Have you ever considered a career as a professional performer? In this interview, Milton Davis shares his story of how he went from singing in the church choir, to making a living as a professional musician and singer. He shares the ups and downs of living on a fluctuating salary, and explains how he has handled some surprising situations!
My name is Milton Davis, and I work in the entertainment industry as a singer. I have been involved in this field for approximately 8 years. I would describe myself in three adjectives as “artistic” (hopefully), “sensitive,” and “impatient,” especially when it comes to inspiration.
My ethnicity and gender are black and male. I think that everyone’s ethnicity and gender hurts and helps them to a degree. If an audience is used to seeing a certain type of music that is stereotypically associated with a certain ethnicity and gender, then whatever you do will go over well. For instance, as a black male, it is easy for me to “put over” a rhythm and blues or a jazz song to an audience. They may be less enthralled with my performance of “Sweet Home Alabama,” no matter how well I perform it. I have experienced discrimination, but the good thing about the entertainment business is that if you have enough talent, you can overcome anything. Talent wins the day. Simply sing the song as best you can and let the chips fall where they may.
What I do is try to give people a feeling that they have had before. I give people comfort. I am a mental doctor – a mentalist! My work entails not only singing, but many times creating an entire program of entertainment for an event. At my level, people really hire me off of my reputation and expect me to come in and wow the crowd, no matter what. The most common misunderstanding that people have of my profession is that it is not mostly business. The music business is 10% music, 90% business.
I rate my job satisfaction at a 10, without a doubt. There is nothing that I would rather do.
This job does move my heart. I get to connect with people in a way that most people only dream of. I have definitely found my calling in life.
Something unique that readers should know about my situation is that my entire family was into music. They used it as a way to escape the hardships that they faced. Since they faced a lot of hardships, they got pretty good at performing music, and I just followed along and turned it into a profession!
I got started in this line of work by performing at my local church. I was soon discovered by some promoters who had me travel to do some gospel shows, and my reputation just grew from there. I took time off to go to college, but after that it was right back to professional singing. I would not change a thing about how I got into this business or my experiences with it.
What I learned the hard way is to get paid before you sing, even at a gospel show! The audience might be “righteous,” but the promoters and the event planners are all business. So when you deal with them, you have to be a complete businessman as well.
The strangest thing that has happened to me is a friend of mine calling me to do a country themed show. I thought that he was asking me to do a more jazz oriented show, because that was what most of his bookings were. I walked in, and everybody looked at me strangely. Fortunately, I practice all types of music, so when I got on my piano and started playing “You’re My Honeybee,” they all accepted me. It was a great show.
I get up and go to work to make people happy. I get proud when someone comes up to me and says that my music has helped them through a tough time.
My job is stressful only because I have to do so much to just sing. However, I can take time off whenever I want to.
Here is the part that everyone will want to hear. A good salary range for a working singer like myself is anywhere from US $40K to about US $90K. I do live within my means and it is ok.
I do not really take any vacations, because I love what I do. When I am not touring or gigging I am writing.
The single most important thing that I have learned about the working world is that you are really responsible for everything that you have. Look around you. If there is something that you want that you do not have, then there is something that you need to do that you have not done.
I would tell a friend considering my line of work to make sure that he brushes up on his business administration skills and maybe take a tax preparation course at a community college.
Coral: Hi everyone. We are talking to Mike Droho today. Thank you, Mike, for taking the time to talk to us.
Mike: Yeah, it’s no problem.
Coral: What is your job title and what industry do you work in?
Mike: I am a singer/songwriter, and I work in the music business.
Coral: And how many years of experience do you have in this industry?
Mike: I have been doing this for 11 years.
Coral: How would you describe yourself using only three adjectives?
Mike: Resilient, stupid, awesome.
Coral: Good ones! Alright, what is your ethnicity and gender?
Mike: I am white and I’m a guy.
Coral: Has it helped or hurt you at all in your industry?
Mike: Yes and no, I would say in a lot of ways it doesn’t actually play much of a role. But certain types of music that we venture into sometimes have, or are predominately known to be connotated towards one ethnic group. Hip hop music is traditionally driven by African Americans so when I venture into hip hop, I feel a little bit like I’m venturing into a ground that, traditionally, I’m not used to.
So I’ve played shows out East with tough crowds and whatnot and being heckled early on in the set and then maybe winning them over by the end of the set. So I think maybe sometimes when we venture into those fields, we don’t get taken seriously, but, as a whole, I would say not really. It’s more about your talent and where you come from, I think.
Coral: You kind of answered this a little bit already, but if you have experienced discrimination, how have you responded to it, and what has worked best?
Mike: I guess just have confidence in who you are, and let that override the stigma, or let that override the stereotype.
Coral: Okay, how would you describe what you do, and what does your work entail?
Mike: I write songs and make albums, and then I market and sell them to as many people as I possibly can. There’s a lot going on, and I try to prioritize at least a few hours every morning to work on music, which pretty much entails me sitting at a desk where I have stations set up. There’s a vocal microphone set up, another microphone for a guitar and a couple keyboards that connect into my computer through a converter, and, it depends on the kind of music I am working on.
I work on all different type of music for all different types of regions, slotted for fun and for my personal growth and gain, and some of it is for commercial purposes, for licensing of commercials, for licensing on websites. It entails spending some time everyday working on music, and then there’s a lot of time I spend booking shows. That’s really where I make a lot of my money, is through the guarantees or from the money I procure from ticket sales, or from concerts.
And then, you kind of want to stay current in your field, so as much as I can, as much time as I can spend absorbing new music, staying on top of trends, staying relevant. I’m always thinking about, trying to add new things to my repertoire in terms of production, getting new equipment in the studio so I can do more things with it, or becoming better at a certain instrument so I can add that to my repertoire. It’s pretty much as long as I want to go all day long.
It’s tough because it’s kind of a sales job in that the more you do, the more you get out of it, and so I never turn it off. I pretty much work the whole day on business stuff, working on merchandise design stuff. It’s a lot of things. You think that it’s just sitting around and playing a guitar and going to a show, and even though I have help from a manager and an agent, I have a lot to do, a lot of hats to wear doing it as independently as I am.
Coral: Are there any common misunderstandings that you want to correct about what you do?
Mike: I mean, I love what I do, but I think everyone comes to a show and they don’t see all the work that goes on behind it. It’s not all fun and games. People think I have a dream job and in many ways I do, but there are definitely ups and downs to it, and there are parts of it that equate themselves to work, just like anyone else’s job. Not to be negative, I’m just saying it’s not all bells and whistles all the time.
Coral: Sure, okay. If this job moves your heart, how so? And do you feel like this is your calling in life?
Mike: I think being an artist is definitely my calling. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else, I don’t know anything else. At certain times, I feel like I’m really great at it, and then that kind of reaffirms the fact that I should be doing it, or the idea that I should be doing it. It is my calling; I think I am doing what I’m supposed to be doing.
Coral: Is there anything unique about your situation that readers should know when considering your experiences or accomplishments?
Mike: Everyone has their path when it comes to their career. Maybe this isn’t unique, but it could be encouraging to other people that it definitely takes a long time to, I don’t want to say make it, but establish yourself. In my case, it has taken many years before I could really take a breath and not worry so much about paying my bills or this and that. So, there’s definitely been times that I wanted to quit, and I’m like, ‘why don’t I just get a normal job?’ and take the stress out of making money. But, I’m glad I stuck it out. I am proud of myself for going into a field that a lot of people fail at.
Coral: Well, you kind of hinted at this a little bit in the last one, but how did you get started in this line of work? And, if you could go back and do it differently, what would you change, if anything?
Mike: I got started just as a kid, pretty much like anyone else when you find yourself in high school and you are starting to identify with certain things, and music was definitely one thing from an early age through that point that I really identified with, and I always admired actors and musicians and people in the art field. It never occurred to me that I could actually do that until a little bit later on.
I think I had a girlfriend that dumped me, it was like my first serious love, so serious seeing as I was, like, 17 or whatever. So we broke up and it was like a desperate attempt to get her back. I wrote this really awful song using two chords I had learned from a buddy the previous summer. I think I started out of desperation to reach somebody. And then I realized I kind of kept with it, I was 17 or so, and some of these bad songs I started putting together, they got a little bit better, a little more polished, and I had a friend’s band that was doing really well.
They were a group of four going around and I was traveling with them to help out, not performing or even thinking of performing, but seeing them do it really inspired me. So it was at probably 18 or 19 that I got my first show together and then realized you can make a living at this if you were good at it and you worked hard at it. So many things you learn – I made so many mistakes I wish I could do over. I put so much, all my eggs into one basket early on, into one band, which is probably why I was successful.
