Lessons Learned in the Dark

All I needed was a bucket and a flashlight.

When my family moved to Iowa, I was just five years old, full of curiosity and energy. As soon as I could handle a lawn mower and a snow shovel, I took on odd jobs in our neighborhood, mowing lawns and shoveling snow to make a little extra money. Little did I know that these early experiences would set the stage for a business venture that taught me invaluable lessons.

My childhood business wasn't your typical lemonade stand; it involved venturing out into the quiet Iowa nights armed with nothing but a bucket and a flashlight. My mission? Collecting nightcrawlers, those elusive worms that anglers prize for their fishing escapades. Crossing the neighbors' lawns in the dark, I would find a treasure trove of these wriggling creatures.

Night after night, I honed my skills at gathering the best bait for local fishermen. I even had a dedicated customer from Minnesota who purchased a staggering 30 dozen worms every year. My night time outings proved fruitful, both in terms of the number of worms collected and the income generated.

The profits I earned from my nocturnal endeavors were not squandered. At 16, I proudly purchased my first car, a 1969 Chevy Malibu, a symbol of hard work and determination.

Reflecting on those early years, I realize the lessons learned from working as a child have been guiding principles throughout my life (along with those passed on by my parents, as I mentioned in an earlier newsletter). From the importance of diligence and resourcefulness to understanding the value of a dollar, those experiences shaped my work ethic and instilled in me a sense of responsibility.

Though I may have started with a bucket and a flashlight, the skills and values cultivated during those nights in Iowa have accompanied me in my career, proving that the seeds sown in childhood can yield a harvest of lifelong lessons and achievements.

Don’t Settle for Second Best

Craig Millius is the Founder and CEO of eCard Transactions in Omaha, NE. The company has been providing cash flow management services to its clients since 2009. eCard has developed state-of-the-art technology to recover failed payments through its Recovery Suite. eCard can help clients recover up to 80% of its lost payments in 21 days.?

eCard reduces the pain of lost revenue from failed payments. It can also lower subscriber churn while increasing subscriber retention.?

If interested, you can call Craig at 402 835 0734. You can also email him or get on his calendar.?