Pledge 3

[@kb7iuj]

My dad had a great way of putting this sentiment. "Any honest work is honorable work," he would tell us kids at the dinner table. He was a very wise man.

[@wendybryan9857]

My first job was being a cashier at the grocery store. We too had to clean the bathrooms and put back all the things people decided they didnt want when they checked out. We swept the floors and washed the windows. Honestly, I look back on it and realize how much that job taught me about just learning how to work and how to be nice when people were very mean to me or having a bad day and took it out on me. This lady came in and yelled at me one day for making a mistake with her order and over charging her by accident. It upset me so much I broke down in tears. My manager took me aside and said something I will never forget. He said if you are going to work with the public you have to have a thicker skin and realize no matter what job you have you will make mistakes and get yelled at sometimes for them. That does not make you bad at your job it makes you human. Then he told me I was great employee and he was happy to have me working for him. The next time I made a mistake and got yelled at for it by a customer I shook it off, apologized. Fixed my mistake and realized I was still good at my job even when I could not be perfect at it.

[@billqqq]

In 1978 I worked in an iron ore mine. My job was to clean the change room used by the miners, where they would shower and change after their shift. It was a menial job, but it paid for the birth of my daughter. I aspired to make something of myself when I was laid off, and 40 years later look back at that time as the event that shaped my future. Spot on. Mike.

[@miloscott5630]

I started from the bottom. Like Mr. Mike. We have in ourselves the function to succeed. I’m a self taught engineer and I love my job. It s challenging some days, but at the end of the day I have succeeded. Bless all who read this no……..

[@patriciabeckman8573]

Agreed Mike. No such thing as a bad job....everything in life is an opportunity. You've made fantastic use of your opportunities. Thanks!

[@karodora]

My parents’ teenage years were during the depression in the 1930s. Both of their families were very poor. Like so many others of that generation, they took any work they could get. I always remember my Dad often saying that during that time if someone was told they “were putting on weight” it was actually a compliment because it meant your family was able to afford enough food to eat well. I was born two years after the end of WWII and feel so blessed to have had parents who taught me valuable life lessons based on their own difficult experiences.

[@jameswilliamson4856]

First job paid $3.35 in 1985. It didnt lead anywhere, but it did teach me that I needed to keep working hard and looking for something better in the mean time. I learned exactly what Mike was talking about by showing up on time and that, that is not what I wanted to do the rest of my life. Did I quit, yes. But only when I found something better later on. Rungs on a ladder...

[@desertdanblacksmith1394]

When I was in school in the late 70;s.....I worked the US Forest Service summers cleaning out toilets in Campgrounds......my buddy dropped his USFS keys in a toilet vault.....they had to be retrieved ......there were keys on it for every USFS lock in the US. ......:)

[@karodora]

My parents grew up during the Depression in the 1930s, very poor. Mike’s comments today reminded me so much of my father who believed that any job was a good job.

[@melissacoulter8801]

I worked my way through nursing school, worked since I was 13 years old under the table for my parents friend who was a slum Lord. I was roofing houses with big Samoan dudes as a 13 year old girl. It taught me that if I wanted to dress the way I wanted to going into high school I would have to work for the name brands I desired. So one day finally when I graduated from nursing school in 2000 I only made 16.28 an hour. Now almost 19 years later I cant tell you what i make now but let's just say it's a lot more.... I learned a work ethic that I have passed down to my two sons who are no longer requiring rent money from me because they are too proud. They hapve good enough jobs to get them through college themselves. just like I did. I of coarse will help if they need it but they dont need it. Makes me so proud to the see the American dream unfolding right in front of me. Working hard pays off for generations to come.

