Happy New Year everyone! Continuing my series of posts on first jobs with one today from Shane McSimov (ShaneMac). Shane is on my marketing team at Gist and is pretty much a rock star (literally). You know anyone who has sung the National Anthem before a motocross event? Check out his work and many pursuits here and follow him on Twitter @shanemacsays.
These first job stories are great and if you have one to share, please send it to me. Also, be sure to read my first job story.
From Shane:
First jobs always bring back some great (and not so great) memories. My first job was none else than good old detasseling. I would say it was a great and horrible experience at the same time. Here's a few different observations from the experience.
What was great?
Learning to be an early bird ain't so bad. Getting up at 4 a.m. when I was 13 helped set a pattern in my daily routine and actually made me realize that I am a morning person. I learned that between the hours of 4-7 a.m. I can get more done and have better focus than any other time. I had never been up before 7a.m. prior to this job.
Off at 2 p.m. Starting so early in the morning do have some benefits too. I was done by 2 o'clock everyday which was awesome for someone who loved playing sports and doing other things outside of my job.
Three dollars an hour! I still remember getting paychecks for 2 weeks of work that were around $200 and thinking that I was rich. It is amazing how times change but still was awesome to have some cash and buy all those things I thought I needed.
What wasn't so great?
Wet, cold and bugs. I can still remember wearing 5 layers with a rain coat over all of them. It was cold and wet from the dew in the morning but by noon would be humid and in the 90's. I really don't remember the details but one word sticks out from it: Miserable. Peel off layer after layer each pass through the field which then exposed you to little mites and bugs that would attack in swarms. It reminded me of a horror film.
Three dollars an hour! I don't even know how this was legal! 🙂
I was basically a human machine. I know, I know, I was 13 and I have to put in the time. I get it. But really, it seemed like something that could have automatically did the work I was doing without a problem. I held my hands above my head for hours pulling the tassels at the exact same height, in the exact same fashion, over and over and over again. Phew, I am glad I don't do that anymore although it was a good shoulder work out.
Some final thoughts…
All in all, it was a great first job. It was hard work and taught me a lot about discipline.
Any experience is better than no experience and I am always a fan of learning by doing and getting my hands dirty. I just hope I never have to do this one again!
Venture Vice 