Recently, I was going thru some really old family photos and realized that in almost every photo of my Grandparents - they were working. My Grandmother ran a small rural country store; my Grandfather was a journeyman carpenter; they were always working, either on their jobs, on their house or in their yard.
As I think back, I realized that they had an incredible work ethic and were probably the reason that I began developing my values, beliefs and work habits at a early age. For example:
At age 7, I was collecting used newspapers and selling them to fish markets to support my comic book habit.
At 10, I moved up to selling Grit (a national newspaper) and my local Dillon Herald. (Mom freaked when she found out that the reason that I was able to sell so many papers was because I stood on the yellow line at the traffic light in the middle of a six lane highway!)
Since I was big for my age, at 14 I was able to finagle a job at the local movie theatre (the other guys were afraid to climb the ladder to change the letters on the Marquee three times a week).
Thanks to a older cousin, when I turned 16, I was able to get a job at 16 at the South of the Border tourist complex as a gas station attendant (Yes, they actually had guys who would pump your gas, check the air in your tires, and clean your windshield)
I have never been without a job for a whole week since I was 7 years old.
What's my point here?
That something so invisible and intangible as your work ethic can affect you (positively or negatively) for most of your adult life .
Some people are lucky enough to inherit it... (I think I got it from my Grandfather, who died on his way to work)
A few people learn it..
A lot of ActiveRainer's have it...(Those who have it recognize it in others)
Many people never get it...
Who did you get your work ethic from?
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