Nitrohaulic
Nitro Member
Be-earlied congratulations!
Nitromater
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What jobs have you had?
- Thread starter Nitrohaulic
- Start date
Be-earlied congratulations!
Kelly
Nitro Member
LMAO! Just once?I once ran a muck for a mucking company
Kris
Nitro Member
Interesting. I've always figured that everyone starts somewhere (well, maybe not Paris Hilton) that involved crap pay, hours and probably grease of some sort. Heh. Working those crummy jobs taught me a lot and motivated me to go to college and earn a degree. Now I have a crummy paying job where I get to do amazing things and meet incredible people. Heh. I'm staring at a crossroads myself right now as far as my career goes, so who knows where I will be in six months. I'm hoping not sitting in front of this particular computer I'm posting from.
Anybody looking for a freelance journalist or public relations person? Anybody need someone to come help you get a good cell phone set up for your small business? Haha. Well, sort of haha.
But, yes, this is definitely interesting to see what funds our passions in life or to see if our passions are what we do for a living.
kim
Nitro Member
Ok, here goes mine.
babysitter
Taco Bell
Mrs. Fields
cashier at a produce store
Little Cesars Pizza
hairstylist
salon receptionist
Walgreens-cosmetics and then Asst. manager
substitute teachers aide/lunch lady/recess lady
Currently at a daycare rocking babies and loving it
This is cool thread.Good job starting it Ron.
babysitter
Taco Bell
Mrs. Fields
cashier at a produce store
Little Cesars Pizza
hairstylist
salon receptionist
Walgreens-cosmetics and then Asst. manager
substitute teachers aide/lunch lady/recess lady
Currently at a daycare rocking babies and loving it
This is cool thread.Good job starting it Ron.
NHRAMike
Nitro Member
My 1st job was a mailroom attendant, then:
Shipping & receiving/pick-up and delivery, material handler for a wood stove manufacturer.
Warehouse worker for a health food distributor.
Went back to the wood stove company as an assembler and welder.
Line assembler at Freightliner.
Parts deburrer and helper for a large pump manufacturer (where I got my first taste of being a machinist)
Inspection and packaging for a window blind company.
Machinist/welder at a torque converter remanufacturer.
And finally:
Machinist for Warn Industries.
Shipping & receiving/pick-up and delivery, material handler for a wood stove manufacturer.
Warehouse worker for a health food distributor.
Went back to the wood stove company as an assembler and welder.
Line assembler at Freightliner.
Parts deburrer and helper for a large pump manufacturer (where I got my first taste of being a machinist)
Inspection and packaging for a window blind company.
Machinist/welder at a torque converter remanufacturer.
And finally:
Machinist for Warn Industries.
The Counterfeiter
Nitro Member
From Ron - "When, at the very end, Ray told the guy that all he had to do now was come up with opening money for the cash register, the guy lost it and went ballistic! They ended up being a very wealthy couple with several stores." Funny story and true!
I spent a few months opening new stores - the last thing to be installed was the cash registers. Once those franchisees saw the registers, it was time to open, even if you couldn't cook hamburgers -
And you are correct - while Ray was alive, there was a lot more to McDonald's than people realized. Unfortunately, things now are not the same.
I treasure the time I got to spend with Ray. He taught me that you set a standard and NEVER compromise. - Jim
I spent a few months opening new stores - the last thing to be installed was the cash registers. Once those franchisees saw the registers, it was time to open, even if you couldn't cook hamburgers -
And you are correct - while Ray was alive, there was a lot more to McDonald's than people realized. Unfortunately, things now are not the same.
I treasure the time I got to spend with Ray. He taught me that you set a standard and NEVER compromise. - Jim
Nitrohaulic
Nitro Member
Interesting. I've always figured that everyone starts somewhere (well, maybe not Paris Hilton) that involved crap pay, hours and probably grease of some sort. Heh. Working those crummy jobs taught me a lot and motivated me to go to college and earn a degree. Now I have a crummy paying job where I get to do amazing things and meet incredible people. Heh. I'm staring at a crossroads myself right now as far as my career goes, so who knows where I will be in six months. I'm hoping not sitting in front of this particular computer I'm posting from.
Anybody looking for a freelance journalist or public relations person? Anybody need someone to come help you get a good cell phone set up for your small business? Haha. Well, sort of haha.
