Monday, September 4

My Working Career in a Nutshell

 During my working career (both part-time and full time), I have held the following jobs/positions:

  1. Gardener/lawn care
  2. door-to-door salesman
  3. Lifeguard
  4. Babysitter
  5. Waiter
  6. Construction Worker
  7. Chemical Packer
  8. Military man
  9. Military Reservist
  10. Associate Director
  11. Technical writer
  12. Executive Director
  13. Corporate Director
  14. Director
  15. Manager
  16. Customer Service Rep
  17. Textile worker
  18. Driver/Messenger
  19. Unemployed
  20. Computer Technician
  21. Instructor/Teacher
  22. Program Chair
  23. Assistant Dean
  24. Dean
  25. Owner/CEO/President
  26. Consultant
  27. Course writer
  28. Insurance Salesperson
  29. Vice President
  30. Auditor
  31. Professor
  32. Adjunct

My career has spanned 50 years, I have been laid off or fired 10 times, and have had numerous employers...  too many to count or even remember.  I worked while I was attending college and graduate school.

Consciously, I made a decision to remain in the south where there was less income possibilities than could have been achieved up north.  Not sure why I made that decision at the time but I am sure it revolved around traffic, climate, people, and cost of living.

I had visited NYC several times before graduating from college and found it to be OVERWHELMING to say the least.
  • No countryside
  • Not much grass 
  • Not much fresh air
  • Extremely tall buildings
  • Congested public transportation
  • Extremely rude people
  • Too many people
  • Too much traffic
  • Too many distractions

On the other side of the coin, NYC was a fascinating place to be and the nightlife was incredible.  I remember when my family was there in 1962 before boarding a cruise ship to Egypt to live, I was walking around and saw Gene Krupa playing drums in a dive bar.  It was hot and the door was open.

I watched him for as long as I could before someone from the inside came out and told me to leave.

One could say that I have had my fair share of different types of work that provided me with different types of experiences, but I am not sure where all that experience got me...  I mean in terms of a successful career.

I suppose my career was successful, better than most, but not a good as others...  but in terms of leaving behind a legacy, I did not...  except for a handful of students that I helped shape their lives.

Retirement is a time for reflection and while I do that from time to time, I do not like to, because it makes me question myself and what I have accomplished.

I would say surviving cancer for 15 years and knowing I will continue to fight this cancer for the rest of my life...  well, that seems more like an accomplishment than my career.

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