Tell us about the best (or worst) job you’ve ever had. What did you learn from the experience?
My job was as a fruit picker this year; I loved the physical workout I got, and the wonderful new, christian friends I made. However, I have learned that you really should not get a job unless you have established your beliefs firmly. Once you are around non-christian people, you might be tempted to change your beliefs to be portrayed as a “Cool” person (or “Normal”). God will honor those who honor him and stand firm against the pressures of this world. Therefore, I think that you should not get a job until you are mature enough, or until the Lord lays it on your heart.

Hypothetical Situation: If (God forbid) one of your parents was injured and unable to work and you were forced to help provide for your family, what skills do you have that could help generate an income?

I now know how to : run a cash register, calculate sums/change in my head, I can pick/sort fruit, I can bake, clean, babysit, communicate with other’s, make subs, bag groceries, and weigh vegetables. I am also working on my American Sign Language skills, which I could hopefully use in a school (teaching). I can play the piano — this is a skill that can be used to help others even when it is not required ( i.e. playing in a nursing home, etc.)

As to the hypothetical question, I’ve been volunteering at the local library and have learned enough for a part time job. (hopefully)

I have been majorly blessed with two parents who have an amazing work ethic that they have passed down to me and my three brothers; as such I’ve been working with my mom cleaning houses ever since I was 13 (I’m 17 now and just bought a horse trailer and a truck last month–now to build up my savings again XD ). I’ve also had odd jobs in the past involving baling hay, yard work, and helping our farrier with horses. I don’t know what I’d do if I _didn’t_ have a job.

“Tell us about the best (or worst) job you’ve ever had. What did you learn from the experience?”

I honestly can’t remember a ‘worst’ job–or a ‘best’ one, for that matter. I do love working with my farrier and helping work with horses, though.

Hypothetical Situation: If (God forbid) one of your parents was injured and unable to work and you were forced to help provide for your family, what skills do you have that could help generate an income?

Well. That actually happened a couple of years ago when my dad had back problems (compressed discs) and wasn’t able to work for almost a year after he had surgery. My mom and I nearly doubled the houses that we normally clean to take up the slack–we had 2-3 houses a day five days a week. It was pretty intense for a while there, but we made it through with a bit of belt-tightening.

Yes I did. I work at a local church’s daycare. I did this because I need to make my own money. I never liked getting money from my Dad. Plus, I’m going to be a senior this school year and need to get money saved up for after I graduate. Then, my dad was having a hard time helping me buy gas because he is a landscaper and that isn’t doing well now.

Tell us about the best (or worst) job you’ve ever had. What did you learn from the experience?

Best- My job at this daycare rocks.
Worst- I babysat two kids one summer. The boy was horrible but the girl was an angel. The boy frustrated me to no end.

Hypothetical Situation: If (God forbid) one of your parents was injured and unable to work and you were forced to help provide for your family, what skills do you have that could help generate an income?

I would prob. be able to be a teacher at this daycare for more hours. If it happens after I graduate… Or I could learn to flip burgers. Whatever I had to do to help support my family.

So, technically, we already generate an income. xD
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Actually, yes. I was a carpenter’s apprentice at the same place my Dad works. I had to clean up everybody’s messes and hand them stuff and get trash together and (occasionally) do some of the real fun stuff, like putting together cabinets, installing refrigerators, unpacking ad installing bamboo flooring (they don’t trust me with the real hardwood yet) do some paintig and at the end of the day, set fire to the junk heap. Pretty fun stuff.

The only reason I had this job was because one day when I was around ten years old, my dad said “You should come to work with me, you could learn something good, if you ever need a job in carpentry” And so yeah, he saw how good I worked and I started miraculously getting paid five dollars an hour (less then minimum wage because of my age) But still, most of the time I was having fun.

Tell us about your best (or worst) job you’ve ever had. What did you learn from that experience?

Well, a few years back, I had to tutor this kid in reading. It was really hard because he didn’t want to learn, so I’d sit there and try to teach him stuff and he’d put his breakfast in my backpack. (maybe he thought I was hungry) But, as it progressed it got better (except when he started crying when he couldn’t read a word and felt bad about it) and we became pretty good friends. I learned how to deal with a crying child and how to work past the obstacles of him being kind of a brat.

The best job experience was when I was supposed to make a website for a company that makes organic pet food. The company didn’t go so well, but I got paid a hundred dollars and a box full of baseball cards for my work and I learned a lot about web page design and how to work with a boss who hates your guts because she thinks you’re a useless teen and hates it even more when you prove her wrong about being uselss and asks you why she hired you. (how would I know? It was your choice!)

Hypothetical Situation: If (God forbid) one of your parents was injured and unable to work and you were forced to help provide for your family, what skills do you have that could help generate an income?

I could be a tutor or a carpenter (now that I’m fourteen, I could get a work permit) I could do web design or graphic design or I could flip burgers or be a stalker at a grocery store. I could also do oddjobs (espetially pertaining to painting or carpentry) But I don’t think it would be that hard to support my family, because without one or both of my parents it would really only be me I’m supporting because both of my parents would be all “I can take care of myself” and stuff, but I know it wouldn’t be a walk in the park. Far from it, but still, I know I could do it. But I hope it doesn’t happen. My band could also get together and get some gigs and therefore get more money, but we would need a few more people (we’re not really finding anyone who wants to be in a christian band, so it’s hard.)

Thanks for posting this, guys, it’s pretty helpful for me to be able to look inside my own life and see what I would, could and can do for a job. Also, thanks for writing Do Hard Things and good luck on the next book. Peace out!

i just want to thank you guys for writing an amazing book, im only 1/3 way throuhg it but it has so much truth that applies to me. you guys wrote so much truth in it that it challenges to step outside my everyday life, thanks again.