Us four guys were really working hard at one common goal, which was brilliant, it was a great situation and we had a lot of success, we shot up really quickly. We were touring the country before we knew it and had sold-out shows and selling lots of records. I just wish I had put a little more of something else on the side and not put all my eggs in that one basket because when that came crashing down, I had nothing to fall back on. It took me a very long time to get myself re-established, and I lost a lot of time in a very crucial period. I wish I could have done that differently, but there are all kinds of mistakes you make.
When the economy shifts and trends happen and change, you hope you can be at the front of it, the trend, and not at the back of it. I don’t know how many times we have gone out on tours that were maybe just a little too ambitious. I mean, without risks there would be no reward, I would say, but you have to find that fine line between a safe growth, a little bit of risk, and too much risk. But I’m kind of proud of myself.
Sometimes people are afraid to go after things because of the risk, and I’ve definitely taken a whole bunch of risks. I think I’ve failed five times profoundly, with different projects. So my persistence is one thing I am proud of. Maybe if I had to do it all over again I would be a little more calculated, maybe seek a little bit of help. You know, it never hurts to have someone else helping out.
Coral: What is the single most important thing you have learned outside of school about the working world?
Mike: People are so receptive to being treated well, and it feels so good to treat people well. When you take the time, the respect comes back to you, and it comes back in positive ways for your business, for yourself emotionally, for you as a whole. What I’ve learned outside of school is just that you should just treat people the way they want to be treated and it really comes back to you and, for that reason, I’ve built a lot of bridges and not burned so many.
I’ve worked with other artists in the past and friends that have burnt a lot of bridges and now they’re kind of in a corner, whereas I feel like I can go back to any person I’ve ever crossed and be able to call on them for a favor or work with them. The quality of your relationships is maybe one of the most important things.
Coral: What is the strangest thing that ever happened to you in this job?
Mike: I think a really profound thing that happened to me is when I was touring, and I had a truck with all my gear and all my guitars and my amps and my hard drive and my truck was stolen, so literally everything, like my toothbrush and my clothes and my CD player. I was traveling and I had everything I owned, pretty much, and literally everything was stolen, even my car.
It was the most humbling moment I can remember in my life. It was surreal for the first couple of days. I went through this stage of life where it wasn’t going to keep me down, but eventually it got me down. But, overall, that was a great experience. I feel like it made me a much stronger person, and smarter person maybe.
Coral: Why do you get up and go to work each day? Can you give an example of something that really made you feel good or proud?
Mike: Yeah, I mean, there is this palpable feeling you get when you’re on stage and it’s a great show and you’re connected with someone; it’s the highest feeling you can have. I feel like I’m kind of chasing that every day. I don’t get that every day; I might get a taste of it through doing some recording and constructing a chord in the song that when I play it back it just seems to slam really great and connect with me.
I get little bits of it, but I am really, really into the performance and the entertainment of people and the connection you can create when you make great artwork and get people in front of you. I can’t really think of anything else I could do that I find as gratifying as performing for people. I guess every day is in pursuit of making it better.
Coral: What kind of challenges do you face, and what makes you want to just quit?
Mike: Well, the economy is tough right now, it’s hard to tour: so costly for gasoline, the clubs seem to be giving out less and less guarantees, there’s less opportunity. It seems to be a world flooded with imposters and people that are trying to make it or are trying to do something with their career, which is great, but there’s just so many people out there fighting for so few spots.
There are challenges: a lot of competition and costs. Costs can be a huge deterrent, too. Making an album is a really costly endeavor, or it can be, and finding funding for those things is just not really available either. It’s tough; it’s a tough time to make money. Luckily, that’s not really what drives us completely. Luckily, we can find a way to make some quality art, and to make a living doing that is pretty great.
Coral: Well then, this one goes right along with that, but how stressful is your job? Are you able to maintain a healthy work-life balance?
Mike: Yeah, you know, it goes up and down but for the most part, I think, not dreading to go to work, I know what that feeling is. I remember the last time I had a normal job. It was really tough, the anxiety that kind of crawls up on you before you have to go and then while you’re there, you’re looking at the clock. That sucks.
I don’t want to do that, and I don’t have that feeling ever with music. Sometimes I get anxious or nervous for performances, and those things can be frustrating, but it doesn’t at all deter me from getting up and doing it the next day. I feel like I can always grow with my job. I like my job, and I definitely have a healthy relationship with it.
Coral: So this one may be a little difficult to answer because I feel like it varies, but what is a rough salary range for the position you hold, and do you feel you are paid enough?
Mike: The band probably grosses between $60,000 and $80,000 a year, but so much of that is eaten up with tour costs to reestablish or to develop new markets. And I take about as little as I can to pay my bills and to have a lifestyle that I can live with and am comfortable with. It is not, by any means, extravagant. I don’t know if I get paid enough. Some negotiations I have to battle with people to get money that I know I am worth. And sometimes, I probably get overpaid, but that definitely doesn’t happen as much.
I would say I’m maybe a little underpaid, but you basically make what you need to make, I think. I think it’s fine, I think it’s a fair playing field. I have a lot of advantages, and there are a lot of disadvantages to what I am doing, but I have faith that my effort will be returned. It’s just like I said, it’s been 10 years and I’m still developing markets and as we’re developing, we’re spending lots of money. But we’re also making more money by establishing ourselves. So, in time, those numbers will shift in terms of our costs and expenditures.
Coral: How much vacation do you take?
Mike: Not a lot. It’s something I am going to take, planning some vacations this year. But, the one thing I’ll say is that I will definitely take time every day to give myself what I need to feel relaxed or at ease or like I’ve been on vacation. And that’s one great benefit of my job. Some people, if they’re stressed at their job, can’t necessarily leave work, whereas if I’m not feeling the song, I can just turn my computer off and go read a book on the porch or just go for a run or go outside and chill out.
But, I do believe it is important to have some vacation time. You’ve got to get away from it and let it go, especially artistically with me; I can’t just demand creativity of myself all the time and expect it to always be there. Sometimes I have to cultivate it, and that means relaxing or getting healthy and taking a break every once in a while. But not as much vacation as I’d like.
Coral: What education and skills do you need to get hired and succeed in this field?
Mike: None, none at all. No, I think you need to be able to make music or art in some fashion that is good enough that people will buy. That’s a pretty wide range. People buy all kinds of stuff in the music world. I don’t know how you can really quantify skill level now. I would imagine the more education you have, if you know more about the music world and music business, the better off you’ll be.
But, I think the beautiful thing is you don’t have to have the knowledge at first, you just have to have the inspiration and the ability to play an instrument and the ability to get across to people. It’s one of those qualities that people have, artists, I guess. You either have it or you cultivate it through education. I kind of educated myself through learning other people’s songs, through reading books.
So there is a minimal amount of education I would imagine. You need to be competent with an instrument, competent in the craft of songs, and then you need to, either yourself or find people to help you, market it and get it out to the world. To answer your question, I guess, little to none to a lot.
Coral: What would you tell a friend considering your line of work?
Mike: That if it was easy everyone would do it, but the challenge is what makes it so gratifying.
Coral: Okay, last one. If you could write your own ticket, what would you like to be doing in five years?
Mike: I would like to have a more established, more idealistic musical act touring around the county. We could sell 100,000 records a year and be able to have a great presence throughout the country without having to be under the strong arm of the label and be able to call your own shots. I would like to be able to be a diversified artist in terms of me having an interest in film and I have an interest in other forms of art that I would like to explore more.
Maybe someday find myself in a position to run a label and help cultivate younger artists and help reaffirm the quality of music into the world, quality art into the world versus the commercial portion of it that seems so disheartening that we’re all subject to and seems to be what drives the industry. I think I’d like to be someone at the front of that, helping reestablish independent music and independent art.
Coral: Great, well those are all the questions that I have for you, thank you so much!
This accomplished phlebotomist and instructor found her calling at a trade school while searching for a career that would enable her to support her children as a single, teenage mother. Not only has she been able to survive, but she has flourished in the field, now working both as a practicing phlebotomist, and as an instructor and author, teaching skills to future phlebotomists and writing her own curriculum.
What is your job title and what industry do you work in? How many years of experience do you have in this field? How would you describe yourself using only three adjectives?
I am a phlebotomist with 21 years experience. I work in the allied healthcare industry as well as education. I both perform and teach phlebotomy. Adjectives that describe me are highly skilled, committed, and experienced.
How would you describe what you do? What does your work entail? Are there any common misunderstandings you want to correct about what you do?
Myth: Phlebotomy is easy, and anyone can do it…
Fact: Phlebotomy is not for everyone, and it takes SKILL to perform this seemingly routine and easy ask.
