The Interns
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
In the past I've written about editors here at the REAL Quixtar Blog. Today I'm calling out the Interns. As I was driving in I was thinking about them, particularly since they have taken on a larger workload in the absence of Anna.
Shannon, Charlotte and Lindsay (who actually is a contractor) are all working hard on important PR work. For them, it's an entree to the profession and a chance to build their portfolio, their resume, and their skills. For us, there certainly is a commitment to work with them, explain how things are done, edit their work, and develop them into effective contributors. Will they make mistakes along the way? Absolutely. But putting the time into developing these young professionals is well worth the effort.
Over the past several years, numerous students have worked in Quixtar PR and Communications as interns. A large percentage of them remain with the company today as full-time employees. Not all in PR, of course. Katie, who does a lot of the "behind-the-scenes" work here on the Opportunity Zone, was once an intern. So was Jessica, who now is a writer within Communications. So was Lindsay, who worked for Alticor's HR area the last few years and is now moving the company's Industry & Community Affairs group. So was Melissa, now in Marketing (and author of the Team Nutrilite blog). With each of these interns, invested time has returned huge dividends. Training, experience, and "repetitions" were key to their development.
Among the reasons Katie, Jessica, Lindsay and Melissa are great employees is the fact that they learned how we do things here, rather than how things might be done at some other agency or company. Let's face it, everyone's different, and we're no exception. We have a distinctive culture, and much of that comes from the nature of our business and the partnership we have with IBOs. At times, when new employees join us after working for a long time elsewhere, they have a difficult time adjusting to the culture here. I know I did, after working for a small business journal. Joining a huge corporation was a definite culture shock.
I think the same is true in the Quixtar business. In the early stages, new IBOs observe others making sales and sponsoring others. They then try it on their own, under a sponsor's watchful eye. They then try over and over again and learn with each repetition. Eventually, the words come naturally and the IBO becomes masterful in understanding their customer and IBO prospects. For new IBOs, it's key that they learn how to do things right, right from the beginning. That's where Quixtar University is coming into play, as well as other programs from the company. And I don't mean that all IBOs have to learn how to do it the exact same way. There are best practices, however, and there are "plain-and-simple" requirements that help provide necessary disclosures and ensure legality.
For people who have just joined the business, welcome! Take the time to learn from seasoned professionals. Learn as much as you can as fast as you can and don't be afraid to try, try and try again.
And for everyone in the business, you know what your role is, of course! You're doing every day what I do on a more limited basis. You are working with your "interns" and helping them learn how to do this business right. You are the ones showing unlimited patience and always willing to provide corrective pointers. Thank you for all you do to build this business right and to help others do the same. Here's to the interns!