Re: John's essay
[email protected]
John,
Just wanted to say I loved what you had to say and agree wholeheartedly.
I tend to NOT be a great hands on person and used to work in PR/sales type
jobs back when I was in the working for money world. Yet I always felt like
my jobs were kind of meaningless or worse, sometimes like a drain on society.
I wasn't really making anything or servicing anything, just another middle
person whose commission added to the price of a product or service. However,
in helping with Matt's business, I use those PR skills to build up rapport
with customers and also some organizing ability to schedule jobs and make
sure people have ordered tile in time, etc., and NOW it seems worthwhile.
There is something about hands-on jobs that seems more real. I also
happen to be a lover of antiques and traditional architecture, which has
caused me to think about how much we love fine craftsmanship. And I know
exactly what you mean about getting to meet and talk with a wide variety of
interesting people through your business.
You are right on the mark about job security, as well. People sometimes
think self employment is scary but we have found it to be so much more
reliable than many of the flakey companies we've dealt with. When I was in
sales, I worked for three big remodeling companies in a row that went out of
business. Matt had a "solid reliable" technical job when he first got out of
the Air Force. One day he went to work and they said they had no more work
because they'd lost their govenment contract and so they ended his position
on the spot.
I also hate the ridiculous "tell me where you see yourself in five
years" interviews that have nothing to do with who will be best at the job.
The trades are so much more straight forward. Your work speaks for itself.
As for the money issue, some trades people make as much or more,
sometimes a lot more, than some of the college grad jobs. And there is the
freedom to schedule yourself off when you want or need to rather than begging
for the time and hoping they don't hold it against you in the future.
Lucy
Just wanted to say I loved what you had to say and agree wholeheartedly.
I tend to NOT be a great hands on person and used to work in PR/sales type
jobs back when I was in the working for money world. Yet I always felt like
my jobs were kind of meaningless or worse, sometimes like a drain on society.
I wasn't really making anything or servicing anything, just another middle
person whose commission added to the price of a product or service. However,
in helping with Matt's business, I use those PR skills to build up rapport
with customers and also some organizing ability to schedule jobs and make
sure people have ordered tile in time, etc., and NOW it seems worthwhile.
There is something about hands-on jobs that seems more real. I also
happen to be a lover of antiques and traditional architecture, which has
caused me to think about how much we love fine craftsmanship. And I know
exactly what you mean about getting to meet and talk with a wide variety of
interesting people through your business.
You are right on the mark about job security, as well. People sometimes
think self employment is scary but we have found it to be so much more
reliable than many of the flakey companies we've dealt with. When I was in
sales, I worked for three big remodeling companies in a row that went out of
business. Matt had a "solid reliable" technical job when he first got out of
the Air Force. One day he went to work and they said they had no more work
because they'd lost their govenment contract and so they ended his position
on the spot.
I also hate the ridiculous "tell me where you see yourself in five
years" interviews that have nothing to do with who will be best at the job.
The trades are so much more straight forward. Your work speaks for itself.
As for the money issue, some trades people make as much or more,
sometimes a lot more, than some of the college grad jobs. And there is the
freedom to schedule yourself off when you want or need to rather than begging
for the time and hoping they don't hold it against you in the future.
Lucy
John O. Andersen
Lucy,
Thanks.
That's the way I felt about my job in the Air Force; money for nothing.
MBA, management, etc. stuff seemed phoney to me. I know it works for some,
it just didn't for me.
Precisely. You don't have to come up with the "right" answers. You simply
be yourself and do the best you can.
overlook.
John
> Just wanted to say I loved what you had to say and agreewholeheartedly.
Thanks.
> I tend to NOT be a great hands on person and used to work in PR/sales typelike
> jobs back when I was in the working for money world. Yet I always felt
> my jobs were kind of meaningless or worse, sometimes like a drain onsociety.
That's the way I felt about my job in the Air Force; money for nothing.
> There is something about hands-on jobs that seems more real.That is a big reason why I personally went in that direction. All of the
MBA, management, etc. stuff seemed phoney to me. I know it works for some,
it just didn't for me.
> I also hate the ridiculous "tell me where you see yourself in fivejob.
> years" interviews that have nothing to do with who will be best at the
> The trades are so much more straight forward. Your work speaks foritself.
Precisely. You don't have to come up with the "right" answers. You simply
be yourself and do the best you can.
> As for the money issue, some trades people make as much or more,Yes, this is true.
> sometimes a lot more, than some of the college grad jobs.
> And there is thebegging
> freedom to schedule yourself off when you want or need to rather than
> for the time and hoping they don't hold it against you in the future....a huge benefit which many who've never tried self-employment sometimes
overlook.
