By Doug Strickel
I was going into my junior year in high school and seeking a summer job. I approached the manager of a large apartment complex and told him I needed to work. Evidently, my timing was perfect. He wanted to make a change with how the grounds were maintained and hired me the next day.
Colonel Rick retired from the Air Force and managed a very large apartment complex with plenty of grass to cut and a lot of trimming and edging. Evidently, he had used the handymen in prior years to keep up the grounds and wasn’t pleased with how it was being handled.
He gave me a green manual push Lawn-boy mower, a trimmer, a gas can, and told me to get started. He said by the time I finished the grounds in seven to eight days, that it would be time to start over. He wanted the grounds to appear like a golf course. There were several rolling hills around the complex, and it looked great when it was freshly mowed.
There were no special skills in mowing that much grass with a push mower. The key was to just keep walking and pushing. I did just that and had the entire complex mowed and trimmed in two days. Needless to say, Colonel Rick was pleased. He gave me other assignments such as servicing the pool, painting, steam cleaning carpet, and other odd jobs.
While he was pleased, the other workers were not so appreciative of my efforts. They didn’t care for my work ethic nor my wrapping up jobs faster than they had displayed in the past. I never said anything to them but just kept working even with their negative comments.
Toward the end of my second summer at the complex, the other workers began to influence my work ethic. I made some small compromises and started taking breaks with them. Those breaks got longer, and my work declined. I am sure Colonel Rick noticed the difference. By the time I got a handle on things and got back to my normal work ethic, summer was over, and I am afraid I left a bad impression on Colonel Rick.
I didn’t ask for a chance to return for another summer. I never said anything. I never made things right with the Colonel.
There are several key learnings from that summer job that are so true regardless of the environment:
- If we aren’t positively impacting others, we are subject to being impacted by them. Over time, there are no neutral environments. We are either influencing or being influenced.
- While leading by example is noteworthy and needed, there are times when we need to be vocal. We need to be willing to explain our position and purpose if we are going to have influence.
- One small compromise with the wrong group can be the start of a downward trajectory.
- Compromising is addicting. Once you start, even with the small ones, you find yourself justifying your actions and compromising on more things and to more significant levels.
- Don’t let age, position, or length of service keep you from leading, influencing, or speaking words of positive affirmation into the lives of others. Don’t let insecurity lead to regret.
I am so thankful for the opportunity to work those two summers. God answered my prayer for a job that would fit with my football workout and baseball schedule. That job provided me with funds for the following school year and taught me several new skills. It also taught me to never compromise!
Compromise leads to regret! You seldom get a chance to undo regret!
Doug provides professional speaking and coaching services to organizations and individuals. Whether you are looking for a speaker for your next event or a leadership coach to develop people and build a team culture, feel free to reach out to Doug at doug.strickel@gmail.com and learn more about PLUS.
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