Your Summer Job Wasn’t Just a Job—It Was EQ Training.
Summer jobs aren’t just a rite of passage. They’re where confidence, character, and emotional intelligence are built - one awkward customer interaction at a time.
This summer our boys are working.
Jack’s slinging donuts and training a few boys for baseball.
Ben’s upgraded from McDonald’s to being my official podcast intern (emphasis on official).
And it’s got me thinking about how our first jobs shape our future.
Ours?
Scott was Server of the Month at Red Lobster (we still bring it up).
I shredded paper at our family bank, worked food service at The Courtyard Bakery, and got promoted to manager at The Juice Stop (yes—I can make a mean smoothie).
Working is part of our family. We grew up working. Earning money was instilled in us from a young age and we’ve done the same with our boys.
At 16 and 17, they’ve:
Sold lemonade
Washed neighbors’ trash cans
Umpired Little League baseball and basketball (they couldn’t with the parents yelling )
Shoveled snow
Mowed yards
And now? Jack landed a summer gig at Big Daddy’s Donuts, and Ben's rocking his upgraded title as Podcast Intern.But here’s the thing:
None of these jobs are just about the paycheck. They’re classrooms for emotional intelligence.
They teach you how to…
• Take feedback without crumbling.
• Stay calm when someone loses it over oat milk.
• Show up early, stay late, and problem-solve on the fly.
• Work with all kinds of people.
• Be proud of the work you do - no matter what it is.
Emotional intelligence isn’t something we’re born with. We build it. One shift, one mistake, one awkward customer interaction at a time.
What was your first job and what did it teach you about people, patience, or purpose?
Hit reply or tag me and share your favorite (or most humbling) summer job story.
Need help getting your kid into the workforce? Here are 5 EQ-inspired tips:
Start with strengths. Are they creative? Outgoing? Detail-oriented? Match them to something where they’ll thrive and stretch.
Normalize the starter job. No job is beneath anyone. Every job builds something.
Praise the effort, not just the paycheck. Work ethic builds confidence.
Talk through the tough stuff. Rude customers? Unfair shifts? It’s all part of their emotional intelligence training.
Celebrate the wins. First paycheck, first early morning, first “I didn’t want to go, but I did.” That’s the good stuff.
