Once Upon A Time
Once upon a time I was a credit manager who decided one day that I ought to become a sales rep.
That was back almost 30 some odd years ago and I can still recall the doubts that would creep into my mind about that career choice. After all, being the New York and New Jersey, 3M Credit Manager, with a combined staff of 24 people and over 90,000,000 in receivables was quite the position for a 25 year old youth.
Still, I couldn't help thinking that I could somehow do it.
Sell 3M Microfilm products against the BIG BAD Yellow BOX Kodak Reps.
Kodak was quite the microfilm company having invented the microfilm camera way back in the 1930's or so, and the Kodak brand power is still, even today formidable.
But. .I had this feeling that I could get my point across. That somehow, someway, I could beat that mighty Kodak rep that owned the NJ Finance and Insurance marketplace.
In my first 6 months I broke a 25 year record for selling the most microfilm cameras in 3M history. I won the Captain's Crest Award and subsequently won multiple years of Captain of the Guard Awards (didn't mind those free trips to Hawaii either!) I somehow became the master of microfilm.
Microfilm??
Here's my point to anyone who faces a career change.
In particular; someone who faces a career change due to a lay-off or a forced retirement.
Hang in there!!
Consider your strengths and stay positive. Sure, people will always be ready to tell you some horror story or unwittingly dampen your enthusiasm.
Never explain, never complain.
We choose our destiny every single day. We can change our world if not necessarily "The World" , by our deeds, actions and words!
That was back almost 30 some odd years ago and I can still recall the doubts that would creep into my mind about that career choice. After all, being the New York and New Jersey, 3M Credit Manager, with a combined staff of 24 people and over 90,000,000 in receivables was quite the position for a 25 year old youth.
Still, I couldn't help thinking that I could somehow do it.
Sell 3M Microfilm products against the BIG BAD Yellow BOX Kodak Reps.
Kodak was quite the microfilm company having invented the microfilm camera way back in the 1930's or so, and the Kodak brand power is still, even today formidable.
But. .I had this feeling that I could get my point across. That somehow, someway, I could beat that mighty Kodak rep that owned the NJ Finance and Insurance marketplace.
In my first 6 months I broke a 25 year record for selling the most microfilm cameras in 3M history. I won the Captain's Crest Award and subsequently won multiple years of Captain of the Guard Awards (didn't mind those free trips to Hawaii either!) I somehow became the master of microfilm.
Microfilm??
Here's my point to anyone who faces a career change.
In particular; someone who faces a career change due to a lay-off or a forced retirement.
Hang in there!!
Consider your strengths and stay positive. Sure, people will always be ready to tell you some horror story or unwittingly dampen your enthusiasm.
Never explain, never complain.
We choose our destiny every single day. We can change our world if not necessarily "The World" , by our deeds, actions and words!
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