John
Carolyn Talarr
John,
I too loved your essay and it reminded me of the people who have come to
help me learn how to care for our new home. (I've lived in apartments all
my life and I have no clue re gardening, house stuff, etc. so I've hired
people to come once to do some of the stuff so that I can learn how to do
it). I've had discussions with an artist about the paintings in our living
room and about mid-century modern furniture and flea markets around
here--the artist was repairing our thermostat; I've learned so much about
trees and soil from the arborist who came out to show me how to prune the
stuff here, and the changing sociology of the area we live in (and a lot I
kind of didn't want to know about gun availability in NC) from a man who was
grinding down the stumps of fallen-over trees who also owned a gunshop.
One further thought that comes to mind re your fabulous essay: WHERE DO YOU
LIVE? You must be a *great* carpet cleaner and we need our carpets cleaned!
:)
Wishing you lived in NC,
Carolyn
I too loved your essay and it reminded me of the people who have come to
help me learn how to care for our new home. (I've lived in apartments all
my life and I have no clue re gardening, house stuff, etc. so I've hired
people to come once to do some of the stuff so that I can learn how to do
it). I've had discussions with an artist about the paintings in our living
room and about mid-century modern furniture and flea markets around
here--the artist was repairing our thermostat; I've learned so much about
trees and soil from the arborist who came out to show me how to prune the
stuff here, and the changing sociology of the area we live in (and a lot I
kind of didn't want to know about gun availability in NC) from a man who was
grinding down the stumps of fallen-over trees who also owned a gunshop.
One further thought that comes to mind re your fabulous essay: WHERE DO YOU
LIVE? You must be a *great* carpet cleaner and we need our carpets cleaned!
:)
Wishing you lived in NC,
Carolyn
John O. Andersen
Carolyn,
Portland, Oregon.
But thanks for the kind letter and compliments!!!
John
> One further thought that comes to mind re your fabulous essay: WHERE DOYOU
> LIVE? You must be a *great* carpet cleaner and we need our carpetscleaned!
> :)Oops, I live about as far away as a person can get in the Lower 48! I'm in
>
> Wishing you lived in NC,
Portland, Oregon.
But thanks for the kind letter and compliments!!!
John
[email protected]
One other thing I thought about today: I don't want to sound like I was
going too far to the other extreme on this issue. My dad is a person who has
a natural gift for understanding and explaining history and philosophy. He
never went to college and is retired from the Post Office. My sister has a
B.A. in History and she says he knows a lot more history than she does.
However, he has always felt inadequate because he is not at ALL mechanical or
construction oriented. Maybe if he had the degree and had worked in those
fields it would be different (?) but at any rate, it really bothers him.
I think what it comes down to is that all types of learners should be
valued and that we should all find ways to do the things which seem to be the
right match for us at any given time. My dad now works part time as a noon
duty aide at a middle school to supplement his retirement and although I'm
not a public school fan, I have to say that he is making a great contribution
because he treats those kids with such a kind, reasonable attitude. They
really like him. He feels embarrassed at times about his job because it's
not prestigious and he has friends who are making a lot more money but I am
always telling him that what he's doing is really important for those kids.
I think it's sad that so many of us feel inadequate because we focus too
much on which gifts we lack rather than on those that shine in us. Also, we
need to get way past the idea that our talents are only utilized well if we
make a lot of money from them. There are so many different ways to live
meaningfully.
Lucy
going too far to the other extreme on this issue. My dad is a person who has
a natural gift for understanding and explaining history and philosophy. He
never went to college and is retired from the Post Office. My sister has a
B.A. in History and she says he knows a lot more history than she does.
However, he has always felt inadequate because he is not at ALL mechanical or
construction oriented. Maybe if he had the degree and had worked in those
fields it would be different (?) but at any rate, it really bothers him.
I think what it comes down to is that all types of learners should be
valued and that we should all find ways to do the things which seem to be the
right match for us at any given time. My dad now works part time as a noon
duty aide at a middle school to supplement his retirement and although I'm
not a public school fan, I have to say that he is making a great contribution
because he treats those kids with such a kind, reasonable attitude. They
really like him. He feels embarrassed at times about his job because it's
not prestigious and he has friends who are making a lot more money but I am
always telling him that what he's doing is really important for those kids.
I think it's sad that so many of us feel inadequate because we focus too
much on which gifts we lack rather than on those that shine in us. Also, we
need to get way past the idea that our talents are only utilized well if we
make a lot of money from them. There are so many different ways to live
meaningfully.
Lucy