[@kelleystephens6752]

I work in a plant that was started over 50 yrs ago, but it's been slowly handed down to the "next" generation, who give a rip about the hard working employees. They ride those of us who work and give those who don't 500 2nd chances for fear of lawsuits. And are slowly weeding out full time employees who get benefits for temps that don't. I've always worked hard and not afraid to get dirty. I enjoy working, but when it's not appreciated and your too old to start over, makes it hard to get up and go. Wished I'd had you around during my prime to encourage me to learn a trade that is ever more needed daily. Thank you ,Mike ❤you.

[@thephoenixstudio]

Sounds like a bad job because of bad management

[@wendybryan9857]

These are great. I cant wait to see the rest. Love it.

[@KAH5371]

1969-70. I was 17 yrs old and a Junior in high school. Started working as a Nurse's Aide at our local hospital. Worked 8 hr. shifts for $1.50 an hour. Did everything but start IV's, give shots, pass our medicine. But, I got good at emptying and washing bed pans, emptying suction bottles, giving enemas, setting up delivery tables, washing poop off people, floors, and walls (don't ask...long story), and being there when someone dies. Sometimes, when we were short on help, and it wasn't a night before a school day, I would work 16 hrs. (Got time and a half in pay!). It was hard, fun, sad, and an incredible learning experience. And, no...I did not become a nurse. I almost did, but I had my heart set on being a teacher, so that is what I became. I worked all summers, weekends home from college, holidays, and any other time I was home and needed at the hospital. In fact, I worked there until two weeks before I started teaching. I loved teaching (oral speech communication, theatre/drama, and art), but I will always love my time as a Nurse's Aide. It helped to make me the person I am today. If I had the chance to do it all again, I wouldn't change a thing. Cleaning a nasty bed pan isn't hard work. It's just something that has to be done. It's a useful "dirty job". :-)

[@davidhewett1484]

I bailed and hauled hay, worked cows, and work for a seed company in 1980. I pretty much worked my tail into the ground.

[@triquetrawitch3002]

Mad respect for you completely mad and total respect for you and yeah I got my first job back in 1984 with Winn-Dixie in Orlando Florida so complete mad and total respect for you

[@chrismarkert9842]

"A ladder with no rungs at the bottom is a very hard ladder to climb". So true. I think I remember more valuable life lessons from all of my early "menial" jobs then were taught to me via any of my schooling. Don't get me wrong, school is important and valuable, but for me hard work was where I really learned how to be a functioning member of society as well as a confident individual. I appreciate your thoughtful insight and messages. Thank you!

[@paulpatrick8625]

Mike, My Dad taught me to treat every job as an opportunity for a new job, which I did for 27 years on active duty in the USAF in the aircraft maintenance career field. This attitude helped me get promoted to Msgt (E-7) in 13 years. No matter the job and even if I didn't like it I always gave it my best. Sometimes in the military you 're assigned jobs that suck, but for the good guys we just took care of business and that is why we got promoted. I retired from the USAF in 2000 after 27 years of active duty as an E-8 and I still serve the USAF at Travis AFB, CA as a Transit Alert mechanic and I love my job. I went to school for my A&P license and was awarded my A&P license after much school and hard work, it was not easy. I have worked for the USAF; United Airlines; and as an aircraft Mechanic on Travis AFB as a Transit Alert mechanic since 2002. I still work there and intend to for at least 4-5 more years, or as long as I can stay health enough to continue so. I really like your show and I understand my son is now on your waiting list for a possible scholarship from your fund for him to go to school. THANK YOU for what you do!!!

[@billhudson1923]

I believe there is another job that Mike is well suited for...President of the United States.

[@chayseangelo5642]

Agree

[@foofooss]

Lets get this in action!

[@jimsjacob]

Plus he’s got “the voice” for the job too!

[@bjwoolbright7708]

Sir , how dare you make such a brave and absolutely correct statement that I whole heartedly agree with

[@triquetrawitch3002]

Oh my god I would totally vote for him he would be the best and most awesome president ever to deserve this country he had a seriously considered running for it because he's done just about every aspect of the working class people he would make an awesome president❤❤❤❤

[@JudyStacey-y8z]

I love any show that has Mike Rowe in it...he is the best looking guy on tv....

