21 Attributes of a Great Employee

It’s hard to find good help. Truly. We have been blessed over the last 12 years in business to have assembled a strong team of great people that work for and with us who I appreciate greatly. But today, I want to pay special homage to the person on the team that really holds us all together and makes each of our lives easier every single day.

Jessi Olson is our trusty assistant. She has been with me for almost 7 years now and is the backbone of the company. Many companies have staff that have been with them for the long haul, but very few have an employee that began working with them when they were just over the age of 14. You see, Jessi began as my way of paying forward the wonderful opportunity I was given when I was 15 by Mr. Steve Case. I vowed that I would run a company that took interest in high school students and give them amazing jobs where they would lean real business principles and be introduced to “real” jobs that could open doors for their minds and their future. And that decision has been constantly reinforced by my prize right hand.

Jessi’s talents, loyalty, intelligence, good work product, desire to really make clients and our team happy, drive, humbleness, and overall sweet nature are especially impressive in a world where people her age seem to be filled with a sense of entitlement and a great lack of work ethic in many cases.

So as an ode to Jessi on her 21st birthday, and as recognition for all of her hard work (which began before she could even drive,) I offer 21 reasons that Jessi is amazing, and how any employee at ANY age could learn from her.

1. Jessi has no ego. No task is too small for her. And more importantly, she still completely values the importance of the “small stuff” and how it makes this company work.
2. Jessi really does want to do well. She’s sensitive to other’s needs and really does try to make everyone happy. She’s cognizant of her work product and how it affects others jobs.
3. She takes pride in her work. Even when her workload only consisted of things like making files, getting coffee, and fetching my dry cleaning, she always did her best to complete things on time, never complained about them, and was looking for ways to create process or better ways of doing something to create efficiency.
4. She’s respectful, polite, and gracious (all very uncommon traits in this day and age.)
5. Jessi is always the voice of objective reason. While the rest of us get tangled in our own experience and opinion, Jessi can point out the true root of something, without emotional slant.
6. She’s incredibly smart. Not just book smart. Jessi is smart about life and people.
7. Which brings us to this: she has a very high emotional intelligence as well. Her EQ is off the charts.
8. And let’s not leave out that she’s exceptionally good at math and science, which is a rarity among girls.
9. Along with those book smarts, she’s actually very creative. She can sew, and design, and paint, and make a room prettier AND more functional. I wish we had more opportunity to let her use those talents.
10. Jessi is gorgeous. And she has no idea that she’s gorgeous.
11. She takes feedback well. And criticism fairly well. (She never gets mad at correction, but can get sad as she hates to disappoint.)
12. She is fiscally responsible. She has a savings account and a rainy day fund. She doesn’t splurge on designer jeans (very often) and uses coupons.
13. And while number 12 may seem funny, I find it amazing that she, at this very young age, believes you should not rent, but instead buy a house to build equity (thanks Jessi’s dad) which is really odd for her age.
14. She’s incredible loyal. Many have tried to poach her from us and she not only politely declines, but she let’s us know.
15. She’s also very protective. There are times that I won’t take time to realize that I need a break (last month of pregnancy anyone?) And Jessi will quietly make sure that things are magically taken OFF my plate without me knowing to ensure that I am taking care of myself.
16. She feels a sense of responsibility to me and the whole team. While I come first, she is also always worried about how she can help everyone else – and not just to be helpful, but because she truly gets that everyone on the team makes the company run.
17. She’s punctual and very aware of the value of time in this 24/7 world.
18. She is open to learning – all of the time – whether it’s for work or not. Just this past year she’s gotten more involved in reading the news daily, participating in politics, venturing into more social situations among executives, and finding out more about nutrition.
19. She takes pride in her work. And most people find this hard – especially when the work isn’t that glamorous at times.
20. She’s never complained about her job, position, or post. And that’s one of the reasons she started getting coffee, and now manages her own clients at an age when most are applying for their first job (to get coffee.)
21. She is my (and the company’s) right hand. Jessi knows the ins and outs of everything going on, in all of the offices, and with all of the clients, and is always making sure that we are staying on track and adhering to the original goals of the company. She keeps me focused, guided, protected, and efficient. I wouldn’t be able to have built the company to where it is today without her.

So there you go. Want to be a stellar employee? Take some cues from our little Jessi…who is now all grown up. Mark my words – she will be COO of this company one day. (And it may just be before she’s 30!) We love and appreciate you Jessi!

Share and Enjoy