First Jobs

My first paying job was a paper route.  Every Wednesday after school I would carry a load of newspapers from door to door and I would ask everyone on that street..."Would you like to buy the Gander Beacon?". The first day I went, my Dad followed me around in the car to be sure I got the route right and to allow me to refill the bag from the car so it wasn't too heavy. I was nervous.  I had knocked on doors for fundraising, but not to sell anything, and certainly not for a job. 

Eventually, I would take the bag and walk the route myself.  I always enjoyed the days that there was less news and no flyers in the middle of the paper.  When the papers were so thick that they hardly fit into the bag and it dug into a bony adolescent shoulder it certainly left it's mark for the rest of the week. I got through it though.  I got pretty good at figuring out what my portion of the take was on the way home each day.  I would stop at the convenience store at the end of my cul de sac on the way home and buy myself a couple of small treats each time. The companies take was put into a brown cash envelope and sealed.  I had to return any remaining papers to account for the difference in cash as well.  I did that the following morning.  I would walk to school and drop the money off at the paper office on the way. 

I think that other than the added benefit of being able to start an RRSP earlier, having an initial job early helped me.  I would think that may be a good study to determine how that affects a persons success level later in life. I was in no more than Grade 7 at the time.  It teaches responsibility, punctuality, and work ethic in my belief.  My two oldest kids, Alex and Abbie, have jobs. They started later than I did, but they have jobs and it keeps them busy.  Luke, starts today.  He got his first real gig as a "runner" at the Joe Lamontagne Hockey tournament. He works a few shifts this week running around picking up pucks, delivering game sheets, etc.  I am sure he is a bit nervous for his first shift too.

Having the jitters before trying something like this is a good thing in my opinion.  He doesn't know it, but he is going to remember this for a long time.  Today is the start of the foundation for work life.  He is going to realize by days end that he put in this shift today, that it wasn't so bad, and he will be more at ease for the next one.  It's going to make him grow.  More than any money that he earns out of this today, I am most eager for that side of things.  

I think I will keep it at that.  He needs a ride to the rink and I don't want him to be late on his first day. 

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