First to Arrive, Last to Leave

Without a doubt many of my values about work came from my dad.  My dad taught me that if I was not ten minutes early then I was late.

He stressed getting on the job early and going over what had to be done for the day.  The reasoning was simple.  If the crew and I showed up right at starting time, the crew would stand around while I got my game plan together.  That equals wasted time and wasted money on wages.

Then when the day was over hang around a little.  Reflect, walk around, and survey what needs to be done the following day.  In all honesty I tended to continue to think about work long after I had left the job.

In construction it’s so common for the guys to pull up right at starting time.  In their minds they should get paid to get their tools out of their cars, take five minutes to get on the building, and have a few minutes of conversation.  Then when quitting time came they flew off the building as if they were going to a fire.  Go figure.  If they were asked to work five minutes extra they balked.

Which simply means that if you arrive first, or at least early, and leave last, or at least hang around a few minutes, you will set yourself apart from the crowd.

To this day it’s almost impossible for me not to arrive first and leave last.  For years it was ingrained into me, and I’m thankful that today it remains a core value.