When I was a kid, I was the, "Ace" at my Dad's Texaco station. He referred to working as an employee for someone else as, Working for the other man. One of the best things he taught me is, your job is never done. If you've got nothing to do, grab a broom, and start sweeping. That lesson served me well in life, and I was proud to tell my Dad one day that because of him instilling that lesson into me, I got my first big promotion. The smile on his face was priceless. Y'all listen to old Uncle Rabbit because 🐇is good 🐇is wise❗👍
Yep, I spent 7yrs behind the counter of a service station, I love a good line & I've got a million of them, but one I used often on the staff was, " If you got time to lean, you got time to clean," Rj in Oz
I remember as a kid seeing my dad puke in the driveway come in to brush teeth and head to work because of him I have a great work ethic to had best or in the top 3 attendants for over 25 years on same job
I’ve been by the shop a number of times, and I can attest first hand I haven’t seen the first speck of dirt. You hit the nail on the head. It is not about your willingness to do this particular job or that particular job. It is about the willingness to do the work no matter what. I appreciate you delivering the best way to start a Friday.
I think everyone should have to work in either cleaning, food service, or customer service as their first job. It would change how people treat others that are working. And just make the world a nicer place.
My Dad used to say “Management means you’re the one who has to clean the toilet”. Later in life I learned it applied to upper management as well- you had to deal with the crappy stuff no one else could fix.
Rabbit, your the last of a dying breed... I grew up rough, with rough ole mountain ppl... My stepdad was a hard ass, but he taught me hard work,and ethic... I've been down, homeless. But I still went to work, still worked hard. Never gave up. Now I'm building my life. And livin good. Ole man said I don't care if your shoveling shit son, you shovel that shit with pride in it
You say you aren't a role model but I can say that there are a lot worse role models out there and your willingness to admit your flaws gives you more credibility than a lot of people who try to make themselves out to be role models.
One of my early jobs was at a little car rental place that gave me “the tools to be my own boss”. I was a counter clerk, shuttle driver, car cleaner, maintenance supervisor and everything else a 1 man show could be. Variety equals experience, and experience keeps you humble. Great story as always!
"People want all of this... but they don't want to do everything that it takes to get all of this." -Rob Pitts "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." -Lucius Annaeus Seneca (ancient Roman philosopher)
I am an Executive VP for a large Global Company. Our sales last year were just shy of 9B. I oversee or “manage” 1100 employees. People are often amazed when they see me picking up trash or wiping down tables. They always say “here let me do that, I know you’ve got more important things to do”, and I always reply “I saw a need and I was here, I’m never going to ask my team to do something that I’m not willing to do”. You can never be too good for the small stuff. I have no doubt that having that mindset has made us successful. I really enjoy your videos. Here’s to another million in sales by Christmas!
Thank you to many people think that they are to good to do the so called dirty jobs I made lead person one time and never asked anyone to do something I wouldn't do myself its only right.
Lucky bastard, my first job was on a "chicken farm" LOL !! 12 years old. Then at 16 I got a job at Roses Dept store. Life opened up!!! Talking about polyester smocks~~~ OH YEAH !! Stockrooms in the back~~~! Life was GOOD !!
This makes Rabbit sound like a great boss. I’ve had three bosses and heard of many more I can think of that would cuss you and call you lazy, a chicken sh*t, etc for something they would not and/or could not do. All three of them either inherited the business/money or had someone with pull that got them their start and all they had to do was not screw up too bad. Maybe one day I’ll have a decent boss. Till then I’ll try to keep it in mind that good bosses do exist.
There's a concrete ready mix company around here and the owner has over 300 concrete plants, a couple quarries, and other stuff. I was at one of their plants observing a concrete test. This guy rolls in driving a worn out Cadillac Escalade. He gets out and starts moving concrete trucks around, cleaning them up, and working on them. This guy was working his butt off. I asked their QC man if that guy was their mechanic. He told me he was the owner. Those guys are extremely loyal because their boss isn't too good to do the dirty work. They say he will fill in for anyone and even delivers concrete himself. I was impressed.
I learned a lesson early in adulthood. I had a boss tell me I'm expected to do what ever I'm asked to do as long as it's not illegal, immoral, or unethical. That lesson has served me well not only for keeping a job but helping in keeping a good attitude in what ever I've been asked to accomplish.
I was the manager of 3 service stations for 7yrs, I did everything in those places, over those years I've sacked 3 staff who wouldn't clean toilets, "If you got time to lean, You got time to clean", we were told on many occasions that we have the nicest bathrooms, always clean & fresh, I'd teach staff body language, Rj in Oz
Yessir my first job was a grocery store as well. A lot of great times. Promoted to the meat department and learned a lot. And coincidentally my youngest son is named Ace lol. Great story as usual rabbit. Keep it up man
Rob You Love what You do ! A clean rest room is as important as the "right set of wheels on that car " To me when you take pride in yourself your showing the world hey I love what I do and even if I don't sell you that car I care about you as the customer !
If you’re willing to do your job to the best of your ability and not take short cuts,this is the man you want to work for. Before I eat in any restaurant for the first time I will go to the bathroom first,if that bathroom is clean then you know that the kitchen is more likely to be clean. If it’s dirty there’s a good chance that the kitchen is also dirty and I don’t want to eat there.
Drag out these stories as long as necessary to convey the true sentiments, Rabbit. We will be on the edge of our seats, eagerly awaiting 😀. P.S. "Stories for another day" would make a terrific recurring series: I suggest 'Straw Purchases' as a kickoff.( the lifted pickup that someones grandma cosigned on). Greetings and salutations from San Antonio Texas.
