“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
It’s a common question asked of young children. And as a child grows, aspirations evolve and change.
In Good Dads’ web series “What I Want to Be,” Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Baker and host J Fotsch help dads and kids preview different careers.
All the men in this special interview series provide advice to kids who may be looking into their specific field—or are just hoping to start somewhere!
The Good Dads team rounded up the biggest takeaways from each career discipline.
The Trades
Jeremiah Penrod is an account manager and tire salesperson at Pomp’s Tire Service, a commercial tire store in Strafford, MO. Pomp’s works with trucking companies, managing their fleets.
Additionally, Good Dads board member Jim Towery has started and grown several businesses in the Springfield area, including United Roofing Supply and Steelman Transportation.
Both men went to college, and when they were young, Jeremiah always knew he wanted to help people, and Jim always wanted to own his own business. Both have had several jobs throughout their life. Here are some of the takeaways from their interview.
You’re just getting started: it’s okay not to know everything right away
Lots of teens and young adults worry about the fact that they’re still not sure what they want to do for the rest of their lives. It’s okay not to know right away.
“I think it’s wrong for any kid at 16 or 17 to know where their career is going to take them at that point,” Jim said.
Jim stressed the importance of having a good work ethic and showing up on time to your first jobs. Building that character and productivity will go a long way, no matter what you decide to do.
You don’t always need a college degree to be successful
“You don’t have to have a college education to make a really good living in the industrial world,” Jim said.
Jeremiah said that his parents never expected him to go to college. He grew up working on a family friend’s farm, which is where, according to him, he obtained his work ethic. He has a college degree, but not in the field he’s working in.
College is not for everyone, and it’s okay to take a few years to build necessary skills for a future career before going to college.
Put the phone down
“Hiring young people, the first turnoff for me is seeing them grab their cell phone and see them text for minutes on end,” Jim said.
Phones are seemingly our everything today. However, when it comes to having a good work ethic, you must put the phone down.
“Respect that somebody is paying you to do a job, and you can’t do that if you’re texting your friends all day long,” he continued. “You have to find that work life balance.”
Develop your “people skills”
Developing a trust in people is important for several career paths. Give people a chance and allow them to do their best. Nobody is perfect. Jim stressed the importance of spending more time developing relationships with people in the organization.
“You have to trust people.” Jim said. “You have to allow them to do the job to the best of their ability. Is it going to be perfect every time? No, we’re people, we’re human, we make mistakes.”
“Every employer likes an employee that’s willing to give it their all. If you have honesty and integrity and you work hard, people know that, they’ll see that and respect that.”
Public Service
Fire chief Scott Moore of the Battlefield station has 26 years of experience in the fire service.
Chief Paul Williams, chief of police for the Springfield police department and 3rd generation police officer, has a career in law enforcement spanning over four decades
Find your why
“Do whatever makes you happy,” Chief Williams said. “Find something you love and do it.”
Scott emphasized the importance of finding your “why,” as a parent.
“Personal motivation is what keeps you coming back every day,” Scott continued, “Listen to your kids ‘why’ and find out what motivates them. Whether it’s school or otherwise.”
Be genuine
Having good character goes a long way when it comes to finding a prospective career.
“We’re going to hire based upon your morals, your ethics, and your values,” Scott said. “I can teach you skills. Morals, ethics, and values are difficult to do anything about once they’re set.”
Scott said the most desirable character traits in the public service field are work ethic, integrity, compassion and camaraderie.
Chief Williams said that the police force is continuously recruiting and bringing people on.
“There’s a steady churn of people retiring and leaving,” Chief Williams said. “Keep your nose clean. You can’t lie, you can’t cheat, and you can’t steal. Do things right.”
Teachers
Marcus Bullard, a 2nd grade teacher for the K-8 school in Springfield, and Dr. Minor Baker, an education professor at Missouri State University, share some of their insights when it comes to choosing the right path for you.
Both Dr. Minor Baker and Marcus discuss how teaching involves new experiences every day and have learned the value of patience through their job.
If you’re looking for variety, teaching might be for you
Dr. Minor Baker said that teaching allows him the freedom to do a lot of the things he’s passionate about. He says teaching isn’t one of those jobs where you’re required to be there 80 hours a week, and it’s okay to take time for yourself. He said if you’re looking for a boring job, teaching is probably not for you.
If at first you don’t succeed… try, try again
Marcus stressed to teens that you might not always know what you’re going to do or where you’re going to go, but to know that everything will work out.
“It’s okay to not succeed at every little thing that you do,” Marcus said. “Breathe, you will get through this.”
Military Service
Southwest Missouri residents Kevin Weaver, CEO of the Warrior’s Journey, and his son, Keith Weaver, discuss military service careers.
Support your child, whatever their goals are
Kevin’s father worked as an aerospace engineer for the military, so he always wanted to be involved in the Air Force.
When raising Keith, he didn’t press him to join the military. At the same time, he wanted to instill the value of patriotism through the sacrifices made by the military.
“If Keith decided he wanted to drive an ice cream truck,” Kevin said, “that would have been fine with me as long as he’s doing what he’s supposed to be doing.”
Have discipline and character
Keith wanted to join the military as early as grade school, even without knowing the ins and outs of being in the service. Those aspirations remained as he got older. He applied for an ROTC scholarship and attended Pittsburg State University in Kansas through the scholarship.
Keith said that having discipline and high moral character such as honesty and integrity are crucial for being in the military service.
Automotive Technician
Rick Hughlett, owner of Rick’s Automotive, discusses the possibility of automotive technician careers. Rick started his career by going to college at Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield, MO, learning both the mechanical and business side of the automotive world. Through it, he’s been able to work with students in an Ozarks Tech program and help them improve their craft.
Job shadow
Job shadowing is an opportunity for teens to learn more about their prospective careers. Several automotive technicians are open to job shadowing opportunities, Rick said.
Have a good work ethic and put in the extra time
This industry can be rewarding, but it takes time, Rick told Good Dads. He said to be patient and willing to put the time in. It can be time-consuming, but you can reap the benefits for a long time.
He said it really is like an extended family.
Final Words
It’s okay to not know what you want to do right away. However, it’s important to begin building character traits and determine what you’re passionate about. It may grow and evolve over time! To dads with kids who are about to become adults, the best thing you can do is be supportive and instill a work ethic in them that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.
Want to hear even more from these industry leaders? You can view the full conversations from the “What I Want to Be” series on our website.
Where should we go next?
In our first “What I Want to Be” series, we featured five career disciplines—public service, education, automotive, the trades and armed forces. We want to hear from you! Reach out to us via our Contact Us form on our website to let us know which career fields you’d want us to feature next.
