“Wat
wan mann?”
He
was from St Andrews Parish in Jamaica and drove a taxi down there in the
winters, coming up in the summers to work in the orchards.
“Ire,
mann”, I responded.
I
had mud pasted pants and a sweat streaked shirt on. My elbows to my wrists throbbed
with poison ivy. My machete hung limply in my right hand. I had cleared
an acre of thick tall brush that day.
“Op
in, mann, and we go.” He said.
I
hopped in the truck and we pulled out of that field. I had made it through that
summer—my last day of work there. That summer had been spent on ladders
thinning pear, peach, and plum trees, stringing nets over blueberry bushes to
keep the birds out, and weeding countless miles between pumpkins and fruit
trees where the harrow or herbicide could not reach. It wasn’t what some would
consider distinguished work, but to me it was important.
From
harvesting fruit, I learned the value of hard, but honest work, and how this is
fulfilling. Hard work teaches a man that fulfillment isn’t freely given, it is
tediously earned. The work day in modern business is long and the work place is
unfixed, but I see it as a great frontier to work with people and commit,
honestly to hard work. I know real business requires quiet professionalism and
hard work, and that excites and inspires me to pursue this career path.
"Hard work teaches a man that fulfillment isn't freely given, it is tediously earned." I couldn't agree more, Mike! We are given this precious gift of life and it is up to us to make something of ourselves and our lives. I think though fulfillment comes out of more than just one doing a fine job at work. True fulfillment is the product of passionate work and is manifested in everyday life in a person's walk and talk. Finally not only does hard work yield the fulfillment you talk about but the character of a man is gained also through hard and most of all honest work.
ReplyDeleteWow, Mike, what an amazing post! I have also traveled to Jamaica so this story really interested me. I think that it is fantastic that you are applying lessons that you learned doing manual labor-in a third world country, no less-to the corporate world of America. I wish more people thought like you! Like Logan, I noted when you said that hard work is "tediously earned". This couldn't be more true, and I think we are learning this lesson every day in this program! We are putting in the work, so that when we receive our diplomas, it will have been honestly earned. Our society is accustomed to instant gratification, but that isn't the best mindset to have when embarking on a business career. Also, very well written! Your diction and imagery really brought your story to life.
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