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Just Exactly What WOULD You Do For Money?

By
Services for Real Estate Pros

Female EntrepreneurI've been reflecting on this all morning.  It's Sunday morning here in the office and I was here all day yesterday as well.  There's a marketing project I'm working on to reach out to the newest members of NAR and it's taking longer to get ready than I had hoped when the project started.  Part of the delay is because it's hard to find employees that really want to work hard to make extra money these days

I offered overtime to our staff here to try and get this project off the "to do" list but not a single one was willing to work the weekend and give up their plans-- even on overtime!  It made me wonder about work and balance and whether there's a "change" happening [especially among our younger people] that has them in a "I just won't do THAT for money" frame of mind.  On the one hand I Car Crashapplaud them for wanting to have a good, solid mental health break from the office.  On the other hand, I'm wondering if the world is so completely different from when I was their age-- because I would do almost ANYTHING [note: almost anything!] to make some extra cash and get ahead.  Do they want less than I wanted or do they simply have so much now that chasing more isn't that rewarding for them?

I have 4 sisters and a brother and we were a family that lived by the "whoever finished everything on their plate first [including the brussel sprouts-- yeeew!] got the last pork chop.  We weren't dirt poor but we weren't well off and the drive to "get more" was a real one.  When I was young I was all about making extra cash-- just about any way I could.  Things I've done for money:

  1. Carried 8' solid core doors up stairways and spread them to under-construction mountain condo doorways for installation.
  2. Swept warehouses and cleaned toilets.
  3. Folded and delivered newspapers for a penny apiece (400 papers to make $4).
  4. Made pallets from 7am until 3:30pm.
  5. Wiped up messes [you figure it out] as an orderly in a mental facility from 4pm to midnight while making pallets from 7am until 3:30pm.
  6. Drove a tow truck and took accident [and other law enforcement] calls-- some not especially pretty memories [if you add in the suicides].

So what have you done for money [that you're willing to talk about here]?

Chris Hendricks

Roylen "GRIFF" Griffin
Countywide Realty - Blanding, UT
Chris--yep and can I add this newer generation is becomming a whole bunch more lazy-- I milked 9 cows by hand morning and night !!  I wouldnt trade my work ethic for all the tea in China !!  thanks for the post
Oct 07, 2007 06:52 AM
Bill Gillhespy
16 Sunview Blvd - Fort Myers Beach, FL
Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos
Chris,   Walked 3 miles to school and back each day... uphill both ways !
Oct 07, 2007 07:18 AM
Seth Callen
Farmers Insurance - Lawton, OK
Chris, was raised on a large farm/ranch and still participate in its operations today.   Built fences, chopped cotton in 100 degree heat.  I'm actually one of the few living people I know that has actually picked cotton by hand.   Not a lot of fun, but it makes working a little overtime on a weekend sound like a gift rather than a burden.
Oct 07, 2007 07:57 AM
Chris Hendricks
Walnut Creek, CA

Griff:  You and me both!

Bill:  uphill both ways must be a Michigan thing...!

Seth:  Never picked cotton... but I've led a somewhat 'charmed' life....

Oct 07, 2007 09:39 AM
Darleen McCullen
Raleigh, NC
Broker - Raleigh, NC Real Estate
OH MY, Chris, what an interesting topic! As I was reading your post, it made me think about my first job--and how I really wanted to make money to help my parents pay for my high school clothes, yearbooks, etc. I actually worked at a pickle factory 60 hours a week at the age of 17! Talk about an awful experience! But it taught me about the value of a dollar.
Oct 07, 2007 04:08 PM
Chris Hendricks
Walnut Creek, CA
Darleen:  Now there's a thought most people probably never have....  Who makes my pickle and just exactly HOW do they do that?  But, hey, someone has to do it-- and chances are it makes someone money!  Thanks!
Oct 07, 2007 04:31 PM
Brandon Hoffman
RE/MAX Connected - Irmo, SC

I think there's a lot of me, me, me out there now and too many handouts. My father is a farmer so we had to work for everything we had. I appreciate a dollar and hard work.

