ENDEAVOUR

TRY HARD TO DO OR ACHIEVE SOMETHING

Johnny Ireland

I was 16 years of age and it was my last day at school before leaving to join the big wide world. We left young in those days. No university for me – not enough qualifications. I wasn’t deemed ‘clever’ enough so had no chance of gaining entry, although, to be fair, it wasn’t really the done thing back then. Unless you wanted to be a brain surgeon or an astronaut, you left school, found a job, and hopefully worked your way up the ladder.

On leaving school, all students would receive a comment from each of their teachers about them as a person as well as their input throughout their time at school. On the final page of my written report, my headmaster had this to say:

“It is up to Johnny to deliver on the talent he believes he has.”

His verbal comment when saying goodbye at the school gates was:

“If you wish to spend the rest of your life being a clown you should join the circus.”

The comments made by my English teacher were a bit different. I adored my English teacher at school. He was also my football coach. I didn’t know then, but I now know what an inspirational individual he was – and still is.

This is what he wrote:

“Johnny must, simply must, continue to endeavour to be the person this world truly believes he can be.”

I didn’t understand the word endeavour at the time and had to take a sneak peek at the dictionary (there was no internet in those days!). The definition was: Try hard to do or achieve something.

I liked the sound of that!

Both teachers were truly motivational, but in different ways.

My first job after leaving school was that of a milkman. I worked part-time at weekends helping out a local guy who delivered around five hundred pints of milk to his customers. I loved it!

I loved having to get up early, be in the right place, at the right time, to deliver the right order. It’s how I first got into sales. I wasn’t just delivering milk, I was also selling orange juice, potatoes, even bacon! My boss told me I could sell ice to the Eskimos. “You’re pretty good when you put your mind to it,” he used to say, reminding me of my English teacher. He would also say: “But you’re a right clown to work with!”

which sounded more like my headmaster!

What followed was ten years of working in a government office supporting those who found themselves unemployed and looking to return to work. My job at the very beginning was to write weekly benefit cheques to those in need of government finance. Yes, everything was hand-written in those days!

I witnessed endeavour on a daily basis; those genuinely good people who had their livelihoods removed, quite often due to businesses going into administration. It was the early eighties; it happened a lot. I was inspired by the people who simply wouldn’t give up on their dreams, and the dreams of their families, because of the failings of others.

I remember one young lady who was distraught after losing her job in retail. It was all she knew and all she had ever wanted to do. Starting at 16, she had worked her way up through the ranks to become head of recruitment, influencing the recruitment of thousands of staff members to work in her company’s stores across the UK. Until it all came tumbling down around her, through no fault of her own.

I saw her every two weeks for nearly a year when she visited the benefit office. She never gave up on her dream. She got back to where she once was and went on to better herself with a fabulous company.

Looking back, I truly believe that young lady planted a seed in my mind regarding a career in retail. In fact, as I enter my 36th year in retail I celebrate some of the wonderfully talented and gifted individuals I have had the pleasure to meet and work with. I also remember one individual who once said: “Only people without qualifications work in retail,” which makes me smile when I think of the fantastic people who have brought much talent and experience to their respective retail roles over the years – qualified or not!

When I’m asked about my own qualifications, I laugh and say I don’t have any – apart from the qualification of life (and a Latin O level) – and I’m reminded of my English teacher once more, as well as that word ‘endeavour’ and its definition.

Space Shuttle Endeavour which first launched in May 1992 and went on to complete 25 successful missions, was actually named after the Royal Navy ship, HMS Endeavour, sailed by Captain James Cook on his first voyage of discovery. Can you believe that ship later had other names including the less inspirational title of Lord Sandwich? Doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, does it? Or indeed the same motivational qualities.

Throughout my career, I’ve endeavoured to be more like my English teacher and done my best to inspire others to succeed. I’ve tried to see the good in people, to recognise their qualities and to identify and allow for their flaws. Just like my teacher did with me.

But it’s not just about trying hard to do or achieve something. It’s about that never give up attitude. It’s about chasing your dreams. It’s about continuing to endeavour, even if you choose to dress like a clown.