[@1Whitetail]

Everyone has to start someplace and for most the bottom unless daddy is the boss. Knowing you worked your way up on your own is very satisfying and you won't forget it.

[@richardhoward526]

I would give it more thumbs up if I could. When I was young I would work multiple jobs for the money and experience. Never ever late and worked the hours my bosses wanted me for regardless of my personal life. Your message is spot on.

[@damnoldguy]

In 1981 i worked at a four screen drive in theater. We worked during the day for obvious reasons, and i can say without a doubt that it was disgusting some of the things i found. But the pay was good and i got in for free and could bring friends. It's all about perspective.

[@ObamAmerican48]

Your illustrator is quite generous with the appearance of 56-57 year old Mike.

[@joshsmith4690]

The purchasing power of $10 in 1980 is the purchase power of $30 now. Your right no bad jobs but people are seriously underpaid today.

[@HugsXO]

I am sad that the concept of working hard, do your best and learn as much as you can has been replaced with the "Entitled" attitude. Ultimately it is the next stepping stone or ladder to earning more and move towards your dream. Thanks Mike.

[@thephoenixstudio]

I'm sad that the idea of wanting management to treat employees like humans and not property is considered Entitled.

[@HugsXO]

@@thephoenixstudio Management's job is to make sure the executive branches dictates are achieved. As an employee your job is to make sure Management's dictates are achieved. Management is not there to babysit or coddle employees. As an employee you can take it for what it's worth and learn more and move to a better place of employment, however there is no guarantee that as an employee you are going to be treated better. You can sit and bitch and moan about how you are treated or do something about it. It's just that simple.

[@thephoenixstudio]

@@HugsXO Exactly, you do something about it. Like making it known publicly how bad management is, so the market pressures them to be better.

[@HugsXO]

@@thephoenixstudio You would only do that if you do not plan on working in that field again or are independently wealthy! If there are horrendous atrocities being committed then of course you report them to the appropriate authorities otherwise if it's petty crap then suck it up buttercup. What type of crimes has this company perpetrated against you?

[@thephoenixstudio]

@@HugsXO Thank God our founding fathers didn't just "suck it up, buttercup" and actually fought to make things better. Maybe try to be more American in the future. It's not about crimes, many consumers want to know which companies treat their employees like livestock, which happens a lot.

[@bigdogbob845]

Mike, how times change. My first job was in 1964 and I made a Whopping $.85 / hr. but gas was only .25 cents a gallon and cigs, .20 cents a pack. I learned the value of hard work and earning money. If I wanted stuff, than I had to pay for it myself. I saved enough money that I was able to buy my first car before I got my driver's license at 16 years old.

[@tamireeves5158]

The ladder analogy is amazing! I am so proud to share these!!!! ♥️

[@brothernorb8586]

Mike you are the most amazing person

[@jetthardin4927]

Well duck, if this doesn't describe me so far. First job was smiling and helping people at a hardware store, second job got to use tools but also had to army crawl through sewage to fix people's plumbing just to be told off as lazy for taking so long to fix it. But without those I wouldn't have my degree, my truck, my house, my dog. No matter what you do do your best at it and take everything you can from it because it leads somewhere. Turned 23 yesterday for context. Would be somewhat less impressive if I just got a house at 59

[@hdlowrider5413]

Been there done that. Worked at the AMC Theatre at the Yorktown Mall in Lombard Illinois, in the late 60's early 70's. Quite a valuable experience. Used to help the projectionist get the film up to the booth. Pretty exciting when the new movies came in. Did you have to join the projectionists union when you started loading film? Pretty good paying job back then. I wonder if they still have projectionists.

[@Jim1alaska]

$2.90 an hour? Wow! Shucky darn Mike I got fifty cents an hour when I was ushering, admittedly though, that was back in the fifties. ;-)

[@thomasredxjackson6906]

Can't believe i didnt know about this scholarship...my sons could use this.

