How It All Began

Jerry had a very interesting blog yesterday about how he got into computers in the armed forces. When I read it, I knew tonight's blog would be about how I ended up working for Hartt. I was a manager for Irving for six years. Some things about Irving, I didn't mind. There health insurance was amazing and paid for everything, I got like 4 full weeks off a year, paid(although I never used them) and my employees were good people for the most part and I made friends that I will have forever. Plus, as long as I go to store that Barb works at, I will never have to pay for a cup of coffee from Irving. Well, that about sums up the good things at Irving. The company is very hard on people- they burn people up in no time at all. You work salary- which ends up being like 60-70 hours a week for what would be good pay for 40 hours. People are treated like they are expendable and you are always going to a different store once you get comfortable in a place. I really hated the gay uniforms you had to wear- complete with a tie and I am not a good person for shaving every day and keeping my hair short. I am a boots guy- always have been and if I want to grow my hair long, atleast I like having the option. I don't shave every day- I hate shaving- always have! I like jeans, baseball caps and comfortable shirts. I like having a goatee. I hate schedules that you have to live by, checklist and all the other shit Irving makes you do. Well, I was working at the store on the corner of Broadway and Burleigh and I had been there over a year. I knew most of the people who came in there every day. I hated it there but the people who came in every day made it bearable. My wife knew I hated it and told me to go look for another job but I didn't- I told her I will know when the time is right and the people will find me where I am. Well, Rick- the HR manager at Hartt and Rick C in brokerage used to come in my store all the time. A lot of the people who work at Hartt stop in there. I got to know both Ricks pretty well and would talk to them when they came in. Rick C had an opening in dispatch and told me to apply for it and I did. I interviewed for it but I didn't have any experience so I didn't get the job. Rick stopped in a week later and said the shop was hiring a parts guy and that I should come in and talk to Todd and Alex. Well, I went in and interviewed with them and they called me back the next day and asked if I wanted the job. There timing couldn't have been any better- I had a terrible weekend at work and got wrote up for a case of juice falling over in the cooler that I had absolutely nothing to do with. I met with Rick P and he offered me the same pay I was making at Irving, only hourly- not salary and I accepted it. I went and told Irving I was giving my notice, worked out my two weeks and went to work for Hartt. Honestly, the best decision I have ever made next to marrying Colleen. I may sound like I hate it there and that it gets to me but I truly love my job. I love the guys I work with and I love the place I work at. I went into the job with zero experience in truck parts- everything I know now, I learned. People show you stuff at my work- that is how people learn things and become better employees. I showed AJ how to do stuff like Ben showed me. It is a cycle. How much have I learned? If I lost my job tomorrow morning, I could have a job by tomorrow afternoon- with ease. People that I deal with every day respect me and know me- that is another life lesson I have learned- don't burn bridges- you never know when you may need them. Later