Lynn Lotkowictz (nee Eleni Paitakes) is working with Global Volunteers, a non-profit, NGO agency based in Minnesota, which sends teams to various countries to work with children on essential services.

Lotkowictz, 62, after many successful years in media sales, is focusing on giving back to the Cretan community by helping the organisation market a volunteer program on the island.

Global Volunteers is sending teams to help local students with conversational English. Volunteers are also spending time at a day centre for individuals with special needs.

Below she shares her own experiences, and some of her Cretan father’s simplest yet most valuable advice, with Neos Kosmos.

I chose a program in Crete, because my father was born there and emigrated as a small boy.

I thought that spending time with local families would give me a better way to connect with my father’s home than a typical tourist visit; I also had free time for daily walks through archaeological sites and neighbouring villages.

The organisation has been around since the 1980s, and active in Greece for more than ten years. The program in Crete works as a ‘volunteer vacation’ for the participants, who are provided with meals, lodging and transportation in exchange for English lessons. Programs are available for one, two and three weeks.

I went in October 2013 and am going back again this October.It’s a wonderful opportunity to experience the real Greece, its culture and people in a meaningful and rewarding way, by giving back to our homeland.

As you know, Greece has many struggles these days and students learning English helps the country open up to career and education opportunities they would not normally have – it’s critical to their future.

In October, I went to Greece on a two-week trip organised by Global Volunteers. My job: helping local children to learn English.

If you’re lucky enough to experience great success in your career, you wonder what the conditions and influences are that impact your path.
It wasn’t until many years into my career that I realised my dad was responsible for all that I would accomplish in the world of business and much of life.

My dad was born in Crete and came to the US when he was seven. His goal was to be his own boss and, like many immigrants of that generation, “have a better life and take advantage of all America had to offer”.

He succeeded. Hopping off the boat at Ellis Island, he went to school and worked in restaurants from his teenage years. He eventually owned and ran The Spinning Wheel Diner and Cocktail Lounge in New Brunswick, NJ.

In the 1950s, roles were clearly defined and my father worked more than 70 hours a week, while mother cooked, cleaned, managed the home and four children ranging from 1-16 years of age.

When he was home, he was eating, sleeping or falling asleep in a recliner watching sports. He seemed to always be functioning in a state of exhaustion but tried not to show it. He managed a staff of 40 in a business that operated 24 hours.

The few hours he was awake at home he’d talk endlessly to my mom about what was going on at the business, constantly interrupted by waiters, cooks, vendors calling our house with a variety of issues only he could resolve.

Most days he’d come home to eat no matter how late. My mother was an excellent cook and made elaborate meals every day, roasts, grilled dishes, baked treats – all with Greek flair and all amazing. Pop would sit down and review the day at the Spinning Wheel Diner, no matter how late.

After a family finished their meal he’d always go up to them and ask is everything was good. If they didn’t order dessert he might send over a piece of complimentary freshly baked apple pie.

“Jimmy [the house baker],” he’d say, “just took this out of the oven. I thought you might enjoy a taste.” The family was happy and would be back next week.

“The pelati (customer in Greek) wants to see a clean, professional serving and operation, if he’s having a meal or if he is taking his family to Sunday dinner.”

To my father, your appearance makes a statement about you and your character. That was a lesson in itself. There were more Sunday lessons to be learned, however.

Sunday was my favourite day. My mom and I would go to a quick church service, then to Sunday lunch at the Spinning Wheel Diner – where my Pop, crisply dressed and sparkling with pride, would seat us at a family table. After a pat on my head, he’d run back to seat his usual Sunday families. Anyone with a small child was handed a jumbo Mars candy bar, “a little something for little Bobbie”.

Little Bobbie grinned from ear to ear, thus confirming he’d be well-behaved through the meal, anticipating the Mars bar. Bobbie’s parents were happy, would be back next Sunday and Pop had a happy repeat customer at the cost of a 25-cent candy bar.

If it were a slow day mid-week Pop never sat down. If the dishwasher was full and clean, he’d empty it. If the expensive terrazzo floors had crumbs or dirt he’d start sweeping, wipe the counters, fill the sugar bowls, shine the napkin holders; nothing was too menial for him.

