One of life’s simple pleasures is putting in an honest day’s work. This week, I had the opportunity to meet Jesse Allen, Route Sales Manager from Tidewater of the Central Virginia market center while he was loading his truck from a route run. One thing I always admire about the RSM’s I talk to is their willingness to get their hands dirty and lead by example. Jesse is no different.

I asked Jesse what got him out of bed each day. “It’s real simple,” he said. “My mom used to tell me when I was met with a challenge or struggle, ‘It is never boring though, is it?’ That is why I love the route business. We are able to have a real impact on sales and customers and it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been doing it, it is something new each day.”

“The management side comes naturally to me. I have been in management since I was 16 years old in a convenience store then my own businesses, so I enjoy being in a position to lead. I just expect greatness at all times and I will help anyone get there.”

One thing that makes our route teams so unique is the frequency with which they engage with clients. For those clients on a weekly delivery schedule, their RSR is much more than an Aramark representative, they are part of the team. Knowing this, Jesse empowers his group by giving them the freedom to work with confidence. “My team knows they are there to make decisions and help clients. Any decision can be fixed, but they have to make that decision to have a better understanding of what to avoid in the future. We are always looking for opportunity to grow and improve our business and we cannot do that if we are scared to make mistakes.”

If there is one thing we all know about Refreshment Services, it is never boring. While each day is unique, one thing is always true: the work we do makes people happy. This week, know you are making an impact.