We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cathy Ward metz a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Cathy, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I was born in 1961. I realize so much has changed in the world.
My work ethic comes from my parents. My father left the house each day to work. My mother was a stay-at-home mother that on occasion took on a job temporarily to help pay a bill or two. Two of the hardest working people I have ever known. My father was a roofer by trade in those days. My mother would be up before him at 4 AM to make his coffee, and pack his lunch. There was never a day she didn’t take his coffee to him in bed, even on the weekends! He didn’t expect it. It was her way of connecting with him on a daily basis before the demands of the day kicked in.
I do not remember my father ever taking a sick day. I do remember he broke his leg once and insisted the Dr. put a “hob” on the end of the cast so that he could walk.
The Dr. didn’t approve but, my father was back at work the next day, on top of someone’s roof! When I was under the age of 5 I suffered from severe growing pains. I would often wake up crying. I can remember my father rubbing my knees and legs with medicine until I could go back to sleep. Still, he got up at the same time each morning and went to work.
My father developed Melanoma. He was diagnosed in his early 40’s. Fair skinned and auburn hair he has spent far too many hours on top of roofs n the sun. Although the cancer was very advanced, he was undeterred. He purchased a Sawmill and had it set up on his property. He built it under cover so that it would give him some protection from the sun, and he kept right on working. From sunup to sundown. He died at the age of 48.
My Mother worked just as diligently at home. Getting children off to school, cooking meals, washing clothes, feeding chickens, canning food. Our house was always clean and lovely. There were occasions that my mother would temporarily get a night job. She liked to help make extra money for something they might want to purchase or pay off.
Both were busy people. They not only worked hard they worked smart. They considered what would be the best use of their time and money. They never went deeply into debt. If they incurred a debt, they paid it off as quickly as possible. I remember one year when they received their tax return, My Father asked my mother: “What should we do with this money?” My mother immediately replied: “Let’s pay off our land” And they did! Even as my mother aged, she was always there for those of us out working. When my washer was broken, she would wash laundry for me so that I didn’t have to do it on the weekend, my only time off with the kids. She shopped for deals on food for all of us and would graciously share. I remember during her last year taking her to the emergency room in the middle of the night. When it approached time for me to be at work, she would tell me to go to work. If she was stable and being admitted I would. My office was about 5 minutes from the hospital. I would go back to the hospital during lunch and return again after I got off of work. I could have called my employer and let them know I wasn’t coming in. I held an important position in the company. But that isn’t what I was taught. I could go to work that day. And I did.
They taught me that work is important and that a job is valuable. They taught me to never call my husband at work. It might affect his job. They taught me that I could handle things until he got home. They were right. I could and I did.
Work ethic for them meant responsibility, security, opportunity and success.
I was a single mother for many years with three children. Going to work was very important for me. I had three of the most important reasons living in my home with me. My children. I needed to provide for them. I rarely missed a workday. Once when I had a terrible flu I got up for work. I also got my children up for school. After getting myself ready I proceeded outside to get in my car. I was overcome and fell to my knees. I started throwing up. My oldest son came outside and made me come back in and go to bed. I called out of work that day. Calling out of work is just not something we did. I am happy to say it is also something that my children don’t do. They have excellent work ethic and it has served them well.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I own a staffing agency. 1st Priority Staffing in Lakeland, Florida. I love what I do! I have always loved fostering and growing relationships! Helping employers find excellent employees and employee’s excellent employers is fulfilling to me and my team.
I believe that creating harmony is an essential part of my life’s mission.
I believe that we all can get along. But we need to know how.
I have always loved psychology and learning what makes people do the things they do. I fell in love with Personality testing!
It was one way to determine probable outcomes. These outcomes are determined on an evidence -based psychological methodology. Over the years I have become certified in several modalities, such as DISC and MBTI, HIGH5, Colors, The PEOPLE Process and others. Each has its strengths, but all have been very useful in my career.
