I was always searching, but didn’t know why. I could have settled for things as they were, but didn’t. If you have been searching for your place, then read on. (This is another story from the book)
I was searching for years. I fought to get on the Chrysler assembly line in Detroit Michigan. During that time (early 1960′s) DETROIT was the MOTOR CITY, home of the big four, and MOTOWN, home of the new urban sound. That was when America was the leader of the automotive industry – if it rolled and it was made in America it came from the Detroit area. Working at the plant was a way into middle class. At that time, a “strong back” and a good work attitude supported many families in America. We had a strong manufacturing base then.
I was young and healthy and in my last year of high school. Work on the assembly line, once it got into full production was (60 cars an hour) and required “constant movement”. On the personal level that meant I had one minute (60 seconds) to complete my assigned task. If I finished in 45 seconds I had a 15 seconds break before I had to do it all over again. The level of physical effort was based on the function that had to be performed. As a new hire, I had to work my butt off. I quickly learned how to conserve my energy just to make it through an 8-hour shift.
I looked around and noticed how the senior people dealt with that constant movement. Seniority (more time at the plant) meant an easier job function. They were paid more, but locked into the same repetitive grind, no matter what the task. Single or married with children they were locked into the factory life cycle because they got hooked on the spending cycle – buy this, buy that, and work overtime to try and catch up with the bills.
While working on the assembly line, I found a way off the line. I joined the military, to use the GI Bill to go to college. I left before “mass production” was replaced by “outsourcing”. That is when the C.E.O.’s became more concerned about increasing profits and their bonuses, than the environment, reinvestment in the plant and equipment, and loyalty to long time employees.
If you are still reading this, you may still be searching. You may be looking for a way to make a little more cash, until pay day. You may hate your job, or the people you work for, but you feel stuck.
You need to become your own C.E.O. (Chief Executive Officer). One of my mentors, the late great Jim Rohn produced a tape seminar titled “Take charge of Your Life”. You need to take charge, to change your life, or stay stuck.
My next search for better led me to seek “small business ventures”. Even when I was well established – college grad, military officer, working for the Department of Defense. I was still looking for something, for the next phase of my life. I looked at traditional franchising, but I found the cost to be too high. The least expensive franchise I liked, cost $40,000 and that was just for the franchise fee. That didn’t include cost of any equipment, property, or personnel.
Network Marketing was another option. Start-up cost were a lot lower, but you had to really work hard to build an organization, for it to be worth it. There are many good companies with good products and services. I always loved the personal development programs, the seminars and the great motivational tapes.
Some of the core values of the Empower Network require daily work on your self-improvement, reading and listening every day. Blogging is good for me because it allows me to express myself and use some of those skills I developed as an Army Staff Officer many years ago.
I looked at the Free Training Tapes and I looked at the information about the industry. Social Media is the buzz word, seems like everyone is on line. And it doesn’t look like things are going to slow down any time soon. GOOGLE, FACE BOOK, You-Tube, and LinkedIn and YAHOO are household names. I didn’t know about ALEXA – the web information company that ranks web sites, based on worldwide traffic.
At the time of this writing the EMPOWER NETWORK, site ranked in the Top 600 in the World and in the Top 200 in the United States. WOW! Dave and Dave (co-founders of the company) didn’t attend a traditional university they went to the “College of Hard Knocks” and graduated with a MBA (Major Business Attitude) with Swag.
Do your research. The Bible says search and you will find. This is just some of my story. This has been straight talk, beast mode. The train is leaving the station, will you get on?
H.G.M.
Internet comments
Patrick Batty
Hey Earl, Thanks man, Great post.
So many people need to make a change in their situation.
Yet, only a few ever do with a real commitment.
The champions are the ones that dust themselves off,
Pick up the pieces, and make massive changes in their situation.
Thanks for posting
Earl Hackett
Thanks for your comments Patrick. I have found that if I didn’t like something, I would figure a way to change things. I knew that if I went into the military, I could be able to go to school under the GI bill.
I never knew it would give me a wider view of the world. Most do one branch of the military and they are done. I did Air Force and Army.
I was searching when I ran across the Empower Network. What I found was my talent for writing. Next step is a Blog Novel.
Hackett Global Marketing 