A long history of working loyally for a company and getting the gold watch for retirement.

Place I was working at did not pay great and had this whole pay your dues mantra. At the time I was frustrated. I took an early paper route with my sons and my wife taught piano for a few years. Taught my kids to get up early and work, and they are doing really well as young adults. My wife has many young adults now grateful for her inspiring their piano skills.

But the final straw was when my my boss backended us by not getting maternity coverage, and we had a surprise baby that was all on us. Paying those bills, my oldest son was playing in the state football championship up in Sandpoint and I did not have the money to take us to watch him. I’m fixing my old vans brakes in the snow and listening to him play on the radio, making a couple critical plays at the end and hearing the announcers say how he was carried off the field while the crowd chanted his name.

If that doesn’t put a burr in your saddle nothing will. After 8 years working for the man God finally shoved me into starting my own business and being able to actually get out of my economic straitjacket.

In hindsight I had to have those frustrating kicks to the backside to get me where I needed to be. Life is so much better now.