Formula for success: Rise early, work hard, strike oil.
-J. Paul Getty
There’s a million quotes about working hard in business. But, I think parents provide the best example of working hard for their kids. My grandpa was a horse shoer and made his own business. On top of that he delivered papers in the early morning. He had his boys on bikes slinging papers from the time they were in first grade. My dad also went on to start his own business. When the economy was terrible, he made it. He kept working hard and didn’t quit when things weren’t easy. Even if that meant working for a boss during the day and starting up his own business in the evenings.
I was raised to be a hard-worker. It’s one the things I appreciate most about my heritage. I’ve had tons of wonderful opportunities with photography and most of them came from rising early and working hard. Sometimes, you have to be in the right place at the right time, but you have to put in the hard work to get there.
My kids are still young, but I hope that the subtle ways I learned about hard work are passed down to them. How about you, do you love to work hard? How do you teach your kids about work?
By the way, this is a photo of my grandpa. One of my favorites.
And here’s the product of some of my hard work recently! (photos taken in Long Beach)
That is a wonderful photo of Grandpa. Did you take it?
I LOVE the photo of your grandpa! Your newest work is lovely. It’s so vibrant and sharp. I’m still having trouble shooting sharp but I’m practicing like CRAZY! I need a new camera and lenses too but I know a truly good photographer can get stellar photos from even a Nikon D40.
OK, I have a strong work ethic too, and also learned from my folks that hard work pays off. I started babysitting very early in life, sewed clothes for my friends in high school so I could get paid and then go buy my own material to sew for myself, and after college worked in illustration often working 50-70 hours a week. Then I fell into TV where a 14-16 hour day is not uncommon but where we are paid handsomely. Now I’m a mom which is the hardest and most wonderful job in the world! Our 5 year old is already doing chores around the house and earning money, very motivating, and we teach her to do her best; quality is so important. You have to work hard to get ahead in life, my belief. God rewards hard work. Ok, enough of my blabbering……