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>I worked 12 hour days during the summer from the time I was 12 until I was 17. Wow, honestly just reading that just blew my mind. Do you think that made you a

>I worked 12 hour days during the summer from the time I was 12 until I was 17. Wow, honestly just reading that just blew my mind. Do you think that made you a better person or helped you at all down the road? That is a ton of manual labor for anyone, especially a child. I know that this used to be common practice back before the industrial revolution but I guess I never really thought about it, or heard of anyone who actually went through something like that. Serious question, no disrespect meant.

aidos 12y ago
Not the GP but I did the same. Longer hours sometimes - make hay while the sun shines and all that (where I grew up in NZ we have a good 14 hours of sun to make the most of). I was on the market gardens, so planting, hoeing, picking, shifting irrigation pipes around etc. In the winter every Sunday was a 7:30am start picking cauliflower. When you grow up in that environment, it's just normal. Though, it's really not uncommon. I picked apples for a season and most people worked all the hours they possibly could, because they had to (me included). An interesting moment of mis-calibration that I'll never forget; At one point I was picking apples near the roadside and a man driving by stopped to ask me a question. He said, "How much do they pay you?" to which I replied $15. And he said, "For one of those?" pointing to the bag around my neck [0]. Slightly astounded I replied, "No, for one of those!" pointing to the large wooden bin on the ground [1]. It's a moment that will stick with me forever as a stark realisation that most people are totally disconnected from the manual labour that goes into the production of the things they consume every day (I know that applies to a lot more that just fruit and veg, and we're all guilty of it). I remember thinking at the time how unjust it was that once I made enough money to travel back to the city, I'd be earning a magnitude more sitting in an office in front of a computer. I think if nothing else you develop a strong work ethic. Probably to a fault; over the years I've had to learn not to look so critically on those that don't put in as much work as I do. At the same time, I notice and admire those that have the same work ethic as me. All in all I think it's a positive experience that's helped me along the way to be good at what I do now (tech startup). I think it's become part of my core character and I feel a certain sense of pride at how hard I worked when I was younger (and still do). [0] http://cmsimg.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=BL&Date=20111016&Category=LIFE06&ArtNo=110160309&Ref=V2&MaxW=300&Border=0&Looking-zen-apple-orchard http://cmsimg.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=B... [1] http://www.applebarn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/IMAG1310-e1315955329418.jpg http://www.applebarn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/IMAG1310...
Trisell 12y ago
I feel that it did help me. I have a work ethic that is not really found in a lot of people even at my age(30). I still love to work outside, and enjoy a good hard days labor. It has allowed me to get ahead in the IT field because I am willing to work 12 - 16 hour days, without even blinking, because to be honest, a 16 hour day in a really comfortable chair with music is pretty easy compared to a 12 hour day of bucking hale bales when it is 100F outside. And to be honest I don't feel that it in anyway hurt nor hindered me either. I grew up just as healthy, and probably stronger then most of my peers. And still don't feel that I was abused in anyway, not to mention all through highschool I was making 2 - 3k a year in income because of that work.

aidos 12y ago

Not the GP but I did the same. Longer hours sometimes - make hay while the sun shines and all that (where I grew up in NZ we have a good 14 hours of sun to make the most of). I was on the market gardens, so planting, hoeing, picking, shifting irrigation pipes around etc. In the winter every Sunday was a 7:30am start picking cauliflower. When you grow up in that environment, it's just normal. Though, it's really not uncommon. I picked apples for a season and most people worked all the hours they possibly could, because they had to (me included). An interesting moment of mis-calibration that I'll never forget; At one point I was picking apples near the roadside and a man driving by stopped to ask me a question. He said, "How much do they pay you?" to which I replied $15. And he said, "For one of those?" pointing to the bag around my neck [0]. Slightly astounded I replied, "No, for one of those!" pointing to the large wooden bin on the ground [1]. It's a moment that will stick with me forever as a stark realisation that most people are totally disconnected from the manual labour that goes into the production of the things they consume every day (I know that applies to a lot more that just fruit and veg, and we're all guilty of it). I remember thinking at the time how unjust it was that once I made enough money to travel back to the city, I'd be earning a magnitude more sitting in an office in front of a computer. I think if nothing else you develop a strong work ethic. Probably to a fault; over the years I've had to learn not to look so critically on those that don't put in as much work as I do. At the same time, I notice and admire those that have the same work ethic as me. All in all I think it's a positive experience that's helped me along the way to be good at what I do now (tech startup). I think it's become part of my core character and I feel a certain sense of pride at how hard I worked when I was younger (and still do). [0] http://cmsimg.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=BL&Date=20111016&Category=LIFE06&ArtNo=110160309&Ref=V2&MaxW=300&Border=0&Looking-zen-apple-orchard http://cmsimg.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=B... [1] http://www.applebarn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/IMAG1310-e1315955329418.jpg http://www.applebarn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/IMAG1310...

Trisell 12y ago

I feel that it did help me. I have a work ethic that is not really found in a lot of people even at my age(30). I still love to work outside, and enjoy a good hard days labor. It has allowed me to get ahead in the IT field because I am willing to work 12 - 16 hour days, without even blinking, because to be honest, a 16 hour day in a really comfortable chair with music is pretty easy compared to a 12 hour day of bucking hale bales when it is 100F outside. And to be honest I don't feel that it in anyway hurt nor hindered me either. I grew up just as healthy, and probably stronger then most of my peers. And still don't feel that I was abused in anyway, not to mention all through highschool I was making 2 - 3k a year in income because of that work.