Whoa, We're Half-Way There...

A few years ago, I was in a bad spot career-wise.  I had come near to losing my job through a mistake.  The department I worked in was lacking leadership.  We were low on resources and even lower on morale.  The only bright spot was that I was two years from a $20,000 payoff.  It was at that point that I tried to find any way to track the time. 

One of the things I discovered is that today is a special day.  If I retire at 65 (given the state of our economy and national debt, that's a big IF), today represents the half way point of my working career.  It's honestly a little depressing to think that I've only half way done.  At the same time, I'm astounded at how quickly the time has passed.  There are the usual regrets we all have with experience.  But, I'm in awe of everything I have accomplished and become.

I believe I was truly inspired to choose Business.  When I graduated from college, I had spent my life learning how to have a career, but never believing I'd actually have to get a real job.  I always thought I'd be married by the time I graduated from college.  I mentally never prepared to have to work.  I didn't consider any options like graduate school, resumes, or interviews.  I came home and hit a wall - I hadn't thought of any goals beyond schooling since I was five years old.  Thankfully, I had an understanding family.

My mom was working at Melaleuca and offered to get me an interview.  I didn't even know really how to interview.  I remember it didn't go very well. My last interview was with Steve Coggin and I remember telling him that my college education prepared me for all aspects of the business world.  He humbled me when he said that after 25 years in the business world, he certainly couldn't say that. 

Thankfully, he gave me a chance and I started at Melaleuca as the company's first forecaster.  I had a small desk in a small office shared with seven other people.  I remember having to go back to BYU and buy an operations book to reeducated myself on operation terms like MRP, cost accounting, and basic forecasting.

I learned so much that first couple of years from a wonderful boss - Tim Transtrum.  He helped educate me in so many ways.  When he left, I took over his position.  I made so many mistakes as a first time boss.  I wish I could go back and do it over knowing what I know now.  That time in my life was filled with laughs, huge stresses of a company growing beyond it's capacity, and long days and nights.

The time came that I needed to move on to help forward my career.  I moved to be the manager of the collections department.  It required moving buildings - while it was just a few blocks away, it felt like it was half way around the world - new environment, new dress code.  In one short year, I learned that I never ever want to supervise a call center. 

Fortunately, I was able to move on to Finance.  I would consider this time probably my favorite cumulative working years.  We worked very hard, but had so much fun (unless we were stapling papers for SELC - which was more often than we'd like!).  At the time, the finance team had their hands in everything so we were maybe a bit cocky, but we accomplished a lot in that time.  And my favorite Halloweens were spent with that team.

I was asked to move on to a project to launch a new system.  It was supposed to take six months, but lasted nearly three years.  We were a small team of four.  I consider it my attempt at speaking tongues - working as a translator between users and developers needs.

It was finally time to move on and I chose International - the department I still work in today.  I started at first with operations helping with budgets, IT issues, etc.  Then I was asked to be the International Marketing manager.  Marketing is where I always wanted to be so I was thrilled to move on.  I held that job for eight years.  With the growth of the number of markets and number of products, we nearly doubled in responsibilities.  I was involved in many major projects and learned where my strongest skills are.

This last year, I have bounced to two different jobs.  I moved to Regulatory to basically fill a hole needed while we launched Germany and then now to my current position as International Inventory Control Manager - kinda full circle. 

Most people change companies and even careers several times in this time.  While I never expected to be still in Idaho Falls and especially at the same company for this long, you can see I have somewhat of Career ADD.  I've been fortunate to work somewhere that has allowed me to move around a lot to gain a unique skill set.

I only expected to work a couple of years and then maybe back to school or another company.  Even professionally, I hoped to be at a different point than where I am.  But, I guess very few of us have the lives we expected to have.  I have truly been blessed with what I have been able to do, the people I have been able to meet, the places I have been able to go.  I look through photos of friends I'm still in contact with and places I never thought I'd see - like Shanghai or Taipei 101 or the rolling hills of England.

Thank you to those who have mentored me - I learned so much from you.  To those who worked for me, I'm so sorry for all the mistakes I made and hope the good was better than the bad.  For those co-workers who have remained my friends, I appreciate what a blessing you are in my life.

I have spent more time in the walls of Melaleuca than some convicted killers spend in prison.  I have laughed until I've almost cried (even last week).  I have been angry enough to kick through a wall (hey, I even did that once, but I wasn't angry - we were just tearing down the wall and I thought it would be fun).  I have cried so many tears - of anger, embarrassment, frustration, true sadness, and even happiness.

I am a different person than the person who walked in the door 21 years ago.  I certainly have less hair, more greys, deeper wrinkles, and more around the middle.  But, hopefully, I'm better.  I am more outgoing, have a broader view of people and the world, and am more confident.  I can work on the second half of my career to balance kindness and candor, to be kinder to those that can't necessarily advance my career, and to wait before responding.

Here are some key lessons I have learned:

• Having a large rolodex of contacts is more important than what position you hold.
• If your gut tells you not to wear jeans and a T-shirt (even if the dress code allows it), follow it!  That's the day you'll be asked to meet with the CEO.
• Even though women say they want to be treated like the guys, I have an immense amount of respect for men that carry luggage and open doors.
• Learn to say "I don't know, but I'll find out" and "I messed up".  These phrases have gotten me further than most anything else.
• Always bring your own snacks and medicine when you travel internationally.  You won't know which is which when you are at a Korean 7-11 with a sweet tooth and bronchitis.
• Write down your best stories from work.  They are still funny after years of time. 
• You take on the smell of your environment - even if you aren't aware of it.  So, beware if you work anywhere that uses camphor.
• Physical inventories are useless.  But, if you can get a trip to Knoxville's NASCAR park with the rednecks, it's almost worth it.
• Never smell perfume at full strength.  It'll burn your nose hairs.
• If you are the baby of the office, be careful - one day, you will be that "old" person who is shaking their heads when they discover the new guy wasn't even born yet when you started working!
• Kangaroo tastes like beef.
• Women shouldn't cry at work, but if everyone did that more, I think the work environment would be better.
• A clean desk is highly overrated. 
• Take time when you travel to do something fun - even if it's just eating spicy chicken wings so your lips go numb.  You never know if you'll ever be back there again.
• Doing a Brady Bunch dance does not guarantee you'll win the Halloween prize for best group.  But you'll make other people laugh
• You don't have to be friends with co-workers, but it certainly makes the day go much better.
• Take opportunities to work with and meet multiple people.  The guy you play softball with can help you in ways you never realized.
• British food is awful, but their desserts are phenomenal; Asian desserts, on the other hand, are terrible (if you can even find any), but their food is really good if you can handle the spice.
• Send notes to people - they'll remember them longer than even a financial reward.
• If people really want your opinion, give it to them - in a kind way.  It's appreciated when the same thing comes your way.
• Filing was created by Satan.
• If people don't have a job where they are personally missed if they are not there, they will find a way to not show up.
• If you let people know you are annoyed if they pull a practical joke on you, it guarantees they will do it again and again.
• Never ask a blind man for a driver's license.
• Always ask the question "How do other people, companies, departments accomplish this?"  I have found workarounds so many times by not accepting that things are the way they are.
• Finally, at the end of the day, ask yourself:  "Based on what I accomplished today, would I hire me?"

I hope the next half of my career brings me joy, success, and especially the friendships that I have had for the first part of my life.  Thanks for sharing this with me.