Q1 Courageous Award Winner: Jordan Fischer
Courage is not always about staring down a burning building and being the one to run inside. More often, being courageous is about doing the small things that make a difference. It’s an intentional choice to confront things that possess uncertainty or intimidation.
Physically, it’s bravery in the face of pain or hardship. Morally, it’s choosing to act rightly in the face of opposition, discouragement or personal loss. Both are relevant in our personal and professional lives, and sometimes intertwine during the more difficult periods.
Within relationships, it’s a willingness to hold others accountable, to humbly embrace critiques, to ask the hard questions, and to be the one person in the room who will speak up and say what everyone else is thinking.
As a group of employee owners who want to see our company grow, courageous conversations are necessary, and it’s important to recognize those who are making sure we’re having them.
Courage and our Code
Courage pairs well with a few other C’s: “Constructive Criticism” and “Contribution”. When you are courageous, you not only face criticism head-on, you embrace it in order to shape what lies ahead. You can provide feedback to others in a respectful way and contribute in areas outside of your expertise and comfort zone.
Courage is also greatly tied to humility. Genuine humility demonstrates neither weakness nor insecurity; rather, it shows a respectful appreciation of the strengths of those around you and eludes a sense of confidence that doesn’t need excess recognition.
“There is no respect for others without humility in one’s self” – Henri Amiel, Philosopher
Personifying the Trait
This quarter’s “Courageous” winner is none other than Jordan Fischer. According to a team member, “Jordan lives and breathes our core values”. Not hesitating to do what is right (even when hard), Jordan has been recognized for holding his team accountable and saying what needs said, and in a respectful manner. He also hasn’t hesitated to question something not in alignment with our core values, doing this for himself, his team and fellow Clickstoppers.
Jordan has been pushing himself to grow and develop in multiple areas and has shown to willingly set aside any fears he has in the pursuit. He accepts and thrives off feedback as he pushes to be the best version of himself.
He is embracing what Churchill famously stated – “Success is not final; failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.”
The road to his new role wasn’t exactly straight and narrow, and involved the courage to have those tough conversations and seek out needed answers for progress. He has persisted and continued to prepare for what was next, all while doing an awesome job in his sales role and lifting up others around him.
Well done, Jordan. Thank you for respectfully saying what you think, providing feedback, and embracing the discomfort of doing the hard things for the success of your team and Clickstop!
The Interview
What is your role at Clickstop?
Director of Manufacturing.
How long have you worked at Clickstop?
6 years in July
How did you feel upon being recognized for this award?
Surprised. I don’t operate each day expecting to get awards. Just seeking to do the right thing.
What do you believe has led up to this recognition? (What behaviors have you demonstrated?)
Taking issues head on. As I came into this role, I asked a lot of questions to identify why things were operating as they were. I wanted to understand it so that we would work to make it the best it can be. This wasn’t, and isn’t, a onetime conversation. We’re looking to continuously improve.
Have you had struggles within this Core Trait? If so, what have they been and how did you overcome them?
Yes, I think I struggled when I first started at Clickstop. I was young and didn’t have the experience of speaking into issues. Every job I had prior was assembly work. We were to come in and complete our list of duties and go home once completed. They didn’t want you asking questions.
Upon entry into Clickstop, I was a part of a young manufacturing operation. We were collectively looking to improve what we’re doing because there was so much we didn’t know. I remember having conversations with Tony Conrad, and we’d say things like, “What if we did this.” Then we’d try it and see how it worked. I became more comfortable sharing my ideas at that point.
Now, as my responsibilities have grown, specifically around leading people, it’s important that I continue to make my thoughts and opinions known and invite others into those conversations.
Why is this Core Trait important to the success of Clickstop?
We’re still young and growing. Yes, we’ve developed and put processes in place across departments, but we are continuously changing. And now, the impact effects more than 3-4 people. We have a much larger team. The potential to create significant positive or negative impact is great. We need to be courageous to not only sustain what we’re doing, but to continue growing in alignment with our values.
What can we find you doing when you’re not at work?
Anything involving movement: working out, playing basketball or football, riding horses, riding snowmobiles. Enjoying a cold beverage by a fire with my wife.
What brought you to Clickstop?
I knew an employee who was here at the time. She had heard I was moving back to the area and needed a good job. She told me to apply, and so I did.
What keeps you at Clickstop?
The challenge. I’m competitive and have never had the desire to do the same thing over and over again. I’ve worked those jobs and I’m not fulfilled by them. This is different. We’re constantly looking to improve, which produces change. And I get to do it alongside people I enjoy doing it with.
If you could live in any period of history when would it be and why?
I would love to live in the early 1700’s. To see the start of America would be so cool. To peer into the start of colonization and see what day to day life was like for the early settlers.
Tell me 10 things I’d see when I walk in your door?
Amazon Boxes. I’m pretty sure we have an Amazon package arrive each day.
What TV / Netflix Show currently has your attention?
Ballers on HBO. Riverdale on Netflix. I’m also currently re-watching every Marvel movie because I’m a fanatic. Also, I need to get my wife caught up so that we can watch End Game together.
What’s a movie you can practically quote from start to finish? (Give us a quote)
Shrek. “It’s great. We can stay up late. We can swap manly stories. And in the morning, I’m making waffles.” – Donkey
Do you spend time researching your ancestry? If so, why?
A little bit. It’s pretty bland on my Dad’s side. He’s almost 100% German, which is where Fischer with a “C” comes from. My Mom is about 45% Dutch, with the rest composed of different Native American Tribes. Both of my great grandmothers on my mom’s side were 100% Native American.
Tell us about your first cell phone? What were the features?
Motorola Razor. 7th Grade. It was bright pink and had the leather carrying case for it. Definitely the coolest phone at the time.
What hobby would you get into if time and money weren’t an issue?
There’s probably 2. Jeep 4 wheeling in the mountains. I’d get it real souped up, so I could go anywhere.
I’d also get more involved with horses recreationally. They’re kind of a money pit, but I love doing it.
What fictional place would you most like to go?
Hogwarts. I’ll actually be going down to Universal Studios Theme Park this summer. I’m super pumped! Side note: I’ve never missed a Harry Potter or Marvel Movie Premiere (except when Quinton Guenther made me wait a whole week to watch End Game).
What book do you most remember from your childhood?
The First Harry Potter. I know that makes me seem really young. That was the first book I read in 3rd or 4th grade.