Who Said It
Bill Pollard

Bill Pollard began his career in corporate and tax law. He then used this expertise as a Wheaton College vice president.

But in 1977 he joined The ServiceMaster Company, a firm that provides management services for hospitals and schools and serves the residential market under brand names such as Merry Maids, TruGreen, and Terminix. Bill served as its CEO and now chairs its board.

He also chairs the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's Executive Committee.

What He Said
Mop Duty

As a new member of the ServiceMaster leadership team, my orientation included We Serve Day. On that day every leader in the organization directly serves customers, like front-line employees do every day.

I was working in a busy corridor of Chicago's Lutheran General Hospital. I had just set out my wet-floor signs and was about to mop the floor. Suddenly a passing woman stopped and asked me, "Aren't you Bill Pollard?"

I responded that I was, and she identified herself as a distant relative of my wife. She looked at me and my mop, shook her head, and asked, "Aren't you a lawyer?"

"No," I said. "I have a new job." Noticing other people gathering around, the embarrassed woman leaned toward me and whispered, "Is everything all right at home?"

Like the Twelve, too many shun "foot-washing" tasks that lack status but reveal a serving heart.

Adapted from The Soul of the Firm (Harper Business/Zondervan, 1996) by permission.

Prayer for the Week

Lord, please motivate me to reflect Your compassionate heart to hurting people around me.

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