The Process…

Being the typical cancer that I am, I am always thinking…sometimes overthinking to a fault. But over the past few days I have been thinking about my own personal journey since I left home in 2008 and the things that I have learned leading up to this very moment. It’s still crazy to think that I’m 31 years old because in my mind there ain’t no way in Hell I’m just out here like this making these decisions and things. Lol Every day is a test and I’m just here to overcome. Some things that I have been thinking on have been the wide range of jobs that I have had. You name it, I have probably worked it, perfected it, and then managed to help others to do the same. I guess I never really let go of what my mom told me with my first job. Which was, “get in and learn what you need to do, you can have friends at work but know that when you’re at work its business first, then friendship, because others can and will throw you under the bus if it means that they can get ahead”. Those words have echoed with every job and every position I’ve ever had.

My longest stint with a company was about 13 years, at a company called Brookshire Grocery Company, in Quitman. I started that job at 16 going to my initial interview in white Dickie pants with a white and gold Southpole t-shirt. My interview was at 7am before school, which made me late for band that morning, but I wasn’t complaining. The one interview question that I will never forget was “why do you want to work here?”, me being 16 said, “you want me to be completely honest? I need money to pay my car insurance and gas for my car.” Mr. Harrison said, “Ok so why should I give YOU a job here?” Me being 16 again answered “Well I don’t completely know the answer to that question, but I can tell you that I am a hard worker, I love to be around people, and I will learn whatever I need to learn.” I guess he liked that answer because I left with a job. Haha, I began that journey as a Courtesy Clerk (sacker), Cashier, Fuel Clerk, Day Stocker, Night Stocker, Office Cashier, and Store Trainer. I transferred to Magnolia, Arkansas for my first year in College at Southern Arkansas University, hated it, so I moved back home and transferred to Tyler Junior College. Transferred to Brookshires in Flint and heard that the company was opening a new concept dubbed FRESH by Brookshires like Whole Foods and Central Market. I applied, got a position as cashier/fuel clerk. Moved up to Font End Manager/Office Cashier and helped with catering. Later I transferred to the Catering department and became a Catering Specialist, then shortly after becoming the Catering Manager. This included taking orders, consulting guests on their events, helping prep, deliver, serve, and work for many events. This included weddings, luncheons, breakfasts, family gatherings, you name it, we did it. After working in that capacity, I was chosen to be the manager over the new Grill+Patio operation, which was a sweet gig. It didn’t pay nearly what it should have, but I was like 23 so I wasn’t too worried. I oversaw front of house (service and dining area) as well as back of house (the kitchen). My duties included booking bands for every Friday and Saturday, as well as Karaoke on Thursdays, and entertainment for special events, ordering on premise alcohol which included wine, wine mixed drinks, kegs, bottles, and cans (I had to gauge what was selling every week and change beers with the menu/seasons), I think at one point in time we had about 30 different can/bottled beers, 4 beers on tap and about 10 different wines that we served. We had a lunch/dinner menu which was every day and a breakfast menu that was served only on the weekends. I wanted to make sure that everyone was having a good time while on the patio, I took it upon myself to make a playlist of “non-grocery store songs” and played them on the patio so people wouldn’t feel as if they are still at a grocery store. It was a major hit until I left. All in all, this company helped me learn a lot of what to do and what not to do professionally, and how to work with all kinds of people. I even made some lifelong friends out of the deal (customers and co-workers alike).

If you know anything about me, one thing is that I’ve always had more than one job going. Lol while working at FRESH I was also working at Subway for about a year. I loved it because I was getting to work with people and food, but mainly for my free sub meal and cookie for lunch haha

After subway, another 2^nd job that I acquired was working for a non-profit as a Youth Prevention Specialist. I shortened my weeks at FRESH to only the weekends and worked Monday – Friday at the non-profit. I thought I had found the job of my dreams. Good money, got to dress up, and I got to speak with high school kids all around East Texas about the effects of drugs and alcohol as well as life skills. You couldn’t tell me nothing. I loved every minute of it, having psychology/sociology as a major in college I just knew that I had found the career that I was going to retire in. I worked there for a couple of years, got to go to some awesome trainings by the State of Texas, and did a lot of traveling to workshops and conventions. I ended up leaving there and going back to FRESH, later to come back to the non-profit to work as a Prevention Specialist again in the same department later to become the Program Manager over the program I had previously worked in. I quickly figured out that a non-profit can be run into the ground and lose very qualified people due to upper management.