Helping others to know themselves and providing them with better ways to approach their lives has been a joy!
This path naturally took me to counseling and coaching. I became a certified as a life coach, a multi relationship coach and law of attraction teacher. I have experienced so much happiness helping others reach peace and potential.
I have been a human resource professional for 44 years now. Some may think it happenstance, but I know it was Divine Guidance.
When my youngest child was less than one year old my then husband was injured and was receiving Workers Compensation benefits. We needed additional money to pay our mortgage and other bills. I began to look at the job postings in the newspaper. I saw a position listed for a “career counselor” The weekly pay was $125 salary, plus bonus, plus commission. I had always been interested in working in a field that helped people. I visited the business the next day to apply. It was a staffing agency. After I completed my application and began to interview, the manager told me that they had filled the position. I told her I was sure that I could do that job and be very successful at it. I noticed there were three desks in the office, and I asked who sat in the empty chair. She said “well, no one.” I then asked, “what time do you open in the morning?” With a smile she said “8 AM… you’re coming in, aren’t you?”
I said “yes, I will see you then.” I reported to work the next morning and I worked the rest of week and made the required three placements!! On Friday I was hired, and the Manager had a paycheck for me. I was paid for my placements but since I had only worked 4 days, I wasn’t paid the bonus. My take home pay was $184.00. I was so excited about this new course. This started my very long career in Human Resources. It is a field that I truly resonate with and love.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Human Resources is a profession that is regulated by laws. We have to memorize and refer those laws and apply them in the appropriate way. So often I see the position performed in a concise, sterile, almost surgical method. Employees are seen as a number or an incident that must be dealt with. I think a love of people and a heart of service is very beneficial in Human Resources. .
During a favorite part of my career, I was a Regional Human Resources Director for the Call Center Industry covering 4 locations in the US and up to 3 offshore locations in Jamaica and the Philippians. I was responsible for 6/7 Human Resources Departments and thousands of employees. I learned early on that they all had a story, just like me. I wanted to know what drove them, what inspired them, what challenges they faced that I could help them overcome. Even as I climbed the corporate ladder, I never forgot who I worked for. I was the lynchpin between the company and the employees.
Call Center work is very fast paced. Usually, the employees have a lunch break and two 15-minute breaks. Not much time in the course of the day to get anything done. The employees in those seats were the reason for my position, my success, my income. Often, I would walk out to the call center floor with a notepad and pen. The employees knew they could raise their hand and I would come to their desk. Some needed a call to their doctor for an appointment. Some needed to drop their car off for service. Some need to be directed as to divorce or child support, social services and relationships. My team and I made those appointments and obtained the information for them. I used my counseling experience to provide insight and guidance. It was a gift of love that we provided to the employees to help with their work life balance. In an industry with upwards of 250% attrition we obtained and maintained 13% and below for over 24 months!
I truly believe if we do everything in love we will always be guided to success. Life is full of Win/Win. If you take only one bit of advice from me, let it be this: Do what you love and love what you do. Don’t accept less in your life. Let not one precious day be spent in mediocrity! Life Coaching and counseling has allowed me to help others claim their true potential, and happiness. Failure has never been an option for me. Neither should it be for you. I wake up each morning hours before I need to be at work. Meditation and setting intentions are integral to my day. I know it has helped many of my clients as well.
How would you describe your ideal client?
Our ideal client is looking for a Staffing and/or Human Resource Partner
We find excellent candidates for our clients. We source and vet as if we are hiring for ourselves. Staffing is our love language. If you need employees-you will get the best from us.
Once staffing has been completed, we offer Human Resources Consulting and various counseling modalities including Personality Testing and Relationship Counseling/Advice.
Many companies are small and do not have access to accurate, legal human resource advice. We offer a monthly retainer that will work with anyone’s budget.
Contact Info:
- Website: 1stprioritystaffing.com
- Facebook: 1st Priority Staffing
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/cathywardbolgersphr
Image Credits
Cathy Ward Metz
