What did your first job teach you?

A quick examination of employment as a teenager.

I was 13. I think. Or was I 14?

Either way I had my first job.

I’ve always loved sport.

Still do.

Didn’t have the skills.

Still don’t.

Refereeing became my ticket to get a spot on the court.

I was reflecting on it today because someone commented about my ‘Love list’ that I published on Valentine’s Day.

In it I said that one of the things I love is working, which the respondent thought was strange to have on a list next to my family and Haigh’s Chocolate.

I’ve worked continuously for about 35 years now. Even when I was full-time unemployed straight out of school, I kept refereeing.

It taught me a lot of things that I continue with today.

First, I remember getting paid $2 for my first game. That’s right - cray cray to think about that being anything my teenagers would even get out of bed for.

But the $2 coin came with a message from the Stadium Manager. “As you get better, this will increase”.

The carrot had been dangled.

I knew I had to put in the work to get better. The guarantee of more money was attached.

Being a fan of the Adelaide 36’ers I had a season pass. While my mate watched the game I studied the referees. The way they presented themselves, made their signals, held control of the match with their voices and not just the whistle.

I would observe, and each game would implement something I saw the ‘pros’ do.

My skills for imitation therefore weren’t limited to impersonating my Irish-born home room teacher. On the basketball court I was literally faking it until I made it.

I also learnt about dealing with people much older than me. Being a teenager and umpiring adult games (even in a social competition) meant that I was being trusted by people older than me to administer the rules in a fair way.

It taught me a lot about dealing with complaints. It might have just been a social competition but for these sweaty accountants and advertising executives just blowing off some steam on a Wednesday night at Forestville Stadium, it was serious business.

Their demands for accountability improved my ability. I had to be on my game.

Thinking about that job now, I’m so grateful for what it taught me about working. Nothing comes easy. It’s part faking it, and it’s part earning it. The rest is up to you.

What was your first job? What lessons did it teach you?