Undercover Boss: 7-11

While I was back home for the holidays, my mom showed me an article in the NY Daily News (or maybe the Post, forget which one she usually reads) talking about the then upcoming CBS show, Undercover Boss. She clipped the article for me because it focused on the CEO of White Castle (that episode will air this Sunday). Anyway, I may or may not have read it, but obviously due to my lack of TV service had never watched the show. I wrote it off as being nothing more than a PR outlet for the companies involved and figured that through the magic of editing it, like the rest of reality TV, would be the furthest thing from actuality.

I never had any intentions on going back on my initial reaction. Of course there was the possibility that I may watch the White Castle episode just because it'd be hilarious to see an old white guy working on Fordham Road. What's he going to say, "I'm the CEO, don't shoot"? They killed a cop outside, so I doubt the idea of not robbing and killing the millionaire in charge would be popular. It could become a great episode of CSI though.

Anyway, tangent aside, today while I was checking out Facebook updates the school, mentioned the show and the review said there were some "heart tugging" moments in the recently aired 7-11 episode. So, I tuned in, cynical as ever. Of course, I should mention, that while I thought the show was nothing more than PR and publicity for the companies participating, I do, whole-heartedly support the concept and think that, especially in this era of corporate greed that would make Gordon Gecko proud, that CEOs taking a look at how their companies affect the people who keep them running is a great practice that would lead to improvements for everyone involved. You've got to realize, that the non-jackass, money stealing CEOs of major companies are probably pretty smart (either book or street smart) individuals, who when face to face with a problem or bad policy, will recognize it and react. Okay, enough build up, on to the show.

So the CEO of 7-11, Joe DePinto is introduced. I immediately decide I like him and that he's one of "the good guys" as far as suits go. Blue collar roots in Chicago and a West Point grad who spent time in active duty. That's the middle-America values kicking in, but since I do like 7-11 I am glad to know that this is the guy in charge. It's not going to make me buy more things, but they have the new Kratos Fury flavored Slurpee to do that. So Joe goes undercover as "Danny", first at a store on Long Island that sells more coffee per day than any other 7-11. He struggles on the job but the store's owner/operator Dolores is patient and encouraging. Turns out she has 1 kidney and goes for dialysis twice a week. She won't let her kids donate because she's worried that what happened to her could happen to them when they get older and then they'd only have 1 kidney. Immediately made me think of my mom. So Dolores comes across as this noble, humble, friendly (she knew just about every customer who came into the store, greeted them buy name and made it appear to be a small mom and pop shop rather than 7-11) heroic individual. Okay obviously it was edited that way, but you can't take away that the woman is obviously NY tough. Joe goes and works at the largest bakery that 7-11 operates, in Baltimore. Here he struggles a bunch on the line, but Phil, the guy showing him the ropes keeps the atmosphere light and helpes pick up the slack. Phil is a former Marine and "Danny" shares that he has an Army background. During the "confessional" part where Joe/Danny is outside of the job speaking directly to the camera he talks about how he felt attached to Phil because of the shared military background (something I expected. If it wasn't for the possibility of getting shot, and my lack of physical condition, I have to admit I think I'd really like what it is that the military provides). Anyway, in the break room Phil shows Danny some sketches and art that he's done and used to decorate the room. They didn't show a lot on the show, but some of it was pretty cool. Before leaving, Phil draws Danny a picture of a donut to take with him to remember the experience. Okay, in the next few experiences Danny learns that the maintenance system they have implemented sort of sucks, and that an immigrant from Pakistan who works the night shift so that he can go to school during the day feels like there aren't chances for advancement working at 7-11. Not exactly thrilling stuff. But it's TV, so obviously they are going to "wow" you with the last segment, and it didn't disappoint. Igor, a delivery truck driver from Khazikstan ( I shit you not). This guy was almost a walking stereotype of the Eastern European immigrant who came to American with hope and little else. Danny asked him as they were driving, what keeps him motivated and Igor told his story. Sure, it's just about your run of the mill, "America is the greatest country; you take it for granted being born here; it's given me great opportunity and happiness", but you know what? Every now and again you need to hear these stories, to remember that they're true. That yeah, shit happens, some days suck and all that, but on the whole, it's still a great place. Again, that middle-America values, mixed with the type of pride you can only develop living on the East Coast, and it made me happy to hear Igor talk with such excitement.

So obviously the show has to have some sort of payoff - besides the fact that the CEO now knows some ways to make his company better. It's time to reveal his identity to the people he just fooled. So they're summoned to the head offices in Texas. Long story short - Phil gets a gig doing freelance designing for the marketing and advertising departments so that he can build up a portfolio. I thought that was really cool, and less "gimmicky" than a raise, a bunch of cash or whatever. Dolores had an organ donor awareness program setup in her name, company wide, to help stress the importance of organ donation and potentially help get her a new kidney. She was overjoyed and really moved by the gesture. And then there's Igor, who got a resort vacation for him and his wife so that they could finally spend time together (Igor works nights, his wife days). Again, his reaction was the thing that should make you proud to be an American - he said about the big boss coming to work with the common guy and then this reward that Igor is receiving, not in movies, not in the books, only in America. Then Joe address the head office of 7-11 tells people what he learned, new commitment to the stoers, blah blah and then an epilogue of what's happened to all of the people. Nothing really interesting except - Igor was presented with his own franchise, as the caption said, "Igor is still living the American dream...He's now his own boss."

I guess the point of this isn't really so much about the show, other than company higher ups should really look into something like this (and it's okay to do without the TV cameras) and help strengthen their companies, which will in turn help the economy and the country. But beyond that, it was one of those human interest things where you realize that there is good out there. And here's my 10 cents even though I desperately try to avoid politics - it's people like these who give America the potential to be great. It doesn't just happen, one thing they all had in common is that they work hard and believe in the good. Someone needs to get tough and remind people that it's one thing to say you're the greatest country in the world while resting on your laurels. It's another thing entirely to show it everyday, with everything you do. And as far as I'm concerned, the latter is the way this country was founded.