Where Did I Go ? part 4

In the last three posts I have talked  about how Christianity changed me. Other areas have affected me as much and I don’t want to neglect them.

Work / Career have had a big influence on me as well. Let’s face it, our careers can definitely reshape and mould a man in positive ways, but it can also have very negative influence on who we are and who we will become. In my twenties, I was extremely career oriented and my mentors were a big influence. Whether in college or in the workplace, it shaped who I am now….

After suddenly having my Marine Corps career ended for medical reasons (correctly diagnosed or not) here I was, a twenty something  having to rethink what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

My first two choices are not options. You see I studied Mechanical and Architectural Drafting and stepped into the recession in the 1970’s. I couldn’t do what I had worked so hard to achieve for the last four years of school.

I went to work in a mill in New England. After two union lay-offs I went and visited the Marine Corps recruiter in Worcester, Mass. and two weeks later was off to a fun filled 14 week vacation in Paradise (note Sarcasm). I arrived at Parris Island, So. Carolina and my life was changed forever.

I survived boot camp and was selected to undergo several additional batteries of testing and interviewing.  After the testing and interviews I was offered three prestigious opportunities:

• Embassy Duty (just months before our embassy in Iran was taken and Americans there were held hostage)
• Presidential Guard for Pres. Jimmy Carter (not just no but, H*ll NO!) Reagan would have been acceptable, but it wasn’t his time yet.
• Language school in Monterey, Ca. (Oh Yeah! Beach, sunny California).

I was off to California for the next year. Marye & I met and were married there.What a great place to fall in love.

I was force-fed the Arabic language & Iraqi dialect in 47 weeks.

(Fast forward to my time immediately after the marines…) I floundered and lost a lot of my confidence as I couldn’t go into police or fire-fighting work, because I had been diagnosed with a seizure disorder. After 2 1/2 years I entered retail jewelry, in a very prestigious company in Dallas, Tx. I had to mask my obvious Massachusetts accent to just be understood and I learned to dress for success. Hair neat, dressed like a mafioso, with a self maintained manicure.I was transformed into the the classic YUPPY.

I was outstanding in my field, a sales leader and motivator, read all the right self-improvement books… became another person.

I was still in the early years as a married man and a dad. When I grew up, a man was the provider for the family; it was his responsibility and “you are what you do” for that living. (Here is another post subject)
Proper diction, body language, always in control of the situation in the store, friendly yet intense and sometimes intimidating to others in the company, for just a few points. In other words, a changed man, headed on the fast track right up the company ladder. But not myself at all…

I was so involved with business, networking, getting ahead, dressing better and selling more than anyone else that I didn’t take vacations, time off was filled with things I need to do to become more successful, and I was losing ground on the home-front. On one of my days off  I  got a call from the store, then called my customer in Indiana and closed a six watch, $35,000.00 deal from our living room sofa.

Failing as both as a husband and a dad, to the point of almost losing Marye & the kids. Thank God for an In-your-face wife, or it would have been over then. We will go there another time.

Has your career caused you to become a different man at home with the  love of your life?

Have you forgotten who you were and your other passions?

Was it a good change or did you become a Workaholic?

Image:Morguefile