Do you have to nag your teen to complete their schoolwork, do the laundry, or get up in the morning? If so, this podcast is one you both need to hear. What are those prerequisites for a long-lasting and satisfying career? Tune in to find out.

Prerequisites for a Long-Lasting and Satisfying Career ~ Episode 564
Welcome to Vintage Homeschool Moms, I'm your host, Felice Gerwitz, and today we're continuing our discussion on AI, Tech Jobs, and Blue-Collar Workers with part two: exploring the prerequisites for a long-lasting and satisfying career. As homeschool families grounded in faith, we know the value of preparing our children not just academically, but with the character and skills that honor God's design for work as a form of stewardship. Sometimes we feel that we are lacking, but with God all things are possible! Including the impossible. If you had a child like mine who lost their math book each day (at least once), you may wonder if she would grow up to be a welcome member of society. The good news is yes. The child in question is a college grad (in three years) and now a very organized homeschool mom of nine children who co-authored three books with me as a homeschooled teen.

It can be done, but it takes persistence, perseverance, and tenacity to follow through with your children. But what about a fulfilling work life and a long-lasting career?
My husband jokingly says that work is what you do, and it does not necessarily need to be something you love. Before college, where he received a full-ride baseball scholarship, he sold all of his carpentry tools, telling his family he would never do that again! Fast forward to post-college, and two years later, he was married to me, and he started his own construction business. He decided it was the fastest way to make a good income, so I could stay home with our children when we had them. I had a degree in education and taught middle school for two years, and I was ready to "retire." Little did I know that I would not go back (as was the plan when I had school-aged children), and instead, I homeschooled all five children. My husband and I believe that often, a job, even if it's not a dream job, is designed for an income to support a family. As homeschoolers, many of us moms and some dads are living in a single-income family, and with that comes budgeting and decisions on job selection based on the idea of mom staying home. As a side note, he prayed that the Lord would take away his dislike for the job and instead fill his heart with gratitude. And, God did!
Today, our topic focuses on some of the attributes necessary to find and keep a job. I believe this is something not often discussed regarding blue-collar workers, and they are every bit as important if you are considering this field as a possibility. These are the skills you need before deciding what job you might want to know more about, going on a job hunt, or even starting a job, whether it is a blue-collar or white-collar job.

1. Are you self-motivated and self-disciplined?
This is important in any career choice. (Employers look for personnel who actually show up for work, vs. those who are slack.) The person who has to be woken up to do their schoolwork or nagged to complete chores is not going to last long in a competitive job field.


* Establish daily routines in your homeschool schedule to build habits of punctuality and consistency, such as starting lessons at a set time each morning.
* Assign independent projects that require self-starting, like researching a Back to Episodes