13 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com Oof! That’s the sound of a satisfying grunt after a job well done. I spent the long Labor Day weekend musing about my blue-collar adolescence. I wouldn’t change my backwoods childhood for the world because I learned some coming-of-age lessons and sage advice that I’ve carried with me from boyhood to manhood. Contrary to popular belief, I’m no stranger to physical labor. Ask anybody who knows me, except for my wife; her opinion is biased and based on whether the household chores are done. Which, in fact, they’re not. Sorry, honey. I promise I’ll take out the trash after these digressions. Growing up against the rural backdrop of the Green Mountains that swathe Vermont, it’s easy to get swallowed up in the daily grind of breaking your back to make a modest living. I watched my parents make that hard-earned dollar the notso-easiest of ways. My old man was a carpenter and mama was a bartender. I always knew that I was destined to work with my hands, but I wanted that to look a tad bit different than my folks. So, I became a writer, which counts as a hands-on trade in my book. Here are my takeaways from the chapters that bind my upbringing: Always be the hardest working person in the room. Like in sports, you may not always be able to outsmart your opponent, but you can muster the will to outwork them. The expression, “work smarter, not harder” holds true, but don’t let it turn into complacency or laziness. Show everyone the same respect and gratitude regardless of whether they are the CEO or janitor of your company. Your title or salary doesn’t make you a better human. Making an honest living, whether it's a lot or a little, and earning it in the dirt is what defines a person’s character. Like any other life skill, true grit can only be developed over time, never purchased or bought. Thanks to our town employees from all professions. Your sweat equity is what makes Mount Pleasant so magical and the most desirable place to live in East Cooper and beyond the coast. Positively Yours, Zach Giroux Managing Editor from the editor Hard Work Pays Dividends SCAN • CLICK SUBSCRIBE YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2024 ALL THINGS FALL • FOOTBALL SEASON • HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS Gridiron Gurus Coaches & Schedules Auto Advice Road Trip Tips Spooky Season Haunted Estates & Graveyards
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