Business My Father's Way

I can remember the first time I mowed a lawn.  It seemed so awesome!

You mean I get to use the lawnmower?  I get to be the one that is known for his lawn mowing skills?  I will get to operate that sweet machine?

However, as time went on, I grew quickly tired of mowing the lawn.  I would mow our lawn whenever it was needed--as it became part of my normal weekly chores--but I soon began to find it boring.  Of course, that was until I found out that you could make money mowing lawns.

Friends of the family offered their lawn for my manicuring mutilation training grounds.  Twenty dollars later, I found the upside of hard work.  That first lawn job led to several more that were really nothing to speak of, but I did put my life into something and found a tangible return.

Law of diminishing returns won out eventually. I became tired of work and would not put forth my best effort. My father would, because of my age, often drive my brother and I to our mowing jobs.

Here begins my lessons.  On the ride, we would split up jobs.  Dad would always ask us which jobs we wanted to do.  He would also take whichever job my brother and I decided we didn't want to do.  We would do our work not without a little complaining and grumbling.  At the end of each job, we always wanted to be around when the check was signed or the cash handed over.

In the grand scheme of things, my dad would get the short end of the stick.  He would drive us to the jobsite, help us with the work, pay for the gas and even at times put away the tools.

My dad was my first exposure to work and work ethic.  He made a point of always doing a job as if he was doing it for himself.  He continues to prove that through the two jobs he has done for the last 8+ years.

However, it was what my father showed in the way he accomplished his job.  He taught me that it was far more important to sacrifice his time, efforts and money to create a team capable of carrying his beliefs and ideals.  He sacrificed the short term to gain instilled beliefs in his team.

Thanks dad for the lesson.  Thanks for giving me the ability to lead by viewing such a great example.