Over forty years ago we lived in a modest three bedroom house with two bathroooms. My guess is the total square footage was about 1,000. There were five kids, two girls, and three boys. Our bedroom measured a meager 8 X 10 feet. Smaller than some closets today. Small, but enough room to sleep and get dressed.
But I remember my dad getting up early and going to work every day. Plus he showed up early and loved to work. The three key words here are every, early, and energetic.
Dad ran a crane in the steel erection business. However, during lunch break dad did not stop to eat. He ate while operating the crane. When the rest of the crew took lunch dad worked on the crane. He always had rags handy to wipe the crane down in order to keep it clean. He also serviced the crane on his own time.
Now here is the fascinating point. All this time someone was watching. In 1969 a guy by the name of Bill Butts came along and offered my dad a job. Let me be honest. In some ways it was a great deal, in other ways it was a terrible offer. But dad took the deal and turned it into a great deal.
Without going into all the details, let me just say that life changed for our family.
My dad did not become an overnight success. No, he simply got recognized after two decades of being fired up at work.
And someone was watching. Someone is watching you.
So be fired up at work.