But, yes, this is definitely interesting to see what funds our passions in life or to see if our passions are what we do for a living.
Yeah, you gotta believe that our occupations have been a combination of what we've wanted to do, necessity, and just where the heck we happened to be when something was available. It's interesting to see the moves that some would consider to be up, down, or sideways. What someone else might think of as down could definitely be up to you if you're happier.
The variety I'm seeing is interesting. I'm probaby over-analyzing (Who? Me? LOL), but I'm wondering if our work histories and our love for drag racing have anything in common in the makeup of our personalities, or if they're pretty reflective of society as a whole. Seems to be more "hands on" type occupations.
I thought this thread stood as good of a chance of flopping as it did flying. I knew it'd be good if people participated. Really is fun to get a snapshot into each others' lives like this. A condensed way to tell each other a lot about ourselves. I LIKE finding out who layed bricks and who cleaned them.
I was thinking today of a possible advantage that didn't occur to me when I started this. Some of us may end up in endeavors in which we could use a particular skill/background that someone else has listed. Could be beneficial to both parties.
Now we can discuss the circumstances surrounding each job change! LOL, I bet we don't always want to go there!
I didn't quit. I fired them.
Kelly
Nitro Member
What I hate is I make good money and am viewed as a company asset. I enjoy my co-workers, vendors and customers, but I don't enjoy my actual 'job'. 
I hope to go back to college next Semester. I mentioned previously (months ago) that I'd like to pursue PR/Marketing. Is almost 40 too late for a career change?
I hope to go back to college next Semester. I mentioned previously (months ago) that I'd like to pursue PR/Marketing. Is almost 40 too late for a career change?
Nitrohaulic
Nitro Member
From Ron - "When, at the very end, Ray told the guy that all he had to do now was come up with opening money for the cash register, the guy lost it and went ballistic! They ended up being a very wealthy couple with several stores." Funny story and true!
I spent a few months opening new stores - the last thing to be installed was the cash registers. Once those franchisees saw the registers, it was time to open, even if you couldn't cook hamburgers -
And you are correct - while Ray was alive, there was a lot more to McDonald's than people realized. Unfortunately, things now are not the same.
I treasure the time I got to spend with Ray. He taught me that you set a standard and NEVER compromise. - Jim
It's one of the most educational books I've ever read. Not just from learning about their business practices, but about the real life stories, as well. I usually have no interest in fiction. Always interested in the drama that people have really lived through.
I remember one more detail about that couple opening their first store. You may know this but, Ray convinced a banker to lease them the property. The amount was to "float" each month, depending on gross sales. The banker voluntarily put a cap in the contract on the rent at $1,000 a month (and I forget how much they had to make to get to that point), because he didn't think they'd EVER do THAT well.
I believe it said that the store hit the cap after the first month in business! The banker ended up calling Ray, complaining that the couple was going to get rich and that he was only going to get peanuts out of the deal! I do remember that Ray's words were "Well, I told you and you didn't believe me. Now you believe."
Another book that's interesting in a similar fashion: If you ever stop into a Flying J Truckstop look for "The Flying J Story." Probably the first quarter or third of the book is history of the Mormons, which is where O. Jay Call's family came from ("Flying J" came from his love of flying, which he got to do a lot of in his early days of cheap gas stations all over Utah and Wyoming. One of his uncles, who was instrumental in Jay's success, even tried producing his own line of planes.). I believe his dad or grandfather had something like 50 brothers and sisters. Their work ethic and entrepreneurialism are unbelievable, though.
"Dr. Dirt"
Nitro Member
Oh Please! You kids are all the same. Thinking you're too old. I'd change carreers tomorrow AM if I didn't love selling land and I'm older than any mountain you have ever seen in black and white movies. You only live once and it's way too short to dance with ugly men, if you get my drift?Is almost 40 too late for a career change?
Nitrohaulic
Nitro Member
What I hate is I make good money and am viewed as a company asset. I enjoy my co-workers, vendors and customers, but I don't enjoy my actual 'job'.
I've been doing a job that I pretty much hate for several years. It's just been the most money that I've known how to make. Personally it's almost as much a failure as it is a success. I'm never able to make myself apply myself as much as I could if it were something I'm passionate about. My light at the end of the tunnel is that this is starting to enable me to do what I AM passionate about. LOL, I hope almost 40 isn't too late, cause I'm 41!
