Choices

When I was about 5 years old, my father took me to watch some big earth movers clear some land at a construction site. It is a memory that will be forever etched in my mind. Dad had an old Ford Galaxy 500, and I had to sit on his lap to see over the enormous dashboard to view the gigantic dinosaur-like machines moving about. I could have literally sat there all day and watched, but well, there are other things that Dad had to do that day.

Little did I know that some years later in 1995, I would begin my career on that same site that had become SEW-EURODRIVE. How did I get there? One word - CHOICES. Let me explain.

While in high school I also attended a vocational school, R.D. Anderson, located in the small town of Moore, SC. My instructor was Richard Sloan, and he helped shape my future. Not just as an instructor of Industrial Mechanics and Robotics, but as a Grandfather-like figure who knew exactly what you needed when it came to direction, love, and discipline. Mr. Sloan never told you what to do but instead always presented a choice, sometimes in the form of a question. He affectionately called everyone 'Dad'. For instance he would say, "Hey Dad, you gonna clean up that Bridgeport (Milling Machine), or am I gonna have to do it later?" That was his way of telling you that you better clean it up or else...

My Senior year I had the privilege to represent the State of South Carolina in Kansas City, at the 1995 VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America) competition in the field of Industrial Mechanics. Now as any 18-year-old in a big city would be, I wanted to explore and hang out with my fellow classmates and new found friends. Mr. Sloan had other ideas in mind. The conversation went something like this: "Dad, you want to go out with those other kids?" He knew I did. "Well, that's fine by me, you have earned the right to go have some fun, and you have certainly studied a lot." "Where's the 'But'?", I said to myself. He continued, "Dad, I did happen to bring some pneumatic and electrical schematics if you wanted to look them over instead." I was so aggravated by that! I really wanted to go have some fun, yet, I chose to look over those prints and made sure I was mentally fresh for the next day’s competition. That decision paid off as you can see from the picture when the 1st place winner was announced. That moment of happiness on Mr. and Mrs. Sloan's faces was something that I will never forget.

The year 1995 was also pivotal because I had to make a decision on where I was going to work. While I enjoyed flipping burgers at Wendy's, I knew this was not going to be something that was sustainable for reaching my future goals. Mr. Sloan helped me narrow it down to two companies - SEW-EURODRIVE and a company that is no longer in business. He said, "Dad, you may think the grass is greener over there at that other place, but if you work hard, you'll go places at SEW, they are good people over there." I made the right choice. It is 2021 and I still work for SEW-EURODRIVE.

Here's the thing about choices: EVERY decision that you make will open up opportunities and close others. Maybe if I had not cleaned up my work area, Mr. Sloan would have focused his attention on another student? Maybe if I had decided to work at the other company, I would be back to flipping burgers at Wendy's, who knows? Ultimately you will have to make many choices throughout your life. The thing to keep in mind is that fear of failure will prevent you from making any choice at all - which can also be considered failure, at the rate of 100%. The other scenario is where you take the initiative and ask for the chance to make a choice. Look for growth opportunities in your career. Never settle for where you are at that moment. No, I am not talking about never being content. What I want to convey is to never become so comfortable that you lose sight of your goals. Losing sight of your goals leads not only to stagnation, but also to regression.

I have to agree with Mark Twain's sentiments, who was quoted as saying, "Good decisions come from experience. Experience comes from making bad decisions." What is it that you are waiting for? The CHOICE is yours.