Russell Mckinney's Blog

Many years ago, when department stores were high-end stores, a group of poorly paid clerks were standing around talking about baseball. It was raining outside and business was slow. Then a woman came into the store. She was wet and disheveled. As she entered, only one employee was willing to leave the baseball discussion to attend to her.

The young man walked over and courteously asked, “What can I show you, madam?” She told him what she was looking for, and he quickly located the item. Then he took the time to intelligently explain its merits. The woman made the purchase and left the store, asking for the young man’s card as she left.

Sometime later the woman sent a letter to the head of the store. Actually, the letter was an order for the complete furnishings for an estate in Scotland. In the letter she specifically asked that the young employee who had attended to her supervise the furnishing personally.

The store head wrote her back and said, “But, madam, this man is one of our youngest and most inexperienced clerks. Hadn’t we better give this assignment to someone else?” The reply came back, “I want this young man and no other.”

So that courteous and efficient young clerk was sent across the Atlantic to direct the furnishing of a palace in Scotland. The palace was called Skibo Castle, and the woman was Mrs. Andrew Carnegie, the wife of one of the world’s richest men.

Before you doubt the validity of this story you should know that it was told by Charles Schwab, the steel magnet. Schwab began it by saying, “I know a young fellow in New York who has built himself a big buisness. He used to be a poorly paid clerk in a department store.”

The moral of the story is: Always do your best because you just never know who might be watching. As the Bible in Ecclesiastes 9:10: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might…” As for you, Christian, remember Colossians 3:17,23: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him…And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.”