We lived in a small town but we were sent to our Uncle and Grandparent's farms during the summer to pick cotton (by hand in the hot Texas sun), corn and haul hay. I would mow lawns in town for 50 cents each (large lawns, my mower and gas). Worked nights and weekends at a gas station first few years of high school. Learned to work on automobiles there (other peoples automobiles
). Worked in commercial construction the last two years of high school (digging trenches, tying steel rebar, unloading cement bags and pushing cement buggies). This was the job that made me decide to attend college. My Dad's friend owned the company and I believe to this day that he had him ensure I had every hard job there was to change my mind about going to college. It worked. Worked at a wholesale grocery ADP department nights and weekends through college. Company provided a full scholarship. Basic IBM 602 Accounting Machines, lots of punch cards and key punchers. I became the assistant manager over time. I actually applied for a job unloading rail box cars but, during the interview, the owner decided to give me a chance in the ADP Department. One of the best breaks I ever got. Adventure called and I joined the Navy to see the world.