Welcome to TishTrek - Greeting to THE JOB BLOG!
Today, we honor a guy named Peter Cancro and a repeat behavior called, LEADERSHIP!
Peter has been a friend for over 40 years... so it was delightful to read the June 4th New York Times article highlighting this remarkable man's journey in athletics, business, volunteerism and life. I have followed his story since 1974!
In the article, Peter mentions two local businessmen who influenced him - Jack Baker & Bob Hoffmann. These men were and still are giants in our community whose work ethic & commitment to customer service combined with their passion for life transformed successful businesses into iconic symbols of everything great the Jersey Shore has to offer!
As I mentioned in a previous blog, I worked for Jack Baker's Lobster Shanty for ten years which is located on the water at the foot of the Manasquan Inlet and I lived across the street from the business owned by that other great mentors in my life - Bob Hoffmann of "The" Bob Hoffmann's Ice Cream on Rt. 35 South in Pt. Pleasant Beach.
Jack and Bob delivered dreams to the kids in our community for over 50 years by teaching thousands of us to work hard, be on time, clean our work space as we worked, show up dressed appropriately & groomed for "our" clients, and to honor the customer experience every minute we were on their clock. Because of their vision, strategy, business skills, and competencies, as well as a love of fishing in Jack's case and a love of ice cream in Bob's case - they left an indelible mark on me and a generation of residents including leaders like Peter & John Cancro from Jersey Mike's Subs who would follow them. Hundreds of thousands of people enjoyed their products and services for the last 50 years! How many people have tried or enjoyed what you deliver daily for that many years?!
What was it that made these men different, special and successful? I've observed their leader behaviors and their commitment to my community forever, so I can tell you that they were winners because no one cared about excellence more, worked harder, started earlier, or stayed later when necessary than the two of them when it came to serving customers.
For 25 years, every time I jogged up Forman Avenue at 6 a.m. headed for the ocean, Bob Hoffmann would wave at me from a distance where he was weeding flowers or spraying down concrete so the quality of his homemade ice cream could compete with the welcoming exterior of his amazing store! Bob & Jack's tireless efforts to consistently ensure the quality of their products, services & facilities earned them legacies that have stood the test of time. How many of us can say that about our life's work?
Who did you watch growing up? Who were the adults in your community who taught you that hard work and commitment to others can bring success that has no bounds? Imagine working for bosses who believed it was an added benefit in "their life" to run and lead thriving businesses that helped community kids reach all their dreams and goals. Their small businesses produced job opportunities for an entire generation of families @ the Jersey Shore. Thanks to them, thousands of kids earned the funds for college or to pursue artistic dreams; others earned the money to explore the world, or open a business, buy their first car, or to get their own kids through college; some enjoyed remarkable athletic opportunities which directly enhanced who they would become. We aren't just talking about paychecks here. Their work had greater value: What these men created was a support system that propelled the potential of children forward every time they made a profit. How many of us can join Peter Cancro and say we achieved that?
In our little town, we had so many people to look up to. We had Jack and Bob, and Coach Fio from Pt. Pleasant Beach High School and so many others... Thirty years later, champions like Peter and John Cancro, TV personality Jack Ford, the Manzo and Palisi families and many others would honor these mentors by following their amazing lead.
Leadership repeats itself when it is real. Since our eyes were open, we learned that lesson in Pt. Pleasant Beach because we had examples like Jack Baker and Bob Hoffmann to follow every single day. Their values, business integrity, work ethic and passion influenced and inspired us to strive to become the best we could be. Parents always appreciated this fact because children learn what they live. Our thanks to Jack & Bob. I hope they saw Peter's article in the New York Times. He speaks for all of us who have benefited from the excellence they shared with others for decades. Thank you, gentlemen.
If you want a lift today, go to the link below. It's the June 4th New York Times Article written about my friend - Peter Cancro - The Boss, Lessons From the Sub Shop. It was written by Patricia R. Olsen. This weekend, try ordering a #2 at Jersey Mike's - You'll be supporting a village!
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/jobs/06boss.html?ref=todayspaper
Best regards,
Tish
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