DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH

Posted on Sep 27, 2012

The following blog article is writting by Ben Burrus, Sales Intern from Oakland University.  Ben has been a Sales Intern at ESBC since March and a valuable part of the ESBC Team.

If I had a nickel for the number of times I was asked what Eaton Steel Bar Company is and what I do there, I might be able to start my own steel company. I love explaining my role here at ESBC because of the reaction I get from family and friends, they are impressed with how much accountability I have placed on my shoulders for being “just an intern”.  Having so much responsibility and accountability on me is fulfilling.

See normally an “intern” is defined to most people as a person that learns about a particular industry and completes busy work like scanning, sending out faxes and fetching breakfast. No disrespect to the interns out there but literally I have done zero of this. Yes a couple of cold calls have been placed, with the stress on couple, and yes I might have some busy work here and there, but the best part is that I actually can screw things up with the work that is given to me.  In terms of sports, it’s like a walk-on making the starting lineup their freshman year.

To be honest, at first I was sketchy about working here. I’ve never heard of Eaton Steel or had the desire to work in the steel industry. I pictured working for a huge company, like Chrysler, close to home, well known and respected, but most of all they have an awesome building. This was before I knew anything about working in an office environment.  This was before I discovered the true dynamics of a company and dug deep to see that you can’t judge a book by its cover. I found a diamond in the rough. In the middle of an economic crisis, in a city that was once deteriorating, Eaton Steel is knocking down walls, expanding and thriving.  How many interns can say that their company took them out to the see where steel is made, Tigers games, golf outings, daily conversations with the owners, and bagel Thursdays....., probably few to none.

 I could sit here all day and praise the Goodman’s, my co-workers and fellow interns but I won’t because if you know Eaton Steel, you know the greatness behind the name and the great people that make this company successful. If you asked me four months ago where I’d be now, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you, but I can tell you this now. I could have not chosen a better place to intern at other than Eaton Steel Bar Company.