Tuesday, 04 March 2025 04:42

The No. 1 piece of advice my grandfather gave me, CEO reminisces

Rate this item
(0 votes)

At age 15, I got my second-ever job as a cashier at a fast-food restaurant. I hated clocking in every day — the thick smell of burgers and old frying oil made me sick, and customers were often rude, especially during the lunch rush and at the drive-thru. That made it difficult to apply myself. 
But Indeed CEO Chris Hyams says even a fast-food cashier role can be fulfilling if you have the right attitude.
Growing up, his grandfather gave him a cardinal piece of career advice that he still holds on to today: “Every job is the most important job in the world, and you should treat every job as if it’s the most important job in the world.”
After graduating college, Hyams worked with young addicts and alcoholics in a Los Angeles psychiatric hospital. He later moved to Vermont and couldn’t find another role in the recovery industry, so he spent two years teaching special education at a public high school, he says. 
Hyams tried multiple other jobs, too. He worked full-time at his grandpa’s small production business while being a drummer in five bands on the side. “Tried to become a rockstar. Failed. Would do it all over again,” Hyams’ LinkedIn profile currently reads.
He went back to school, getting a master’s degree in computer science, and worked as a software developer at a tech company called Trilogy — where he rose to become vice president of product development, according to his LinkedIn profile. He launched and shuttered a tech startup before landing another VP role at Indeed in 2010.
″[My grandfather] told my brothers and I, at a very young age, that work is a sacred thing. ... It’s more than a paycheck,” Hyams says. “It’s where you find meaning and purpose in your life. ... It doesn’t matter if you’re an astronaut or sweeping the floor at NASA. [Work] is where we get pride and dignity.”
Looking back on that fast-food job, I can honestly say it wasn’t all bad. I was friendly with a lot of my coworkers and had a couple of regulars who I’d chat with on Saturday mornings as they sipped their coffee. I took pride in being the go-to ice cream cone maker.
Perhaps if I focused on those positives a bit more, I’d have been able to put the same effort into my job that Hyams puts into his, and I may have actually enjoyed coming to work.

 

CNBC

April 15, 2025

GenCos warn of nationwide blackout over FG’s N4trn debt

Power Generation Companies (GenCos) have threatened to shut down operations over a N4 trillion debt…
April 14, 2025

‘Tinubu may be a great dad, but he’s Nigeria’s worst president’ – Eedris Abdulkareem

Veteran Nigerian rapper and activist Eedris Abdulkareem has launched a scathing critique of President Bola…
April 16, 2025

A strategy to get more done—and feel less stressed

For some people, the expression “You have as many hours in the day as Beyoncé”…
April 06, 2025

Excavation near site where Jesus was crucified and buried results in ancient discovery

Proof of an ancient garden, consistent with biblical scripture, has emerged at the holiest site…
April 16, 2025

Gunmen abduct worshippers on prayer mountain in Kogi

Gunmen reportedly stormed a prayer session at a remote mountain site in the Egbola area,…
April 16, 2025

Here’s the latest as Israel-Hamas war enters Day 558

Hamas armed wing says it lost contact with group holding Israeli-US hostage Alexander The armed…
April 15, 2025

Is it finally safe to ditch your phone case? I put it to the test

Thomas Germain With smartphones tougher than ever, a new wave of phone minimalists say cases…
January 08, 2025

NFF appoints new Super Eagles head coach

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed Éric Sékou Chelle as the new Head Coach…

NEWSSCROLL TEAM: 'Sina Kawonise: Publisher/Editor-in-Chief; Afolabi Ajibola: IT Manager;
Contact Us: [email protected] Tel/WhatsApp: +234 811 395 4049

Copyright © 2015 - 2025 NewsScroll. All rights reserved.