Tuesday, June 21, 2011

COCA-COLA

I remember mowing Mr. Johnson's yard one summer.  He was the postmaster at the Churchland Post Office in Portsmouth, VA where I grew up.  


Mr. Johnson lived about 4 blocks away, and had a pretty big yard.  I was about 14 or 15, but don't recall too much about that yard, but I do remember the incentive! Almost every time I finished mowing his yard, he would bring me a nice cold Coca-cola!  


I don't know how much he paid me, or how long it took to finish, but I had the reward of a cold drink when I was done, and I'm sure it made me work faster and hurry up to finish. It's things like that ice cold reward (just as much as the cold cash) that instilled self-motivation in my work ethic.  


I also remember Mr. Johnson had a police radio in his garage, and we would listen to it while I was cooling off after I was done.  


Those were the simple days of working:  Get the job done, drink a Coke, spend some time talking, and get paid.  Work Ethic 101!

Friday, June 17, 2011

BOOMER STORIES: Paper Routes and Lawn Mowing

"From Paperboy to Boomer" is a 64-page quick-read that is an illustrated paperback, and tells the stories about the 10 Skill Sets we all learned as kids.  


It describes work standards, people practices, business basics, and leadership skills that we Boomers learned while we were only 13 & 14 years old, and defines the foundation of the Boomer Work Ethic: Self-discipline, self-initiative, and self-motivation!


I've started this blog to accompany my new book, and want to hear your stories of the lessons you learned while you delivered newspapers and mowed yards.  


My book also includes a "Tool Kit" appendix for business owners to use to interview, train, and evaluate their employees, based on the 10 Skill Sets.


The website for the book is BoomersBook.Biz and on Facebook at "Boomers Book."  The new book will be released nationwide in mid-August 2011.


This blog will be the starting point for lots of memories and stories for you to continue telling.  Let's start collecting our thoughts and maybe it will become the follow-up book!