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This is the first part in our series, The Great Realization. If you missed our introduction to this series, watch the introduction before diving into Part 1: Defining a Job below.
Defining A Job
The grass is always greener on the other side.
Yes, that is a very familiar term. About when we think one circumstance is better than another. Laced with a bit of envy, this perspective can shape our decision making even if appearances are deceiving. And they usually are. Especially when we add another oldie, but goodie statement, “If it seems too good to be true…” Which can mean we are suspicious that something must be wrong with something we are unexpectedly enjoying.
One of the big conversations regarding the COVID impact on the business landscape was The Great Resignation. A phenomenon that saw employees actively and intentionally leaving their jobs. COVID locked people in place, at home. During this required downtime, it appears to have stimulated thoughts about their job. About how they saw meaning in what they did. In time, it pivoted into a virtual job with the workplace being the kitchen or dining room table. This change provoked people into evaluating their purpose. This was the catalyst for looking for the dream job. People started leaving.
As we enter the third year of COVID, we have shifted the awareness of people leaving jobs to people evaluating something else. Did they make the right choice to leave and is the ‘grass truly greener’?
A March 2022 Guardian article noted this “resignation” turnover was real and lots of people had changed jobs in the past two years. In fact, the feeling was it wasn’t so much leaving jobs as swapping jobs. It cited a job research study by Muse, which found as much as seventy-two percent of workers experienced surprise or regret in their new post. Nearly half (48%) said they would try to get their old job back. They called this “shift shock” So, it begs the question…is the grass actually the exact same color?
Based on what has happened and how to move forward, I challenge some of the following considerations in searching for a “right fit” job.
Purpose. I thought I would tackle the biggest rock first. COVID may very well have stimulated this contemplation…what do I really want to do? That can be a complex answer, or it can be simple. What do you want to do versus what do you have to do versus what do you get to do.
Want to do; this is about desire. Maybe it’s something you’ve always wanted to do. It’s been in the back of your mind, and you’ve always wondered “what if”. One side may say “That’s high risk – to step into something new you’ve dreamt about”. Another side may say “That’s high reward – to step into something you’re passionate about”.
Have to do; this is about necessity. If you have to create provision…provision to maintain a quality of life, support your family, consistently pay down debt…you may have to take the job that supports your needs at this time. This doesn’t mean you can’t dream or work towards another future. It does mean it may take time. And who is to say you can’t or won’t be fulfilled in a current post. It could very well be the exact laboratory to perfect a targeted skill set for the future.
Get to do; this is about appreciation. Maybe we are in the right job, and we’ve forgotten to fully engage in its possibilities. Maybe we have felt stuck, and all we have to do is expand and evolve in the job. We may not like certain aspects of the job, and yet it is precisely where we should be. Maybe we haven’t given it a chance to have it be bigger than it is, as well as recognizing the influence you can have on others and your own purpose.
Purpose aside, now the considerations wrap around personal need – what we need and a job that provides support for those needs. Maybe it’s about compensation like pay scale, commission, potential for bonus, etc. Maybe it’s about benefits like healthcare, 401k programs, paid vacation, flex schedules, and so on. Maybe it is about personal growth like ongoing development, promotion, educational opportunities. Maybe simple things like convenience, geography, accessibility, and maybe even culture – that the company stands for something and has purpose beyond profitability.
It reminds me of Maslow’s Hierarchy; a concept shared by American psychologist Abraham Maslow in his 1943 paper “A Theory of Human Motivation”. It provides a look at human needs within a five-tier model. The hierarchy is often displayed as a pyramid, with basic needs at the bottom and more complex needs at the top.
Starting at the bottom, it identifies physiological need, or the base needs for human survival. The next level is about safety needs, including things like our health, our employment status, our home, and so on. The next is love and belonging, which involves a need for the love, appreciation and value in our relationships. The fourth level is esteem; specifically, things like self-worth, status, achievement, confidence and a sense of social significance. The top of this five-tier pyramid is self-actualization, or the need of feeling fulfilled and living a purpose-driven life.
If you think about trying to find the “right” job, maybe we start with Maslow’s pyramid as we step into our opportunities. Grass being greener must begin with how we define ‘green’. Because without that kind of realization, the job may be a checked box and not a part of personal growth journey.
RC Cares is the employee engagement and philanthropic arm of Russell Cellular. We believe the culture of family should extend to our customers, and we’re committed to giving back to our communities. The RC Cares team works closely with team members in our retail locations and Home Office on a variety of community outreach projects and philanthropy work to celebrate successes and support employees and community members through times of need.
