How a summer job has impacted my life.
The impact of our seemingly small decisions
We often underestimate the impact of our seemingly small decisions until time proves them more than purposeful—that’s Jimmy’s account of working at QSP, anyway. An eager high school student at the time, hoping to dip his adolescent toes further into the waters of employment, Jimmy first started working at QSP in 2008 when his schoolmate, already an employee, advised him to come along for the ride. With a basic background in landscaping from a previous summer job, Jimmy replied, “Sure, why not?” His introduction to painting started with three words, a great friend, and open-mindedness.
Painting with QSP is structured in a manner such that new hires never feel alone.
Jimmy recalls having a sense of security even throughout the training process. “There were no pre-requisites and my friend trained me”, says Jimmy. He takes pride in the fact that QSP understood the importance of making the training process as comfortable as possible to facilitate the highest quality of learning. If employees are pressured and demeaned, it can inhibit their ability to perform and QSP is intentional about strong employer-employee relationships, built on respect and integrity. Working alongside his friend, Jimmy was motivated and it gave him a sense of independence that allowed him to excel at his job. So much so, that he was able to save enough money for a two-year mission trip with his church! Meeting financial goals before graduating high school is an invaluable experience. It sets the right tone for making informed decisions when there is much more at stake. Jimmy credits QSP for some of his best lessons about the world of commerce, money management, and business ownership.
As a student, flexibility is essential, especially when balancing education with the financial strain that comes with it.
Jimmy’s relationship with QSP did not end after high school. When he got accepted into the Math and Statistics program at Grant McEwan University, he kept his job. “I was able to pick my own hours”, he bragged... and rightfully, so. As a student, flexibility is essential, especially when balancing education with the financial strain that comes with it. QSP was more than accommodating and that allowed him to worry less about “making ends meet” and focus more on performing well in school. Working for the duration of his undergraduate degree, Jimmy was able to avoid taking out any student loans. He lived at home, worked as a painter with QSP during the summers, and was able to pay for his post-secondary education in its entirety.
Jimmy is proud of his evolution at QSP. He recounts having help when he first started painting. “Graham was hands-on and helped with initial consultations and introductions with the clients”. As Jimmy’s skills became more refined, so did his role. Now he can receive a client intake sheet and complete the process from start to finish: from the initial phone call to taking photos of the completed product in the presence of happy customers. That’s what’s powerful about working at QSP—the growth.
Jimmy says, “You don’t come here and stay the same”.
Jimmy has not stayed the same at all. Now a husband to his beautiful wife, Tara, a father to an energetic son, Winfield, and presently enrolled in Optometry school, he still credits QSP as an unwavering pillar of “adulting”. Working at QSP has allowed him to provide for his family in immeasurable ways. “Tara is able to stay at home with Winfield and she does that by choice, but I am so happy I am able to support her and Winfield”, Jimmy says. He recognizes that, for any individual, working, going to school, and taking care of a young family can be overwhelming and burdensome, but QSP has undoubtedly lightened his load. Jimmy enjoys the fact that he can take a painting job in Calgary and turn that into a weekend family getaway at the same time! His wife’s family is out of town and he is grateful that he does not have to sacrifice time with his family for his employment. At QSP the two go hand in hand.
“How you treat people, matters—no matter where you work”. Jimmy has a deeper understanding of effective customer service.
A now ten-year relationship with QSP that is still ongoing, Jimmy views his employment as the gift that keeps on giving. In the most practical sense, he has learned a series of transferrable skills that he looks forward to implementing in his career as an optometrist. “How you treat people, matters—no matter where you work”. Jimmy has a deeper understanding of effective customer service, money management, sharp decision-making, and he has developed high business acumen. He also cannot stress enough how much he has saved and invested in his family, financially, thanks to working at QSP. On a lighter note, he has acquired new hobbies and interests on the job, such as programming, photography, and videography. “I have been fortunate enough to work at a local school taking pictures and videos for varsity games and events,” Jimmy shares. He never would imagine that a painting job would be so impactful for him.
When asked what his favourite part of working at QSP is, Jimmy said working with people.
Initially planning on a career in Engineering, Jimmy recognized through his employment as a painter, that he values face-to-face interaction much more. The intimacy he gets from hearing the concerns of people and actively resolving their dispositions or needs is far too rewarding to not do every day. There is a different feeling when you see the smile on someone’s face after you’ve helped them and that’s not something Jimmy believes he can accomplish engineering, at least not in the way he knows he can be most inspiring.
So, why should anyone work at QSP? According to Jimmy, if you want to work with great people for great people, QSP is for you. As long as you’re a go-getter, you’re responsible, and you want to get a lot done, a job at QSP will be financially rewarding and internally fulfilling.
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