A Spirit of Work

So today, I was hired by New York and Company as a sales associate (also formally known as Lerner's). It is a clothing company that I firmly believe in as it has been one of my favorite clothing companies for a long time that provides high quality casual and business casual attire. It has been there for me fifty pounds heavier as it is now, so I am proud to now represent the company in an official capacity.

In my search for a second part time job, I have received several favorable responses including an offer from a girlfriend who is a manager with another clothing company. As I entertained thoughts of holding three part time jobs (just for a moment. The money sounded good), I stopped by my current job to share the news with my boss at the Muhammad Ali Institute. We chatted for a while and he complimented me for my "spirit to work." He went on to say how a lot of the young people he knew had a list of jobs that they weren't willing to do, and I was sad.

Yes, it is true that I have a four year degree from a reputable university. And yes, it is true that I have professional experience. It is also true that neither my degree nor my professional experience is in retail. But I have to face facts. In today's job market, I'm lucky to have a job period, let alone a part time that pays $10/hr and allows me to do significant and meaningful work that allows me to use my varied talents. So, I'm cooking with grease to have two part time jobs that each might grow into full time opportunities as I continue to search for a full time job.

So I don't understand why my "spirit to work" is such a profound exception. I know I'm not the only one who is paying back student loans as well as other bills. No, I don't see New York and Company helping me get my writing career off the ground, save that it will allow me to pay my bills as I do things such as sit on the board of an active and well known theater company here in Louisville (see what networking will get you?). But we have to do what we have to do to get to where we want to go.

So work hard at whatever you have to do right now. Just keep your eye on the bigger picture so that one day down the line when you're sitting behind your desk, running your $100 million dollar empire, you'll realize it was because of your "spirit of work."