For 14 years, Level II Researcher Carl Mortons languished in anonymity at Cincinnati’s Penrod Group, spending day after day analyzing Midwest auto mileage trends. He’d all but given up hope of being promoted to Level I.
After some serious soul-searching, he decided that if he were ever going to stand out from the other 46 Level II researchers, he’d have to develop a unique strategy. He considered a number of options – including wearing green eyeglasses – but ultimately settled on this: When anyone came to him with a request, instead of asking, “What can I do for you?” he’d ask, “What can I do you for?
“It’s a play on words,” he says, “You just switch the ‘you’ and the ‘for.'” Morton realizes the expression has been around for over 60 years, but says it had been used mostly by auto mechanics and supply stockers. “As far as I know I’m the first researcher,” he says.
He launched his strategy in November of 2019 and the impact was immediate.
“People started coming directly to me with inquiries instead of submitting Form 10R-2,” he says. “I became known as the ‘What can I do you for?’’ guy.”
His bosses were quick to notice, too, and soon they started sending him Level I requests. The official promotion came within a month. And after just six more weeks he was promoted again – to Senior Researcher, the fastest up-tracking in the history of the Penrod Group.
By March 2019 he was in charge of all Level II research, and in October he was named Vice President of Operations. With CEO Pamela Stillwell set to retire in June, Morton’s future looks bright.
“It just shows to go you,” says Morton
