Thread
25 years ago my father made me a deal.
I only had to do one thing.
I failed.
A true story about fathers, sons, and life meeting you halfway.
I only had to do one thing.
I failed.
A true story about fathers, sons, and life meeting you halfway.
It was the summer of 1996 and I had just turned 15.
Like any 15-year-old boy, I only had one thing on my mind.
OK, maybe two.
Other than girls, the main thing I wanted, all I could talk about, was a car.
Or in my case a truck.
Like any 15-year-old boy, I only had one thing on my mind.
OK, maybe two.
Other than girls, the main thing I wanted, all I could talk about, was a car.
Or in my case a truck.
The deal was simple.
Over the next year, I'd be given chores to complete around our home.
With an agreed-upon hourly rate, I was free to work as much, or as little, as I choose.
At the end of the year, whatever I earned, my father would match.
Up to $2500.
Over the next year, I'd be given chores to complete around our home.
With an agreed-upon hourly rate, I was free to work as much, or as little, as I choose.
At the end of the year, whatever I earned, my father would match.
Up to $2500.
Best case scenario?
I earn $2,500, my dad matches $2,500.
I've got $5K to spend!
Look out world, I'm gonna be rich!
There was only one catch, I had to do the work.
Not only did I have to do the work, I had to ask what work needed to be done.
I earn $2,500, my dad matches $2,500.
I've got $5K to spend!
Look out world, I'm gonna be rich!
There was only one catch, I had to do the work.
Not only did I have to do the work, I had to ask what work needed to be done.
I came out of the gate fast.
Asking my father for anything and everything I could do to earn a buck, and he obliged.
Each time I asked, he had a new project ready and waiting.
The opportunity was there, and I was seizing it!
Asking my father for anything and everything I could do to earn a buck, and he obliged.
Each time I asked, he had a new project ready and waiting.
The opportunity was there, and I was seizing it!
Over the next few months, I continued to work and my wallet began to get fat (or so I thought).
$500, $750, $1,000... This was going to be a piece of cake!
Then it happened.
I got lazy.
I became comfortable.
I took my success for granted.
$500, $750, $1,000... This was going to be a piece of cake!
Then it happened.
I got lazy.
I became comfortable.
I took my success for granted.
You can probably guess what happened over the next few months.
That's right. Nothing.
I thought I was in the clear.
I assumed I had enough of a head start.
I'd kick back, relax, & take a couple of months off.
Before I knew it, the year had passed.
I hadn't met my goal.
That's right. Nothing.
I thought I was in the clear.
I assumed I had enough of a head start.
I'd kick back, relax, & take a couple of months off.
Before I knew it, the year had passed.
I hadn't met my goal.
Surely my old man would understand.
I still wanted, in fact, I NEEDED a truck!
As fate would have it, about this time a co-worker at my father's office just happened to have one for sale.
It was a beauty.
A classic.
I loved it.
I still wanted, in fact, I NEEDED a truck!
As fate would have it, about this time a co-worker at my father's office just happened to have one for sale.
It was a beauty.
A classic.
I loved it.
My father and I loaded up in the family suburban and headed out to test drive what I had already decided was "my" truck.
It was even better in person.
A 1972 Chevy-C10.
Partially restored, meticulously cared for.
I couldn't wait to take it home.
It was time to talk money...
It was even better in person.
A 1972 Chevy-C10.
Partially restored, meticulously cared for.
I couldn't wait to take it home.
It was time to talk money...
The negotiation began.
As my father and his friend discussed pricing, fear set in.
From what I could overhear, the truck was out of my range.
The man wanted $7,000???
Was he crazy?
Couldn't he see I loved this truck?
Surely he'd make us a deal...
As my father and his friend discussed pricing, fear set in.
From what I could overhear, the truck was out of my range.
The man wanted $7,000???
Was he crazy?
Couldn't he see I loved this truck?
Surely he'd make us a deal...
I was wrong––about everything.
The man was not crazy.
He did realize I loved the truck.
He was, in fact, already offering my father a deal.
$6K. His bottom dollar.
Too bad for me, not only was this $1K over the max I could have earned, it was $2K over what I had.
The man was not crazy.
He did realize I loved the truck.
He was, in fact, already offering my father a deal.
$6K. His bottom dollar.
Too bad for me, not only was this $1K over the max I could have earned, it was $2K over what I had.
As I told you earlier I failed to reach my goal.
I had managed to earn $2K which my father matched with $2K of his own.
I had $4,000.
My father thanked the man for his time & said we'd be in touch.
We got back in our car and headed home.
Without "MY" truck.
I had managed to earn $2K which my father matched with $2K of his own.
I had $4,000.
My father thanked the man for his time & said we'd be in touch.
We got back in our car and headed home.
Without "MY" truck.
As we drove, I asked my father what we were going to do.
"Are we going to get it?"
It was at this moment, that my father gave me a gift.
But not the one I had hoped for.
He calmly told me we would not be buying the truck.
I didn't have enough money.
"Are we going to get it?"
It was at this moment, that my father gave me a gift.
But not the one I had hoped for.
He calmly told me we would not be buying the truck.
I didn't have enough money.
I was so mad.
"But Dad, I'm good for it!"
"I'll do more chores, I'll pay you back, can't you just spot me the difference?"
He simply replied, "you didn't do the work."
You see, my father was willing to meet me halfway.
The problem was, I hadn't carried my half of the deal.
"But Dad, I'm good for it!"
"I'll do more chores, I'll pay you back, can't you just spot me the difference?"
He simply replied, "you didn't do the work."
You see, my father was willing to meet me halfway.
The problem was, I hadn't carried my half of the deal.
You might be asking, "but you said your father gave you a gift?"
He did, and over the course of a lifetime, it has carried far greater value than the truck I thought I couldn't live without.
Work ethic.
He did, and over the course of a lifetime, it has carried far greater value than the truck I thought I couldn't live without.
Work ethic.
25 years later, I've never forgotten what it felt like driving away that day.
Throughout my adult life, this lesson has helped me to understand one thing:
Life, in general, will meet you halfway.
But your half comes first.
You've got to do the work.
Throughout my adult life, this lesson has helped me to understand one thing:
Life, in general, will meet you halfway.
But your half comes first.
You've got to do the work.
In the current age of instant gratification, it's good to be reminded that work comes before the reward.
When you're in the grind, it's not always easy to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but it's there.
Do your part.
Life will meet you halfway.
When you're in the grind, it's not always easy to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but it's there.
Do your part.
Life will meet you halfway.
On this Father's day, take time to say thanks to your Dad.
Especially for the lessons he taught you that were hard to learn in the moment.
Odds are, they were tough for him as well.
Especially for the lessons he taught you that were hard to learn in the moment.
Odds are, they were tough for him as well.
Last:
I'm trying to teach my son about building the life you want and never giving up on your dreams.
For me, it's always been to own my own business.
Here's my latest project, I'd love for you to check it out:
excelfoundations1.carrd.co/
I'm trying to teach my son about building the life you want and never giving up on your dreams.
For me, it's always been to own my own business.
Here's my latest project, I'd love for you to check it out:
excelfoundations1.carrd.co/
That's it for today.
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Follow me at @blakeaburge for weekly threads on business & productivity.
Join 15,000+ others & check out my newsletter––It's free!
•The best of Twitter
•In your Inbox
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Sachin Ramje 🚢 @SachinRamje
·
Jun 19, 2022
Interesting read, Blake!