What’s your ethnicity and gender? How has it hurt or helped you? If you ever experienced discrimination, how have you responded and what worked best? Do you speak another language, and has it been helpful in your career?
I am a part Caucasian, part Hispanic female. It has been challenging (not necessarily hurtful) in my career, because people look at me and automatically assume or expect that I am fluent in speaking Spanish.
On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate your job satisfaction? What might need to change about your job to unleash your full enthusiasm?
10…I love my job, and the only thing I think I would change is pay scale. I feel that the highly skilled and experienced phlebotomists in the field are under-paid, under-appreciated, and not always recognized for our expertise.
If this job moves your heart – how so? Ever feel like you found your calling or sweet spot in life? If not, what might do it for you?
It moves me and excites me when a frightened patient who has had a bad phlebotomy experience comes to me with great trepidation, and I am able to ease their fears, and successfully draw their blood and they exclaim “Wow, you are good! I didn’t even feel it,” or, “Nobody has ever got my blood on the first stick!”
Is there anything unique about your situation that readers should know when considering your experiences or accomplishments? I was a single teenage mother who refused to be just another statistic… When I began my training in healthcare, I was terrified and had no previous experience. I was shocked and amazed at how good I was in this field, and very surprised to realize this was my passion. I was so fortunate to find my calling at such a young age (only 20 years old when I started.)
How did you get started in this line of work? If you could go back and do it differently, what would you change?
I wanted an education that wouldn’t take me 4 years to achieve, so I enrolled at a trade school that had a 6 month program, never imagining that 15 years later I would become an instructor at the very same school. I wouldn’t change a thing, as I believe that it has all worked according to God’s master plan.
What did you learn the hard way in this job and what happened specifically that led up to this lesson?
I learned that not everybody wants to see you succeed; that some people are very jealous of my accomplishments, and that misery loves company. I learned this when my instructor from 1990 became my boss/supervisor in 2010, and when she saw that I, the former student had surpassed her, the former instructor, she was so envious of me that she made my work life nearly impossible. I was forced to seek employment elsewhere. I was very disillusioned by her behavior, as she had been my mentor for 20 years, someone who I tried to emulate, and my expectation was that she would take pride in knowing that she played a major role in making me into the person I had become, but she instead hated that I had achieved such success.
What is the single most important thing you have learned outside of school about the working world?
That when you truly love what you do, it shows, and it makes getting up and going to work everyday not just easy, but enjoyable. It is easy to be great at what you do when you really enjoy it – loving what you do and having a passion for it makes work seem more like fun.
What’s the strangest thing that ever happened to you in this job?
One day a patient came into my patient service center for a blood draw and she was a hard stick, and was very afraid because of previous bad experiences. She came in stating that I better be good at this. I assured her that I was highly skilled with many years of experience and I guaranteed her that all I needed was 1 stick, and that it would not hurt too badly if she just relaxed and took a deep breath. While she was distracted with the task of taking that deep breath, I performed the venipuncture. Her reply was “Wow, I didn’t even feel it.”
I told her that I used to teach phlebotomy. She then told me that she was the dean of a local college and had a phlebotomy instructor position opening in 1 month, and that she wanted me to teach that class.
Why do you get up and go to work each day? Can you give an example of something that really made you feel good or proud?
I get up and go to work each day because I know that not everyone is as good at what I do as I am, and that my patients deserve and need someone who is good at it. I am very proud of the fact that my patients always leave satisfied with the service I have provided, and especially proud when patients that need to have their blood drawn specifically ask for me when they need to have it done.
What kind of challenges do you face and what makes you just want to quit?
My biggest challenge is co-workers who are jealous of my people skills and my phlebotomy expertise. NOTHING ever makes me want to quit – it is not in my vocabulary.
How stressful is your job? Are you able to maintain a comfortable or healthy work-life balance? How?
There is no stress at all, because I love what I do and I’m good at it. I maintain a healthy work balance by keeping my priorities straight: God first, family second, job third. I make sure to find time each day to find at least 5 things I am thankful for, and I make time each day to rest and relax, and spend time enjoying my family. Each day I take time to thank God for all He has done for me.
What’s a rough salary range for the position you hold? Are you paid enough and/or happy living within your means?
The salary as a phlebotomist ranges between 18 and 22 dollars an hour, and it is not quite enough, but I can manage on it.
The salary as a phlebotomy instructor is between 30 and 50 dollars an hour and I am extremely satisfied with that pay scale.
How much vacation do you take? Is it enough?
I have 2 weeks a year, and sometimes I wish it was more, but usually it is enough.
What education and skills do you need to get hired and succeed in this field?
The education that you need is to be trained at an accredited school.
You need to have people skills, good communication skills, patience (it really is a virtue in this filed), basic knowledge of the venipuncture/phlebotomy procedure, and willingness to continue to learn, a strong desire to be the best at what you do, pride in being professional, and a dedication and commitment to excellence.
What would you tell a friend considering your line of work?
That it was the best decision I have ever made, but not to stop here, go further, and use this as a stepping stone…to use phlebotomy to open the doors to the medical field, but try to go further.
If you could write your own ticket, what would you like to be doing in five years?
I would like to be selling the phlebotomy curriculum that I have created/written/developed, while conducting personal training sessions to the instructors who plan to utilize/implement my curriculum.
In this interview with a substance abuse counselor, she shares how she has overcome overwhelming grief at the loss of her mother that changed her career path and lead her to this rewarding field. She also tells about her experiences of looking too young for the job, and how she juggles her professional career along with caring for her 3 children, one of which has special needs.
What is your job title and what industry do you work in? How many years of experience do you have in this field? How would you describe yourself using only three adjectives?
I am a Masters Level Counselor of Substance Abuse Recovery. I am currently finishing up a year long internship in the area of professional counseling working with children who have been affected by the drug and alcohol abuse of their parents as well as working at a drug treatment facility. I would describe myself as caring, funny, and patient.
How would you describe what you do? What does your work entail? Are there any common misunderstandings you want to correct about what you do?
I come alongside of people who are struggling physically, emotionally, and spiritually due to trauma, abuse, and chemical dependance. While I am alongside of them I guide them, educate them and sometimes push them to dig deep within themselves to find healing and hope for a clean and fulfilling future. My work entails; understanding, being non-judgmental, being patient, a lot of listening, and a caring spirit.
One misunderstanding that I would like to correct about counselors/therapists/shrinks, we are not all trying to figure everyone out (analyzing) when we are off the clock, that is just what we do at work. We are like any one else that when we leave work, we like to leave it at work.
What’s your ethnicity and gender? How has it hurt or helped you? If you ever experienced discrimination, how have you responded and what worked best? Do you speak another language, and has it been helpful in your career?
I am Caucasian and a female. Being a female has helped somewhat because many of the children I have worked with had been exposed to violence by men, so there was a better sense of trust being a female for the children. The discrimination that I faced was based on my age, I look younger than I am, so people are not sure I am old enough to hold the degree that I do. I responded to the discrimination by just proving myself and being the best that I could be and giving the best service that I could. I do not speak any other language, only English.
On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate your job satisfaction? What might need to change about your job to unleash your full enthusiasm?
I would absolutely rate my job satisfaction a 10. I love what I do. The only thing I would change, and that I am working toward, is opening my own practice. This will come with time.
If this job moves your heart – how so? Ever feel like you found your calling or sweet spot in life? If not, what might do it for you?
This job absolutely moves my heart everyday! I love getting up each day working with people who have found the courage to fight addiction, to face their past traumas and heal their gaping wounds. I feel privileged to come alongside these people and help them pick up the pieces of their lives. I feel honored that for the first time in many many years they are choosing to trust again and I am the person they are trusting. This is my calling, no doubt.
Is there anything unique about your situation that readers should know when considering your experiences or accomplishments?
Growing up as a little girl, age 7 or so, I always told my mom I wanted to be a heart surgeon. Well, life happened and I married young and had three children. My youngest child has special needs; Cerebral Palsy, Seizure Disorder, Hydrocephalus, and other issues. I tell you this to say that I never made it to medical school.
However, I did go to college and began working on my classes towards my nursing degree. I have always wanted to help people. I finally applied to the 4 year nursing school of my dreams, so excited, I was placed on the waiting list, now very excited.I was on the wait list for about a month and then my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 terminal brain cancer, she was given 2 months to live.
Two days after that diagnosis, I was called and told a spot opened up at the school and I was next on the list. I turned down my spot, I chose to care for my mom in her last days on earth. She only lived 5 weeks after diagnosis. My spot at nursing school was gone. My mom was gone. I was devastated.
I chose just to finish my bachelors in psychology because it was easy. I then began counseling for myself after the death of my mom and soon saw how this wonderful woman was helping heal my mutilated heart. I started working on my masters a year after my mom passed away.
