Extra, Extra, read all about it!! When I was a kid (9 years old), my first job was delivering newspapers. It was the best job in the world and I loved it. Somehow, I had been referred by another newspaper boy in my block to deliver to two large apartment buildings that happened to be located just around the corner from where I lived. I knew that I was a hard worker, but this job really tested my limits at an early age. I had to get up at 5:45am each morning and get ready to pick up my papers. There were approximately 60 people who wanted their paper delivered about the same time each morning, in each apartment building. I instantly knew, at this early age, that it was impossible for me to be at two places at the same time. My dad loved to go fishing and he would fish for salmon and brook trout. He would spend hours preparing for his trip making sure that everything was in order and nothing was left behind or neglected. He taught me to always be prepared. I learned a valuable lesson about 90% preparation and 10% execution and I used this to deliver those papers to my customers to comply with their requests and demands. Here’s how I did it! I gave each apartment building a name that was recognized and was implanted firmly in my mind and memory. I looked and stared at each building trying to distinguish each ones characteristic (remember both buildings were exactly the same in appearance). I memorized each apt# on each floor for each building that were to receive their newspaper. I then folded each paper while saying each apt# number out loud to myself. I separated each pile designating each floor of each building and put an elastic around each bundle. I had previously talked (with my dad) to the landlord of the buildings and asked if I could use their service elevator each morning to deliver my newspapers. Mr. Connelly replied, “Sure kid, but be sure to deliver a free paper to me”. I said, that’s a deal. When I had organized all my papers and they are all separated by each floor of each building, I left the papers to be delivered to the 2nd building by the interior front door of the 1st building. I then placed all the newspapers inside the service elevator for building #1, took the ones out for the first floor, pressed #2 and started running and delivering the newspapers. I took the stairs to the second level and by the time I got to the elevator, the doors opened and I grabbed the second floor newspapers and pressed #3. I delivered the 2nd floor newspapers, took the stairs to the 3rd floor and when the elevator doors opened, I repeated this process until I got to the top floor and finished the apartment. I then took the service elevator to the main floor, grabbed the newspapers for building #2 and repeated the process. It took me ten minutes to deliver 120 newspapers in two apartment buildings. Needless the say, I was tired when I finished, but I already had a bottle of juice waiting for me when I delivered the paper to the landlord in #201.
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Brett McKenzie
www.theboomerbiz.com
