Building Up

My brother Matt and I were cleaning out the apartment I had lived in for a year on Saturday when he started counting the change in the Snapple bottle I had left on my desk. Whenever I had some change in my wallet or pocket, I dropped it in the bottle. Sometimes I took quarters out to do laundry, but for the most part I just kept adding to it.

While I was cleaning the bathroom, Matt took the time to count how much money was in the jar. He started counting and when he was finished called out, "John, guess how much money is in here."

"Five dollars," I offered.

"You're way off."

"How much is it?"

"Ten dollars in silver coins alone. Eleven dollars and thirty-seven cents total."

I was pretty impressed that the dump for all the money I didn't want to have in my pockets had turned into more than a movie ticket. (And that's saying something these days.) It was very surprising to see how much money was in that jar. I didn't expect to collect that much change. It just happened as a I dropped money in over time.

Doing things slowly over time seems to be a good way to accomplish a lot. When Matt and I were growing up our mother made us clean our bedroom, the kitchen, dining room, living room and the breezeway. If we didn't clean anything during the week it really built up. It would take hours to clean all the rooms in the house. Sometimes it took days to clean our bedroom. (That's what you get with two tween boys sharing a room.)

But, if we folded a blanket here, cleaned a dish there, put a game away or picked up the papers we dropped on the floor it was much easier come Saturday. The little things built up. They saved us time. Sometimes we'd finish in a half hour.

Today people are always looking to skip to the finish line too quickly. I know I do. Sometimes though the easiest way to get there is working slowly.

I think that's especially important for me and my fellow graduates to remember at this time in our lives. Everyone who completed Medill's grad program has their "dream" job in mind. I don't think anyone is going to start with that job after graduation. There's something to be said for biding your time, working hard and moving up the ranks.

While that sounds a bit like the "old" model of journalism, I wonder if the "new" model has really changed anything. Sure, there's an opportunity to create your own voice through the blogosphere. The internet could reach everyone, but, if you're like me, chances are your corner of the internet is really around 100 readers. There's still something to be said for having the reach of ESPN or the Tribune Co. on your side. Reaching those places though takes time. You've got to prove yourself. All the little things you do will build up.

The people I graduated with on Saturday are some of the brightest, most motivated people I've ever met. I know they'll all have their dreams jobs someday. Right now though that means starting in somewhere like Battle Creek, Michigan and building up.