This is a follow up post to the one I made below.

http://www.sowpub.com/cgi-bin/forum/webbbs_config.pl?read=3435

At age 15 a LOT of my friends were getting summer jobs at McDonald's for minimum wage. I had already done this the summer before and while I had made money, I didn't have much to show for it now.

Being an Avid reader, I was just being introduced to Anthony Robbin's book "Unlimited power!" I picked up some important tips:

1) Successful people have a LONG TERM focus (which allows them to see any rocks or waterfalls which may be coming)

2) If you want to be successful ACT AS IF you are already successful

3) If you want to be successful hang around Successful people

So I asked some teachers and guidance counsellors and found out about a NEW Summer Student Coop Program. That just started. It would ONLY last for 1 month out of the summer months AND THERE WAS NO PAY!! NO PAY!! NO PAY!

"Hmm! I could make more money at McDonalds and actually buy some decent clothes or Work for Free at some unkown place of employment..." I could work at McDonald's with my friends, or work with strangers. Tough decision at 15....I chose to "FORGET McDonalds!" My friends laughed at that choice,...but it made sense to me!

I figured that since this was a NEW Program, that the Program directors would want to LOOK REAL GOOD to any employers that they met. They obviously needed to impress the employers with Positive, hardworking students...like me :-> Thus when it came time for my interview which is where they would determine my placement, I was....MORE THAN PREPARED!

Dressed in my "Sunday School" best suit, Haircut, Resume in hand (It only had school clubs and previous awards on it)I was ready for them!

The Interviewer asked me "What type of JOB would you like?" here was my reply:

" I want to work in a BIG CORPORATION, WEAR A SUIT and Do business!" (This was what I thought was SUCCESS at the time)

I figure that if I could meet business CONTACTS NOW, by the time I graduate highschool, I could work in a BIG CORPORATION and make more MONEY later on to pay for University.

The interviewer was so impressed, that when he told me WHERE MY placement was going to be, I nearly BURST with EXCITEMENT!

You see most of the other students in the program got "Standard" jobs at places like, The courts, government agencies etc. etc.

I was going to be working at the RITZY FOUR SEASONS HOTEL TORONTO in the heart of downtown TORONTO as a PUBLIC RELATIONS/ BUSINESS CENTRE ASSISTANT. YAHOOOOOOOO!

I performed various office duties, filing,typing, photocopying, preparing media release etc. etc.

I performed so well in my one month, that they asked me to stay on the rest of the summer...WITH PAY! WITH PAY!! Now this was exciting!

Was I Lonely? Heck yes, I was the YOUNGEST employee in the entire hotel! Did I get any benefits???

You bet!!:

- I Eliminated my fear of intimidation by "wealthy Looking" business persons

- I got to meet celebrities Jean Claude Van Dam AND his first wife! When Van Dam walked in, I was all smiles (This was when Bloodsport his first movie appeared. I am a HUGE martial arts fan)I couldn't get an autograph however, even though I REALLY wanted to.."silly" policies :->

- I learned VOLUMES about people, Exceptional Customer Service and business

- I learned the Office Jargon of upper management ie. When somebody asks you "How are you Today?" my standard response used to be "Fine thanks!" end of sentence.

I noticed however that the Presidents and upper management would reply to the same question and return the question ie. "Im excellent thanks...AND YOU SIR!" (You should have seen the look of astonishment and delight on some guests Face when this little 15 year old would return the question with a smiling "...AND YOU SIR/MADAME"

- I met wonderful friends, in coworkers which assisted me later on in life.

- One of the most IMPORTANT things I learned, was that just because you hold an OFFICE JOB, and WEAR SUITS, doesn't mean that you MAKE A LOT OF MONEY!! (over lunch discussions, I found out that the waiters were making WAY more than most of the managers that I was working with! How could that be???

More on this lesson in another post!

As usual, Thanks for reading!

Duane Adolph

P.S

Dien

Thanks again for SOWPUB! I always enjoy posting and reading!