He Wasn't Lyin'!

Greensboro, NC – Funny story about one of the folks that I report to. When I was transferred down to our Winston-Salem office from Rockville, my boss placed me under the supervision of “MM.” MM is a Jersey product; however, you would never guess it since he talks very sloooowly and softly. He ran a couple of call centers in New York for American Express and Prudential so he has some great management skills. Currently, MM runs our call center in Winston-Salem. When I first met him in January, we sort of had a meet n’ greet with each other and he told me about his addiction to coffee. A couple of weeks passed and I noticed that he carries this stainless steel, Starbucks coffee container everywhere. I was quite skeptical. So, I waited a couple of more weeks to ensure that he didn’t have a week-long illness or anything like that. Finally, on a Friday, I called him out. I told him that he carries that coffee container everywhere – to the same meetings that we’re both in, in his cube, to lunch, to greet clients, etc. Luckily, MM does have a pretty good sense of humor and so he says to me, “Yes, this mug is actually attached to my right hand. I pretty much take it everywhere.” Subsequently, I asked him how many times he refills the coffee container on a daily basis. His answer: 12! (And his hands don’t shake!)

Fast forward to last week – I was asked to assist our new consolidation loan department in the hiring of an outside loan analyst. Prior to an interview, I asked the Director of H.R. if I could use the restroom as I had to take a massive leak. I briskly walked into the bathroom where one must bypass a row of about seven stalls (about 25 feet long) to reach the urinals. I was looking down because my shoelace was undone when I noticed the stainless steel, Starbucks container on the floor in the occupied stall #3! I saw a hand go down to reach for it, heard the sip of hot coffee passing lips as I walked past the stall, then the sound of “clink” (stainless steel on tile) could be heard when I reached the stall. MM wasn’t lyin’ – He “pretty much takes it everywhere!”