Inspired by a Millennial

Our current project at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln (UNL) starts the day at 6:30am. Today I went back to the project site and to follow up on a couple of things with the crew at the typical morning huddle. Our huddles are quick and we were done by 6:42am. Because the project is in the middle of a college campus parking is hard to find. We are forced to park about a ½ mile away.

On September 28th in Lincoln NE it is still dark outside at 6:42am.

As I started the walk back to my car I noticed the darkness within all the dorms. I looked around at the hundreds of dorms rooms and there was only 2 of the rooms had lights on. Seeing how nearly everybody still had the lights out made me reflect on my own days in college. Few things have changed. Before 7am most college kids are still in bed. (The thought about how in the 80s the girls would have been up because it took a long time to get all their hair into place may have crossed my mind.)

I had just left a room full of guys many of whom got up at 5 something to be at work between 6:10am and 6:29am. At 6:15am I was surrounded by go getters. Nick Pascoe, Calvin Yelm, Reuben Mitchell, Jon Brophy, Randy Brown Brandon Satterthwaite and Don Aikens were asked to work at 6:30am (Early for most people) and still they were there 15 minutes early! I work at a place full of people with the same go getter type attitude.

I wondered how the college students are going to convert to become early risers so our nation can stay strong and productive. The ones who convert quickest will likely advance past the others who continue to slumber. Of course given the proper motivation many more students might have been up and at it. Calculus and Macroeconomics classes fall short of motivating for most people regardless of generation.

I did come across a few joggers and I wanted to ask each of them to come apply for work with Willmar Electric. Somebody with the initiative to get up and go for a run at this time of day has a great head start not only on the day but on the rest of life.

I didn’t stop any joggers. I know it would have been creepy.

Then my thoughts turned to six current or recent college students or “millennials” if you prefer.

My two college age children are at their job early regardless of starting time. If a 45 minute commute to downtown Minneapolis is needed my daughter, Anne, was the bus and at work early. Despite a 1 hour drive through the country side of Maine my son, Mike, up early, out the door and at his station on time. Living on their own with their parents 500-1500 miles away in sickness or health they made it in. (My High School Daughter, Sara, leaves home at 6:30am on Thursdays to volunteer for a local youth ministry).

The current and recent college aged people at Willmar Electric. Lee Freudenberg, Caleb Dilley, Brandon and Jon Schaefer, all are at work by 7am (or earlier if asked). Whether school is in session or not these 4 go getters are always here well before most of their fellow student’s cell phone alarms have sounded.

I want to focus on one the four in particular but he is the one I know best. If you’re sad about millennials (or kids these days) I think you need to see the other side of the story.

As I walked to my car I knew I was going to run into Jon Schaefer because he was due to be on site at 7am. On site to put in 5 hours of work prior to starting his classes on the same campus later today. Jon would be there on time just like the day before, just like every day. Despite spending 6 hours on Tuesday night helping out on a wire pulling crew, he was on site on time the next day.

Just like clockwork I came across Jon coming to work at his appointed time. The lights in nearly all the dorm rooms were still off.

Yesterday Jon was hauling boxes because he was assigned the task of hauling boxes. People don’t go to college so they can haul boxes. You haul boxes around a project for 4 hours before class because you have your sights set on a long term plan for your life.

You work hard while going to college because you want to pay as you go. You work hard while going to college because you know life is better and more secure when you’re not in debt.

It is never easy to do the opposite of the crowd. The crowd is in bed while Jon is hauling boxes, pulling wire, filing reports or whatever else he is asked to do.

After graduation the crowd will be paying back their debt while Jon is investing in his future.

The contrast is inspiring.

Willmar Electric needs to find a way to continue to stock a company with this same type of person. Jon along with Brandon, Lee and Caleb prove all generations have go getters within the generation. I find it inspiring. Truly inspiring.

Thank you for the great example. Of course people like Nick, Don, Rueben, Randy, Brandon, Calvin and many more have set the example.

Listening to God

Today I had the honor of hearing my youngest daughter Sara give the Senior Moment at her schools weekly chapel. She did a wonderful job.

(She told us not to come and listen. So Sue and I had to hide from her. We listened from the hallway. It is crazy to think we would miss the chance of hearing her speak.)

Sara addressed the entire student body by explaining how she had recently come to a major decision in her life. A decision she was making because she thinks God is leading her in a new direction.

Ever since Sara was in 3rd grade she has been telling the world she would be an Elementary school teacher when she grew up. She has never wavered. Everybody Sara knew has heard about her plan to be a teacher.

Truth is Sara doesn’t waver very much on anything in life!

But in the last 6 month she has seen signs and felt God leading her in a new direction. As she considers the path for the rest of her life she now thinks she should go into Accounting.

Those of you reading this message are liking thinking “so what, Dave, she’s a high school senior. High school seniors nearly always change their minds.” I would tend to agree with you. Our oldest daughter, Anne, wanted to go into graphic design when she was Sara’s age but is now 7 months from getting an Accounting degree and our son, Mike, changed his major after his first semester. (I changed mine after 3 semesters).

But Sara’s move is significant for 3 reasons

Changing Sara’s mind is a big deal. Like I said above Sara doesn’t waver. She is focused and determined. Changing one’s mind might be seen as admitting to a mistake or drifting.
Admitting mistakes and drifting can make you look weak. Sara is mentally tough and not prone to looking weak. (No mystery where this trait came from).

Doing the same thing her Mom and Sister did is a big deal. Both Sue and Anne are accounting majors. Sara has always been more likely to be Ms. Opposite as opposed to following the pack. On one hand she has always done very well in her business and accounting classes and has always enjoyed them. But on the other hand being her own person in life led us to believe she would never consider doing what her Mom or Sister did.

She is clearly listening to God. The summary of the two reasons above lead us to the third reason. If Sara is going to change her mind or do the same things others are doing it must because she truly believes God is telling her something. She used scripture to drive home the point and explain to the audience why she was making this move. She laid it out in a very confident and convincing manner.

The bottom line and the best part of all is Sara is letting go of the steering wheel and letting God take control. She explained to her fellow students God is in control and we can trust Him to do what is best for us. It was very moving to hear somebody have such a strong faith. It is even more moving when the person telling the story happens to be your youngest child.