The Law of Twins and Its Benefits

There are many theories regarding the influence birth order can have on the children in a family, but it was because my father was a twin and not his position in the family that would have such a profound and lasting effect on him and his children.  For example, his life was governed by the Law of Twins.  I would venture to say that most people aren't even aware that there is a Law of Twins, let alone understand the powerful difference it can make in all human relationships.

Twins - Lorin and Warren Goates

I was very young when my father introduced me to this rule, and I imagine he and his twin, were just little boys when my grandmother, Clara Evans Goates, taught them.  The premise for the Law of Twins is to make certain things are divided fairly.  Simply stated, when dividing something between two people, the first person makes the division and the second person picks first.  My father demonstrated this principle to me with a candy bar; explaining how a person would cut the candy bar exactly in half when it was the other person who would pick first.  He actually showed me the effort one would make to cut the candy bar exactly in half.  I remember him moving the knife back and forth over a candy bar and then pressing it down when he felt it was exactly even.  He explained how the Law of Twins helps you to see and appreciate both sides in any agreement so it was fair to each party. 

So what is the big deal about such a simple rule?  Well, this law not only promotes fairness, but also the mind-set of seeing multiple perspectives in any agreement to make certain and advocate that "fair is fair".  What my grandmother taught my father wasn't just how to avoid an argument or confrontations when dividing candy bars, but more significantly the importance of all parties being represented in any exchange to insure that the outcome was fair and equitable for everyone.

No doubt, it wasn't just the fact that my father and his brother were twins, but that combined with their father's death when they were only 3 and their mother's passing when they were 16, that made them bond so closely.  My father and his twin brother, Warren, were business partners as they began their lives, struggling to get ahead during the depression.  As they began their adult years, the Law of Twins was already deeply ingrained and they had implicit trust in one another, knowing they would share equally the fortune or hardships that befell them.  What is surprising is the effect the Law of Twins (and the concept that things should be fair for all parties) would have on my father and me in terms of work and financial remuneration.

In the spring of 1925 my father and his twin brother, Warren were given the opportunity to operate the concessions (to sell pop, candy, ice cream, beer) and help take care of the grounds at the Saratoga Resort by Utah Lake near Lehi, Utah even though they were only 21 years of age.  The manager for the resort promised them a bonus if they did a good job.  They worked hard and it was my father's opinion that they had more than fulfilled the agreement.  

On their last day, my father and Warren presented the resort manager with the records providing the accounting for all receipts and expenses related to the concessions.  He told them to get in his car and then drove them up to Salt Lake City to check with the vendors who supplied commodities there, and then down to Provo to check with the vendors there.  Father was a little put out that they were spending the majority of the day checking their accounting (which matched to the very penny with every vendor), and privately Warren made a comment about not pushing the issue if the bonus was not proffered.  Evidently as they were finishing up back at the resort, nothing was said or offered regarding the bonus.  My father's sense of fairness, however, would not let him leave without saying something, because as he told me, "fair is fair - and we kept our part of the bargain".  He went back to the resort manager and reminded him of the original agreement with the promise of a bonus.  My father then told the manager that he and Warren had kept their part of the bargain and they had just spent the day verifying that their accounting matched perfectly with all the vendors.  Father concluded by saying, "You don't have to give us the bonus that you promised and which we earned, but don't ever ask us to work for you again."

Evidently this had quite an effect on the resort manager, because he then commended them for their work and honesty; and gave them the promised bonus.  More importantly, this manager also was responsible for hiring my father (after his 2 1/2 year mission to Hawaii) to work at the local sugar factory, and then took father with him when he was transferred to another factory in Shelley, Idaho.  He also encouraged and helped my father get training and experience as a sugar boiler; which greatly furthered father's career opportunities in the sugar industry. 

Later, as a foreman with the Amalgamated Sugar Company in Nyssa, Oregon, my father was president and chief negotiator for the local AFL-CIO affiliated Sugar Worker's Union.  In contract meetings tempers would flare, making it easy to form enemies with the opposing side as they would squabble over salaries and various contract terms.  In 1957, my father applied for an assistant superintendent position that became available at the Nyssa sugar factory, but he was very skeptical that he would even be considered because of his ongoing involvement in negotiations opposite company management over many years. 

 

Nyssa Oregon Sugar Factory

To his surprise, father was selected from among the numerous applicants and promoted to Assistant Superintendent.  Years later he asked the company General Superintendent, Bernall Brown, how it was that the company even considered his application after his many years of sitting across the table in negotiations with management.  Mr. Brown told him that while he had been a strong advocate for the workers, the administration recognized that my father had always been fair and had the ability to see that their agreements had to be good for both the company and the workers, which was unusual in their heated deliberations. 

Due to a lack of funds, my father was only able to attend two quarters of college, but he told me that his salary as assistant superintendent was significantly more than the superintendent of schools in our small town who had a master's or doctorate degree.  To say that my father was rewarded financially due in part to the Law of Twins would be an understatement.  I realize that he had many other qualities that contributed to his promotion.  He was a hard worker and never let his temper get the better of him.  He also had the advantage from years of training and experience in various leadership positions in the LDS Church, but his perspective as a twin was significant and should not be discounted.

My own experience has been similar to my father's, in that I also was hired for a position even though I did not have all the expected education and certification.  I attribute my promotion as a school district administrator to my father's formula of hard work, church leadership training and experience; and applying the law of twins.  I spent 18 years as the superintendent's designee for dealing with complaints, expulsions, boundary changes and student transfers in a public school district of 9,000 pupils.  The ability to see and consider different sides in contentious matters was not only helpful, but always seemed to be appreciated by both those with whom I dealt and those to whom I answered.  After all, "fair is fair".

*Note - As children, my father and his twin Warren often repeated "Tins, tins, do we always have to be tins, wear the same clothes, marry the same girl"; no doubt to irritate their mother.  Little did he realize or appreciate as a child the advantage of being a twin would give him in his adult life.