My Dad and Mom played a strong role in guiding me to the Career that I chose. Every August 31st I think I of them and reminisce! Specifically, August 31, 1970 was and still is an extremely important “date” in my life!!
On this date I started my very first job in my “Drafting Career” at Mosler Electronic Systems on South St. in Danbury Ct.
As my Supervisor Vinny Sera walked me to my Drafting-Table, I turned around and saw this “sign-post” (Eat a live Toad…) taped to the short wall on my reference table! 
Being a “wide-eyed and very naive” 17 year old who recently graduated from Henry Abbott Technical School, I was speechless with trying to figure out what this meant other than my original thought, “Hahahahahahaha!”
Needless to say that every job I had in my tremendous 45 year career, in Engineering and Manufacturing Offices, I had this “Sign-post” on my wall! It became a tool of the trade. FYI, there were times at work, I would walk back to my Office and say to myself I need to go “eat a live Toad” today…….. then I would come to my senses and say “No! I can get through this situation” and I always did-ish!
June 1970, the day after my H.A.T.S. Graduation, I started working full-time with my Dad in his House Painting Contracting Business. This was a long-term plan for me to take over his business until I was able to get started in my Drafting Career. Once I started Drafting at Mosler, Dad closed/ended his full-time Painting Business (after 7 years) a few months later as if he planned it that way.
Here I am sitting at my Drafting Tablestarting my great career at Mosler Electronic Systems.
My title: Junior Drafter. Pay rate: $1.60 per hour (minimum wage).
In 1971, I left Mosler and went to Pitney-Bowes-Alpex in Danbury Ct only to be lured back to Mosler for a second time in 1972. The pay increase allowed me to pay for a haircut.
When my new Supervisor “Joe Gatto” walked me to my Drafting Table, this time taped to the short wall on my reference Table was this “sign-post” which definitely caught my attention.
Staring at this artwork, my original thought, “Hahahahahahaha!” The expression was “FAR-OUT” !! Of course I taped this sign-post on my other Office Walls too!
Going back to that fateful morning of August 31,1970, I came downstairs to leave for my new job/Career in the Mosler Electronic Systems “Engineering Department.” I was wearing new clothes, White Shirt, Tie, Sport Jacket etc. My Mom and Dad looked at me and they both started to cry. I was a little surprised and a little confused not understanding their tears.
As life went on and I became a Parent I completely get it!! That morning I was nervous but excited but Mom and Dad were showing their proud emotion of seeing their oldest child/Son (at 17yrs old) move-on in life, fulfilling a dream that my Parents actually had for me……….. becoming successful in the business world.