About five days ago, I passed the intersection of Riverside Street and Brighton Avenue. A man was standing in the median strip displaying a sign. Not an unusual sight, right?

But it was unusual! This guy – let’s call him “Jim” – was clean shaven, his hair was trimmed, his clothes were neat and clean. There were no earrings or tattoos. His self-regard was eloquent. He looked ready to go to work. And he was.

His sign listed the work he was eager to do and for which he was looking.

There was no sad story about his vicissitudes. Or a plea for a hand-out. Or an “Anything Helps.” Or a “God Bless.” (What a presumptuous phrase!)

When I passed that intersection two hours later, he was gone.

He clearly espoused the sentiments expressed in the poem “Invictus,” which ends, “I am the captain of my soul.” Someone had recognized those qualities in him and wanted Jim on his team, regardless of any job opening right now.

A few years ago, I was running a small Maine company where I was responsible for profit and loss as well as hiring.

When I encountered a person with an attitude like Jim’s, I hired him even if I wasn’t looking to fill a specific job – because I knew that I could assign Jim anywhere and, in short order, he would contribute.

Enough said. You get the point.

Dave Palmer

Westbrook

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