In the late 1980’s, my father rented a one-room office, put on his khaki pants and tennis shoes every day, and drove across our small town to “work on his computer.” Our living room and bathrooms were filled with computer and programmer magazines, and he was living and breathing everything “PC.”
Within a few weeks he’d purchased a second computer and was starting to practice networking. I still remember his first day of success. After school, he drove me to his empty office. There were two computers, one metal folding chair, and a coffee mug. He unfolded another chair and sat me down next to him in front of the two computers. I sat on the edge of my chair and watched dotted lines going from one screen to the next. When one computer made contact to the other, a box would blink at the end of the dotted line. His eyes were wide and he was full of boy-ish laughter, slapping his knee and getting up from his seat, “How about that! Isn’t this amazing!”
I worked for him the summer after my junior year of high school. By then he had a good-sized office, a small staff, and was the largest internet provider in the surrounding counties. He also built computers from scratch and sold them. (On a side note, it was 1991 when I got my first email address, although there was no one for me to email, because no one I knew had email yet. “Rocketmail” was one of the first freebie email addresses and that company eventually achieved 1 million users before Yahoo bought them out. I still have a rocketmail address!)
Here’s what I learned:
I worked for him the summer after my junior year of high school. By then he had a good-sized office, a small staff, and was the largest internet provider in the surrounding counties. He also built computers from scratch and sold them. (On a side note, it was 1991 when I got my first email address, although there was no one for me to email, because no one I knew had email yet. “Rocketmail” was one of the first freebie email addresses and that company eventually achieved 1 million users before Yahoo bought them out. I still have a rocketmail address!)
Here’s what I learned:
1. Love the Help
My dad was happiest on Monday mornings. He’d get ready for work and come downstairs with a big smile on his face (and 1-2 little pieces of toilet paper covering where he'd nicked himself shaving...) and say, “I can’t wait to give [insert name of receptionist here] a hug this morning. I really appreciate her!" And he’d go on and on… “She never complains. I wish I could pay here more.” The first time he told me this, I rolled my eyes in typical teenage fashion. Then, I witnessed it for the first time when we drove to work together... and several times after that. He’d walk over to the front desk, happily say good morning, and hug anyone who was working there, and thank them for all they were doing. He was truly thankful for his receptionists and the good bookkeepers he had and knew his well-being depended on them.
We had a conversation once when I was an adult about big businesses and how they were able to provide extravagant bonuses to their employees during the holidays. He gave me one article in particular about a guy who bought all of his employees convertibles and gave them two weeks off. His heart ached that he couldn’t do more. He truly appreciated the people who worked for him.
2. Never Say No to Work
“If someone asks you to clean the bathroom, you clean the bathroom,” he used to say. He never did ask me to clean the bathroom, but I quickly learned in a small company, you can’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. Do this, and your employer will remember that you’re someone who can be counted on to help out in a pinch. Even in my annual review last week (20 years later!) my boss thanked me for being her right-hand woman.
3. If Someone Trusts You, Try Trusting in Yourself
One day when I arrived, my dad said he had a big job for me. A hospital in the neighboring town had purchased 30 computers and they were ready to be delivered and hooked up. “BY MYSELF?” I asked? I was only 16! “Well why not,” he said, “you know how to hook up a computer. Ask them where they’d like to have them.” I was beyond nervous. What if I didn’t do it right and damaged them, or what if the people asked me questions I couldn’t answer? I had to drive the huge van for the first time, make two trips, and it took the majority of the day to roll all of the computers in with a dolly, open them all, and set them up. When I was done, I left the hospital and they had 30 new computers ready to go. I had actually surprised myself. My dad believed in my ability more than I did, and the fact that I accomplished the job taught me an important lesson: learn to recognize the nerves in your stomach as a challenge. No big growth ever happens from maintaining the status quo. Even today when I’m asked to take on something new, I may feel nervous or have a moment of doubt, but I've learned to recognize that feeling, and accept the challenge. More often that not, by being resourceful and drawing on what you already know, you'll surprise yourself, too.
Job #2: Chinese Restaurant
4. You can leave at any time, or choose to stick it out – it’s a choice. But never accept being abused at a job.
It was the summer before college and my dad stated that he expected me to get a job. How dare he! I had envisioned two months of freedom hanging out with friends. I was so furious that I drove up and down the main street in our small town and applied at every business there was. Even if they said they didn’t need help--if they gave me the application--I applied anyway. The first business to call me back was a Chinese restaurant. I’d never waitressed before, but how hard could it be? My first day, me and two other girls stood against the back wall. We’d figured out we were all new. “Have you ever done this before?” I asked them. “Oh yeah." One of the girls said. "Here, take this order tablet. First, just go ask what they want to drink, then come back.” By the end of the first night, I’d learned the two owners were brothers. Neither could speak English, and the only thing they tried in English was yelling, “STUPID AMERICAN GIRL” in a thick accent. (I still like to yell this to people as a joke because WOW, just WOW.)
When I got home, I put my apron on the kitchen counter, and took all my $1’s and spread them on the counter intentionally, so my dad could see how much money I’d made. The next morning he said, “Whoa, what is that, $30 or so?” “Yep,” I replied. When he asked me how it went, I stated very factually, “Well, they never trained me, and it was me and two other girls, and the owners just screamed, 'Stupid American Girl' the whole time from the kitchen and everyone in the restaurant could hear.” His face turned red. “WHAT?! Why on Earth would you put up with that?” The tears started to come. “Because you said I had to get a job and I wanted to prove to you I could do it.” He looked at me very seriously, “Don’t you ever let anyone treat you like that. Do you understand me?”
He asked me to quit, but to be honest, I liked the idea of getting cash every day. We agreed I would go back, but I wouldn’t let them push me around. I went back empowered, knowing I could quit whenever I wanted to. I talked back once, and they respected me more. They never called me names again, and I became a really great waitress! The day I spilled a pu-pu platter on the floor was not good, and trying to vacuum sticky white rice off thick, red carpet every night was terrible, but other than that, the feeling I could quit at anytime made the job feel easier, and *HELLO,* unlimited fortune cookies.
He asked me to quit, but to be honest, I liked the idea of getting cash every day. We agreed I would go back, but I wouldn’t let them push me around. I went back empowered, knowing I could quit whenever I wanted to. I talked back once, and they respected me more. They never called me names again, and I became a really great waitress! The day I spilled a pu-pu platter on the floor was not good, and trying to vacuum sticky white rice off thick, red carpet every night was terrible, but other than that, the feeling I could quit at anytime made the job feel easier, and *HELLO,* unlimited fortune cookies.
As we get older, it seems less possible to make career changes, and things like insurance coverage for our families and mortgage payments need to be well thought out before leaving a job, but the lesson here is, we all have the ability to quit our jobs at anytime, and knowing that makes going to work less burdensome.
More to Come…
Painting Figurines
Church Office
University
Country Club
BBQ Restaurant, Italian Restaurant, Coffee Shop
Writer, Editor
English Academy
Public School
Resource Center
Admissions at a Business College
Property Management
Investment Company
Payment Technology Company
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