Who is Ron Wallace?
“What is a Ron Wallace?” At Russell Cellular in 2017, this was a common question throughout the company. In July of that year, Ron Wallace was hired by RC as the “Employee and Community Outreach Advocate”. What does that even mean? Team members were slightly confused, as Ron’s extensive background included work in ministry and counseling, but not wireless retail. So why would RC hire Ron Wallace?
Ron’s onboarding helped to shape and represent the heart of RC. With Ron’s leadership, Russell Cellular ventured into the formalization of a new employee and community program. Thus, RC Cares was born and quickly Ron’s title became Director of RC Cares. Caring for people and communities was nothing new to RC. In fact, the Russell family and national team members had been giving to local causes and initiatives for 25 years. But RC Cares became a way to structure the opportunities, and to give every store a local fund that they could utilize in their communities as they saw needs arise in their town.
Not only did outreach causes become identified, but employee emergency assistance was further enhanced. With RC Cares, employees now had an official process to apply for and receive small grants if they or their immediate family were in need. Employees began to contribute to the employee emergency fund in record numbers, and that allowed for a record number of team members to be assisted in 2021.
Ron’s inspiration and passion is unmatched, and his willingness to help people in need is unwavering. Join us as we hear from Ron’s heart and listen as he discusses practical ways that we can support those around us, and ourselves.
Community Outreach and Philanthropy
There are needs all around us every day. People in our communities that we know and see that are hurting or struggling. It might be an emergency or event that has happened and has left them in a situation that has greatly impacted or changed their life. The bigger question that we like to ask ourselves here at Russell Cellular, is “what are we doing to help with those needs”? That is where RC Cares comes in. We want to be a part of the positive impact that helps change someone’s life. With community outreach events, philanthropy, fundraising through product sales, donations that we take and make, or more, we just want to make a difference. Our teams all over the nation are working every day to help make a difference in the lives of their friends, family, and communities.
This blog series is not to highlight what we are doing here at Russell Cellular, but rather inspire others to make a difference too. Through these stories that we will share here, we hope that you too will join us in being the change in this world.
Verizon Small Business Days are here! Whether you are needing phone solutions or internet for a small business, Russell Cellular has you covered. From November 10th through November 23rd, 2022, you can get the best offers of the year, and can stay ahead by switching now. Here at Russell Cellular, we know that life is busy as the owner of a small business, which is why we created this quick start guide to Verizon Small Business days to answer all of your burning questions.
With there being so many amazing small business offerings during the SMB Days promotion period, we have decided to compile just some of the best deals. To learn more about all the current promotions being offered, you can reach out to our Small Business team at 1-888-271-3677 or by visiting one of our locations.
Internet Deals
While Verizon offers several small business internet solutions including Fios Business Internet (ultra-fast fiber optic), LTE Business Internet (wireless), and 5G Business Internet (wireless)- we will mainly be focusing on the two wireless options today, 5G and LTE.
Verizon Wireless 5G Business Internet
Get $720 Off LTE Business Internet andPlus
Sign up for a new, select LTE Internet plan and get $30 monthly credit for 24 months.
This makes the 25 Mbps plan (when stacked with the smartphone combo offer) 29.99 per month. Which is the same cost as the 10 Mbps plan!
Get Up To $200 Off 5G Business Internet
Sign up for a new, select 5G Internet Plan and get up to a $200 discount over 12 months.
If you have been thinking about switching to Verizon for your business internet needs, come visit one of our business specialists during the Verizon Small Business Days event. And if you already have internet covered, don’t fret! The Verizon Small Business Days event is a great time to upgrade or add lines, add on tablets or watches, or even get a great deal when switching to Verizon.
Smartphone Deals
Maybe you came across this post because you are needing to add lines to your account or needing to upgrade an existing business line. Here are some of the best deals going on during the Verizon SMB days to help you save when adding or upgrading a line.
Get Up To $1,000 Off Select Smartphones
Business customers get up to $1,000 off select smartphones when activating a new line of service with an Unlimited plan and trading in a qualifying smartphone (good or damaged trade-in accepted).
Get Up To $539.99 Off Apple iPhone14 Plus for New Activations
Save when purchasing iPhone 14 Plus on a new line with an Unlimited Plan.
