Memories of the Phoenix Building from Ryan

On my brother Dylan's first day he joined [former employee] Scott and me out there. Dylan, as he can be, was nervously chatty. Scott didn't say a word the entire time until he put out his cigarette and said to Dylan, "Less talking, more smoking." Of course, talking was part of the point, and we all got to know a lot about each other as people on that fire escape.

And we got to know the neighborhood from there, as well. My other brother Aaron and I would stand out there watching the new hotel being built from the ground up, trying to guess what they're doing or what certain machines or building materials are for. About once a week Shawn would also give us updates of early morning progress.

On the humanity and generosity of 800-CEO-READ

I remember being shocked and full of anxiety in a Texarkana hotel room watching coverage of Hurricane Katrina, which I had just escaped. Thankfully, the company I left (a decision that made Jack Covert none-too-happy) offered me a part-time temporary job to help me get through the whole ordeal. On my first day back, I walked into shipping and receiving, and Jack, without stopping, said, "I'm still pissed at you, you know."

Even after I left the company for a second time, I was still invited to the summer party every year. When my daughter Bea was born, the company sent us a Peapod gift certificate. It was no-doubt the perfect gift for first-time parents, and we were really touched.

And more...

I'll also remember generations of shipper/receivers who, damn right, took pride in getting the old freight elevator to stop just right, aligning just above or just below floor level depending on whether they are loading or unloading the elevator.

The gone-but-not-forgotten 6th floor vending machine with horrible, glorious, microwaveable, wrapped in plastic food like cheeseburgers and Jimmy Dean's sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwiches.

When the shipping desk was behind the wall in what later became the center of the warehouse, but was then the opposite side of the wall from Roy's desk, I remember... 1) hearing Roy constantly giggling and guffawing while talking to familiar, long-time customers, 2) The first time Sally pulled up a stool and asked if I was happy shipping/receiving, or if I wanted to more, and 3) Jack's walk-bys/check-ups/interrogations, which was probably the most annoying skill David Schwartz ever taught him. Those two and their need to make sure stacks of boxes were thoroughly explained at all times.

Lastly, I'll never forget the first time I realized I had a mentor, but not understanding until later that I actually had two. Every day, I strolled into Jack's office, went up and down over the old concrete hump in the floor, sat down, and picked his brain. At other times, when I showed up late or was visibly hungover, Jack practically dragged me back there: "You need to stop being an asshole." (If this isn't an exact quote, it's pretty close). The fact that he said it about 28 times speaks to the kind of opportunity this company can provide and the patience it demonstrates to give employees those opportunities. The "not realizing I had two" part was after I left, as I was trying to make a home in New Orleans, I realized that our current General Manager Sally Haldorson's less direct instruction combined perfectly with Jack's heart-on-sleeve style and made me a much better person, and better prepared for life.