[@hopswordusmc6973]

Mike Rowe…the face of what it is to show up and do the job.

[@johnradik406]

Like my grandmother would say: Make work play, you'll have fun all day...

[@samanthamonaghan7579]

True, jobs are task that hopefully one is paid for, there are bad Employers though and bad Employees. I worked cleaning many restrooms myself and I could say yes, that would be a place I would be willing to go. ;)

[@richardrichford2617]

Great job mike

[@jimsjacob]

Sound advice. I was doing the same from 1976 on up…. I was making the $2 wages by first cleaning dishes and then flipping burgers. Raises back then were .05. It’s not meant to be a “living wage” like the left demands. I’m retired very comfortably now and never spent 4 to 6 years in “colleges”. Sad that we let lazy, unambitious people “wag the dog” like we do. There is nothing gained by acquiescing to bullies.

[@teodormajewski3566]

After watching those videos before bed I had a dream: a brawe New Workshop Order O:)

[@lisarmahan]

GREAT STORY

[@bobarlow8037]

10.00 dollars an hour in 1980 wasn’t enough to support yourself 40 years later people are starting at 10 dollars an hour and still can’t support themselves oh how the times have changed

[@thephoenixstudio]

So much this...

[@24ples]

Yes!! Mike Rowe for Pres!!

[@brianeaton3734]

Love the shoes

[@NorseButterfly]

My first real job was at The Great American Chocolate Chip Cookie Company. You learn mighty quickly that all cookies suck.

[@michaellowe3665]

I have seen where your hands have been. I wouldn't buy popcorn from you now.

[@michaelesplin529]

Mike Rowe for president!

[@SmokingChristian]

In my search for work. I'm beginning to tell folks that "I'm looking for my job" instead of Looking for A job.

[@straightforward]

Thank you!

[@goodshipkaraboudjan]

Adjusting for inflation $10 and hour in 1980 is just shy of $30 an hour today. You reckon that's what the cinemas are paying today?

[@Twisted052]

Mike Rowe needs to sit down with Joe Rogan, that would be a great watch.

[@dakotastein9499]

this principle is great in thoery...after all it makes perfect sense... but see the problem is Jobs and even careers are not magically fixated to follow these principles.... they are still overseen and ran by poeple and are just as fallible as they are...if an employer is toxic,unethical,incompetant and unfit...the job is going to reflect those values,or rather lack there off...and ultimately be at best a waste of an employees time ,or at worst actually work to thier detriment in the long run. its good to have an optomistic and positive additude,but to think there is no such thing is a "bad job" is just willing ignorence.

[@nancyhood3996]

Is it possible to request a “live”,….. “in person?”……”broadcast”???🙏For, you see,…. I am an aficionado of the BIG Screen………🎥📽️📽️🎞️📼📀🎬🍿😂

[@brodysdaddy]

Dam, I worked my way up to projectionist in 1995 and didn't make $10/hr...was like $5-6/hr. Guess I was compensated with better movies to watch?

[@chkyle68]

They should teach this in schools instead of "here are all the reasons you are a victim".

[@findkip]

Mike, i hope you are well and safe. I just saw your like booze and history. Would you be interested in talking the Prohibition the US had. I don't think it had anything to do with booze i think it had more to do with making fuel that was not petroleum based.

[@nancyhood3996]

💒

[@Un-socialFlutt3rby3]

My first job was at a gas station and oh did it make me not like humans! People are so rude and entitled.

[@dracoQuest]

Correction Mike jobs without a paycheck or a bad job

[@brightpaul]

This should be shown at every high school weekly. Quite complaining Walmart doesn’t pay enough or my waitress job needs to pay me more. These jobs are not meant to support you your whole life. But to get you on the ladder! You can't start out as the Manager or the owner you need to put in your time.

[@thephoenixstudio]

Every job should pay enough to live. Stop supporting treating employees like crap.