I feel like a heart surgeon, working every day on broken hearts. They are bleeding and they have huge gaping holes in them and I get to help mend the broken-hearted. I’m doing what I wanted to do as a child, just not in the way I thought I would be doing it.
What did you learn the hard way in this job and what happened specifically that led up to this lesson?
I learned that human nature can be so evil. I learned this through listening to the loss, trauma and pain that other humans inflict on others.
What is the single most important thing you have learned outside of school about the working world?
That there is always someone in every place a person works that will try to overtake you, or be little you, or bully you. I need to stand up for myself be assertive and not allow others to dictate my future or how I will respond throughout the day.
What’s the strangest thing that ever happened to you in this job?
The strangest thing for me is when a fight broke out between a women and her nephew in the office.
Why do you get up and go to work each day? Can you give an example of something that really made you feel good or proud?
I get up and go to work everyday because I love what I do. I really love when a client who never laughed out loud or hardly smiled for months finally laughs with a big belly laugh, and then does it weekly after that.
What kind of challenges do you face and what makes you just want to quit?
Resistance, when a client just shuts down and refuses to work any longer, especially when they are so close to critical issue.
How stressful is your job? Are you able to maintain a comfortable or healthy work-life balance? How?
My job could be stressful if I took home the troubles of the clients. I have had to learn that when I go home I am in the moment with my family, they are what is important.
What’s a rough salary range for the position you hold? Are you paid enough and/or happy living within your means?
$50,000 is a rough range. I am happy.
How much vacation do you take? Is it enough?
Three weeks a year, I do feel it is enough right now.
What education and skills do you need to get hired and succeed in this field?
Some places require a 2 year degree to counsel at treatment center, however I am planning to have my own practice in few years so I have my Masters. One must have at least a Masters and a License to have a private practice.
What would you tell a friend considering your line of work?
It takes a lot of study, commitment, and you really need to be called to this line of work. I cannot imagine doing this and not liking people, or not having patience. Really think it through.
If you could write your own ticket, what would you like to be doing in five years?
In five years I would have my own practice on my own property specializing in adolescents and young adults struggling with addictive behaviors.
This Mexican-American Marine left her comfortable corporate job to return to the Marines and serve in Iraq. In her interview she shares how hard it is to be away from her sons, but that the rewards of the job and the satisfaction of knowing she is a part of protecting the United States makes it worth the sacrifice.
What is your job title and what industry do you work in? How many years of experience do you have in this field? How would you describe yourself using only three adjectives?
I am a United States Marine, with 10+ years experience. My career road has varied and is ever-changing. I have worked in the areas of Logistics, Administration, Civil Affairs, and Operational Planning. I would describe my self as a positive thinker, hard charger, with a passive aggressive personality.
How would you describe what you do? What does your work entail? Are there any common misunderstandings you want to correct about what you do?
I plan the movement of 10,500 Marines and their equipment to Iraq, Afghanistan, and over 100 operations and training exercises. I feel lucky to be one of the few defending our nation. It is an honor to serve my country, and the US Marine Corps has given me the opportunity to do this and learn and grow so much. A common misunderstanding about the Military is that war is all we do. I often talk to civilians about the many amazing and humanitarian services our Marines are doing all over the world, rebuilding roads and towns, resupplying schools, orphanages and hospitals, handing out medications and medical screenings all over the world… and they always ask the same, “Why aren’t more things like this reported in the news?”
What’s your ethnicity and gender? How has it hurt or helped you? If you ever experienced discrimination, how have you responded and what worked best? Do you speak another language, and has it been helpful in your career?
I am a Mexican American female. I am fortunate to work in a brotherhood where all our Marines are not male or female but Marine, all one color “green”. Although there are some jobs that females can not do in the Military, I have always understood why and I do not feel that being female has held me back in my career field. On one occasion, being female has opened a small world were Males are not allowed, the opportunity of talking to Iraqi females and interacting with them in their homes and daily lives in Iraq.
On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate your job satisfaction? What might need to change about your job to unleash your full enthusiasm?
I would rate my job satisfaction as a 9, only held back by the fact that I am a single mother. I have two beautiful, wonderful sons that I love so much. However, the military is a highly demanding, high stress job, working 50 to 60 hours a week, sometimes weekends and traveling constantly. I sometimes feel that my children need more time with me and I make the most of the time we have together.
If this job moves your heart – how so? Ever feel like you found your calling or sweet spot in life? If not, what might do it for you?
Of course this job touches my heart every time one of our Heroes is lost in Afghanistan. Every time a little child has to say good bye to daddy for a year long deployment. Every time the news reports on the latest celebrity gossip and neglect to mention our lost heroes… and on a more personal note, every time I am in uniform and somebody approaches me and says “Thank you”, when I know they are really saying it to all our Military in harms way.
How did you get started in this line of work? If you could go back and do it differently, what would you change?
I was a young 17 year old girl, unsure of what she wanted to do with her life and I didn’t know if college was the right path for me. Then one day I was approached by a sharp looking Marine in dress blues who asked me if I wanted to be one of the worlds finest. Many people tell me I should have gone Air Force or any other service, but I wouldn’t change that decision for any other service.
What did you learn the hard way in this job and what happened specifically that led up to this lesson?
I learned that I love the structure and order of the Military. There was a time when I felt that I didn’t want to be a Marine anymore and I ended my contract and faded away into another corporate job without rewards. I spent three years of my life in a business skirt and went home each night wondering what difference I was making. That’s when I decided to come back into the Military and deploy to Iraq.
What is the single most important thing you have learned outside of school about the working world?
I have learned that if you work hard and do your best at what you do, people will notice and it will open up many doors and opportunities. I have learned that with more obligations and responsibilities comes more work, and you have to make time for family because they are what keeps you grounded.
What’s the strangest thing that ever happened to you in this job?
I wouldn’t say there is anything strange about this, but every time someone knows I am a Marine they always ask me if I know their son (or someone they love) who is a Marine somewhere… and I never do but it usually leads to a long and interesting conversation where I find out a lot about a stranger I never knew only because they knew a Marine once.
Why do you get up and go to work each day? Can you give an example of something that really made you feel good or proud?
I get up and come to work because I have a contract and would be locked up in jail if I don’t show up. In actuality, I show up because I know that the job I do has a lasting effect on our history and that I am a small part of something important.
What kind of challenges do you face and what makes you just want to quit?
The constant change and 180 degree turns of the military life is both a blessing (I get restless and bored of routine) and something that I hate. I wish my sons had a steady home and normal childhood, but they can only to a certain extent because I have to move my family across country every two to three years.
How stressful is your job? Are you able to maintain a comfortable or healthy work-life balance? How?
My job is highly stressful, but I balance it by spending as much time as possible with my children. Every weekend is dedicated to fun and relaxation to the max… fishing, the park, the zoo or a little staycation.
What’s a rough salary range for the position you hold? Are you paid enough and/or happy living within your means?
My salary is $45,000 a year for 10+ years of service. I have a modest and comfortable life but there is a lot of cost cutting and not a lot of savings. With two growing boys it is hard to save for a broken down car which is almost inoperable by now.
How much vacation do you take? Is it enough?
We are lucky to be able to take 2 weeks of vacation each summer and several smaller vacation through out the year… I like taking a couple of days at a time to spend important days with my children.
What education and skills do you need to get hired and succeed in this field?
None, everything I need to know I learned in the Marine Corps.
What would you tell a friend considering your line of work?
To really think about it and make an informed decision.
If you could write your own ticket, what would you like to be doing in five years?
Driving my boys cross country on a summer long road trip.
Have you ever dreamed of running away and joining the circus? If so, you may be surprised to read about what a professional and lucrative career path can be had in the circus arts! Along with physical strength and agility, individuals entering this field should have marketing experience, business savvy, and computer skills. Read on to hear how this individual didn’t pursue her circus dreams until she was in her 20’s, and has still found herself soaring through the industry with the greatest of ease.
What is your job title and what industry do you work in? How many years of experience do you have in this field? How would you describe yourself using only three adjectives?
I am a Circus Artist, which for me consists of being an Aerialist, Acrobat, Dancer, Yoga instructor, Personal trainer, Coach, Costume designer/fabricator and Makeup and Hair Artist. I work in the Circus industry full time and I have been in this industry professionally for 8 years. I would describe myself as empowered, inspiring, and abundant.
How would you describe what you do? What does your work entail? Are there any common misunderstandings you want to correct about what you do?
