{"id":108,"date":"2012-07-27T05:46:00","date_gmt":"2012-07-27T11:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/69.195.124.95\/~redletu4\/guest-post-bernie-peters-a-boss-named-mr-stern\/"},"modified":"2012-07-27T05:46:00","modified_gmt":"2012-07-27T11:46:00","slug":"guest-post-bernie-peters-a-boss-named-mr-stern","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davidrupert\/guest-post-bernie-peters-a-boss-named-mr-stern\/","title":{"rendered":"Guest Post: Bernie Peters, “A Boss Named Mr. Stern”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>
\n\n
<\/div>\n
\nHave you ever gone into a job just a little too confident? Bernie Pfeiffenberger\u2019s first job was that way. I\u2019m pleased to introduce her writing to the Red Letter Believer audience. Bernie<\/span><\/span>\u00a0is a widow\/single mom excited about finding new adventure. <\/span><\/span><\/i>Daily, she is challenged by the wisdom of the Bible and Oswald Chambers\u2019 devotionals.<\/i>She enjoys outdoor activities and cycling, especially going downhill.<\/i>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n


<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
A Boss Named Mr. Stern<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I just knew<\/i> I was ready.\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I had all the proper training in bookkeeping, typing, office etiquette and short-hand.\n<\/div>\n
My training included how to greet clients with a smile and to look and present myself\n<\/div>\n
in a professional manner.\u00a0 My new skills, not only represented me, but also my school.\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
My excitement could hardly be contained when the teacher from my high school work\n<\/div>\n
program informed me I was chosen to fill the secretary\/receptionist position at a small structural engineering company. \u00a0At the age of 17, I promised myself I would not\n<\/div>\n
be intimidated, even though I would be working for four seasoned, professional male\n<\/div>\n
engineers.\u00a0 \n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
They were a diverse group.\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The youngest engineer, Mr. Jenson, was quiet and diligent to his tasks.\u00a0 The co-owner, Mr. Maxwell, carried the torch of fun and laughter in the office.\u00a0 I always enjoyed his presence.\u00a0 I grew to admire the long-standing engineer, Mr. Morris, who was gentle and kind.\u00a0 He was confined to a wheelchair.\u00a0 Yet, he kept up with the rigorous demands of his job.\u00a0 Perseverance?\u00a0 You\u2019ll not find a better example.\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
By contrast, the owner, Mr. Stern, was on edge most of the time.\u00a0 He was always right to the point, painfully meticulous and precise.\u00a0 I noticed his tense, horizontal lips seemed to struggle to move in the upward direction.\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I soon discovered my straight A\u2019s and speed in typing didn\u2019t quite help me when I had to type page after page of technical terminology and symbols.\u00a0 Nor, did it assist me in planning a Christmas party, all within a defined budget, for 150 people with hors d\u2019oeuvres and cocktails.\u00a0 I hadn\u2019t been exposed to the difference between red and white wine.\u00a0 A screwdriver was a drink, too?\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
My biggest challenge came when I tried to balance the financial books, by hand, from the \n<\/div>\n
previous receptionist. \u201cLord, I\u2019ve gone over them at least 10 times, and they\u2019re still out of balance by $10k.\u201d\u00a0 How would I explain this to Mr. Stern, meticulous, and precise?\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
His reaction was just as I had anticipated.\u00a0 \u201cWhat, you must be wrong, they can\u2019t be off\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Bill Lumburgh \u2013 from \u201cOffice Space.\u201d The worst boss ever?<\/span><\/i><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
that amount,\u201d said Mr. Stern.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll send the books to my accountant, he knows what\n<\/div>\n
he is doing and surely knows more about the subject than you do.\u201d\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
How low and inadequate I felt for several weeks, thinking I may have failed to represent my school work program well.\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Then the phone call came, my boss asked if I could stay a little later that day to discuss what the accountant found.\u00a0 A thousand scenarios raced through my mind the rest of the\n<\/div>\n
day.\u00a0 \u00a0At times, I had to hold back the tears since I wasn\u2019t sure if I\u2019d be sadly packing \n<\/div>\n
up my desk that evening.\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Finally, Mr. Stern asked me to step into his office to discuss the matter.\u00a0 As I walked into\n<\/div>\n
his office, he asked me to close the door and take a seat in front of him.\u00a0 Moments\n<\/div>\n
waiting for him to gather his papers seemed like hours as I watched his emotionless face with no smile in sight.\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
As he lowered his glasses and looked at me, a very large and rare grin appeared on his\n<\/div>\n
face and to my surprise, he ended up thanking me for being so diligent in discovering \n<\/div>\n
the accounting error, but could not locate.\u00a0 He said the accountant confirmed the error\n<\/div>\n
I had discovered and adjusted the books.\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
After our discussion, my heart was lightened and I think I grew a few inches that day in\n<\/div>\n
my spirit and confidence.\u00a0 It reminded me of the Verse:\n<\/div>\n
\nI Timothy 4:12<\/u><\/i>\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t let anyone look down on you because of your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.\u201d\n<\/i>

\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
It was nice to receive a rare smile from my boss with a card of appreciation and an added\n<\/div>\n
bonus for a job well done.\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Please, share with a friend if you feel moved.
\nRead all past issues at http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davidrupert<\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Have you ever gone into a job just a little too confident? Bernie Pfeiffenberger\u2019s first job was that way. I\u2019m pleased to introduce her writing to the Red Letter Believer audience. Bernie\u00a0is a widow\/single mom excited about finding new adventure. Daily, she is challenged by the wisdom of the Bible and Oswald Chambers\u2019 devotionals.She enjoys […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2375,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[958],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-108","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-what-i-learned-from-my-first-job"],"yoast_head":"\nGuest Post: Bernie Peters, "A Boss Named Mr. Stern"<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Have you ever gone into a job just a little too confident? Bernie Pfeiffenberger's first job was that way. 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