My first contacts with money were through mowing lawns and shoveling snow - but probably the best money/work lesson I got came at 14 years old.
I got a job as busboy at a diner my dad worked at after he got laid off from his "real" job. The owner thought I looked 16 so he put me on the schedule based on that.
I did okay but was probably typical of my age, cocky, lazy and a head full of nothing but my warped idea of how things are.
My job description as I understood it was clear tables, set water out for the people and stay the hell out of everyone's way.
About 2 weeks into the job, someone told me a family made a huge mess under a table and I should clean it up.
In typical know-it-all fashion, I said it wasn't my job and went on with what I was doing.
The owner heard about it, went and spoke with my dad who told him to fire me. I got canned minutes later but got to finish out the day since dad was my ride home.
On the way home there wasn't the ferocity I expected but instead a very calm lesson in working for the pay, and not some idealistic job description.
This was a big turning point in my understanding of money, work and how the willingness to do one kind of opens up for the receiving of the other.
Nice thread Colin