When I asked him, as president of this enterprise, dressed in white shirt and gray blazer embroidered with his name on it, why was he doing these menial tasks which were the responsibility of others Pop would retort angrily: “Every staff member’s position is important and contributes significantly.”

Dad had four golden rules:

– you never sit idle at work
– the better the place looks, the better impression you make
– every job is important and we are all in the success of the business together
– respect your employees’ efforts and don’t ask them to do anything you wouldn’t do.

When I was around nine years of age, I realised that many of my pals were getting a weekly allowance for various trinkets, candy, cokes, to have their own money for whatever.

I was used to just asking for things on an ‘as needed’ basis with not much resistance but, peer pressure rules, I approached my Mom with the idea. She didn’t think it was necessary but gave me the OK to ask Pop.

I practiced in front of the mirror a few times and worked up the nerve to ask for 50 cents per week (mind you it was still 1960). My best bud Frank was getting 25.

With nothing to lose, I approached him one evening while he was emptying his pockets in the bedroom; a nightly ritual with loads of coins, a wad of dollars and various other trinkets.

“What are you going to do with the money?” he asked in his intimidating tone.

“I’d like a mirror for my bike, or to buy a coke without having to ask for money … you know what I mean Daddy,” I said, trembling inside but trying to convey great confidence.

Smiling, he handed me $3 and said “what the heck can you buy with fifty cents! Here, $3 will be your allowance every Wednesday”.

Wow, I thought, that went really well. Sales training had begun, unbeknownst to me at the time.

On the few days he had off, my dad enjoyed a day at the horse races. One day, prior to leaving the house, he asked me to give him two numbers. My favourite number was three so I told him three and three. I forgot about it and went about my nine-year-old life playing with my best friend and neighbour, Jill.

Around 8.00 pm Dad arrived home for a late dinner, jubilant, perspiring and looking for me. My numbers had won! And, apparently, big money.
He tossed me a $20, picked me up, twirled me around and said “you’re my lucky child”.

I can honestly say this single, purely random event was a game changer in regards to my character. Pop was a giant figure to me. An adventurous immigrant who crossed the Atlantic to better his life at age seven, he worked his way up through the ranks of diners and restaurants to own and run a very successful business that grew – under his astute management – to 40 employees. A father of four who literally took care of a big family that included four children, in-laws and his own parents.

His vote of approval and confirmation of me being “lucky” was the basis for self-confidence that was further enhanced later that night when he mentioned very casually that many good things had happened in his life after I was born. The restaurant had taken off, he was able to take my mom on some great vacations and was a well-respected entrepreneur of the community. Many of these events were of course simply coincidence and timing, but since my dad wasn’t a big talker, the things he said to us kids had great impact and stuck with us. My self-confidence soared.

Seven or eight years later he sold the business. I was finishing up at the local community college and was offered an entry-level position in NY media. My mother was very nervous to let a naive 19-year-old take the train into Manhattan every day and encouraged me to seek something closer to home, in the very boring New Jersey.

Pop was thrilled for me and the experiences I could have in NY and said: “Go for it.”

Thanks to his support, I took the job and it was, as promised, an amazing experience in the entertainment industry, dining in five-star restaurants, meeting celebrities and having the time of my life.

I married, moved to Florida with my husband, had a son and reset my career towards media sales.

To be successful in sales requires tenacity, perseverance and tremendous self-confidence. I learned all those things listening to Pop. It’s worked out beautifully for me.

I credit Pop for all the success I’ve had these last 25-plus years. His business stories were the seeds of management lessons, dealing with people and setting an example of how to work both hard and smart.

Some lessons in business and life really are never out of date. How you treat your colleagues, customers and employees will always dictate how successful you are.
Even more importantly, what your children hear from you and how you treat them will dictate who they become.

How proud Pop would be to know all his dreams have come true, as he must’ve envisioned on the boat to Ellis Island.

I’m nearing retirement and have investigated some non-profits I’d like to work with. One I’m particularly interested in is Global Volunteers, working in Crete with children who want to learn English. I participated in their program in 2013 and will try another trip in 2015. It seems like a great way to give back and make a positive impression in a child’s life.

Maybe give them a little extra self-confidence the way my Dad did.

If you wish to learn more about volunteering vacations in Greece email Lynn Lotkowictz directly at llotkow@gmail.com