manager went on to say that he sets the attendance standards by James Robertson’s example.
It saddens me that the plant manager is enlightened enough to set standards according to James’ work ethic, yet he doesn’t have the eyes to see how he or the other leaders in the plant could have used their collective strength or influence to make a difference. Couldn’t they have given a bonus for his perfect attendance? Couldn’t someone have picked him up at the bus stop for a period of time? Could someone have counseled him on how to get a used car? What is missing here is Super Vision, and the will to lead by compassion.
Evan Leedy, at just 19 years old, had the Super Vision to see past the circumstances to take the lead. He set up an account on Gofundme and helped to raise over $200,000 so far.
Thank goodness James Robertson for lighting the way for us to see determination. Kudos to the Detroit Free Press who shed light on this issue, and thank God for Evan Leedy who had the eyes to see a new possibility and the will to be a leader in every sense of the word. We can all learn a lot from Evan Leedy.
Enlightened leaders not only have the eyes to see possibilities, they have the will to act.
M
arlene Chism is an executive educator, consultant, and author of Stop Workplace Drama, (Wiley 2011) and No-Drama Leadership (Bibliomotion 2015). She works with executives, and high-performing leaders who want to transform culture in the workplace. To explore opportunities please email marlene@marlenechism.com
I beg to differ on a few items. I don’t believe that you have read all of the articles and follow up posts. James will not ride with just anyone. I theorize that he is a very independent and proud man. In addition, the plant manager does pick him up, or bring him home, as does Blake Pollock, a VP at UBS bank, who actually is the one who brought this story to the Detroit Free Press’ attention. Mr. Pollock also gives James ride home, at 11 pm and to work, when he can. It takes a village, in more than one way.
In addition, James has said how his co-workers are like family; it took him years to find this job; the Plant Manager brings him a good Southern meal, every night, that his wife has cooked. Please know the entire story before you go off on this company.
I am a proud Union member. Suffered through months of strikes and lost my house. I worked for an evil utility. There are times and places where companies need to be called out. I do not believe this is one of them. If anything, the Oligarchs at the top need addressing, but NOT the management of this Mid-Western Plant.
Thanks for having the courage to post on the blog. I welcome opinions that are not necessarily the same as mine. This was not meant to call out the company but to show how a young man without a title, or position took a massive action and set the example for all of us to dig a little deeper and see a bigger picture.
And every day is a tribute to how much he cares about his job, his boss and his coworkers. Robertson’s daunting walks and bus rides, in all kinds of weather, also reflect the challenges some metro Detroiters face in getting to work in a region of limited bus service, and where car ownership is priced beyond the reach of many.But you won’t hear Robertson complain — nor his boss. When his coworkers are climbing into their cars, Robertson sets off, on foot — in the dark — for the 23-mile trip to his home off Woodward near Holbrook. None of his coworkers lives anywhere near him, so catching a ride almost never happens.Instead, he reverses the 7-mile walk he took earlier that day, a stretch between the factory and a bus stop behind Troy’s Somerset Collection shopping mall.”I keep a rhythm in my head,” he says of his seemingly mechanical-like pace to the mall.At Somerset, he catches the last SMART bus of the day, just before 1 a.m. He rides it into Detroit as far it goes, getting off at the State Fairgrounds on Woodward, just south of 8 Mile. By that time, the last inbound Woodward bus has left. So Robertson foots it the rest of the way — about 5 miles — in the cold or rain or the mild summer nights, to the home he shares with his girlfriend.At the plant, coworkers feel odd seeing one of their team numbers always walking, says Charlie Hollis, 63, of Pontiac. “I keep telling him to get him a nice little car,” says Hollis, also a machine operator.Echoes the plant manager Wilson, “We are very much trying to get James a vehicle.” But Robertson has a routine now, and he seems to like it, his coworkers say.”If I can get away, I’ll pick him up. But James won’t get in just anybody’s car. He likes his independence,” Wilson says.Robertson has simple words for why he is what he is, and does what he does. He speaks with pride of his parents, including his father’s military service.”I just get it from my family. It’s a lot of walking, I know.
P.S. Go after McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts, who never give raises and the franchise owners break the backs of their minimum wage workers and who make sure they don’t get any overtime pay.