Practicality is undervalued
After having discussions with two people I really respect, Warren Stevenson (owner MFP Resources) and Dave Majeski (former RBC exec, Edmonton Hall of Fame), I was interested by the theme of practicality that seemed to lead them down their respective paths.
For Dave, his job working at the Royal Bank of Canada was simply a choice of getting an “inside job” because he didn’t want to work outside during a cold Edmonton winter in 1968. Don’t want to deal with the harsh conditions? No problem, Dave just found somewhere he could work inside. Talk about practicality winning over anything else. It isn’t sexy, but I would say it worked out pretty well for him.
He stayed with the company for 47 years and took on 26 different roles, including senior executive positions. Originally, there was no aspiration to become a banker. Rather, he applied himself to what he was faced with, sought out challenges, asked questions, found solutions.
For Warren, his path to working in the bulk fuel industry started with an office job out of university. That experience pushed him to desire more than his typical 9–5 accounting duties. He learned to enjoy the industry he was working in and gathered the appropriate experience to take over the business. He’s owned MFP Resources for 22 years now.
I would consider both Dave and Warren successful in terms of business, community spirit, family, etc. However, their paths are both examples of how it wasn’t necessarily chasing a grandiose dream that got them there. They both found areas they could apply themselves to, and that was good enough.
It’s a counter-tune to the “big dream” examples we see from Elon Musk and Peter Diamandis. But, I think for the majority of people, it’s uplifting to know there’s opportunities to make a dent in the world and be successful — regardless of the size of business, the challenges, or the idea.
To me, there’s something humbling about this approach. It’s a nice reminder to continue to find enjoyment in the day-to-day work I’m faced with. There’s always a question to ask, something to improve, something to challenge yourself with.
At FitPLM Service Pro, we deal with customers who have similar backgrounds and mindsets as Warren and Dave. Hard-working, dedicated, and happily putting their stamp on the industry they work in. For us, we’re always tinkering and trying to find ways to help our customers in the energy service industry get more out of their business. If you’re interested in learning more about FitPLM Service Pro, shoot me an email at stefan@frontech.ca.