There is so much to being a circus artist. Its a broad term, because it can entail many aspects of the industry. I co-owned a company for 5 years in WA state. We had a circus tent, box truck, tour bus, 30 subcontracted performers, and a warehouse to train in and hold classes in. In this particular setting I worked as a performer, administrator, artist director/costume designer and aerial coach. When running a full scale production company, one can only imagine that most of my work went into administration and business management. The company was U & I Productions and one of the shows we produced was Dream Science Circus (www.dreamsciencecircus.com).
After selling out my half of the company I moved to Vermont to pursue a higher level of professionalism in the industry. At the age of 28, and already 5 years into making my living as a professional, I wanted to train my body harder and put administration aside for awhile. A typical week of me training at the school consisted of 9 hours of dance (Ballet and Jazz,) and 25 hours of training acrobatics, aerials and conditioning, (that’s physical training 5 hours a day.) I did this full time for one year.
I then performed and taught on both the east and west coast. I toured with a company out of LA for a month before becoming injured. To be more specific about what performing and touring looks like, you do a lot of packing. Packing is a huge part of being in this industry. Packing includes, equipment, makeup, costumes, and clothes for the road. I spend a lot of time in airports. When I toured with a company out of Dallas, we flew to a different city every weekend for almost an entire year year. This was a lot of packing and unpacking, cleaning costumes, repacking and then back to the airport. When I was touring with Dream Science Circus for that five years I would joke with people and tell them I was a professional mover or packer. We had puppets, stilts, aerial rigs, circus tent and loads of costumes, a stage, lights, sound system. This is a lot to be packing and unpacking.
Right now my job description varies a bit from the past because I am healing from a severe injury. Currently I am not touring or training. I am working as a coach teaching aerials and acrobatics at the New England Circus Center. I also am working as a costume designer. I have made over ten costumes for other performers in the past 6 months. In the past two months I have done four stilt walking gigs which includes, packing, traveling, hair and makeup and of course entertaining the masses.
The greatest misunderstanding that I want to correct about this industry is the assumption that it is neither a lucrative, professional or serious industry. I understand that people see clowns and artist dressed up in crazy costumes, living gypsy lifestyles, but I hope people can start to see that this industry takes an immense amount of discipline, dedication and persistence. My own family confuses the circus industry with the carnival industry. These are two VERY different industries. Circus artists are trained athletes. Every day we watch what we do and what we put into our bodies. In order to make it as an artist you have to have business skills in order to promote, produce and book your artistry. The last misunderstanding I would like to clear up is that there is no money in it. On the contrary, there is a constant demand for circus artists, coaches etc.
What’s your ethnicity and gender? How has it hurt or helped you? If you ever experienced discrimination, how have you responded and what worked best? Do you speak another language, and has it been helpful in your career?
I am a white Caucasian female. My race and gender have helped me. I speak conversational Spanish, a little Japanese and American Sign Language. Knowing other languages is very helpful in my career because I travel a lot.
On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate your job satisfaction? What might need to change about your job to unleash your full enthusiasm?
Definitely a 10! I am so satisfied in this career. I get to travel the world, create beautiful art, inspire and teach others, and master my physicality.
If this job moves your heart – how so? Ever feel like you found your calling or sweet spot in life? If not, what might do it for you?
I love training. I love pushing beyond my fears and trusting those I’m working with. When I’m training partner acrobatics I have to stay focused and push beyond fear and doubt. To step into someone’s hands and get tossed into the air takes absolute trust. This job moves my heart because it is really about being your best. When I coach I work with kids and adults on trusting themselves and each other, balance, coordination, confidence and strength. I love empowering others. I love being on stage and inspiring people to follow their own dreams. I love creating a beautiful costume pieces for fellow performers, knowing that they are going to look great and feel confidant!
Is there anything unique about your situation that readers should know when considering your experiences or accomplishments?
My situation is unique because I am an island child. Raised in the Pacific North West in the San Juan islands. I wanted to be a dancer and acrobat so much as a child. I begged my parents to take me to classes. Living on an island with the last ferry being 6 pm, it was impossible for them to sign me up in any classes. I would watch the girls at school and mimic them. I would spend hours trying to stand on my hands and work on my cartwheels and splits in the yard with no help. I would simply pretend I was a professional.
Then, when I was an early teen and we moved to the mainland, I was able to check out a few classes. At the vulnerable and insecure age of 13 I went to the classes to find mean girls who had been training together since a young age. It wasn’t supportive or safe for me as a beginner. That’s also why I love circus. Its a non competitive industry to the degree that if you are just starting out, people are there to support and share with you. I quit before I began and at the age of 19 I thought I was too old to ever succeed. At 23 I met a profession aerialist who told me I wasn’t too old to start. I realized that it would be almost impossible to get hired without the experience, or skill level I needed. So, the best thing to do was to start producing my own shows. That’s when my best friend and I co-founded the company. We learned as we went and at the end of the 5 years we had grown so much that we couldn’t be ourselves anymore and decided to take a break.
How did you get started in this line of work? If you could go back and do it differently, what would you change?
I called my best friend and asked him if he wanted to start a company. I had just discovered aerials at the Boulder Dance Festival and I was IN LOVE!
If I could go back I would have treated myself as a young person more lovingly. I wanted to be a dancer so badly that I suffered from anorexia. In making that choice on and off through out my teenage years I lost my muscle. When I fell in love with aerials it took me years to gain strength to learn skills. I stayed focused on the management and business side of things during those years. That really helped us get started, but I wish I had taken care of myself as a young person so that I could have progressed faster.
What did you learn the hard way in this job and what happened specifically that led up to this lesson?
When I get injured it is because I don’t take enough time off. I push myself too hard. Too many hours of training and my body can’t handle it. It’s a tough lesson to learn, that taking time off means that you may not have to take so much time off to heal from an injury!
What is the single most important thing you have learned outside of school about the working world?
If you want to do it. Then do it! Find it, research it and begin to practice it. Study, train and involve yourself in the industry. You will succeed!
What’s the strangest thing that ever happened to you in this job?
I love this job because it is just strange. Being backstage is the best. You are immersed in another world. Backstage, people are running around, half dressed, fully dressed, undressed, re-dressing. Then you have the conversations such as “has anyone seen my eyelashes” Or the routine layout which sounds like, “So we pike up, to straddle, birds nest, split, shoulder to shoulder, slide down and finish with a double.” Another person needs help stretching and asks for someone to sit on them Someone might be standing right next to you getting ready to go out on stage and warming up by chirping, or shaking or grunting. I was in this number where I was a tiger, so back stage I warmed up by acting like a tiger.
I love seeing people get ready back stage, the transformation from normal to extraordinary.
Why do you get up and go to work each day? Can you give an example of something that really made you feel good or proud?
I do this everyday because it’s my life. It’s not just a job. I live as a circus artist. I wake up everyday and try to be my best. When I’m training full time, it takes discipline to get to the studio. I remind myself on the days when I’m feeling uninspired to train what a privilege it is and how grateful I am that this is my life!
What kind of challenges do you face and what makes you just want to quit?
Injury! Injuries for anyone can be devastating. When you use your body for your work it can be really devastating when you get injured.
In 8 years I have torn my Sacroiliac joint, broken bones in both feet, was on crutches for two weeks due to a very sprained ankle, and the most recent is a severely pinched nerve in my neck. It is really hard to be injured when I have to sit back and refuse job opportunities. Sometimes I think I might like to be in an industry for which I’m not so dependent on my body. Recently I have just been focused on another aspect of the industry such as coaching and costuming and I am really happy!
How stressful is your job? Are you able to maintain a comfortable or healthy work-life balance? How?
It can be very stressful. A lot of times you are just learning a new routine with a choreographer that you need to perform for an audience the next day, at 12:00 am and after flying (practicing) for 6 hours. There was one show where I was finishing and sewing our costumes 20 minutes before we were about to be on.
When you are doing risky, dangerous skills in front of 3000 people you can be so nervous behind stage before you go out, that you feel you’re going to throw up. One of the most stressful experiences I remember is when we set our tent up at a festival in the mountains. There were 50 mile per hour winds. It was dangerous setting up the tent and then upon setting it up a half hour before call time, the winds ripped a 25 foot seam in our tent. That was stressful.
Traveling can be stressful to. Bad food, airports, sleeping on the tour bus, and being in close quarters with other company members. Also, doing a trick for the first time out of safety lines is always scary and stressful for me! I remain healthy and clam remembering that “The show must go on”. I eat as healthy as I can when I travel and I swear by emergency and immune boosters when flying a lot. I also receive a lot of massages, go to chiropractors, and spend regular time in physical therapy!
What’s a rough salary range for the position you hold? Are you paid enough and/or happy living within your means?
When I had my company I was making about 1500-4000 a month, from producing shows, teaching and doing gigs.
