Who

Joe Griffin, photographer and owner of Joe Griffin Photography.

Joe Griffin, a Baylor University graduate, started Joe Griffin Photography in 1976.
Jerry Larson / Waco Tribune-Herald

He is a Baylor University graduate who worked for the public relations office at the college before he founded his studio in order to be his own boss. He started the photography studio in October 1976.

1st summer job

Selling snow cones in front of his home. Griffin borrowed money from a credit union to purchase a $75 snow cone machine by putting up his bicycle as collateral.

The snow cone flavors he offered included root beer, strawberry, grape, orange, lime, coconut and rainbow.

His mom would mix up the snow cone juice for him, and Griffin did the rest.

Age

Griffin was 12 years old when he started his snow cone stand, which he continued until he was 17. He sold the treats for 10 cents each.

“Everybody wants a lemonade stand, so I thought I would do a little bigger. There were a lot of kids in the neighborhood,” Griffin said.

He worked nearly all summer, close to three hours a day, from 1 to 4 p.m., he said.

Pay

Griffin made $15 a day, which he said was “pretty good when you’re 12.”

With the money he saved from working, he was able to buy his first car, a 1954 Jeep, when he was 15.

He also used part of his money to go to Germany after he graduated high school.

Loved

“The kids would come by and sit around and talk,” Griffin said. “I liked to serve people and give them something of value with their money.”

He also said he liked to see the expression on the customers’ face when they liked the snow cone.

Hated

“It got really hot out there under the pecan tree,” he said. “I would sit there for three hours in the heat.”

Griffin said he didn’t like when customers were scarce because he would get bored.

Lessons learned

“How to be diligent and responsible,” Griffin said. “And I learned to follow through with commitments and save my money.”

With those lessons, Griffin built a strong work ethic that enabled him to begin his company.

Advice on summer jobs

“Find something that somebody needs or wants and meet that need,” Griffin said.

He saw a need during the summer and met it, which was why he purchased the snow cone machine.

RELATED SEARCHES

• 1st Hot Job: Investor started as newspaper typesetter
• 1st Hot Job: Investment adviser was once a beekeeper
• 1st Hot Job: Waco monument maker a model of hard work
• 1st Hot Job: From gravel hauling to party planning
• 1st Hot Job: Maid company owner learned lessons at dentist's office
• 1st Hot Job: Head of Waco title company learned good work habits as a waitress
• 1st Hot Job: Auctioneer learned about hard work on the farm
• 1st Hot Job: Freddie Kish juggled 3 jobs as young man
• 1st Jot Job: Chamber CEO Laveda Brown learned goal-setting at Dairy Palace
• 1st Hot Job: Owner of Spice Village learned people skills at first job in video store
• 1st Hot Job: Waco firm's president learned customer service sacking groceries
• 1st Hot Job: Waco car dealer Peter Kultgen washed trade-ins at age 14