Doug: Busboy, bartender, ladies of the night. Grease monkey, ex-junky, winner of the fight. Today we're talking to those of you who don't happen to be independently wealthy.
Doug: I got fired from the first "real" job that I had back as a junior in high school. I was working at a Brown's Chicken as one of the stiffs in the back. Breading, frying, and general clean-up to close the joint. The latter, however, would be my downfall. Apparently I lazed my way through a closing, with the regional manager showing up the next morning for a visit. Yeah, not so good. As I'd not set the chicken-frying world on fire in my previous three weeks, it was suggested that maybe I take my act elsewhere. Looking back, they were exactly right. I did not care for the duties, had a foul attitude, and was probably just generally immature. I recovered and had another job, at a smorgasbord in town, very shortly. That time, with lessons learned, things went really well. I ended up working there through the rest of high school and then off and on through college, and really believe that it could have been a full-time fall back had I needed it after graduation. Plus, I met the girl who would become my wife. Fringe benefit. So, live and learn, prosper, etc.
Doug: It's of course well-documented in these parts that I now teach at a public high school and do contract work for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum when my schedule allows. I'm hesitant to say that I still love my teaching job -- my personal jury is out on all of the changes coming to public education. But I will still say that I do like it. Time will tell, as will my natural resistance to change (I always need a feeling-out period before I fully embrace something new).
Doug: So the Forum is Open for you to discuss all-things employment related: best job, worst job, dream job, what you thought you'd be when you were a kid, left turns on the career path, all of it. Looking forward to some good stories!
