I grew up in a very strict family, where respect was not optional. My father was a hard-working man, and my mother, besides taking care of the home, worked alongside him for as long as I can remember. There was no day when work was not part of our lives. The good days and the hard days of my father’s business came up over meals, and we all heard them. I was not annoyed by that. I was fascinated by the love my parents had for what they did.
My father always hoped that one of us would carry on the business he had built through years of work and care. As the provider for the family, he wanted that business to support us. He also hoped to enjoy the fruit of his labor, but nothing gave him more pleasure, and still gives him more pleasure, than helping someone else succeed. His ways were not always smooth or gentle, but they were genuine. He never asked anyone to do more than he did, and he worked long hours to keep the business running.
The Colors Of My Life
When my siblings and I were old enough to follow directions, we spent many hours helping my mother with office work. Each of us played a small part. Some did more than others, but we all did what we could. I was probably the one who spent the least time beside them, because of the career I chose. I never forgot how they approached the work. At each step, I felt that the pesos they invested in my education should be put to good use, however much effort that took.
I may not know everything my parents had to do, but the lessons I learned early still shape how I work. From them I learned loyalty and honesty. I learned to give back at least as much as I receive. I work hard for the people who rely on me and for the people I work with. I try to keep my commitments, without shortcuts and without doing less than I can. I take the small duties as seriously as the large ones. I try to notice other people’s successes and be glad for them, even on the days when that is not my first feeling. Above all, I try to be straightforward in my own work, and to choose the honest path when an easier one is offered.
