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.