The Morning Drive

Words of advice from a tenured Manufacturing employee.

Like many others at the site, I wake up at 3:45AM. I make my coffee
and press my uniform. I step out the door and smell the morning perfume
of earthy dew. I throw my lunch bag into the car to drive off to work. The
quiet drive provides time to clear my mind and prepare for the day. I take
in the purple and blue hues that surround me. By the time I’m in the
parking lot, the pink hues from the sun’s awaking are blending in with
the night’s glaze.
So… what keeps me making this long drive into work…before the
sunrise?
It’s not easy to wake up and get going quickly. I have been at this site
since 1984. I have endured and seen both personal and company related
struggles. Such struggles have taught me to be disciplined in my routine
and not to take my job for granted. This job has allowed me to provide for
my children who are now successful adults. I also take pride in knowing
that my name is on the product, and I contribute to someone’s health and
life.
My word of advice is simple. Do not rush and know your machine.
It is easy to rush as some people may feel the need to rush when their
equipment is running poorly, it’s end of shift, or the end of the workday.
I remind people not to rush and that it is ok to ask for help. With today’s
society it is too easy to avoid verbal conversation because texting is
preferred. I’d rather see a problem resolved through communication than
to suffer in silence. –Manufacturing Employee