Secrets of a farm boy… Published May 5, 2015 By Lt. Col. Jason Mills 3d Airlift Squadron commander DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- OK, so nothing I am going to talk about today is a secret, but the two concepts I will present are the most basic principles of life. I learned them as a young boy growing up on a farm in rural Iowa and have applied them throughout my life. The first life changing principle I learned: Don't be afraid to work hard! As a young boy on a small farm I was expected to do many things, but most importantly I was expected to - WORK HARD! For those of you who have never had the opportunity to work a farm, technology does exist and can help, but it can never fully eliminate the many hours of physical labor required to produce the foods we eat. I would routinely get up in the morning with a list of chores that had to be done before leaving for school and would return in the afternoon to another list of chores that would last until dinner. After dinner and a little time for homework, I would head back out onto the land until well into the evening. A quick shower before bed washed off MOST of the diesel fuel, dirt, grease, and grime that were a part of everyday life (yes maintainers, I know how dirty you can get in a day's work with your hands). This pattern repeated almost every day and included even more tasks on weekends. I don't write all of that to say my father was violating any child labor laws or that I am resentful, because that is opposite of the truth. All of that work taught me determination, stamina under pressure, how to work with others, how to work with my hands, and how to experience that true feeling of gratification that comes from completing a task to the best of your ability. It seems some members of our Air Force "work" harder to find ways to avoid work rather than just complete the task given. Stop for a second and think about that...the last time you tried to avoid work; did you feel any lasting satisfaction when you were successful in your quest to pass the task off to someone else? Second life changing principle: Your word is your bond! Then and today, many agreements between small town farmers are made in the driveway or over a shared meal. The "contract" is written in the words spoken and secured with a simple handshake. Livelihoods, safety, money, character, status, and personal pride are all tied up into this sacred handshake. The trust that is built in these handshake agreements translates into tighter community bonds, neighbors who know each other well and an almost uncontrollable desire to help someone out when they are in trouble. In our legalistic world the concept of an unwritten agreement seems to lead to failure. Does your handshake equal a signed contract? We enter into many informal handshake agreements every day. How do we translate this tenant into our everyday lives as Airmen and civilians employed by the largest corporation on earth? Don't overpromise and under deliver. Don't agree to a task you are not capable of completing. When you are given a due date, meet it. When you agree to be the designated driver, don't drink - PERIOD! When you know something is broken, don't try to pass it off to the next person or hide it - get it fixed. I could go on and on, but I think you get the point. I've related how these principles were built into my character as a product of my daily life. I ask you to look beyond the farming details and truly analyze the underlying context as it applies to your life. Are you working to the best of your ability and holding up your end of the handshake agreements? If you can't answer those questions with a resounding yes, then take some time to reanalyze your situation and find the context and place that allow you to firmly and confidently answer YES! If you chose to live by these two principles as your basic truths, you will feel more personal gratification and be a more active participant in every aspect of your life.