It is Saturday morning and time for breakfast. As most of the time my father is talking about business. From early childhood until now it has always been the same topics up for discussion. Where is the world economy going? Is the exchange rate of the USD going up or down? Should we buy more or less? What is the trend right now?
My grandfather started the company in 1913 that my mother and father now have taken over. Since I was a baby I have listened to the same conversations over and over again. The biggest discussion always being that we need to buy and sell consumable goods. Goods that people use and throw, use and throw. Then there will always be a demand. There are so many things to worry about, with your own business. It seems to be so time consuming.
I am now nineteen. Just being back from my military service, again listening to the same stories about the world and our company. I have heard them all a million times. I have full respect for my parents and what they do but I decide that this is not for me. I will go my own way and look for a normal job.
How well did that go?
We all stand in a line for the twentieth time. It is freezing cold. A November day, one of the first when the temperature has gone below zero degrees. The lieutenant shouts at us again, giving us orders to run, do push-ups, run, do push-ups and it is never ending. Finally I have had enough and raise my hand. "Sorry, but I think we should be allowed to stop now. We know the drill and have done it so many times!" The stare he gives me could scare any man. "015 Cederkvist, do you know who is in charge here? Go and volunteer for wood chopping." One hour later I see my friends go into the warm cabins. My back hurts and so do my arms and hands.
Did I learn from the lesson? No, it took some time, and a lot of wood chopping and digging. The boy had to become a man. Had to learn to follow orders and become one part in a bigger picture, a bigger machinery. It was a tough lesson, but I would not have missed of for the world.
I roll up my sleeves and start working again after my short coffee break. Tray after tray with dirty plates are coming into the kitchen at the hotel where I am working. I am happy to have a job while still in high school. It will pay for my gym and a few beers with my friends. A waiter takes a step in to the kitchen: "Hurry up, guys! We need more plates out here." It is a never ending stream of trays coming in How many plates can people use for a buffet? Everyone is laughing and talking while working hard. If we are lucky today the chefs will make us dinner before we go home. Pure luxury!
Sometimes it is nice to reflect on what you have done in life and what significance it had. While doing the dishes I learnt that you must never look down on any type of job. Every single job is important to get a business going. If we had not cleaned those plates the restaurant would have had problems, the hotel would have had unsatisfied guests etc. Never underestimate a job - see what you can learn from it to become a better person in your next position. Hopefully this experience made me more aware of the simple things in life. I can still smile and remember how much I liked the job, and how good it was to leave work leaving all problems behind. Simple life ;)
It is Saturday morning and I stand by the side of the soccer field. My legs are shaking and I look down at my new black-and-white Adidas shoes, still quite clean and only used twice for practice. This is my first match ever. Just against another very local team, a match that many would consider unimportant, but for me one of my biggest moments so far.
My true idol, the man himself, Pélé, is on my mind. I have a big poster over my bed, looking at him every day, dreaming of becoming like him. Now is my chance to go out and play, let the world know who I am, see my potential and I will be one step closer to my goal. A professional soccer player. All my friends are anxiously waiting around me to go out on the green field. Together we will fight, united we may fall, but we will take the chance that has been given us.
Such a good memory! Did we win? No, but it still brings back good memories. The feeling you had when you were young and considered yourself invincible, ready to take on any chance that someone threw at you, unafraid of all the unknown ahead of you.
Maybe it is still there - the appetite for trying new things, taking chances and going forward as a team. Was this the time when it all started, the trip that has taken me here? Did I become a professional soccer player? No, but maybe my purpose was something else, something where you still would need the same set of skills.
Dreams can change, but try to follow them! Who could have known that I would end up in PPE and gloves? If someone had told the ten-year-old me, I probably just would have made a funny face.
