Exploring Life: Listen, Learn, Dare To Venture

by JIM BANDY, Dee's Furniture Repair

This message is by no means a lecture for you will not see a halo, or angel wings on my back. And certainly not a book filled with my so-called wisdom, for trust me, I am not one with all the answers on any subject.

This post is just a humble, simple, hopefully to-the-point message of sharing a part of my life experience, and - by the way to date - at 78 years young! Best part, married to the same young lady for over 55 years, 16 beautiful grandchildren, number 5 great on the way. 

Backdrop:

In brief, I worked for my father in the soda business from 11 years to about 13. Worked one summer on my uncle's farm. Later did lawn care, greeter at a funeral home, and dug graves as a young teen. Worked construction with a cranky old Irishman from Ireland on a work visa - Chicago. Worked as an usher at a movie theatre in high school. Then onto the U.S. Marine Corps, 18 years old, (1966-68, 2/26th Marine Regiment-3RD. Marine Div., Fox Co.) Vietnam Veteran. Upon return I was a MP, then attached to a security battalion. On to college & drove as a part time ambulance driver, Coca-Cola route salesman, FBI Tech., Policeman, Federal Marshall, corporate territory salesman, regional manager, national sales manager, union member, semi-truck driver, Business owner for close to 25 years - learning the craft as far back for over 30 years. Last 25 years Director of Operations for Dee's Furniture Repair. Recently had two poems published of which one is now a country song.

So there it is folks, a few years of life experiences that today has no interest to many HR departments. LOL!

Purpose Of This Article:

My focus with this article is geared towards how we handle ourselves in our profession. That said, a touch of how we do the same with life in general.

First, be passionate about your position in whatever occupation you're in. Personal opinion is that this endeavor is often not as easy a task to achieve. Many of us just haven't been able for many reasons to have the luxury, or just simple luck to discover a passion that allows one to earn a living to your satisfaction and have genuine gratification.

When the opportunity arises I always encourage young people especially, to research, explore, talk to the source of any given occupation and ask questions, maybe even shadow, or do an internship when and if available.

One of many lessons I have learned in my journey is most importantly is to be true to yourself. Plus, always be true, honest, to others regardless of your relationship be it business or personal.

Never hesitate to challenge yourself, venture into the unknown in learning by becoming more skilled at your craft. For by not doing so you may likely be depriving yourself of a new world of opportunities, self-gratification.

Lastly, be respectable to yourself first, 'AND' to others. For me that's a golden rule in my day-to-day existence. Example, I don't care if it's the waiter asking you what you would like, or a co-worker, a person(human) in any station in life, so for God's sake look at that person in the eyes, be respectable. A simple smile or any kind gesture will spread good will for it can be contagious. By the way, here is the good news, it won't harm you or threaten your ego in any way. Don't talk around others regardless of their station in life as if they don't exist. That's right ... they are a person with dreams, needs, problems, feelings just like you!

Lastly, I love asking people about themselves, and I don't care what their position is in life. Why? My experience is that I discover things about others I would have never known. Not just about that person, but about life in general.

I find people regardless of their stature, like a new book with new information never before learned or experienced. Yes, it can be sad, exciting, mysterious, joyful, inspirational, motivating so much more, as also all combined. So many times in my travels I have chosen to politely just ask a simple question about another person only to discover (like recently) they were an ambassador for our country. Dare yourself to explore other people, occupations, trades, life in general for it is exciting, fulfilling, and yes at times scary.

But that's Life . LOL!

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