A coach earns 15-75 an hour. As a performer it is reasonable to expect 150 – 1000.00 per show or event, though contracts really do vary. I have worked for very little money for organizations I believe in, that do not have a big budget and I have performed for 4 minutes in Tokyo and was paid a 1000.00 dollars for it. Like I said earlier, it is a misconception that you cannot make a living in this industry. A friend of mine is making 700 every weekend on a 2 month contract. Another friend is making 1200.00 a week on a 3 month contract. It varies but the draw back is that its usually not consistent. It’s likely that a circus artist will make a bunch of money and then have a lull in work. That’s why many of us teach or do other aspects of the industry, such as my costuming which I make 25-35.00 an hour per costume, and most of them take between 10 -20 hours, (300 -600 for a costume.) There are rough months though. I have survived through dry months because I made money the month before. I am happy with how much I make. I would not want the responsibilities of a family on an income that fluctuates so much, but as an individual it’s perfect!
How much vacation do you take? Is it enough?
Because of the type of lifestyle that I have as a circus artist, I feel like I get a lot of vacation time. I think it’s due to traveling and staying in hotels or performing a lot in Mexico or exotic places, but on the other hand no taking time off means getting behind. I have had to take off for five months now from an injury, and I know that when I start training again I am going to have to work that much harder to get back in shape. This was the type of vacation I didn’t want to take.
What education and skills do you need to get hired and succeed in this field?
Dance, gymnastics, acrobatics, aerial training, theater, computer skills for administration jobs, marketing and booking. You need to know how to sell yourself.
What would you tell a friend considering your line of work?
Get started right away! It’s a long road, and as an athlete we have short careers. People in the circus industry perform well into their mid and late 40’s! Its high time, go for it and have fun!
If you could write your own ticket, what would you like to be doing in five years?
In five years I hope I have enjoyed working for other companies, touring and performing. I would be about to venture again toward the growth of my own company. The company would be a platform for community offerings; aerial yoga, circus therapy classes, circus classes for all ages, and would have the ability to produce shows regularly.
I hope to have a long successful life in this career and I hope to help others realize their dreams in this industry or another through the empowerment of circus arts!
This courier in Minneapolis and St. Paul explains all the challenges he faces in this career path, such as traffic jams, unorganized clients, and broken down vehicles. If you have ever been interested in the plight of a courier, then this interview is for you!
What is your job title and what industry do you work in? How many years of experience do you have in this field? How would you describe yourself using only three adjectives?
I work as a courier in the Twin Cities part of Minnesota. I’ve worked for 3 years in this field. I would describe myself as determined, strong, and funny.
How would you describe what you do? What does your work entail? Are there any common misunderstandings you want to correct about what you do?
I pick packages up from one location and deliver them to a different one. Difficulties often arise: traffic jams, vehicle performance issues, dangerous roads, and wrong addresses. Sometimes people don’t know what I’m suppose to pick up from their business; I go to the front door, they tell me to go the back door and at the next place I go to the back door and they tell me to go to the front, and so on. Sometimes things that seem simple turn out to be extremely onerous.
What’s your ethnicity and gender? How has it hurt or helped you? If you ever experienced discrimination, how have you responded and what worked best? Do you speak another language, and has it been helpful in your career?
I’m a white male. I don’t think it’s either helped or hurt me, but I could be wrong. Who knows. I speak a tiny bit of Spanish.
On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate your job satisfaction? What might need to change about your job to unleash your full enthusiasm?
6 – A dependable vehicle would boost my enthusiasm, but I don’t think I’d ever get to a ten in the courier field.
It is nice to be alone with nobody constantly looking over my shoulder. The dispatchers gives me my assignments, and I figured out the most efficient way to take care of everything.
If this job moves your heart – how so? Ever feel like you found your calling or sweet spot in life? If not, what might do it for you?
No, it don’t move my heart. I’ve yet to find my sweet spot career-wise.
Is there anything unique about your situation that readers should know when considering your experiences or accomplishments?
My 2010 Ford Transit Connect van is a piece of junk. It’s not dependable but I can’t trade it because I owe too much and have too many miles on it. When parts malfunction they have to back order the parts because it’s new and I have to wait for weeks for the dealership to find them. It’s frustrating but I soldier on.
How did you get started in this line of work? If you could go back and do it differently, what would you change?
The economy was in rough shape so I started working as an independent contractor in the courier field. If I could go back I never would have purchased my Ford Transit Connect.
What did you learn the hard way in this job and what happened specifically that led up to this lesson?
I didn’t know my way around the Twin Cities metro before I started this job. Thanks to my GPS, I was able to find my way around and learn the lay of the land.
What is the single most important thing you have learned outside of school about the working world?
That nothing is promised to you. You’ve gotta bust your butt to earn some scratch.
What’s the strangest thing that ever happened to you in this job? One day I saw a man with no legs and one arm rolling down the sidewalk on a skateboard. He used his remaining limb to propel himself forward. After seeing this, I complained less for awhile.
Why do you get up and go to work each day? Can you give an example of something that really made you feel good or proud?
I get up and go to work because there are bills to pay. Every once in a while, I deliver something to somebody and they let me know how much they appreciate my lifting of heavy things or hauling stuff upstairs. When I know they truly are grateful of my efforts, it makes me feel good.
What kind of challenges do you face and what makes you just want to quit?
Traffic jams, rude people, vehicle failure, and deliveries to the Mall of America are some of the most challenging things I face in my job.
How stressful is your job? Are you able to maintain a comfortable or healthy work-life balance? How?
It is often stressful- people get mad at me when their packages are late. Traffic raises my blood pressure. Vehicle failure frustrates me. I chew tobacco to cope and drink when I’m done driving for the day.
What’s a rough salary range for the position you hold? Are you paid enough and/or happy living within your means?
$35,000 but most of that goes back into the gas tank. I work long hours and can’t afford to pay all my bills on time. It is a sad state of affairs for a guy with a BA degree.
How much vacation do you take? Is it enough?
Hardly any because I can’t afford to. Nope, it’s not enough.
What education and skills do you need to get hired and succeed in this field?
A high level of education is not required in this field but you have to know the streets. Patience, independent thinking skills, problem solving ability, knowledge of alternative routes, a strong back, and communication skills are all important.
What would you tell a friend considering your line of work?
Get a good vehicle and take damn good care of it.
If you could write your own ticket, what would you like to be doing in five years?
Traveling and writing.
This Mexican-American Marine left her comfortable corporate job to return to the Marines and serve in Iraq. In her interview she shares how hard it is to be away from her sons, but that the rewards of the job and the satisfaction of knowing she is a part of protecting the United States makes it worth the sacrifice.
What is your job title and what industry do you work in? How many years of experience do you have in this field? How would you describe yourself using only three adjectives?
I am a United States Marine, with 10+ years experience. My career road has varied and is ever-changing. I have worked in the areas of Logistics, Administration, Civil Affairs, and Operational Planning. I would describe my self as a positive thinker, hard charger, with a passive aggressive personality.
How would you describe what you do? What does your work entail? Are there any common misunderstandings you want to correct about what you do?
I plan the movement of 10,500 Marines and their equipment to Iraq, Afghanistan, and over 100 operations and training exercises. I feel lucky to be one of the few defending our nation. It is an honor to serve my country, and the US Marine Corps has given me the opportunity to do this and learn and grow so much. A common misunderstanding about the Military is that war is all we do. I often talk to civilians about the many amazing and humanitarian services our Marines are doing all over the world, rebuilding roads and towns, resupplying schools, orphanages and hospitals, handing out medications and medical screenings all over the world… and they always ask the same, “Why aren’t more things like this reported in the news?”
What’s your ethnicity and gender? How has it hurt or helped you? If you ever experienced discrimination, how have you responded and what worked best? Do you speak another language, and has it been helpful in your career?
I am a Mexican American female. I am fortunate to work in a brotherhood where all our Marines are not male or female but Marine, all one color “green”. Although there are some jobs that females can not do in the Military, I have always understood why and I do not feel that being female has held me back in my career field. On one occasion, being female has opened a small world were Males are not allowed, the opportunity of talking to Iraqi females and interacting with them in their homes and daily lives in Iraq.
On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate your job satisfaction? What might need to change about your job to unleash your full enthusiasm?
I would rate my job satisfaction as a 9, only held back by the fact that I am a single mother. I have two beautiful, wonderful sons that I love so much. However, the military is a highly demanding, high stress job, working 50 to 60 hours a week, sometimes weekends and traveling constantly. I sometimes feel that my children need more time with me and I make the most of the time we have together.
If this job moves your heart – how so? Ever feel like you found your calling or sweet spot in life? If not, what might do it for you?