I do construction work in fancy highrise buildings and it's quite common to see the owners of the building scrubbing the floors and cleaning the bathrooms. And they do this because they're showing their cleaning crew first hand as to what they expect because it's their image on the line. What I learned from that example is that you will always need to hire help but you can't completely depend on the help to have the same vision and mindset that you do. And so the only way that you get the result that you expect is to first deliver it yourself. And then that creates the model by which everyone else will follow.
You're points are spot on Rob! Never be above any work task ( I grew up in a family owned grocery store and worked in a small town one until my early 20's ) and I'm starting to finally see some payoffs for work ethic. The big key is don't get used for it, I learned that the hard way a couple times just from being a generally nice person. Current work is being good with general people skills and really it's harder than any manual labor or work I've ever done. Trying hard to get my high school senior year dream car the 2003 Corvette Z06 but also knowing my family has a house and stable environment makes it worth it as well. Great channel man, have been following since you started doing your own thing from vinwiki.
A job is a job boss loved the story # motivation. You have the same mindset my grandfather and father instilled in me. If your job is to move a pile of dirt from one hole to another that's your job. That will show a real man a chump would just walk off.
I got in trouble and part of my parole was doing 196 hours (every Monday for 6 months) little place we grew up swimming in the Pamlico River that is now Goose Creek State Park, I was Snapper lawnmower dealer so I kept all their mowers in top shape, Mowed all the grass on the grounds, Taught them about smaller air lift blades because they were on a sand hill, they even had a thing that would mow the seaweed, cleaned the toilets, Hell I even painted the parking lot lines. (They said I couldn't just paint them, they made a stencil I had to drag around to every line) I knew nothing about carpentry, the first day I had to move some poles, to make a building square or in this case Rectangle, you measure diagonal, corner to corner, That way you don't end up with a parallelogram, but anyway the picnic shelters on the way to the swimming area I built them back in 1981, they are still there! Well me and an old guy Clarence Tetterton, I am sure he is passed on, but he taught me the right way to set up poles for a pole building, no telling how many folks escaped an afternoon Thunderstorm on the River under that little wooden shed.
Part of basic training is scrubbing grout in the latrine with a toothbrush. There's a good reason for that. :) "Discipline is doing what you hate to do, but doing it like you love it." - Mike Tyson
being able to push your pride aside, and willing to do the job at hand is a skill that will take you anywhere you want to go in life. Being your bosses "ace" has many advantages when you end up needing a favor in return. When you put out minimum effort, one cannot expect maximum reward
Clean bathroom: There was a toilet at a Chevron station (I think it was) on Santa Monica Blvd. near the 405, I told my friend, "go use the toilet", she said she didn't have to. I said "just go look at the toilet". Sparkling clean, NICE tile floors, marble (or a reasonably good facsimilie) four feet high, mirrors to the ceiling. Spotless, immaculate, smelled clean. What I would imagine a toilet would look like in a fancy room at Caeser's Palace. She agreed, nicest toilet she'd ever seen.
I love your stories but I'm one of those guys like you I have 1 good work ethic I got a forgiving wife that loves me and puts up with me because I'm not a good husband and I'm in an dad I guess you could say You have a blessed day young man hope it stays good for you
Another great vid, Rob! “Clean up in the meat dept!” Hahaha! My Granny always said, “ Cleanliness is next to Godliness!”. And, it teaches great work ethics-Preach on, Br’er Rabbit!
When I was 16 I got a job to clean the lot every morning at a local drive in movie theater. You can imagine what you find on the ground?? First thing was find the full un-opened beers people tossed and rinse them and put them on ice, a nice job perk for a 16 yr old! But hosing out the bathrooms was the worst and I mean bleach and a hose on full blast!
Back at my old shop I cleaned the hell out of the bathroom and I kid you not. 5 min later a lady came in, and completely ruined the bathroom in every sense of the word. There was even sh*t on the wall. My old boss at the time offered to clean it but I take a lil pride in clean areas as well. Tell you what it didn't even smell when I got done🤝🏽😂
The first work bathroom I was assigned to clean (with zero instruction) I basically used the soggy floor mop for every surface- floor, toilet, sink, and mirror...
Having started my life bagging groceries and cleaning toilets- I can tell you are for real - It's like you were telling my story- Had the same problem with the blue toilet bowl cleaner! For me it was a lady going in the ladies room - Set her on fire- That stuff leaves residue FYI Men's room - Easy Ladies Rooms - Train wreck -
My first real job was sweeping the floor, picking up shop tools, and washing work trucks at a heavy equipment mechanic shop, oh and I was also a parts chaser. It was actually a fun job. It all comes down to work ethic and I feel that is something that you learn from the people around you. Happy Friday!!! That T-shirt is awesome!!! Working harder than a JC Penny Gal!!!! Lol.
Lmao I got promoted to that job. Our shop manager left 2 months after me joining the company; for pressure washing😂. So now I'm the shop manager because I'm the only one who actually knows the equipment and has mechanical knowledge.
I am kind of like you in that I would do anything needed done on a job. That is why when I had a supervisor job with a crew of fifty, everyone of them knew that I would not ask them to do a job that I would not do. Good moral, no bitchin', and they went the extra mile for me that they would not do for other bosses. Also just a word of kindness once in a while made them work harder than a small raise would do. Funny how hard folks work if you give them a little respect.
I agree with Rabbit about you gotta get your hands dirty Although I am blessed by being adopted by failry well off family, but I still had to get a part time job in high school if I wanted my car and allowance. My new dad would always tell me if I want rewards I better help with house cleaning growing up in my new home
Those high school jobs and the bosses from them were the greatest education money couldn't buy. My first boss is still a guy I think the world of. he understood you hire a kid you take on the responsibility to help raise that kid.