Just a coincidence that http://brucewilliams.com/ was talking about work ethics on his radio show the other night. He said some young lady came into his studio about twenty years ago and told him she was going to be his producer. He told her to go work in a similar job for a competitor for six months, and to get the hell out (He was from Jersey, working in NYC), figuring he'd never see her again. Said that about 7 months later she comes back in with pay stubs as proof of doing what he required! He also said she currently produces a very famous TV show.
He said that he was so passionate about wanting to work in radio the he offered to, and worked for free in the beginning, just to get them to like his work and prove that he could produce. Said that for the last twenty years, his contract has only required him to do a live show four nights a week, and that the fifth one could be recorded. Says he does the fifth one live for free because he's driven by pride to do the best job he can do.
He did advise that if you don't love what you're doing, to change, or at least do what you have to in order to pay bills, and do what you love for free if you have to in order to get started, which is what I'm practically going to be doing in a new business. I can't imagine anyone here telling you that you shouldn't try to pursue what you'd be happier doing. I am at least lucky that I'm going to be able to do both, my love and my hate, at the same time.
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The Counterfeiter
Nitro Member
It's never too late!
"Is almost 40 too late for a career change?" Kelly - not to beat this McDonald's thing thing to death, but Ray Kroc was almost 60 and selling milkshake mixers and Dixie cups when he saw a restaurant concept he liked and had the courage to create one of the first and most successful franchise operations.
At 49, I owned four franchised printing stores and realized the parent company was going in the wrong direction. After a legal battle that involved declaring bankruptcy, we created Competition Commercial Printing. I'm now 60, in better shape than when I was 30, and very proud of what we do every day. So . . . it is never too late. You need to decide what you want to do with the rest of your life and have the courage to achieve your goals. I hope you can find your way to a fulfilling life - Jim
"Is almost 40 too late for a career change?" Kelly - not to beat this McDonald's thing thing to death, but Ray Kroc was almost 60 and selling milkshake mixers and Dixie cups when he saw a restaurant concept he liked and had the courage to create one of the first and most successful franchise operations.
At 49, I owned four franchised printing stores and realized the parent company was going in the wrong direction. After a legal battle that involved declaring bankruptcy, we created Competition Commercial Printing. I'm now 60, in better shape than when I was 30, and very proud of what we do every day. So . . . it is never too late. You need to decide what you want to do with the rest of your life and have the courage to achieve your goals. I hope you can find your way to a fulfilling life - Jim
The Counterfeiter
Nitro Member
Older than dirt!
From The Dirt Doctor - "Oh Please! You kids are all the same. Thinking you're too old. I'd change carreers tomorrow AM if I didn't love selling land and I'm older than any mountain you have ever seen in black and white movies."
Doc - you know we're old when we think of 40 year olds as kids!
But - we both have fun every day and love our wives, kids and grandchildren!
From The Dirt Doctor - "Oh Please! You kids are all the same. Thinking you're too old. I'd change carreers tomorrow AM if I didn't love selling land and I'm older than any mountain you have ever seen in black and white movies."
Doc - you know we're old when we think of 40 year olds as kids!
But - we both have fun every day and love our wives, kids and grandchildren!
Nitrohaulic
Nitro Member
I'm sure that last line makes you guys "rich" irregardless ( just because a couple of years ago Kelly said that word's a peeve of hers.
) of what you pocket.
Nick Name
Nitro Member
Early on I became a machinist, a very good one. At the same time I was obsessed with drag racing. I knew that someday I would combine those two.
About 32 years ago I started doing motorcycle parts. Today I have one of the best known performance motorcycle parts companies. We have had a lot of successes. For example, every championship that Angelle has won, had my parts in the motor and my sticker on the bikes.
I can not believe how blessed I am to have this much fun everyday. Either talking to racers, making neat stuff, going to the races (all over the world), etc.
If you don't really enjoy what you do, change. You only get one shot of this thing called life, why use it up not being happy with what you do to make a living.
Jay
About 32 years ago I started doing motorcycle parts. Today I have one of the best known performance motorcycle parts companies. We have had a lot of successes. For example, every championship that Angelle has won, had my parts in the motor and my sticker on the bikes.
I can not believe how blessed I am to have this much fun everyday. Either talking to racers, making neat stuff, going to the races (all over the world), etc.