Buy More Save More
One of the great things about Verizon Small Business Days is that we know as a business owner, sometimes you need other devices to help your business run smoothly. Here are some of the best Buy More Save More deals going on during the event.
Select Tablets as Low As $0/ month
Get Up To $250 Off Select Smartwatches
Other Deals
If you liked these offers, chances are you are going to really like this. Verizon Wireless will be releasing more Small Business Day Deals starting on Thursday, November 17th, 2023, and ending on November 23rd, 2023. These deals include:
$360 Port-in-BIC Customers Can Get More For Switching To Verizon
When you’re looking to buy a new phone, there are a lot of decisions to make. Android or iOS? Large screen or pocket-sized? 5G Play More or 5G Do More? And, of course, buying a new phone online vs in-store?
To help you make your decision, here are the main advantages and disadvantages of buying a new phone online vs in-store.
Buying a new phone online
Advantages
Since you have hundreds of online retailers to choose from, you’re not limited to your local stores. That means you can browse a much wider variety of makes, models, and colors.
As you explore the available options, it’s easy to check specs, features, and user reviews for each phone. This information gives you a better idea of what each device is like so that you can find the right fit.
High-street retailers generally only carry the most up-to-date phones on the market. But online, you can buy second-hand or refurbished phones for much less than their recommended retail price.
It’s much easier to take advantage of promotions and deals online because they’re easier for retailers to advertise. That means you can save money on your new purchase and perhaps even grab some free accessories.
You can take as long as you need to research the right phone and add-ons for your usage habits with no pressure from sales staff.
You benefit from fast deliveries and returns that match your schedule, and you can order from the comfort of your own home.
Disadvantages
With access to so much information about specs, features, and user experiences, it takes significantly longer to make a choice. And if you don’t like your phone once you receive it, you might experience buyer’s remorse.
While you have a wider range of choices when buying a new phone online, you might experience compatibility issues between devices and service providers. This doesn’t apply when shopping in-store, as brick-and-mortar retailers only stock compatible phones.
You won’t receive personal guidance when setting up your phone, which can make it difficult to transfer data or learn how to use it. Instead, you’ll have to rely on online guides, which might not have the answers you’re looking for.
Final verdict
Buying a new phone online means you have much more choice and information. So you’re more likely to find a phone that suits your needs and you might even save a few dollars. But it can take a long time to carry out all that research, which doesn’t even end when your new phone arrives.
Buying a new phone in-store
Advantages
Since retail staff have a detailed knowledge of their products, their advice makes it much easier and quicker to find the right phone for you.
Once you’ve bought the one, staff can set up your phone for you to give you a great user experience right away.
Because you don’t need to wait for delivery, you can start using your phone immediately.
Verizon-authorized retailers like Russell Cellular only carry phones that are compatible with their specific service provider. That means there will be no compatibility issues that prevent you from enjoying your new phone.
If there’s a problem with your phone, store staff can offer easy post-sale support to fix the issue. You can speak directly to a real person rather than struggling through weeks of emails and online checks.
With a physical phone, you can try before you buy rather than relying on images and testimonies that might not reveal the whole truth. That means you can check whether the size, weight, and features are right for you.
Disadvantages
Stores only carry a limited selection of phones and might not have the model or color you want in stock. If you don’t like the available phones, it can take several days to order the right one in.
Phones bought from a store are usually locked to that service carrier. This makes it very difficult to change carriers while keeping the same phone.
Unless you’re willing to travel to another city, you’re limited to local stores. And if you live in a small town, you might have barely any choice at all.
Final verdict
Buying a new phone in-store is often quicker and easier than buying online. Store staff can offer advice on good models, they can set up your phone for you, and you can start using it that same day. On the other hand, you’re limited to local stores and the phones they stock, meaning there are fewer options to choose from.
So what’s the best way to buy a new phone?
Whether you decide to buy a new phone online or in-store depends on your priorities. If you’d prefer to carry out extensive research and find satisfaction with the perfect phone, go for an online purchase. But if you want a smooth, simple experience with straightforward expert advice, in-store might be the best place to buy your phones.
