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While driving last week I saw a young adult riding a bicycle. He was probably in his late teens or early twenties. He was on the side of a busy road that didn't have much of a paved shoulder but did have a considerable gravel section.
I don't know him or his story, but when I saw him, I felt impressed.
I don't know why he was riding a bike. Maybe he didn't have a vehicle because he couldn't afford one, his vehicle was temporarily in the shop, or he had loaned it to a sibling who needed it more than he did that day. Maybe he didn't have a driver's license because he couldn't afford the classes or had gotten into trouble and lost his license. Maybe he had a license and a vehicle but wanted the exercise.
He was wearing a uniform from a fast-food restaurant. Assuming he worked there and wasn't just into wearing the uniform, I was impressed that he was committed to his job enough to bike there and back. I don't know how far he had to bike but was impressed he had the motivation to bike to work even if it was just a few miles. It was at least two miles as he was about two miles from the closest restaurant of that brand was at about ¼ mile from any house, apartment, or anything other than dense woods.
He was riding a regular pedal bike without an electric motor. He was following the biking laws, riding on the correct shoulder of the road.
Maybe I am assuming quite a lot, but I hope I am right about this young man. I hope he is the hard worker he appeared to me to be that day. I hope he is taking steps (pedals) to get where he wants to in life, with the bike and a job in fast food being valuable steps along his path. Even if he plans to stay in the fast-food industry as a career, I hope the way I imagine him showing up to work every day ready to do his best and provide exceptional value to his employer and the customers is accurate.
I thought a lot about what exactly impressed me about this young man, and I discovered it boiled down to a few things. I know from working with my clients that it is still extremely difficult to find good employees. I know it is tough to find young employees who are willing to work their scheduled hours without calling in or just not showing up. I know it doesn't take much for an employee to come up with an excuse not to go to work. And I know that it is hard to find work ethic, especially in someone who isn't in the job they desire to make a career out of.
I think he reminded me a bit of myself when I wasn't old enough to drive. I biked to and from cabins and a campground to clean rentals to earn money. I'm grateful my parents supported that kind of activity. It sure taught me a lot about work ethic and working for what you want.
In my mind, this young man was the opposite of all those difficulties when it comes to hiring. He, and others like him, have my admiration. And, as we see an increasing number of people who don't want to work, hardly meet the minimum expectations when they do work, and who expect more than they earn in money, kudos, benefits, etc., I hope people like this young man have your admiration as well.
I should have stopped and talked with him. I wish I had. But it was not a convenient place to pull off the side of the road. I probably would have scared him. To him I believe I'd be a weird older lady. If you are that young man, or know who he might be, I'd love to connect with him to hear his story and learn if he is indeed the determined person I saw that day.
I see you, the hard workers, those with a realistically positive attitude, and those adding value, and I appreciate you.