For 15 years, I’ve said good morning to this man almost every day—five or six times a week. When I first met him, I thought he was in his 70s. Turns out, he was already in his 80s. This year, Julius turned 99!! He’s still working as a security guard – and he’s THE BEST…still out there making sure I’m safe when I walk in the mornings, still greeting me with a smile.
So when Channel 7 WSVN called asking if I knew of any interesting stories, Julius was the first person I thought of. He’s a real-life hero: a World War II veteran, someone who lived through the struggles of the civil rights era, a proud grandfather and great-grandfather. And he’s still getting up at 3:30 a.m. every day to go to work.
If that’s not inspiring, I don’t know what is!
It’s also why, when asked by clients for news coverage, the first thing I say is…
- “Tell me about your people.” Not just the products or services, but the humans behind them.
- Who has an incredible story?
- Who has overcome odds and come out stronger?
- Who stands out and why?
Sometimes I get stares. Sometimes the great stories are obvious. Either way, there’s an important rule to know: Stories like Julius’s don’t come from one quick conversation. They come from years of small conversations, a few longer conversations, asking questions, exchanging family photos – laughing together.
Want good PR? Start those conversations now with your team. Because one day, you might find a story worth sharing with the world…like this one, which as of the writing of this story has nearly 15,000 views and 5,700 shares.
Watch for inspiration. https://wsvn.com/news/7spotlight/an-unbelievable-person-wwii-navy-veteran-still-standing-guard-at-his-miami-security-job-at-age-99/
