When I was 16 my dad got me my first job on a building site.

I was suddenly making money, surrounded by adults, who had their lives worked out. They were older and smarter than me, a teenager who had no idea what to do with my life.

That's what I thought anyway.

My First Lesson

I sat beside Joe Fisher who had been in the industry for a long time, and had an air of "knowing the ropes".

Some 35 years later, I still remember Joe coming in one Monday morning. He sat down at his desk, looked at his watch and proceeded to do nothing. This went of for 10 minutes. I had to ask.

"What are you doing Joe?"

Listen And Learn

"I don't start work until 8" he declared.

"I'm paid to be here from 8 to 5. 15 minute break in the morning, 45 minutes for lunch and another 15 minutes in the afternoon. They won't get anything more out of me."

Right there I learnt something invaluable.

Make Sure You Do What You Love

Even at 16 I knew I didn't want to be like Joe.

My father who was in the same office loved what he did. Every day he went in believing he was making a difference.

To some It may only have been a building site, but he threw himself into every challenge, hungry for the win. At the end of each day he loved reporting his victories. He was proud.

"I'm lucky. I love what I do. Make sure you do what makes you happy son!" He wasn't lucky. He made this all himself.

I'd love my father to be here today to tell him how much I love what I get to do every day!