My First Job: Spyro Kourtis, advertising-agency owner

March 16, 2007

My First Job: Spyro Kourtis, advertising-agency owner

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Spyro Kourtis

Current position: President of Bellevue-based The Hacker Group, a direct advertising agency.

First job: At 16 I got my first real job at Safeway as a courtesy clerk (bagger). My main responsibility was to bag groceries, which was serious work, but the position had broad reach. We had to ensure that every register had the bags they needed; that carts were available for shoppers; and help customers get groceries to their car. When it came to bagging we needed to be very considerate about the needs of customers. For example, you didn't want a bag to be so full it ripped or too heavy for someone to carry. Of course, eggs were always on top..

Pay: It was a union job so it paid $4.27 an hour, almost a buck more than minimum wage..

What I learned: What I learned: I learned that in any job you need to quickly find out what the key attributes for success are. As a bagger I quickly learned that the right attitude was key. A good attitude could get you what you needed — days off, a flexible schedule and preferred hours. I found out that my job wasn't just about being good at stuffing a bag. It was more about having the right attitude with peers, customers and bosses. It was about being responsible. Being prompt, reliable, on time and friendly with everyone were the attributes that got me what I wanted.

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