Of course this job touches my heart every time one of our Heroes is lost in Afghanistan. Every time a little child has to say good bye to daddy for a year long deployment. Every time the news reports on the latest celebrity gossip and neglect to mention our lost heroes… and on a more personal note, every time I am in uniform and somebody approaches me and says “Thank you”, when I know they are really saying it to all our Military in harms way.
How did you get started in this line of work? If you could go back and do it differently, what would you change?
I was a young 17 year old girl, unsure of what she wanted to do with her life and I didn’t know if college was the right path for me. Then one day I was approached by a sharp looking Marine in dress blues who asked me if I wanted to be one of the worlds finest. Many people tell me I should have gone Air Force or any other service, but I wouldn’t change that decision for any other service.
What did you learn the hard way in this job and what happened specifically that led up to this lesson?
I learned that I love the structure and order of the Military. There was a time when I felt that I didn’t want to be a Marine anymore and I ended my contract and faded away into another corporate job without rewards. I spent three years of my life in a business skirt and went home each night wondering what difference I was making. That’s when I decided to come back into the Military and deploy to Iraq.
What is the single most important thing you have learned outside of school about the working world?
I have learned that if you work hard and do your best at what you do, people will notice and it will open up many doors and opportunities. I have learned that with more obligations and responsibilities comes more work, and you have to make time for family because they are what keeps you grounded.
What’s the strangest thing that ever happened to you in this job?
I wouldn’t say there is anything strange about this, but every time someone knows I am a Marine they always ask me if I know their son (or someone they love) who is a Marine somewhere… and I never do but it usually leads to a long and interesting conversation where I find out a lot about a stranger I never knew only because they knew a Marine once.
Why do you get up and go to work each day? Can you give an example of something that really made you feel good or proud?
I get up and come to work because I have a contract and would be locked up in jail if I don’t show up. In actuality, I show up because I know that the job I do has a lasting effect on our history and that I am a small part of something important.
What kind of challenges do you face and what makes you just want to quit?
The constant change and 180 degree turns of the military life is both a blessing (I get restless and bored of routine) and something that I hate. I wish my sons had a steady home and normal childhood, but they can only to a certain extent because I have to move my family across country every two to three years.
How stressful is your job? Are you able to maintain a comfortable or healthy work-life balance? How?
My job is highly stressful, but I balance it by spending as much time as possible with my children. Every weekend is dedicated to fun and relaxation to the max… fishing, the park, the zoo or a little staycation.
What’s a rough salary range for the position you hold? Are you paid enough and/or happy living within your means?
My salary is $45,000 a year for 10+ years of service. I have a modest and comfortable life but there is a lot of cost cutting and not a lot of savings. With two growing boys it is hard to save for a broken down car which is almost inoperable by now.
How much vacation do you take? Is it enough?
We are lucky to be able to take 2 weeks of vacation each summer and several smaller vacation through out the year… I like taking a couple of days at a time to spend important days with my children.
What education and skills do you need to get hired and succeed in this field?
None, everything I need to know I learned in the Marine Corps.
What would you tell a friend considering your line of work?
To really think about it and make an informed decision.
If you could write your own ticket, what would you like to be doing in five years?
Driving my boys cross country on a summer long road trip.
Have you considered working as an administrative assistant? In this interview we talk with an administrative assistant who is pursing her MBA while working full time. She tells how quickly her responsibilities at her current job have grown because of her willingness to jump in wherever needed.
What is your job title and what industry do you work in? How many years of experience do you have in this field? How would you describe yourself using only three adjectives?
My job title is Administrative Assistant in the recruiting and staffing industry, and I have been working in this job for 8 months. I would describe myself as creative, laid back, and eager (to learn, grow, help, etc.)
How would you describe what you do? What does your work entail? Are there any common misunderstandings you want to correct about what you do?
My job title is administrative assistant. I work for a small team of executive recruiters in Northeast Ohio. However, my job duties are far beyond that of a normal secretary. I created and maintain the company’s website as well as related social media. I create sales presentations which the recruiters use to present to our clients. I help scour the net for job leads or new candidates. I run our summer and fall internship programs, managing currently a team of 4 interns, setting goals for them, interviewing them, monitoring their progress, etc. I assist with marketing emails and newsletters which go out on a weekly basis. I am branching out into new areas continuously, after having only been here for about eight months.
What’s your ethnicity and gender? How has it hurt or helped you? If you ever experienced discrimination, how have you responded and what worked best? Do you speak another language, and has it been helpful in your career?
I’m a female Caucasian. I have not faced discrimination in professional environments; However, my hobbies, and my study choices have often been dominated by males. In 2006 I received my BS in Technology and Design. There were many times in the classroom environment where I was the only female student. I recently returned to school for my Master’s in E-commerce. I find that I am often asked why I chose this field of study, and many people think it is an odd choice (especially for a female who is now in her 30s). My personal hobbies have always revolved around technology, video games, Asian culture, animation, etc.
In my youth I was often disconnected from my peers, feeling that I had very little in common with most of them. I had a hard time figuring out what people who didn’t play games or enjoy technology actually did with themselves. Girls my age back in the early 90s, seemed to only like books or music or make up or other mundane things that it did not seem like I really fit in. Now that I am older, I welcome the chance to talk about my hobbies and I enjoy being different. It’s what makes me “me” and that is special to me.
On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate your job satisfaction? What might need to change about your job to unleash your full enthusiasm?
I would rate my job satisfaction a 10. I enjoy the ever-increasing responsibilities, the ability to have my input heard, and to make an impact on the organization. I also enjoy having my weekends off, and I enjoy the company of my coworkers.
If this job moves your heart – how so? Ever feel like you found your calling or sweet spot in life? If not, what might do it for you?
This job is very fulfilling. I choose my own projects and work for the most part at my own pace. There are stressful days some days, someone might tell me they need a sales presentation prepared for a meeting with only a 2 hour notice for example. But for the most part, I’m in charge of what I work on each day. I have the ability to experiment freely with new technology, new ideas, and the company invests in these ideas and in their employees. Working just 4 miles from my home also increases my job satisfaction.
Is there anything unique about your situation that readers should know when considering your experiences or accomplishments?
One of the most touching things to happen at my current job was when I was brought on full time in January 2011, the President invested into a course for me to take to boost my self confidence and integrate more smoothly with the team. This was a $2,000 professional course. Upon my completion of this course in April 2011, the President and Vice President came to present my diploma and I won the award for highest award of achievement in a class of 32 students. The award is the highest honor bestowed upon one member in each graduating class, elected by their peers.
How did you get started in this line of work? If you could go back and do it differently, what would you change?
I never thought I would end up on this path. Ever since I was 12 years old and first had a computer and copy of photo shop, I wanted to be a graphic artist. There was never any doubt in my mind. I knew what college I was going to enter and what major to follow by time I was in 6th grade. It was a long hard battle… It took me 2 years after college before landing my first paid gig in my field. I worked a few internships and lots of unrelated jobs (retail, customer service, call centers, etc). My first job in my field was with a small fireworks wholesaler. I designed all the packaging for the consumer fireworks, I developed web, DVD, and print catalogs, and helped with event coordination.
It was a good run, but short lived, when the economy took a turn for the worse, back in 2009, myself and the other graphic artist found ourselves out of work. At that point I decided to pack up my things and move in with my then boyfriend and now fiance. I worked many temp and contract jobs, some for newspapers, some designing packaging, some doing web work. All basically in my field, but all short lived. Desiring stability in my life, I chose to go back to school for my MBA in May 2010. Now, I am months away from finishing said MBA.
It was in August 2010 that I first interviewed with my current employer. I had 2 job offers at the time and initially chose this one because the other one was further from home and another temp assignment. When I first started here, I worked only part time, and for very low wages. The job that I had turned down was offering almost double the salary and twice the hours. I stuck it out and continued to work hard. I jumped at any opportunity to help or take on a task outside of my “job description” When I had my first review, I was asked “what are your long term career plans” I told them honestly that I hoped I would still be here with the company, and hopefully working full time. The president told me that he was prepared immediately to bring me on full time and that he was just waiting to hear me say that as well.
Within 3 months of working here, I was brought on full time, had health benefits, and had taken over control of the website, and many other tasks which increased my job satisfaction. Most recently, just last week, we held another quarterly evaluation. The team was asked to come up with new ways in which I could help support the team. The result was 2 pages, single spaced, typed, of new ideas and activities for me to begin to undertake, which took 3 morning meetings (each a half hour in length), to discuss and begin to implement.
If I could do things differently, I would not change anything. I have enjoyed all the experiences – even the jobs I rather not have held (such as retail and other low level positions) They taught me about myself, my likes, dislikes, and overall gave me experience working with people, and the opportunity to try new things.
