I’d like to share an update and a story about my career change over the last seven months. My time at my previous employer came to an end around seven months ago. While I was there, I grew a territory from a few hundred thousand dollars to nearly $1 million in just three years. I had a lot of successes and learned a great deal during my time there.
But at the end of the day, the health of the industry didn’t allow my wages to grow, and I felt very stuck. Ultimately, I held onto the hope of change for far too long. My hope wasn’t just about financial growth—it was about being recognized as a valuable asset to the company.
After leaving, as I started interviewing and showing employers what I had accomplished, it became obvious that what I had done was substantial. I was given the opportunity to take over my own territory at Cintas Corporation. At first, after accepting the role, I had doubts. I wondered if I was really as valuable as I believed. Maybe I deserved to feel undervalued, as I had been at my previous job.
But everything changed in my first month at Cintas—I caught fire. I performed so well that my training was ended early. Since taking over my territory, I’ve been ranked in the top 15 salespeople in my entire market for two consecutive quarters. Now, there’s even talk about adding jobs at my branch to support the new business we’re generating.
This has been the most rewarding experience of my career. The opportunity to create jobs from my success and the success of the people around me has always been my goal. For three years, I lost a part of myself that was hungry, largely because I felt undervalued and unappreciated.
At Cintas, it’s different. On a regular basis, I’m contacted by VPs, market managers, and even operations managers. Those conversations are always filled with excitement, gratitude, and appreciation. That level of recognition has been a game-changer for me.
To contrast, at my previous employer, I closed the largest brewery contract in the company’s history during my final months there. It was a multi-location deal between California and Nevada. Despite that major win, I didn’t get a phone call, an email, or even a simple “attaboy.”
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from this journey, it’s the importance of showing appreciation. To anyone reading this: recognize and value the people who make your company move in the right direction.
At Cintas, we have a saying: “The spirit is the difference.” At first, I thought it was just a cheesy slogan. Now, I see it as the foundation of the incredible work environment we’ve built—a place where I don’t see myself leaving anytime soon.
Letter of intent
2wI'm interested and have 2yrs experience in the service/first aid.