If you don't really enjoy what you do, change. You only get one shot of this thing called life, why use it up not being happy with what you do to make a living.
Jay
dragboatphoto
Nitro Member
Laborer at small green house - built shelves watered etc. etc.
Asst. manager at Wendy's - 5 1/2 years loved it and hated it at the same time
College student while at Wendy's
Started taking pictures as a hobby
EMSI - scheduled drug screening for companies, never made it through training, I HATE working in a cubicle and will never ever ever do it again.
Currently I am a courier for Lone Star Overnight and its only my third week but I have loved every minute of it so far. Also taking pictures for a little more than a hobby.
Asst. manager at Wendy's - 5 1/2 years loved it and hated it at the same time
College student while at Wendy's
Started taking pictures as a hobby
EMSI - scheduled drug screening for companies, never made it through training, I HATE working in a cubicle and will never ever ever do it again.
Currently I am a courier for Lone Star Overnight and its only my third week but I have loved every minute of it so far. Also taking pictures for a little more than a hobby.
Sold flowers on the street corner.
Worked as a day laborer doing various rotten jobs.
Worked at Preimer helmets(no longer in buisness, not my fault) as a stuffer(putting the lining in the crash helmets)
Delivired frozen meat to peoples houses.
Worked in the body & fender business(body man)
Worked for the state Highway dept.
Worked for an Industrial cleaning service cleaning boilers & evaporators (the insides of them) dirty, rotten, nasty smelly, back breaking work.
The above was from age 15 to 25.
The last 26 1/2 years I have been driving gasoline tanker for an oil company.Funny thing is I thought at the time this will hold me until I get a real job. OH CRAP! does this mean I've found a real job?
Worked as a day laborer doing various rotten jobs.
Worked at Preimer helmets(no longer in buisness, not my fault) as a stuffer(putting the lining in the crash helmets)
Delivired frozen meat to peoples houses.
Worked in the body & fender business(body man)
Worked for the state Highway dept.
Worked for an Industrial cleaning service cleaning boilers & evaporators (the insides of them) dirty, rotten, nasty smelly, back breaking work.
The above was from age 15 to 25.
The last 26 1/2 years I have been driving gasoline tanker for an oil company.Funny thing is I thought at the time this will hold me until I get a real job. OH CRAP! does this mean I've found a real job?
JRX
Nitro Member
Fantastic topic! It's been fun reading all of these...
mowing lawns, shoveling snow
clerk at a White Hen Pantry store...my first paycheck! I exploded the slushy machine
High school janitor
oil change technician
bouncer at a strip club....
bartended my way through college....hehehehe had more money than I knew what to do with
drove a "roach coach" on the south side of Chicago. Interesting job....worked with some interesting folks there
handed out flyers on street corners
corporate manager/ PR for restaurant chain
sold cars
back to restaurants.....management
Message board administrator and moderator...ahhhh the top of my profession!
Eight years ago I started my toughest and most rewarding job...I quit my job to be a stay-at-home Dad to my daughters. It is the best decision I have ever made and would do it again in a heartbeat. I ended up changing 98% of the diapers, and know most of the kids shows theme songs my heart. Sure it's tough..and I truly believe that an outside job is easier because you can punch out and go home from that. I love what I do, from the grocery shopping, cooking, laundry, cleaning and a million other things. I feel I am blessed to be able to do this job....and I will never forget what it has given me and my family.
mowing lawns, shoveling snow
clerk at a White Hen Pantry store...my first paycheck! I exploded the slushy machine
High school janitor
oil change technician
bouncer at a strip club....
bartended my way through college....hehehehe had more money than I knew what to do with
drove a "roach coach" on the south side of Chicago. Interesting job....worked with some interesting folks there
handed out flyers on street corners
corporate manager/ PR for restaurant chain
sold cars
back to restaurants.....management
Message board administrator and moderator...ahhhh the top of my profession!
Eight years ago I started my toughest and most rewarding job...I quit my job to be a stay-at-home Dad to my daughters. It is the best decision I have ever made and would do it again in a heartbeat. I ended up changing 98% of the diapers, and know most of the kids shows theme songs my heart. Sure it's tough..and I truly believe that an outside job is easier because you can punch out and go home from that. I love what I do, from the grocery shopping, cooking, laundry, cleaning and a million other things. I feel I am blessed to be able to do this job....and I will never forget what it has given me and my family.