As my little children are getting bigger, their questions are getting bigger too. While their questions are bigger, the answers still need to be simple and little. Simple enough to be understood.
As any parent knows, children may take things literally and often create their own stories when they may not understand. I’ve encountered this plenty of times – either when my son looks up at the sky looking for cats and dogs when we have a rainstorm or when my daughter describes her reasoning on how the tooth fairy knows she has a wiggly tooth and will soon be making a visit.
So, when my six-year old asked me what I did at work, I knew that describing the logistics of providing export order management services that support shipping our product around the world might not click with her – I went the simpler route – I told her “mommy works at a company that cares.”
I showed her the Band-Aids and Tylenol in the cabinet and later in the day the extensive variety of children’s bath products in the bathroom (in addition to being a proud employee and parent, I am a shareholder too!).
While at first she looked uncertain and asked me if I spent my day creating bubbles for bath wash, I realized my message needed to be about caring. I then placed a few Band-Aids in her school bag and reminded her how much I care and if she ever sees anyone in need, she can show others that she cares too.
Caring is universal and whether you are 2, 4, 6 or 100 it is something we can all relate to. Sure, I don’t directly manufacture any products in our broadly-based portfolio, but I do play a part in helping certain products get to places that ultimately reach the patients and caregivers that need them.
I am grateful to work for a company that cares and to be able to use seven simple words to describe where I work – not only to me, but to my children too.
Meghan DuBois serves as Customer Support Services Export Manager for the U.S. Region and is a member of the North America Customer & Logistics Services (CLS) organization in the worldwide Johnson & Johnson Supply Chain. She is responsible for the export sales order processes within Customer Services. Meghan has also proudly served as the co-chair for the Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems (JJHCS) Women’s Leadership Initiative chapter since 2006.