After leaving the non-profit I decided to put in at one of the local behavioral hospitals. Which happened to be Magnolia Behavioral Health Hospital. I did know several people that already worked there that put in some good words for me. I had the opportunity to work in the Admissions Department, which I can tell you had its good and bad days. Lol I worked 12-hour shifts rotating 4 days on and 3 days off/3 days on and 4 days off. I loved it. It was my co-worker and myself and the admit nurses that checked patients in and out of the hospital. I will say, I have compassion for people with mental illness, or those that struggle with addiction. We dealt with simple cases, where people were just needed to detox to people eating and/or throwing poop around, to overly aggressive people, to others that thought we were the devil reincarnated. It was probably the most random job I’ve ever had. I learned insurance billing, scheduling, as well as how to admit patients. The way that this journey ended was a sour one. I was at 6-Flags celebrating my birthday with some friends, when I get a phone call from one of the marketers telling me that the hospital had been shut down, and all the residents had been relocated. Being in admissions, and the only ones that answered the phone, they kept us on for a couple more weeks 12-hour shifts answering the phones to let people know that the hospital was closed. It was the weirdest thing to be in a behavioral health hospital that’s EMPTY with just you and maintenance in the building. Luckily, I had the wifi password and could bring my laptop, because Netflix it was on those days. Once they decided to finally let the admin people go, I was in a tough place without a job, but luckily one of my friends was working at a local beer distributor and was able to get me a job there as a merchandiser.

Lord I just have to say that this job was one that I don’t wish on anyone unless you just like to throw 30 packs around for 12+ hours a day. All in all, I was a job, and it did what it needed to do and that was allow me to pay my bills. As a merchandiser it was my job to go into stores and stock hot and cold beers. My schedule was a nice Monday – Friday 4am-till basically whenever. I had the Tyler market which had many heavy hitters with Brookshires, Super 1 and Walmart. It was my job to stock the trucks that came into the stores as well as backstock and to rotate product. I helped when and where I could with other routes and was able to gain plenty of overtime every week. The kicker here was when I was sick for a few days actually running fever and the response that I had gotten. After contacting my supervisor, I was told that no one was available to cover my shift and I needed to figure it out. I thought to myself “HA! You got the right one today!” I put in my notice the next week.

Quitting that job led me to Lowe’s, the home décor/hardware giant. I landed the position of CSA IV or Admin Associate for short. In that position I was pretty much left in a small office to count and verify the tills from the previous day, set up, count, and verify new tills for that current day and put them out across the store, order money for the store (daily), filing records and helping cash out large orders. Again, I met some pretty cool people and a couple more lifelong friends there but as with many retail jobs either out of the floor or behind the scenes its just a mess in need of an overhaul. I did have a pretty posh schedule though. I worked Monday – Friday 5am-2pm (I usually stayed a little longer because overtime) though, I am grateful for the knowledge I gained there, I doubt I would go back. Lol corporate wise they do take care of their associates, we were given multiple bonuses throughout the early stages of COVID, as well as appreciations for the various departments. But in the end the stress wasn’t for me.

Upon leaving Lowe’s I was able to score a pretty decent gig as a general manager at a local convenience store named KIM’s. I had thought I hit the jackpot, got to keep my Monday – Friday schedule (so I thought) and my 6am-2pm, but boy was I wrong. My store was more than a convenience store. This thing had a full deli/kitchen, full meat market, produce, a whole frozen section with ice cream and frozen meals, a full out grocery section and then your normal convenience store items. I was delighted because I had already had plenty of retail and retail management under my belt, so this job was going to be a breeze. When I tell you, that this job tested my inner gangsta on the regular, I am not underestimating. From call-ins to, poor upper management, customers that didn’t like me, to associates stealing, and the list goes on and on. But all in all, I genuinely enjoyed the people that I had the opportunity to hire/train and learn from. Plus, I get to have the title of General Manager on my resume, so that’s a plus.

Which brings us to where I am currently. In the truck. It’s taking quite the adjustment because I am, as many of you all know, I am always out and about doing things and getting into stuff. But I think this was a good choice in move. Once all the newness wares off and I am more acclimated to everything, it will be more enjoyable.

But I’ve written this super long post to basically say this; trust the process my friends.  None of my career choices made sense at the time, but I learned something different from each one. I’m sure that this move doesn’t make sense either, but I’m sure there will be some good lessons to come out of it. So no, you don’t have to have things paid off to make a jump in your life, you don’t have to tell a bunch of people about it, you don’t have to have all this money saved up. You just have to have the “want to” and the “will” and you will be able to make what needs to happen, happen. Get out of your head and just do it. Nothings has to make sense as long as you’re learning. Your journey is everchanging and will never look the same as anyone else’s. What you have to do is stop waiting for someone to hand things to you, and making excuses as to why you are “stuck” where you are. I know, I have done it plenty of times. Would you rather be miserable and stuck in a situation that is ultimately make you bitter, or are you going to get up and start doing things to actually benefit you for the long haul?

You are going to make mistakes. You are the master of your fate. Take it by the reigns and ride like hell.

~Ron