A JOB FOR YOU, AND A JOB FOR YOU, A JOB FOR EVERYONE!
Nostalgia 101
The Jobs That Shaped Us
Can you remember your very first paying job? How old were you? Was it babysitting the neighbor’s kids, mowing lawns in the summer heat, or working in a family business? I bet you learned more than you expected.
I was ten years old, elbow-deep in the back room of my parents’ beauty salons, cleaning smelly hairbrushes crusted with old hairspray and tangled with other people’s hair. I swear I can still feel the sting of perm solution and the stink of “Ship Shape” cleanser in my nose.
I didn’t wear gloves, and to this day, I still have an aversion to getting my hands dirty.
Later on came my first “real” job. I worked evenings at The May Company in San Diego (now Macy’s), part-time while in college. I floated between departments, filling in wherever they needed help. One shift in the Candy Department? Let’s just say I discovered the joy of chocolate-covered raisins and peanuts, and I’m not sure I ever recovered.
I left college for a while and landed my first full-time job at Coburn Personnel, also in San Diego, working the front desk. Typing, answering phones, and filing, it was a typical day’s work. Still using Mom’s car. Still can’t remember what I earned.
The other day, I sat down and made a list of every paying job I’ve had since I was ten. Fourteen in all. As I wrote each one down, waves of memories came flooding back.
There were jobs I didn’t love: scrubbing those dirty brushes, being a receptionist at a vending supply company, or serving as secretary to the head of PR at Desert Hospital.
But there were also jobs I truly enjoyed: working as a bank teller (now there are some stories for another time), doing medical transcription at Eisenhower Medical Center, and helping women feel beautiful in the Designer Salon of Bonwit Teller.
If you’re thinking about your own job history, what stands out? What jobs did you enjoy? Which ones did you dread, and why?
Each position I held taught me something different. I learned how the world works, how people behave in all kinds of situations, and how to adapt to different environments. For a naturally shy person, every job gave me a chance to "try on" a new role. I can’t say I’ve mastered dealing with the entitled crowd, but I’ve certainly had practice!
What was your favorite job? Not the one with the biggest paycheck, but the one where you looked forward to showing up, enjoyed your coworkers, and felt like you made a difference. If you could go back and do it all over again, would you?
My favorite job is the one I have right now, working in sales in ladies' ready-to-wear. And thanks to the employee discount, let’s just say I’m having my cake and wearing it, too.
Some of us are still working. Others are retired. But one thing we all share is the experience of having put in the time. Whether you were an executive leading teams or a frontline worker helping a customer find the right item, the lessons stuck with us.
The result? We’re a bit more patient. We show empathy. We get things done (well, most of the time). We’re better for it, all of us.