Technology Generation
By Anthony Rino
Although I occasionally find myself using technology to stay connected to the office beyond the workday, I also return to my father’s example. Just imagining this always provides me with my best laugh of the day because, well, to put it bluntly, my dad is the most technologically-illiterate person I know. He is the only adult I know who does not own a car, an answering machine, cell phone, ATM card, or e-mail address. When I question him about how he lives without these “necessities,” his answers are brief but to the point. “Why do I need a car when I can take the bus?” “I don’t need an answering machine or cell phone. If people want to talk to me, they can call me when I am at home. ATM card: “What, banks don’t have tellers anymore?”
My dad did teach me about long work hours. He taught me that anything worth doing right will, in fact, take much of your time. But being very dedicated to your work—and the long hours this often requires—does not need to mean the ruthless invasion of life at home.
Believe me, my dad was no stranger to long hours. His work schedule was, in fact, not a healthy aspect of his life. He worked long and hard, to a fault. But he also believed that one’s hours need to be efficiently separated; work was work and home was home. To help himself manage the transitions between the two, he always had his morning routine.
His morning routine was a shower and then a shave. Yes, those shaves were a prelude to the workday, but also a part of family time. There were times when he would put shaving cream on his face and then put some on mine. While I waited patiently, he would unscrew the top of a razor to remove the blade and hand that one to me to “shave” alongside him.
We talked about a lot of things, but none of them were ever about work.
Routine for a New Generation
As much as I loved that early morning time we had together, today I cherish those early lessons even more. In fact, I believe in his philosophy so much that I have started my own morning rituals. My commute to the office is usually accompanied by a book on tape or morning prayer.
But before I even get behind the wheel, I live out my most important morning ritual: when I wait with my children and put them safely on the school bus. This time—and the talks we share during it—is by far the best part of my morning. Any of you who have young children can easily imagine what it’s like, and how diverse the conversation can be.
“Daddy, how many more days are there until Christmas?” “Why can’t I pick up bird feathers?” “Why are school buses yellow?” Although I sometimes can’t make the breakfast-at-home goal a reality, the morning school bus talks inevitably put me in the right frame of mind to start my day and give me perspective for the inevitable stresses of work.
When it comes to your life, there is no such thing as a “do-over.” Start work when you get there, not before. Just because you have the ability to make your world your office, resist the temptation to do so, and enjoy the beauty of having a life.
Anthony Rino is an experienced lecturer and author of Footsteps of “My Father, Everything I Know About Management I Learned From My Dad” (www.footstepsofmyfather.com). He can be reached at joto15@charter.net.
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