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Community Corner

Random Thoughts Around the Donut Box

Mr. Blue-Thumb Asks "What Is Success"?

It’s been a tough winter for most home builders, not just because of the economy, but the snow and cold have made working conditions a challenge.  After fighting the cold last week, Leon (my electrician) and I decided to get coffee.  Leon said, “You know, I have been working for you for 28 years.” 

That sentence got us started on a long conversation over success and longevity.  Are they connected and what is success?  Is it longevity?  I met my partner 47 years ago, my excavator 44 years ago, plumbers 33 and 15 years ago, cabinet crew 32 years ago, insulators 34 years ago and the list goes on and on.  With all the ups and downs in this industry, we are all still working in the same trades.  Is that success?

As we continued to talk, we realized we saw our children grow up and talked about the times we went out together with our families.  Not only did we persevere through all the hard times, we had fun and became friends.  We realized that hard work and money (sometimes more, sometimes less) didn’t mean as much as becoming close to each other.

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So I guess I would like to ask my readers this question: Does longevity mean success?  Does working for yourself, raising a family, putting kids through college and remaining close become the indicators for success or does success only mean how much money or fame you have after 40 or more years of work? 

People ask me would I do it again.  From the beginning, in the mid 1960’s to the present, I still hammer nails, paint, trim, dig, lay flooring and do every other aspect of construction.  For me the answer is “Yes”, because I love the work.  To recommend it to others, I would say, find something you love and then go for it.

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