The 2 ways to get rich-be the best at something or do something nobody else wants to do.

Oct 07, 2007 05:51 PM
Chris Hendricks
Walnut Creek, CA
I agree with you on the first but I see too many laborers in CA doing what others are unwilling to do (even for more money)-- and I don't see them getting rich doing it!
Oct 08, 2007 04:09 AM
Chad Baird
Re/Max Spirit - Dayton, OH

Glued cardboard boxes for auto parts.  I lasted for 2 hours and I could not do it anymore.  Luckily I did not need the money, well I did, it was beer money, so I decided to study harder and forgo the drinking for a the weekend!   Gosh I miss the days of college sometimes. 

Oct 08, 2007 07:11 AM
Chris Hendricks
Walnut Creek, CA
Hmmm...  glue and cardboard for beer?  Sounds harmless enough!
Oct 08, 2007 07:39 AM
Eva Armstrong
Environmental Visions - Tallahassee, FL
Environmental Visions
Delivered Sandwiches, ran an offset press...  Hey - what's the work and can a person do it online?  I've got a free weekend coming up!!!  just kidding, but I am a little surprised... folks around usually would want the work, just get off long enough to attend the football game on Sat....
Oct 08, 2007 07:49 AM
Chad Baird
Re/Max Spirit - Dayton, OH
It was 40 gallon vats of hot glue and the gun never stopped dispensing the glue and the belt never stopped.  We were supposed to make 90 boxes/minute.  Hot glue on on the skin HURTS!  It was enough to keep a college boy away from the beer for the weekend, Now thats a BAD Job HAHAHA
Oct 08, 2007 07:52 AM
Chris Hendricks
Walnut Creek, CA

Eva:  Ran an offset press, eh? 

Chad:  That yellow hot melt glue is nasty on your wrists and it smells bad too!  Lucky for me I had the "cool" job in the factory and didn't have to be near that stuff!

Oct 08, 2007 09:14 AM
David Dollar
Dollar and Associates - Fullerton, CA
Shoveling out the horse manure from the barn stalls at the boarding stables was probably the worst thing.  Good exercise though it paid terrible money!
Oct 13, 2007 09:17 AM
Lewis Poretz
Apex Home Loans - Annapolis, MD
Business Development Manager
Chris -  this is not the best time to ask mortgage brokers what they would do for money............  but I am entertaining all offers   :-)
Oct 16, 2007 12:25 AM
Chris Hendricks
Walnut Creek, CA
My mortgage professional said essentially the same to me!  She's not as desperate as it sounds but the plug has definitely been pulled and the bath water is starting to drain....
Oct 16, 2007 05:21 AM
Esko Kiuru
Bethesda, MD

Chris,

Somehow the idea of doing something extra is so strange to a lot of people, even if they'd be paid for it. People are more interested in planning their weekend activities than doing a good job at work. The prevailing attitude seems to need an upgrade.

Oct 16, 2007 07:25 AM
Chris Hendricks
Walnut Creek, CA
I think the folks we have here are great at doing their work and I don't want you to think I think they aren't.  I'm just surprised at how many are able to turn away from "extra" cash when it's available.  I was never able to "pass" on the opportunity for something extra-- at that age!
Oct 16, 2007 08:41 AM
Lewis Poretz
Apex Home Loans - Annapolis, MD
Business Development Manager
planning weekend activities -    wow -   sat and sun i am ready to answer my cell or blackberry at a seconds notice.....  ( hell, i think my blackberry sleeps closer to me than my wife )   no bankers hours here -   it's time to roll up the sleeves and do things the we did in the 90's.......  get out and shake hands,,  network, network, network    that includes nights and weekends..........
Oct 16, 2007 12:06 PM
Chris Hendricks
Walnut Creek, CA

Lewis-- What's a weekend?

Oct 16, 2007 12:32 PM