Years ago, I was a high school teacher for four years. I was miserable. It was clearly a bad fit for me. When I tried finding another job, it was virtually impossible.
I talked to a bank executive who said I’d make a great teller. Why? Because I had a nice smile. Meanwhile, young men just graduating from college were being placed in the management development program.
To say I was discouraged is an understatement. Finally, I said, “Screw it. I’ll start my own company.” And I roped a couple of friends into doing it with me.
For half a year, I spent every Saturday at the library reading business magazines. I was looking for a timely idea that didn’t cost a lot to start and that we had the skills to make it work.
Finally, I hit on an idea. Then, I spent the next few months figuring out how to write a business plan. Next, I contacted SCORE, an organization that helps small businesses get started.
We met with a retired VP of Marketing from General Mills. He loved our concept because it addressed issues that virtually all big companies in Minneapolis were facing. Then he asked a pivotal question: “Which one of you will be doing sales?”
I leaned forward, gave him a nasty look, and said, “I thought you said it was a good idea?”
He replied, “It is Jill, but someone has to sell it.”
After realizing that neither of my partners were going to do it, I ultimately said I would. But I was adamant that it would be for the shortest time that was humanly possible. Ugh! I thought sales was disgusting.
A few months later, I went to a Career Day Seminar at our local Civic Center. I went from booth to booth, talking to different companies. Not one of them was interested in bringing me in for an interview.
Totally discouraged, I decided to leave. As I stomped out of the Civic Center and down a long ramp, there was one man who was walking up. He asked me, “How was it?”
I replied, “You really want to know?” When he said yes, I was surprised. Then, he added that he organized the whole Career Days event. So, I dumped all my frustrations on him, sharing everyone’s lack of interest in talking with me.
He asked, “Did you talk to the people at Xerox?” When I said I hadn’t, he said, “Come with me. I’ll introduce you.”
We walked up to the Xerox booth together. When we arrived, he said to the main recruiter, “Frank, this is Jill. You need to hire her.”
Three weeks later, I was offered a sales job at Xerox. I loved it. It launched me into a career direction I’d never planned on … and the rest is history. I excelled at it.
Ultimately, I became a consultant, wrote four best-selling books, and became an international speaker. I never did start that big idea I had for a company. I loved what I was doing too much.
But …. here’s the big secret.
I am a DEI hire. In case you don’t know what that is, DEI stands for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Back when I was hired, it was called “Affirmative Action.”
Up to the mid-70s, Xerox only hired men for sales jobs. We women couldn’t handle the technical aspects of selling machines—like adding toner or fixing a paper jam. Also, Xerox was confident their customers wouldn’t want a woman calling on them.
However, the government didn’t think that was right. So, to keep government contracts, Xerox had to hire people that represented the demographics of their area.
That meant that 50% of their sales force had to be female. And, they had to hire minorities too, based on their local populations. Most of us succeeded. All we needed was a chance.
A couple of days ago, after Kamala Harris became the nominee for president, people started denigrating her, calling her a “DEI hire.”
It was said as a smear. Like she was dumb, incapable, and only hired because she was black/Asian/female—not because of her capabilities.
I don’t care if you’re a Democrat, Republican or Independent. That is so wrong to write somebody off because of their sex or heritage.
What if we looked at it differently? What if we saw the possibilities in each individual and supported their growth and development? What if we valued their diversity?
That’s how we create a better world!
