'Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right.'
Henry Ford

One summer in the early ‘80s I carefully completed the appropriate form and made my way to the Romford Dole Office. 

It was a pretty grim affair. All tatty linoleum, chipped woodwork and reinforced windows. At one end stood a row of intimidating booths protected by wire grills. Since we were in the midst of a recession, there were long lines for the counters – ranks of mostly shabbily dressed men with their heads hung low, dispirited by the bureaucratic pointlessness of it all. I joined a queue, trying to look inconspicuous. Students were not particularly popular at this time and place.

When I eventually got to the front, a rather frosty woman with thick spectacles grabbed my form without a greeting. She looked me up and down with a detached stare and read out one of the questions.

‘Are you willing to accept any work if it is offered to you?’

‘No.’ I replied honestly. 

I had had a good think about this beforehand. Though I was indeed prepared to try my hand at most jobs, I could conceive of a number of roles I’d struggle with: debt collector, football league referee, swimming instructor, children’s entertainer, for instance.

My inquisitor was not impressed.

‘Wrong answer, love. Try again.’

‘Alright then: Yes,’ I replied. 

Without a glance up in my direction, she adjusted my form, gave it a thunderous stamp and added it to a file.

‘Next!’

Many years later, when I was head of an Ad Agency Planning Department, I found myself sympathetic with my inquisitor from the Romford Dole Office.

Disgruntled colleagues would book an appointment to explain why a particular account or task did not quite fit their personal career plan; why this was a category or brand that didn’t really resonate for them; why they didn’t want to change team, or travel, or move desk.

'Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value.'
Albert Einstein

The truth is that, when you’re in the midst of a resource crisis; when you’re struggling with a dissatisfied Client, a forthcoming Pitch and a shortage of talent; when your Finance Director is asking for economies and everyone is pressed for time, you really value a little energy and enthusiasm, a willingness to take on any task. And what you don’t need is people picking and choosing the roles and responsibilities that will serve them best.

‘Wrong answer, love. Try again.’

My experience at the Romford Dole Office taught me a valuable lesson: a positive disposition and an adaptable attitude can take you a long way in your career.

'They just keep on saying I'm a lazy woman.
Don't love my children and I'm mentally unfit.
Society gave us no choice,
Tried to silence my voice,
Pushing me on the welfare. 
I'm so tired of trying to prove my equal rights,
Though I've made some mistakes, for goodness sakes.
Why should they help mess up my life?
So keep away from me, Mr. Welfare
Did you hear me? Keep away from me, Mr. Welfare.’

Gladys Knight & The Pips, 'Mr. Welfare Man’ (C Mayfield)

No. 337