In a posting last week entitled Radio: Job or Career?, I talked about people in our industry who never further their professional educations because “the company won’t pay for it.”
For some reason, I was reminded of a story….
Once there were four auto mechanics: Manny, Moe, Jacques and Aaron. They all went to the Columbia School of Automotive Engineering together, and they all began their careers on the same day at Honest Ed’s Auto Repair.
Manny, Moe, Jacques and Aaron shared a common dream: Each wished someday to work on a race car at the Indianapolis 500.
After their first week at Honest Ed’s Auto Repair, Manny, Moe, Jacques and Aaron thought, “Wouldn’t it be great to have a subscription to Autos & Axles, the auto industry’s leading trade publication?”
But, alas, Honest Ed’s Auto Repair refused to pay for such a subscription.
“Why don’t we get a subscription ourselves?” suggested Aaron.
“Are you crazy?” responded Manny, Moe and Jacques. “A&A is expensive! Why, we each would have to give up one beer per week to pay for it! We’ll just wait until we’re making lots of money in Indianapolis, and then we’ll get a subscription.”
“Well,” said Aaron, “then I’ll get a subscription all by myself.” And so he did.
After their first month at Honest Ed’s Auto Repair, Manny, Moe, Jacques and Aaron thought, “It sure would be terrific to have a copy of THE ART OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR, by the legendary mechanic, ‘Mercedes Mike’ St. Michaels!”
But the book was very expensive and, alas, Honest Ed said there just wasn’t money in the budget to purchase it.
“I know!” exclaimed Aaron. “Let’s each pitch in a few bucks and buy it ourselves!”
“Are you nuts?” replied Manny, Moe and Jacques. “Why spend good money to learn what we already know? We’ll wait until we’re famous mechanics at Indy, and then we’ll write our own book!”
“Well,” said Aaron, “then I’ll buy the book myself.” And so he did.
One day after their first six months at Honest Ed’s Auto Repair, Aaron said, “Hey, guys! Look at the ad for this new wrench! I understand they’ve just started using this at Indy! Why don’t we get one?”
“Have you taken leave of your senses?” chortled Manny, Moe and Jacques. “You know Honest Ed will never pay for it.”
“Why don’t we pay for it ourselves? It’ll give us a big advantage over all the other repair shops in town.”
Manny, Moe and Jacques exchanged a weary look. “We’ve got better things to do with our money,” they said. “Once we get to Indianapolis, then we can buy all the fancy wrenches we want. But knowing what a sucker you are, you’ll probably go ahead and get it yourself.”
And so he did.
One evening after their first year at Honest Ed’s Auto Repair, Manny, Moe and Jacques came upon Aaron in Repair Bay #2.
“Hey, Aaron,” they said. “C’mon, we’re going down to the Pump & Piston to get good ’n’ drunk.”
“No, thanks,” said Aaron. “I’m trying to figure out a faster and better way to service automatic transmissions.”
“Why?” demanded Manny, Moe and Jacques.
“That way I could do a better job for Honest Ed and for our customers.”
“What’s your point?” asked Manny.
“Why bother?” snorted Moe.
“We’ll be working faster than anybody in the world when we’re at Indy,” insisted Jacques. “But if you want to stay here and play with transmissions, go right ahead.”
So Aaron stayed behind and missed out on an evening that was so much fun that Manny, Moe and Jacques threw up for the next three days.
A year and a half after they started at Honest Ed’s Auto Repair, an excited Aaron came upon Manny, Moe and Jacques and said, “Hey, guys! Guess what! There’s going to be a big Auto Mechanics Convention next month, and all the best mechanics from Indy will be there to demonstrate —”
And at this, Aaron stopped. Suddenly he became aware of the expressions on Manny, Moe and Jacques’ faces, and he realized they were laughing at him.
He turned and, still holding his convention registration form, walked away.
“Have a good time at the big con-VEN-tion!” Manny, Moe and Jacques guffawed.
Several years have passed since that first day when the four novice mechanics began working together.
Manny, Moe and Jacques still work at Honest Ed’s Auto Repair.
They still laugh at suckers who buy books about auto repair, fools who subscribe to automotive trade publications, and jerks who attend automotive seminars and conventions.
And every year they receive a postcard from Aaron… postmarked, “Indianapolis.”
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Thanks for the reminder that when your co-workers demean you for wanting to accomplish your goals, it’s time to find new friends, and only share your dreams with those who love you.
You’re making them uncomfortable: If you achieve your dreams and they remain stuck where they’ve always been….
In fact, you’ve sparked another blog post for me in which I’ll explore this just a little further. Thanks.
It also shows that it’s a matter of individual choice as to a job or a career. Some strive for a career, some are content for just a job. Regardless how you look at it, the decision is one for you to make and live with the rest of your life.
Some folks always find time, money and energy for trivial things that seem important to them at the time. The trick is learning to look at the big picture and prioritize everything appropriately–so the choices we make today don’t become tomorrow’s regrets!
In the example Manny, Moe and Jacques have no regrets at their “job”, this is obvious as they still laugh at people who strive to use their repair shop as a stepping stone to something better, aaron has a career, which can be said a job that suits his passion and goals. In short, individual choice is everything.
I know one news person in my market that worked for decades at the same station, close to 50 years, until his retirement in the mid 1990s. Along the way, he saw some people who would eventually become well known national TV personalities and even host the national news on CBC here in Canada for years. They all used the same station as a stepping stone. One is still on the air on a news speciality channel, and fondly remembers his years at the station 40 years ago.
Still, this one person had a great career in the city, well known and respected and last I heard was still doing news for canada’s voiceprint, even though he must be in his 80’s now.
My point? Never let others discourage your passions and goals, if you’re lucky to doing your passion and getting paid for it, you are lucky, as most people don’t get that chance, and why hobbies and volunteer work are so important to some people. They see fulfillment in other things. Jobs aren’t necessarily a bad thing and I wish anyone well in achieving their dreams.