Work Ethic

By Karen McNew
WSLS10 Anchor
Published: January 30, 2008

It has been a busy day.  A day when you come into work early and work through dinner.  Some people wonder if working extra “bothers” me.  It doesn’t.  The way I look at it most of the successful people I know or read about have worked or continue to work extra hours in order to get the job done.  I love my job and am blessed to have it and that message was impressed upon me at a young age…

When I was 15 and 8 months old I started my first part time job with a workers permit.  It was at a popular ice cream shop in my hometown of Blacksburg.  I was about to get my drivers license and while gasoline was only 89 cents a gallon then, it still took money to fill up the tank.  My brother Oakey helped me get the job because he knew the owner, but it was my duty to keep it.  My first boss taught me a lot.  She ran a tight but fair ship.  She expected her employees to work as hard as she did and she worked hard. 

I’ll never forget the time we were swamped in the middle of summer.  A lady ordered a scoop of ice cream in a cup.  I was so hurried I dug out what must have been the equivalent of two or three scoops!  My boss standing next to me grabbed the cup out of my hand… placed it on the scale… and pointed out that it was well over the desired weight for that order.  Basically, the impression I got was get it right next time… don’t be sloppy… and don’t take money out of my pocket. 

She wasn’t mean she was direct… and so my “real” job work ethic began to gel.  Ice cream was my first part time job but it certainly wasn’t the last… more to come.