Why you should Deliver Newspapers
Delivering newspapers doesn't sound like the most glamorous job - and it's not. It's not as much fun as a Playstation; it's colder than staying in bed; it's harder work than getting up late.
But it's worth it.
Delivering newspapers - in the UK we call it having a "paper round" - is many teenagers' first job. It's the first time a person can turn round and say: "This is my money. I've earned it and now I can spend it". That independence is so powerful that it gives many teenagers a taste for more. It sets them going on holiday jobs, college jobs, and prepares them for the day when they need to work all the time. It's not much, admittedly: you're not going to be able to buy a car with your earnings, but if you do a paper round a few times a week you can also learn how to save.
When you save money you can really build up funds that you can do anything with. Saving teaches you the value of keeping money and of planning for the future. When you are earning full-time, you need to make those judgements all the time - how much can you spend now versus how much you need to put away.
So the money side of it is really important.
But that's not all. Getting up early to deliver newspapers often involves getting up in the rain, the dark, the cold and the wind. It's not always pleasant or easy. The bag is often heavy. Then there's school afterwards. To do this involves a discipline that, let's face it, many adults just don't have. When you do a paper round, you're effectively holding down two jobs - the delivering newspapers, and the school work. That needs organisation, commitment and discipline. These qualities are so important in the adult world of work.
If you can be organised, committed and disciplined, employers will lap you up. They are desperate for workers who can sort their own time out, who will come to work every single day and not take sickies, and they need people who will stick at their job. In short, it's the way to a good job and it's the way to success.
There's no point pretending that a paper round will get you a good job when you leave school or university, but it's the skills you learn that are important. the habits of work you develop. These will stay with you. And it's these habits that will help you get a good job.
Besides that, there's the self-respect that doing things you don't enjoy for the benefit of your future life brings. You might hate every second of it while you're actually delivering the newspapers, but the independence, the discipline and the commitment will improve your self-esteem no end. That will improve your school work and your life generally.
There's another benefit too - fitness. Delivering newspapers is hard work and it will use plenty of calories. So it's a really good way of staying in shape and getting exercise. When you exercise more, you sleep better and you feel better.
So don't waste any time - get that job now and start yourself on the road to success!
