He was also a 16-year-old cashier at McDonald's. Working with him at the fast food restaurant across from our high school, I didn't immediately recognize him for what he was. That should have been the first clue that he was special, but instead I found it strange.
Greg had an odd habit. While the rest of the crew walked to fill customer's orders, Greg ran. This simple, extra effort, soon proved him a very valuable commodity.
Since he got more work done than anyone else on the crew, everyone wanted him. If you were a customer, you wanted to be in his line. If you were a co-worker, you wanted him working right next to you. If you were a manager, you wanted him on your shift.
Greg's genius did not go unrewarded. He was scheduled to work the most hours. He was scheduled to work the best hours. He was given the days off he requested. Better yet, he earned the largest raises. All for running, while everyone else walked. Greg Maisel was a genius because he understood that classic truth - you reap what you sow.
To reap any rewards at work or in life, we must first put out our portion. Greg understood that to receive superior rewards, he needed to provide superior efforts, a simple formula that is made easier by the fact that so few people put out that extra push.
Whether he recognized it or not, Greg's habit of running added the additional benefit of compressing time. While it took the rest of us six months to earn a raise, Greg was doing it in one. While it took other kids weeks to make an impression on management, Greg had done it in his first five minutes. Greg made himself valuable to McDonald's by first becoming their most valuable employee. From that point on, Greg called the shots at work - and if he recognized his own genius - in life.
Running is merely an example of doing more than is expected. The greater your service, the greater your rewards. The universe works that way. I'm not sure Greg realized that consciously, but he certainly understood it subconsciously.
The world has a severe shortage of Greg Maisels, creating unlimited opportunities for the rest of us. In fact, I'll guarantee there's a shortage of Greg's type of genius right where you're working now. If your boss is like most, he or she is just dying to find a Greg Maisel to help shoulder the burden.
What are you waiting for?
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Mike Johnson is an energetic writer & entrepreneur. Learn more about Mike's offerings at WorldsBestWriter.com