Walter Orthmann-a 100-year-old man of Brazil broke the world record for the longest tenure at the same company for 84 years and 9 days.
According to Guinness World Records, Walter Orthmann broke the world record by working in the same company for 84 years and 9 days.
“His passion, discipline and commitment motivated him to keep doing what he loves and, eventually, become an official Guinness World Records title holder for the longest career in the same company, ” Guinness World Records said in a statement.
On 17 January 1938, Walter Orthmann started work as a shipping assistant when he was fifteen years old at a textile company in Santa Catarina, Brazil called Industrias Renaux S.A. (now known as ReneauxView).
Walter has always been very enthusiastic when it comes to learning something new. He was born in Brusque, a small town in Santa Catarina, Brazil which has a large German population, according to the press release.
Rain or shine, mud or frost, propelled by his tenacity, Walter would walk barefoot to school to study and then practice at home. He was an exceptional student with a brilliant memory and attention to detail.
However, due to financial problems at home, he began to work to help his family. He went to the weaving mill with his mom to apply for a job, and, because of his strong proficiency in German, he was hired.
He has worked at the same company, ReneauxView, ever since.
“Back in 1938, kids were expected to work to help support the family,” he said, per the press release.
“As the oldest son of five, my mother took me to find a job at the age of 14.”
Orthmann was later promoted to a role in sales and, ultimately, to a sales manager position.
The 100-year-old still goes to the office each day and last month celebrated his 100th birthday with family, friends, and co-workers.
After all these decades, he says his best career advice is to find a good employer and follow your passions.
“When we do what we like, we don’t see the time go by,” he said.
Looking back on his life so far, Orthmann says he considers the record his “proudest achievement” despite “never having contemplated breaking a record.”
“I don’t do much planning, nor care much about tomorrow,” he said. “All I care about is that tomorrow will be another day in which I will wake up, get up, exercise and go to work; you need to get busy with the present, not the past or the future. Here and now is what counts.”
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