My father, Stephen Smith (that’s him to the right of baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver), taught elementary school for more than four decades, mostly in Fairfield, Conn. One of the highlights for me as a kid was accompanying him to shut down his classroom in June (I got a lot of great used sports equipment from the gym teacher — I still have a set of those orange rubber bases). I must have been 8 or 9, and as we passed through the Grasmere School lobby, I flicked a small piece of paper out of my pocket.

Dad: Pick it up.

Me (feeling rebellious): Why? The janitor will get it.

Dad: He’s here to clean up the school, not clean up after you.

That one line still reverberates strongly in me. It shapes how I strive to treat people. Every job is important, and no one is here to do my bidding. Everyone who works hard deserves respect.

The school staff loved my father. He took the time to know their names and what was going on in their lives. He taught me that a simple “hi, how are you” or “good job” goes a long way in boosting someone’s spirits and building their pride

Never forget to thank everyone who supports you and your organization. No job is too small or unimportant. Certainly, no person is unimportant. A little respect and recognition go a very long way.