Initiative
Last week I was out of town on business. During that time, my wife made a passing remark about our lawn needing to be mowed. In response, my son (who is eight) offered to mow it. So my wife started the lawnmower for him and set him loose.
Press pause: good leadership lesson right there–let ‘em try it! But I digress…
When I arrived home, I realized it had been done, but not by whom. I assumed that my wife had acquiesced to one of the 12 year old entrepreneurs who frequent our neighborhood with their advertisements for lawn care. Not long after I entered the house, I learned who had, in fact, done it.
I also learned what the expected rate for such service is.
“Between 4 and 6 bucks,” my son reasoned.
Now, our lawn is reasonably sized, and would command significantly more than that from another service provider. In soliciting the views of some of my friends in passing, I received some wise counsel: let him feel like he has negotiated well. I asked him a question, “How much do you think it is worth?”
Again, “Between 4 and 6 bucks.”
“How much would you charge someone else for that work?”
He thought for a moment, then responded, “10; 5 for the front and 5 for the back.”
“Deal. I agreed.”
He felt like he’d negotiated well; he was proud of his effort and the money he’d earned.
I, though, was proud of his initiative.
