My uncle had owned the local HVAC company for almost twenty years.

• When I got my HVAC certification, he refused to let me work for him.

I was hurt and disappointed since he didn’t even give me a reason. I thought that if I got my certification, he would be the first one to offer me a job but I was wrong. He told me to get some experience and then I could ask again. By the time I had received my certification and gotten an apprenticeship with the HVAC instructor, I forgot all about my anger with my uncle. I needed to figure out where I was going and what I wanted to do. I learned a lot from the instructor while working in his HVAC company and it was the best lessons I had ever received. When it came time to move on from my apprenticeship, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. The owner of the HVAC company offered to keep me on full-time, but I was still thinking I should go back and talk to my uncle. He agreed I should talk to him, but he didn’t agree that I owed him my allegiance and should work for him just because he was my uncle, but he left the decision up to me. I didn’t think I wanted to work for my uncle, but I did talk to him. I told him I loved where I was already working, and he understood. I even got an apology for not hiring me immediately. He thought I needed someone with patience to show me the ropes and not a family member.
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