Summer Reading

Book Review  The Janitor

There is nothing like sipping lemonade and reading a good book during the summertime.  As I’ve discussed before, my wife is a teacher so our summers are spent spending lots of time together, with no routine…hence the lack of posts over the last month…  I was fortunate enough this past week to have some time to read a book that I had expected to enlighten me and  inspire me and lo and behold it did.   In just three hours of reading, mixed with a few miscellaneous interruptions I had internalized the six directives of Todd Hopkins’ and Ray Hilbert’s inspiring book “The Janitor“.

The Janitor

Hopkins and Hilbert use the story of an overworked, over stressed CEO’s encounter with a seemingly common janitor to instill life lessons and six directives that lead to clarity at priorities, confidence in skill, and competency as both a business person and a family person.  The Janitor’s six directives include “Recharge vs Discharge”, “Don’t Spend, Invest”, and “Pray, don’t Pout”.  These three directives lead the main character, someone most of us can relate to, on a quest to become not only a better business person but an improved husband and father.

The Janitor also teaches us that our “families should be seen as a blessing, not a responsibility”.  All too often we see only the financial impact or work impact of our family and neglect to see the true blessing that comes with a loving family.  Most of us strive to succeed financially and provide for our families…in that hunter/gatherer mode we see only our responsibility to the family and not the blessing of the family.  Hopkins and Hilbert are quick to point out through The Janitor the err of our ways on this issue.

The final two lessons of The Janitor include passing along our values and knowledge and leaving a legacy.  I don’t want to ruin the story so read the book to learn more about these final two directives.  All in all this book inspired me, led me to more creative thinking, and helped me set goals and reprioritize my work and family life.  Let’s just suffice it to say that the world needs more Janitors…..and hopefully someday I’ll be one too.