Rule 18: Keep One Ear Open at All Times

It thrills me when my kids engage in the entrepreneurial spirit.

This past Saturday, I employed a lesson from the above rule (which is further explained in my forthcoming book, which, incidentally, became available today for pre-order at Barnesandnoble.com), by grabbing a notebook and heading outside when it became clear that a business to be run by juveniles was being started (again).

I overheard Grace–who was in my next door neighbor’s driveway–lecturing a boy who looked like he couldn’t have cared less as he dug into his $1 snow cone (sold to him by another young, budding entrepreneur). Not caring whether he cared, Grace read to him from the Employee Handbook (which she had constructed only a few minutes earlier) of her company, the Lemonade Lounge.

“You shall sign in and out at the beginning and end of each shift,” stated Grace. “You will do this each time you work. If you do not do this then I, the manager, will be confused. Should that occur, you may not get paid properly.”

People, I couldn’t make this up if I wanted to.

“Are there a lot of rules involved in working for her?” I asked our poor 7-year-old neighbor.

He shrugged his shoulders, shoved his spoon back into his bubble-gum snow cone, and matter-of-factly responded, “I don’t know.”

“Okay. You’re hired,” announced Grace, who then walked away while her new employee continued to enjoy his slurpee, not once indicating in any way that he’d heard a word she said.

I had a feeling he may not survive his first day.

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P.S. He did not survive his first day. Because he quit 2 minutes before he was scheduled to clock in. Stay tuned for the report on what occurred after that. And why it’s forced me to find the address of our nearest Humane Society. Good Lord.