Throughout Chapter 3 (I Need Money), multiple emerging themes become apparent. George talks about Gordy's experience working in his family's business. While it was work, and a way to support himself, ultimately the family business was a job, not a career, not a passion. Gordy's passion for music, more specifically jazz, and his "after hours" pursuits, are what guided him into the waters of a fulfilling career opportunity.
Additionally, George highlights a moment where Gordy realizes the power in regional music tastes in relationship to people's lifestyles - as many Detroiters loved Mississippi's boogie-woogie musician John Lee Hooker over nationally famed Jazz musician Charlie Parker.
Discuss a moment in your own life where you took a "job" as a way to make ends meet in order to pursue your career ambitions
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Talk about a musical artist, band, group or genre of music that has significantly impacted Detroit, but may have not had as much national appeal.
In college, I worked as a security guard, and after college, while I was job hunting, I continued to work there until I found something permanent in my career field. One of my colleagues, a retired high school principal, knew the public relations manager where I worked, and recommended that I try to schedule a meeting with her, if anything, as a networking opportunity.
ReplyDeleteI eventually had a meeting with the PR manager, and a few weeks after my meeting, when a job opened up in the marketing department, she recommended me for the job.
If I took anything away from that experience, it was: even if your "job" isn't in your career path, do it well, and network with those in the areas you'd like to work - you never know how it may turn out.
My father used to tell my sisters and I that it is “always better to look for a job when you have a job.” I think that is why I’ve never shied away from accepting work that may not have been an “ideal position,” because I always thought it would lead to better opportunities. The only time when that philosophy proved false was once when I was “between positions” I took a job teaching acting at a summer camp program at Michigan State University.
DeleteFor ten weeks, I drove five days a week from my home in Southfield to East Lansing to deal with privileged kids whose egos far outsized their talents. During acting critiques, I provided honest criticism, but the students seemed to think their parents had paid a lot of money for me to tell them they would be the next Meryl Streep or Robert De Niro. And no, I was nowhere near the winner of the “Miss Congeniality Contest. I couldn’t wait for the last day and I certainly wasn’t asked to return.
Mike, I totally agree with that. For me, good rapport often lead to great opportunities.
DeleteI suppose the local band that first came to mind is the jazz group, “Straight Ahead.” During the 90’s this all-female group certainly played a lot of gigs in the area and started to make a national name for themselves. However, after violinist Regina Carter left the group for a solo career, the band became less prominent and faded from the national limelight they once had.
ReplyDeleteBefore I joined Public Allies, I applied to be apart of the program but got no response back from them. So I had a friend who hooked me up with a job as a security guard downtown in the main parks near Campus Martius (Campus Martius, Cadillac Square, Grand Circus, etc.) I worked there for a majority of the summer but it wasn't until maybe early September that Public Allies.
ReplyDeleteThe main thing I learned from the job, is that while I may not agree with everything thats going on at the job, the best way to move forward is to not hold any grudges if things don't go exactly to plan and always be adaptable.
I totally agree with you Gerrard, flexibility and adaptability are very key traits to being successful. Also being able to not take things personally, something I have struggled with in my career.
DeleteMy freshman year of college, I worked in one of the convenience stores on campus. I'd never worked retail before (nor have I ever since then), but I needed cash in my pocket while in school, so I took the job. I knew in high school retail wasn't for me because of people's faulty personalities, but I did it anyway. At times it was fun, sometimes it was boring, but most of all, it was an opportunity to make money when I needed it.
ReplyDeleteI have never worked retail, but imagine the experience is very similar to front desk work. I am sure you learned a lot about working with the general public that you have been able to use here at the Center.
DeleteI took a job as a front desk clerk at an Ann Arbor health club just after graduating from college. I got the job because I worked at the front desk in East Quad while in college. I worked nights and weekends swiping membership cards, passing out towels and answering the phone. I guess I found my niche because I ended up being in charge of the front desk of the Admissions office when I started working there and I am now in charge of the front desk for the Detroit Center.
ReplyDelete