Sandpaper People

My father was a master of many trades but one that he did often was wood working. Although I was too young to help with the cutting, I would help with sanding. Sanding his projects often took the longest time. We would start with a course sandpaper to remove large imperfections and work our way down to very fine sandpaper to make the surface smooth and ready to use. Sandpaper people are mentors, managers and coworkers that refine careers much like sandpaper.

3M 60 Grit Sandpaper(Lowe’s Product #54004)

The beginning of any sanding project starts with removing the larger imperfections. For me it happened delivering newspapers in high school. On Sundays I would help prep and deliver Sunday papers from an older couple who had been doing it for many years. My career path’s surface was changed a lot during this time period.

I knew they were tired, they were doing this 7 days a week, but they never showed their exhaustion to their customers. They would walk in and talk to retail employees using their first name. They would fill every location we went to with light that others couldn’t help but brighten up! They worked hard and did so with joy. That passion, fervor relationship with customers is what I adopted into my career. Through them I learned to complete tasks based on priority. My feet planted firmly in the moving box truck I developed my “sea legs.” I would sway with the box truck instead of fighting it. My course sandpaper bosses taught me work ethic, finding joy in my work and using my sea legs in my evolving career.

3M 150 Grit Sandpaper(Lowe’s Product #119053)

On this step is when sanding begins to see results. The large imperfections have been removed and now to eliminate subtle ones. Enter my second job. I was a manager for an oil company and had an eclectic group of co-workers, 2 of which impacted my career. Ruth was an older lady who had no filter when it came to her thoughts. She spoke her opinion at every meeting and was honest to any question or problems I shared with her. Jay was another one of my co-workers. Jay had an entrepreneurial spirit and jumped on opportunities to start new projects. Through vigor, moxy, and tenacity he would inspire teams to accomplish every goal. These two teammates unknowingly inspired me to surround myself with diverse co-workers.

Although Ruth was blunt, her honesty(even when I didn’t want to hear it) is the feedback I have sought in every position since. Jay modeled that a servant leadership style could motivate a team through the hardest of projects and optimism spoke volumes. I have carried on that servant’s heart wether as a leader OR a member of a team.

3M 180 Grit Sandpaper(Lowe’s Product #214277)

Prior to staining a project, fine grit sandpaper is used to make sure the surface is uniform. Even the smallest variations become smooth to the touch. I met my 180 grit sandpaper person when I started recruiting. My boss was my mentor as I entered the world of HR and recruiting. Through her close guidance she invited me to sit in on employee relations, training, interviewing and recruiting. She invested in me daily, presenting me with opportunities to learn, apply and reflect on circumstances.

Through her mentorship I grew in my ability to recruit not just for qualifications but for culture. While interviewing, have a depth of knowledge of a position outside of the job description so that a candidate has realistic view of what to expect. I applied her employee relationship advice to listen first and respond, NEVER react. It is during this position that I saw my biggest changes.

3M 320 Grit Sandpaper(Lowe’s Product #214278)

A final run with sandpaper smooths out brush strokes or bumps created during the sealing and staining. I haven’t met this sandpaper person yet, I am still in the pre-sealing stage. I see this step as polishing through leadership and mentorship. Leaders aren’t perfect. They still need to be smoothed out! During this final step, leaders accept feedback from their teams and have created a safe environment for feedback. They willingly learn from a diverse workforce and innovations in their fields and apply that knowledge. Leaders are further developed by mentoring and allowing sandpaper mentees to refine them.

Sandpaper people are a necessity in everyone’s career. They help refine and guide your career to meet your goals. I encourage you to reflect on those that have impacted your career and work towards being a sandpaper person to others.

Comment below and tag the sandpaper people in your life!

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