[@phoenixzero-me7rv]

How are you Mr rowe

[@Painfulwhale360]

phoenix696902 psn he became Mr. Rowe when he was born 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@chrissteed8170]

2.90x18≠62.60=52.20 His first job was really a Dirty Job.

[@bowen324]

I disagree a little with this statement. I have seen bad jobs, they are the jobs people don't give a rip about while doing them. The employment opportunity is good, but the quality of work given by the employed is bad.

[@bennichols561]

First real paid job was in a shearing shed.

[@nancyhood3996]

You r silver 🦊‼️

[@paulkeys175]

In 1980 I was a young Constable in western Queensland, performing all the autopsies on the deceased as the Muslim GMO used his religion to skimp out of this task. I was also bashed, shot at and abused beyond human tolerance for the minimum wage at our time. Suck it up princesses

[@thephoenixstudio]

So because you suffered it's ok for others to suffer? Or maybe we try to make things better..

[@moremerry57]

This is sponsored by the Charles Koch Foundation? THAT Charles Koch? I was SO excited about this until I saw that. I am a huge fan of Mike Rowe and have loved everything he’s done (except the shopping network stuff). But C. Koch and his late brother are and have been a cancer on our country. 😖

[@jackiee8092]

So the man gives a lecture on work ethics and values. Someone who works for him gives him a script (fruit of his/her work) and he drops it to the floor. WOW Humiliating

[@nancyhood3996]

Hi…….👨‍🔧

[@willtruth4487]

Hopefully some future porn superstar watches this.

[@thephoenixstudio]

So wrong, there are bad jobs. They are almost never bad due to what work you do, but can be bad because of the environment created by bad management.

[@ryandrew-tv7bg]

The fact you worked a job that couldn't support you doesn't mean your job is bad. It exclusively means your employer is a bad person, because there is a person in there even in the most abstracted large company.

[@5.56_Media]

Unless of course said job goes against God. Working for a socialist institution for example

[@engir63]

I disagree there are jobs that go nowhere, dead end jobs and the only way to get away from is to walk away and find something else so no Mike you is wrong!

[@patriciabeckman8573]

Point is there is an opportunity to learn with every job you get. It's up to you to glean what you can and make choices on where & what to do next. My 1st job was in a deli at a convenient store. I learned customer servics, how to listen, and managers notice when you come in to work timely, with a "what else can I do" attitude. It's about building character, which can be taken to any and all future jobs, not just the "funds".

[@kelikini14]

Glass half full or glass half empty? People a job is what you make of it...and what it makes you into. If you have had nothing perhaps it’s easier to be grateful when you receive the blessing of a job...or a second job to make ends meet. Can you be happy working 80 hours a week? Yes. Especially if you are no longer homeless. Yes. Now when you have food in your belly. Yes. The day you’re no longer looking for quarters in pay phones. People, it’s all about attitude of gratitude. Maybe everyone should experience having nothing for awhile...including health. I would rather be strong and working multiple jobs than lying sick in bed. Perspective...if you don’t like something change it. It’s simple to find another job if you have good work ethic. If the job you have is a dead end...it’s up to you to make the path out...or better yet...pave the road out of there! It’s all up to YOU! That’s why America is so great! You have choices, free to do what you want to make your life better! Thank you Mike Rowe for continuing to give this work sweat ethic message a voice! Keep up the great work! And to all those who sweat for their paycheck! 👍🏼👍🏼🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸👷🏽‍♂️👷🏻‍♀️👮🏻‍♀️👮🏾‍♂️👨🏻‍🍳👨🏻‍🌾👩‍🌾👩🏻‍🔧👩🏼‍🔧👨🏻‍🏭👨🏽‍🚒👨🏻‍🚀👨🏽‍🔬🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@thephoenixstudio]

You can learn from every job, that doesn't mean they aren't still bad. Especially with how management often treats jobs on the bottom rung.