ValueSpeak
A Weekly Column
By Joseph Walker
TIPS FOR WORKING TEENS
My teenage son, Jon, is a
working teen now. I'm excited for him,
because I know how many valuable and important lessons he's going to learn
while working a part-time job. I also
like the idea that I don't have to pay him an allowance anymore. Maybe now I can get that Lexus.
But I'm nervous for my son,
too. It's sort of like how I felt when
he started school. I was worried that we
hadn't taught him everything he needed to know to cope with the rigors of first
grade -- you know, like being able to cut his meat at lunch and stuff like
that. And now I'm concerned that we
haven't taught him everything he needs to know about working for an employer.
There's at least one major
difference between now and first grade, however. In first grade he would listen to his
parents, like we knew something. Now? Well . . . you
know.
So I'm going to write some
advice for him here. If any of you see
Jon, please feel free to share it with him.
Maybe he'll listen to you.
Work is . . . well, work. It can be hard. It can be boring. It can be frustrating. And while it can occasionally be fun, usually
it isn't. It's work. That's why they have to pay people to do
it. If it were fun, we'd do it for
free. So don't go to work expecting to
be entertained or to have a good time.
You're going to work.
If you're going to do a
The easiest way isn't always
the best way. Shortcuts through hard work
almost always lead to more work -- and harder work -- for someone, somewhere
down the line. Learn to savor and
appreciate the joy that comes from doing a job well. Like my Dad used to say, "The only thing
that's good half-done is a steak."
The customer isn't always
right.
In fact, the customer may be
dead wrong from time to time. He or she
may even be rude and surly and have bad breath.
But the customer always deserves to be treated with kindness, courtesy
and respect. Without them, your boss
doesn't have a business, and you don't have a job.
Always do what's expected of you.
Then do a little more. Bus an extra table. Wipe down another counter. Straighten another rack of clothes. I don't know of one person who was fired for
doing more work than they were paid to do.
But I know a lot of people who had some wonderful opportunities come
their way because an employer was impressed by extra effort.
Be meticulously honest.
Especially
about little things. Little
dishonesties have a way of growing into big dishonesties. Once you establish a pattern of taking things
that don't belong to you there really isn't much difference between a stick of
gum and a $300 suit. If you never swipe
that first cookie, the odds are pretty good you'll never be tempted to pocket a
$20 bill.
Always tell the truth.
Even if it
means admitting to a costly mistake.
Employers can live with broken dishes and spilled sugar, but they can't
live with employees they can't trust.
And if the job requires you to fib even just a little, it probably isn't
a job worth having. Look at it this way:
if your boss will lie to customers, what makes you think he won't lie to you?
Listen to your boss; there's
probably a good reason why he or she tells you to do things in a certain
way. Watch your co-workers and learn
from their successes -- and their failures.
If you aren't sure, ask. If you
don't know, say so. One of the first
things you'll learn in the working world is that there is a lot to learn.
Even for a teenager.
# # #
— © Joseph Walker
E-mail Joseph
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