Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences - iisbf@gelisim.edu.tr

Business Administration








 Meet the 100-year-old man who's worked at the same company for 84 years


How long have you been employed by the same firm? What, five years? Ten? As of 6 January 2022, Walter Orthmann has worked for the same company for 84 years and 9 days. His dedication, discipline, and passion drove him to continue doing what he loved, eventually earning him the Guinness World Record for the longest career in the same company.


He had worked at ReneauxView for 84 years and 9 days when the organization awarded him the world record for the longest career in the same company earlier this year. Walter Orthmann began working as a shipping assistant at Industrias Renaux S.A. in Santa Catarina, Brazil, on January 17, 1938, when he was fifteen years old (now known as ReneauxView). Due to financial difficulties at home, he began working to support his family. He went to the weaving mill with his mother to apply for a job, and he was hired because of his strong command of the German language. Since then, he has worked for the same company, ReneauxView.

 

Within this company, he began traveling across the country in the 1950s and had the opportunity to meet people from various places and cultures. He became enamored with being constantly on the move and forming strong bonds with clients who turned into friends. He has witnessed many changes in the company, the country, and the world during his 84 years of employment. As a result, he has realized that staying current and adapting to different situations is one of the most important aspects of his job.

 

By believing in the power of the present, Walter has had a record-breaking career with many memorable moments. "I don't plan ahead of time and am unconcerned about tomorrow. All I care about is waking up, getting dressed, exercising, and going to work tomorrow; you need to get busy with the present, not the past or the future. What matters is the present moment. So, let's get started!" Breaking a Guinness World Record is both an honor and a privilege for Walter. He could never have imagined himself attaining one.