What did you learn the hard way in this job and what happened specifically that led up to this lesson?
I learned the hard way to become more organized and take careful notes as I began to receive many tasks and be swamped with more deadlines. I also learned how to say no, or tell people I could not have something prepared until the following afternoon when necessary.
What is the single most important thing you have learned outside of school about the working world?
I have learned to trust my team mates and to loosen up and have fun with the job.
What’s the strangest thing that ever happened to you in this job?
The strangest thing to happen on the job was being trusted to work independently after only being on the team for 3 or 4 months. The rest of the team went on a winter retreat and I stayed to manage the office.
Why do you get up and go to work each day? Can you give an example of something that really made you feel good or proud?
I am most proud of the progress I have made as a very introverted person, learning and blossoming now into a professional, happy, and settled adult.
What kind of challenges do you face and what makes you just want to quit?
I face many challenges each day, but I think the hardest challenges are ones I inflict upon myself. I have very high standards for myself and my work. I want my work to always be up to these standards. Also in creative situations, I come under a lot of criticism and review of my work, which often involves changes which I do not always agree with from a design perspective. However, being new to the team, I usually concede to the wisdom of my team mates unless I can intelligently defend my ideas with some ROI or other marketing evidence other than just “it looks nicer this way.”
How stressful is your job? Are you able to maintain a comfortable or healthy work-life balance? How?
My job can be very stressful at times with a lot of tasks and responsibilities. If I miss a deadline, not only does it reflect poorly on myself, but also on my teammate. I am very good at managing stress. I am a naturally carefree, laid back individual, very even tempered and easy going. I just take things as they come and try to adjust accordingly.
What’s a rough salary range for the position you hold? Are you paid enough and/or happy living within your means?
I’m currently making $22,000 a year base salary. With bonuses, I have the potential to achieve $35,000 a year. I realistically probably make around $26-28k a year.
How much vacation do you take? Is it enough?
We do not have a formal vacation package – we are fortunate to have the ability to call off with advanced notice and within reason. I took a vacation back in February for 3-4 days and actually have a 2 day outing planned at the end of this month. It’s fairly flexible, plus I get weekends off.
What education and skills do you need to get hired and succeed in this field?
I think this is generally an entry level position; however during the interviewing process, the President was impressed by my (in progress) MBA and my chosen field (E-commerce). I think any experience or education one can get, will pay off in the future.
What would you tell a friend considering your line of work?
Keep an open mind about your career. Be willing to take odd jobs or odd tasks, and learn about yourself and what you took as just a “job” may turn into a career.
If you could write your own ticket, what would you like to be doing in five years?
I hope to still be working at my current employer taking on even more tasks and growing both personally and professionally. I love my job.
Maria Riley is a motivated African/Italian female working in the medical supply industry. She works long hours at a factory job in order to provide for her family. She has overcome being a female racial minority in a male-dominated field, and finds her work assembling lifesaving medical equipment both important and rewarding.
What is your job title and what industry do you work in? How many years of experience do you have in this field? How would you describe yourself using only three adjectives? Hi! I’m Maria Riley, my job title is hand-piece operator for for a company that manufactures medical devices for cancer patients. I would have to say that I am goal oriented, co-operative, and self motivated.
What’s your ethnicity and gender? How has it hurt or helped you? If you ever experienced discrimination, how have you responded and what worked best? I am African/Italian combo, I call that “combo” because… I consider my self not just a part, but a package as as a whole; personality wise, good attitude, strong individual etc., and of course I am a female, very comfortable in my own skin and who I am. I have to be honest by saying that initially when I was younger, the biggest challenge was my ethnicity — I looked a little different than other typical Americans do, and it used to make me feel left out.
The hardships that I have endured in the past, made me the much more confident and stronger woman that I am today. I am thankful for what I am and who I have become, and I would not trade it for anything in this world!
How would you describe what you do? What does your work entail? Are there any common misunderstandings you want to correct about what you do? What I do, although it’s behind the scenes, is extremely important, from the motor itself to welding the covers together around into a hand piece, placing an inner cannula, aligning it before gluing it together, than placing the outer cannula, repeating the gluing process, while checking the alignment again. Locking the hub line into the hand piece and gluing the line unto it. The hand piece is then placed in a tray and attached into a quad and moved down the line to ultimately testing the final product. In the end it is wrapped and packed.
On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate your job satisfaction? What might need to change about your job to unleash your full enthusiasm? 9; Recognition and a fair salary that will sustain my family today’s economy, and to be more mentally and physically challenged would raise my satisfaction to a 10.
If this job moves your heart – how so? Ever feel like you found your calling or sweet spot in life? If not, what might do it for you? It moves my heart because I know that I am making a difference in someone else’s life, even though is behind the scenes. Yes, the work that I do makes me the person that I am, and if it’s not at my place of employment, it is through community service or others service opportunities where I can physically and perhaps emotionally give a hand to make a difference in someone else’s life…that is such a good feeling!
Is there anything unique about your situation that readers should know when considering your experiences or accomplishments? I always look for the best in others and try to treat others the same as I would want to be treated.
How did you get started in this line of work? If you could go back and do it differently, what would you change? Looking for a purpose in life, went back to school but was not able to finish due to income and raising children. If I could go back, I would set goals for my self rather than just ”skipping along” life’s long narrow way. I believe education would be my first priority, than a fulfilling job, lots of fun and games, then have a family.
What did you learn the hard way in this job and what happened specifically that led up to this lesson? I learned that no matter how nice and genuine you can be, there’s always someone that doesn’t know how to appreciate it. I had a co-worker that was an elderly individual, that had a sense of insecurity and was not trustworthy. I gave him the benefit of the doubt and respect considering that he was just set in his ways.
I’ve allowed that individual to underestimate my tolerance one too many times, I finally decided to confront him and discuss the tension that he was causing between us and that I would no longer tolerate his attitude. That was the last time that I had a problem with that individual.
What is the single most important thing you have learned outside of school about the working world? It’s a “dog eat dog” world out there. You need to be prepared for any outcome, and ALWAYS be your self. Never let a circumstance change who you are.
What’s the strangest thing that ever happened to you in this job? We recently had a fire in the lab, and found out that there was only one fire extinguisher at the facility.
Why do you get up and go to work each day? Can you give an example of something that really made you feel good or proud I am THANKFUL that I have a job, it pays the bills, puts food on the table, and gas in the tank. What makes me feel good…giving someone a hug when they needed the most. Giving an elder a ride to the grocery store. Having a clean house. My kids.
What kind of challenges do you face and what makes you just want to quit? I have gone through hell and high water, and I have made it this far…there is NOTHING that will make me want to quit.
How stressful is your job? Are you able to maintain a comfortable or healthy work-life balance? How? The job is not stressful at all, however the physical and mental effortlessness of the job can be monotonous and psychologically unhealthy. I manage to balance that by doing additional work when permitted. Outside of work I make a point of exercising as often as possible, and eating healthy, but still manage to reward myself with a treat once in a while. I think that’s healthy too.
What’s a rough salary range for the position you hold? Are you paid enough and/or happy living within your means? The pay is roughly $12.00hr. Personally I feel that I am worth much more than that, compared to today’s cost of living. No, I don’t feel that I am living within my means.
How much vacation do you take? Is it enough? I generally may take a day or two per month, unless I am saving for an extended period of time for an upcoming trip or other events.
What education and skills do you need to get hired and succeed in this field? My experiences has mostly been in manufacturing; building, welding, packing, testing products such as medical devices, quality check, scanning and so on… I am also a firm believer that if someone offers me training or education, I will not hesitate to take the offer.
What would you tell a friend considering your line of work? Well if it’s on the present job it would be that the importance of the medical devices I make is my motivation, and team work is the key. It is easy, clean work. Being in the medical industry it is a job that will be here for a long time. The company offers exceptional benefits and opportunities for advancement.
If you could write your own ticket, what would you like to be doing in five years? In five years what I would like to be perusing further education, possibly in the medical field, buying my dream home, being debt free, planning trips around the world with my husband, appreciating what I have and do at work or at home, and to LIVE AND LOVE LIFE…
In this interview with a substance abuse counselor, she shares how she has overcome overwhelming grief at the loss of her mother that changed her career path and lead her to this rewarding field. She also tells about her experiences of looking too young for the job, and how she juggles her professional career along with caring for her 3 children, one of which has special needs.
This Mexican-American Marine left her comfortable corporate job to return to the Marines and serve in Iraq. In her interview she shares how hard it is to be away from her sons, but that the rewards of the job and the satisfaction of knowing she is a part of protecting the United States makes it worth the sacrifice.