I'm not Jewish, but as a writer, I have a great respect for language.
Occasionally, I discover a word and get to know its meaning, but rarely have a chance to use it.
Here's an example of one of those times.
I post it here because it says a lot about how people can choose to do business.
I hope you enjoy it.
-Russ H.
mensch or mensh
from the American Heritage Dictionary:
n. pl. mensch·es or mensch·en Informal
A person having admirable characteristics, such as fortitude and firmness of purpose.
[Yiddish, human being, mensch, from Middle High German, human being, from Old High German mennisco; see man-1 in Indo-European roots.]
**********
I did a small amount of work for the President of MTV about 10 years ago.
He called me to ask a few questions (I remember being in an airport in Australia at the time, and thinking about how surreal my life had become, sitting there talking w/the head of MTV on the other side of the world).
He said that due to construction issues and such, they were not going to be able to use my engineering (I had made some suggestions/done some engineering drawings that could not be integrated without going back to the city for plan review, and this would delay his project for months).
Since I had not entered into a contract with him, I didn't feel right about charging him for work he was not going to use (I had done the work as a rush job, since I was heading out the door to Australia when it hit my desk).
Still, he asked me, "How much time did you put into this? I want to pay you."
After joking around for a bit, I told him that if he paid me, I would be contractually liable for any work that might be done on his house. And that a letter from his atty telling me that they would never hold me responsible would be the nicest thing he could give me, in lieau of payment (since I was, in effect, stopping work before the job was finished).
He laughed and said that if I was serious (I was), that this was no problem at all.
"But I want to do something for you. You've been a great guy, and you deserve to get something for what you've done."
So I asked for a personal recommendation, on MTV letterhead.
He said, "That's it!?" I said, "Yep."
When I got home from Australia, there were 2 Fed Exs waiting for me from him.
In one was the letter of recommendation, on MTV letterhead, as promised.
In the other, was a letter drawn up by his atty, signed by him, releasing me of any and all responsiblities.
And paper clipped to the release was a check, for $10,000. With a post-it:
"Thanks for all your help. Have lunch on me."
I called his office and asked for him. When he came on the line, I said, "I just wanted to thank you. And tell you that I think you're a mensch."
He laughed and said, "You're very welcome. You should know that the reason I did this was that I consider *you* a mensch."
I considered that a great compliment.
He asked me to give him a call the next time I was in New York, and we signed off.
******
Occasionally, I discover a word and get to know its meaning, but rarely have a chance to use it.
Here's an example of one of those times.
I post it here because it says a lot about how people can choose to do business.
I hope you enjoy it.
-Russ H.
mensch or mensh
from the American Heritage Dictionary:
n. pl. mensch·es or mensch·en Informal
A person having admirable characteristics, such as fortitude and firmness of purpose.
[Yiddish, human being, mensch, from Middle High German, human being, from Old High German mennisco; see man-1 in Indo-European roots.]
**********
I did a small amount of work for the President of MTV about 10 years ago.
He called me to ask a few questions (I remember being in an airport in Australia at the time, and thinking about how surreal my life had become, sitting there talking w/the head of MTV on the other side of the world).
He said that due to construction issues and such, they were not going to be able to use my engineering (I had made some suggestions/done some engineering drawings that could not be integrated without going back to the city for plan review, and this would delay his project for months).
Since I had not entered into a contract with him, I didn't feel right about charging him for work he was not going to use (I had done the work as a rush job, since I was heading out the door to Australia when it hit my desk).
Still, he asked me, "How much time did you put into this? I want to pay you."
After joking around for a bit, I told him that if he paid me, I would be contractually liable for any work that might be done on his house. And that a letter from his atty telling me that they would never hold me responsible would be the nicest thing he could give me, in lieau of payment (since I was, in effect, stopping work before the job was finished).
He laughed and said that if I was serious (I was), that this was no problem at all.
"But I want to do something for you. You've been a great guy, and you deserve to get something for what you've done."
So I asked for a personal recommendation, on MTV letterhead.
He said, "That's it!?" I said, "Yep."
When I got home from Australia, there were 2 Fed Exs waiting for me from him.
In one was the letter of recommendation, on MTV letterhead, as promised.
In the other, was a letter drawn up by his atty, signed by him, releasing me of any and all responsiblities.
And paper clipped to the release was a check, for $10,000. With a post-it:
"Thanks for all your help. Have lunch on me."
I called his office and asked for him. When he came on the line, I said, "I just wanted to thank you. And tell you that I think you're a mensch."
He laughed and said, "You're very welcome. You should know that the reason I did this was that I consider *you* a mensch."
I considered that a great compliment.
He asked me to give him a call the next time I was in New York, and we signed off.
******
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