As my family grows older, things seem to get busier and busier. The more they learn, the more excited they become, and as a result, the more they want to experience. And that’s a good thing, as long as that excitement is directed towards something virtuous. At times, it takes hard work to support a family, and that hard work takes time.
It takes Hard Work to support a family
During a leadership meeting I recently attended, helping our youth was one of the topics we received instruction on. During that lesson, we discussed what our youth think about work, and were they learning the value of it. The conversation went down a road that involved teaching our youth how to work hard. With today’s technology and all the modern conveniences we have, kids really aren’t required to work hard, physically. This is especially true for kids that live within city limits. With homes stacked on top of each other like Legos, there’s not much physical labor needed around the homestead.
Our instructor then told us of why he moved here to the Gila Valley. And for those of you who don’t know where the Gila Valley is or what it’s like, just picture cotton fields, a mine and a few AA schools. We are a small community in which you can purchase land, raise cattle, have a horse or two, have your own chicken coop and still have enough room for a windmill in the corner of your lot. And that’s exactly what our instructor wanted for his kids. He was raised in that same environment and was taught how to work. He wanted the same thing for his kids as well. Even though his work situation hasn’t always worked out according to plan, he is here for his kids. He wants his kids to learn how to work hard….and they are!
If we can teach our children how to form a callus or two, and to enjoy doing it, then they’ll be that much more successful in life. And no, calluses on their thumbs from playing too much Xbox doesn’t count!
Seriously though, if we don’t learn to work hard while in our youth, how will we ever learn it when we’re more set in our ways. Work habits are formed as children, whether good or bad.
Does hard work always involve sweat?
As I was sitting there in our leadership meeting, the conversation seemed pretty one sided. We determined that we needed to teach our kids how to work hard. So I had to bring up a point. Hard work doesn’t always involve sweat and calluses.
Instead of focusing solely on working hard, why don’t we focus more an working productively.
Back in the day, I used to work pretty hard for a living. I did everything under the sun in order to support myself and my family. If I was short in funds for a bill, I would see if there was a ditch I could dig or repairs I could do on someone’s home. At the time, the only way I knew how to be productive was through sweat. Actual sweat.
We’ve all been in those situations where we jumped in and started working, and then someone comes along with a better idea that made the job a whole lot easier. When something like that happens, we naturally take a step back and think, “I should have thought of that!”
So with a little more thought and creativity, we can not only work, but work more productively. Holding up a brick wall is pretty hard work, but a stick or a rope could make that work seem not so tough. Leverage is always a better concept when it comes to getting more done within the same time frame.
In conclusion, it does take hard work to support a family. As an entrepreneur, I am always thinking of ways to grow my enterprise. It’s never ending, and neither is supporting a family. Don’t think that your role as the supporter is over when your children leave the home either. They will probably need you again and again.
My point is, teach your children how to work when they are small, and when they leave the home, they probably won’t need you to continue supporting them, financially anyways! Emotional support….now that’s another story.
David Allred is the author and creator of CFW. David has been teaching entrepreneur minded people how to earn a full time income working from the comfort of home for nearly a decade.
Think about it. Never miss your kids’ events, set your own schedule, choose your own income and enjoy a lifestyle and income which most people only drool over!
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