The Janitor Test
Let’s get straight into it this week.
I’ve been thinking about this one for a while. Since I read this Twitter Thread:
It got me thinking of my Dad.
He had shoulder replacement surgery last week so I’ve been thinking about him.
As your parents age, when they go in for surgery, you worry about them like they worried about you.
He’s doing well and on the road to recovery, which should be better for him long-term, so let’s focus on how it ties to Trent’s tweet.
Growing Up
Growing up, we didn’t have much.
We never stayed in the same place long, and my dad didn’t hold down steady jobs. That didn’t change until I was ~ 10 years old.
At 10, my father made a decision to give up alcohol. A decision that changed his life and the lives of everyone in our family.
During the school year, he worked full-time as a school bus driver and also did security work in the film industry. When school was out in June and the film industry was busy, he would work with the Teamsters as a driver—usually in the set decorating department.
Over time, he moved to cast and crew driving and started a business renting equipment and vehicles to the movies. His income improved significantly, but it was by working 18+ hours per day. Double Time, Triple Time and on the good days, Quad Time.
What does that have to do with the Janitor Test? Everything.
One of the things I noticed about my dad that differentiated him from anyone else I’ve ever seen, other than my big brother maybe, is he would talk to anyone, absolutely anyone.
Not only would he talk to them, he’d have meaningful conversations.
We’d be in the big city shopping and come out of the store, and he’d be having a deep conversation with a homeless person on the street. He’d be finding out their story—how they got there—and when you joined him, he’d fill you in, fascinated by what he’d learned.
It was like Humans of New York, but it was my Dad.
I’ve never told him how much that impressed me, but gosh, did it ever.
There was a lesson he taught my siblings and me.
A lesson that’s never left us. The Janitor Test.
The Janitor Test
The Janitor Test is simple.
Whether someone is the CEO or the company janitor, you should treat them the same.
He didn’t only talk to important people. VIPs. He talked to everyone.
He and my mother taught us to hold the door, say please and thank you, and do it respectfully regardless of who was on the other side.
I think part of it was they always saw themselves on that other side. They saw their parents, uncles, aunts and siblings. People who battled to eek out a living. People who deserved respect.
These are lessons I can never forget, no matter how rich I get.
If you see someone who doesn’t…
Someone who only treats people who are valuable well but ignores others speaks to their character.
Let me give you some simple examples:
- Twitter DMs
- Twitter Replies
How many Big Twitter Accounts do you see that reply only to other large accounts and don’t answer DMs?
To me, they’re failing the Janitor Test.
Sure, if you send me a DM trying to sell me something, I’ll just delete it.
But, if you send me an authentic DM to have a conversation, I’ll speak to you.
If you reply to my tweets, I’m going to engage with you and the more I see it the more I engage, because you matter.
You matter as much as a large account.
You matter as much as an important VIP account.
We’re all human and we all deserve to have connection.
The combination of my dad and growing up poor, with nothing, makes me realize how important it is to be seen.
If you’re someone who replies to my newsletter with an email, like below’s questions, I’m going to reply. We’re going to have a conversation. That’s simply how respect works for me.
Run the Test
Here are some ways you can run the test.
- Janitor
- Servers
- Reception
- Accounts Payable
If you have a job applicant, test them.
If you have someone you’re dating, test them.
Put them in situations where they’ll be exposed to people in blue-collar or menial roles and have someone strike up a conversation.
What you’re seeking to understand is how they’ll behave.
You’ll want to know whether it’s the same as how they’d behave with you, your boss, or the company president.
Let me know how your test goes and what you think when you see someone fail the Janitor Test.
TGG Podcast
This week on the Growth Guide Podcast, I spoke to Nir Eyal about their book, Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life.
You lose 2.1 hours to distraction, every day.
But, it doesn’t have to be this way.
To become Indistractable, listen to this episode with Nir Eyal.
In this episode, we dive into the following and much more:
- How to gain traction
- Timeboxing your calendar
- How to control your time and attention
- Internal and external distraction triggers
Last Word 👋
I love hearing from readers and I’m always looking for your feedback.
How I’m doing with the Growth Guide. Is there anything you want to see more of or less? Which aspects of the Newsletter or Podcast do you like the most?
Hit reply, say hello, and let me know what you think of the Janitor Test.
I’d love to chat with you!
All my best,
Clint
