The Story of Rollie

(Ed. note. This is a true story. Some names have been changed to protect the innocent. Click on the post for the audio)

Years ago, I worked in a large metropolitan hospital. Yes--- it was stressful but challenging work. One of the nice things about the work was the very bright and interesting people I got to know. One person, Rollie, was a medical technician. He was married to a wonderful girl, Sherrie. Rollie had a very dry sense of humor and had a very laid back relaxed style that put everyone at ease. Patients asked for him. I never did figure out how he could be so calm and collected always. Anyway.

In the mid-seventies a medical equipment manufacturer was looking for someone to use their equipment to travel between several hospitals to perform tests. It was a start up company. They had big bucks on the line. They wanted a person to administer the tests that could develop the business and who would inspire confidence. The first person that came to mind was ----Rollie.

Now Rollie and Sherrie were newly married. They had dreams of a new home. Lots of Dreams. Rollie accepted the job. It paid very well.

As Rollie began to travel from hospital to hospital, patients and staff discovered what all of us knew about Rollie. How dependable he was. What a wonderful and thorough tech he was. His relaxed style put patients at ease. Patients began asking for him.

The business began fairly slow. Soon other hospitals learned about Rollie. Soon doctors heard about Rollie. His schedule became full. Phones were ringing.

The directors of the new start up company met. They were all smiles. Their personal checks each month were rising monthly. They tried hard to contain their excitement. They were going to be rich. This was a homerun.

Soon cases piled up. Rollie asked for help to meet the demand. The board met. They considered themselves "old school." Someone remembered an old saying from one book they had read on management--- "Whatever it takes." They decided that Rollie should be paid more but work as long as it took to get the work done.

One night coming home near midnight, Rollie almost fell asleep at the wheel. Sherrie was at the door to meet him. One look between them and they knew.

Rollie resigned the next day. The company was shocked. They offered him more money....lots more money. Rollie just said, "I want my life back."

Don't worry. Rollie was hired within 24 hours by another firm. He went on to a very successful career. His former company however....was in a difficult bind.

So. They hired a replacement. Then they hired a second replacement. Then they hired a third replacement. It took three people to replace Rollie.