Whatever you choose, you’ll find your ideal phone much more quickly if you decide what features are most important to you in advance. You might want:
A high-definition camera to take lots of pictures
Plenty of memory for storing files
A large screen for watching videos, reading, or playing games
A long battery life to ensure plenty of use
A headphone jack so you can listen to music on the go
Buy online or in-store with Russell Cellular
Russell Cellular makes the question of buying a new phone online or in-store easy by offering both options. Our knowledgeable store staff are available to offer friendly guidance and help you through the setup process, as well as advise you on useful add-ons. Online, you’ll find device listings with plenty of useful information, easy access to amazing deals, and convenient guides such as:
How to transfer data to your new iPhone
How to trade in your phone at Verizon
How to use the mobile hotspot on your Verizon phone
“Integrity is choosing courage over comfort; choosing what is right over what is fun, fast, or easy; and choosing to practice our values rather than simply professing them. ” Brené Brown
When it comes to the options on what makes the list of choices for personal and organizational core values, integrity makes every list. Not just on the list, it is often the first-mentioned, and at the top of the list. In a way, it is the filter every other value is sifted through. This is a value driver, reinforcing how we commit to, believe in, and follow through with the other values.
Consider some of these common quotes and sayings about integrity:
“Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one else is watching.”
“Integrity is following through with what you said, and walking the talk.”
“Integrity is staying true to who you are, especially when times get tough.”
It is about truth. Your personal truth. Truth that hurts when convenience would be easier. It’s about character. It’s about how we treat others. It’s what influences respect from others. It’s honesty, and acting honestly. It’s when you can fail miserably and know you did your best, versus winning big time knowing you cut corners to get it done. It’s when your private and your public align. It’s about trust – the trust you have in yourself and the trust you create for the others around you. It’s the big reason people follow you.
Integrity in leadership
When you think of a great leader, someone with a great management style, what characteristics come to mind? What is it that compels us to follow? I contend that much of what draws followers in is the character of the leader, and their ability to put the needs of others ahead of their own. We see this humility and their desire to make others successful. We trust them to stand beside us. We trust their integrity.
Case in point, if you know someone who has the title of leader, and has shown they lack integrity…would you follow them? Maybe the title would dictate it, however, the character of the leader will always impact to what extent you follow. This reminds me of what John Maxwell says, “He who thinks he leads, but has no followers, is only taking a walk.”
So, how does integrity play a part in you, your team, or your organization? How would you describe and define integrity as it applies to those perspectives?
Start thinking about integrity today
Get a sheet of paper and a pen. Draft your answers to some or all of following questions:
What kind of actions define integrity?
Why is having integrity important, necessary, and essential in your leadership style?
Why would someone follow you?
How would you rate your ability and intention in: admitting mistakes, being vulnerable, responding to change, working through difficulty & uncertainty, forgiving others, keeping promises, and doing the next right thing?
Who models integrity well in your sphere of influence? What are their behaviors? Who doesn’t, and why?
If you asked your team to rate/describe your leadership integrity, or the integrity of the company leadership, what would they say?
Mirror moment: Is there a gap between what you say and what you do? What about what you ought to be doing and what you are doing, or how you think you are leading versus how you are actually living out your leadership?
How would you process the following question: Can you train integrity?
Are these honest answers, or ones we want to hear? Maybe that is the first test of the level or depth of our integrity. Are we willing, honest, and open enough to tell the truth? Starting with ourselves.
Leadership style: integrity
Integrity in leadership is…well, everything. If this is off, everything else is off as well. Warren Buffet said, “In looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if they don’t have the first, the other two will kill you.” Integrity is the cornerstone.
So where is the easiest place to look for it? As I researched integrity, a word kept sticking with me.
Authenticity.
Why? Because I wholeheartedly believe that leadership is not just what you do, it’s who you are. You are a leader because there was something about you. You have been wired a certain way. Your skill set and mindset. Your decisions. Your intentions. Your passion and purpose.
Integrity therefore comes from within, and aligns exactly with who we are and the values we live by…no matter what. Sticking to those values, to our belief and faith, in all circumstances. Success and failure. Sunny day or rainy day. To be resolutely committed to who we are at all times, regardless of circumstances. Assertively authentic, especially when things are unprecedented and upside down.
I leave you with a challenge; a simple integrity “to do”. Be the example. Be the example of the level and degree of integrity you want to have…personally, with your team, or in your organization. Be it…out loud, every day with whatever you are given. Even if no one is watching.
5 ways you can bring focus on integrity
Conduct assessment and/or survey to gauge how teams rate integrity within your organization
Instead of just noting integrity as a core value, collaborate on how to live it out behaviorally
Get or become a mentor, accountability partner or battle buddy; speak truth about behavior
Create and encourage “tell the truth” sessions to discuss what needs to start, stop, and continue
Reward and recognize integrity, even the small stuff – when you see it, say it
