For more than ten years, I’ve delved into the world of personal finance, unraveling the intricacies of money, understanding the ethos behind starting a business, and recognizing the power of entrepreneurial thinking in achieving success.
While perusing another blogger’s reflections on their early money-making ventures, it dawned on me that our understanding of finances and the entrepreneurial spirit truly initiates from our younger days. It’s during those times when we proudly hold our first paycheck from our very first job.
From such experiences, we grasp the essence of hard work and the significance of perseverance in climbing the ladder of success. We come to realize that if you aren’t prudent with money, it quickly slips away. This journey also underscores the fact that sometimes success mandates working for oneself rather than a simple exchange of hours for money.
Today, I’m inclined to share my personal journey through my initial jobs and entrepreneurial endeavors, shedding light on how they molded my perspective and paved my path to where I stand today.
The Dwindling Emphasis on Hard Work
In recent times, I’ve noticed an increasing number of discussions indicating that today’s parents aren’t emphasizing hard work’s virtues as much as previous generations did.
Jean Twenge, an esteemed psychology professor at San Diego State University and author of “Generation Me,” points out a peculiar trend among millennials. This generation is characterized by a strong desire for material possessions, yet a somewhat subdued willingness to work for them.
A longitudinal study, “Monitoring the Future”, encompassing 50,000 12th graders since 1978, highlighted this. It revealed that while millennials place a high emphasis on material possessions and even aspire to own luxury items like vacation homes and boats, they don’t necessarily see work as pivotal in their lives. Surprisingly, many weren’t keen on working overtime, with some even expressing that they didn’t wish to exert much effort in their jobs.
Twenge opines that this isn’t an indication of them being inherently flawed. Like all generations, millennials too have their strengths, like their advocacy for equality and broad-mindedness. However, their expectations often outstrip reality, leading to disillusionment, especially when they enter the workforce.
Evidently, instilling the values of hard work early on in children might prove beneficial.
My Early Ventures in Earning Money
Reflecting on my childhood, I recall numerous ventures I embarked on to pocket some cash on my own. I yearned not just to rely on my parents’ generosity but to truly earn through my efforts. Here’s a snapshot of my earliest endeavors:
- Delivering Newspapers with Dad: My weekends were often occupied with this duty alongside my father and occasionally, my brothers. From sorting to delivering, the routine was arduous but instilled in me the essence of working for one’s desires.
- Lawn Mowing: With only a manual mower at our disposal, mowing the lawn was challenging but rewarding in its own way.
- Working on the Fields: Visits to my maternal family’s farm in Illinois were punctuated with opportunities to earn by detasseling corn and weeding the soybean fields.
- Repairing Bicycles with Dad: My childhood memories include helping my father refurbish old bicycles, a task that was less about hard labor and more about precision and dedication.
- House Painting: One summer, I took on the mammoth task of scraping and painting my uncle’s house, an endeavor that tested my patience and resolve.
My Initial Formal Employment
During high school, I ventured into the traditional job market.
- Grocery Store Tasks: My inaugural job with a fixed salary was at a local grocery store. From pushing carts to tidying the store, the work was basic yet significant. For my efforts, I received the minimum wage.
Diversifying with Side Gigs
With college on the horizon, my entrepreneurial streak blossomed.
- Ebay Selling: I swiftly joined the eBay trend, auctioning off items I no longer required and even managing sales for others.
- Online Retail: A brief stint saw me attempting to sell wholesale products through an online storefront. While the idea was exhilarating, it wasn’t sustainable.
- Website Creation: I dabbled in website designing, initially hand-coding them and later leveraging platforms like Blogger and WordPress.
- Graphic Design: My journey with website design led me to the realm of graphic design. This not only became a significant side hustle but also enriched my primary profession.
- Blogging: I initiated my own personal finance website in 2008, at the height of the financial crisis. This endeavor, though demanding, has been immensely rewarding, both intellectually and financially.
Other Bloggers Reflect on Their Initial Earning Ventures
Revisiting my early days of hustle made me wonder about other bloggers’ initial endeavors. From babysitting, lawn mowing, and even some unique hustles like selling candies, the spectrum of first jobs among bloggers is diverse. But the common thread binding all these experiences is the lessons imbibed about commitment, determination, and adding value.
Instilling the spirit of hard work and entrepreneurial thinking early on might be the key. What were your pioneering steps in the world of earning? Did it influence your journey ahead? Let’s discuss in the comments below!
