I was reflecting today on all the various jobs I've held in my life, and how each of them supplied me with life skills that have long outlasted my employment. It was a fun walk down memory lane! In chronological order, here they are:
The Bible House (Stockton, CA)
-How to work a register
-How to gift wrap a package
-How to discern between different translations of the Bible
-How to supervise a team
-Familiarized with Christian authors and artists
-How to execute EXCELLENT customer service!
Nutcracker Sweet (Stockton, CA)
-How to create a gourmet gift basket
-Tasted every kind of chocolate imaginable :)
-How to work humbly under difficult management
-How to deal with crazy Beanie Baby collectors
-How to bum sandwiches off of the cafe workers for lunch
Alder Market Catering (Stockton, CA)
-How to create wonderful food presentations
-How to fold a napkin :)
-Gleaned numerous ideas for my wedding
-Took away secret hors d'oeuvres recipes
Bath and Body Works (Stockton, CA)
-How to annoy customers with pushy sales tactics
-How to respond after being assigned one night a week (quit.)
Pottery Barn (Sacramento, CA)
-Team-driven retail
-How positive incentives affect employee motivation
-Retail has big perks (40% discount, people!)
First Baptist Church (Stockton, CA)
-Responsibility and authority in Ministry
-Ability to organize programs
-How to lead worship authentically
-How to care for the spiritual needs of children
Lakeside Christian School K-8 (Stockton, CA)
-How to put together daily learning experiences for a classroom of children
-How to work with and establish trust with parents
-How to engage children in meaningful activities
-How to successfully manage large groups of children
Biola University (La Mirada, CA)
-How to inspire prospective teachers
-How to keep a paper trail for EVERYTHING
-How to use a MAC computer (life changer!)
-How to be attentive to detail in paperwork
-Understanding the teacher licensing process in multiple states
Mommy (Duluth, MN)
-How to make a baby giggle
-How to meet daily needs of children
-How to balance being a wife and mother
How about you? Have any of your previous work experiences given you useful life skills? Any that stand out to you?
4 comments:
I remember when you worked at the Bible House! As I recall, you were the best gift wrapper there! :0)
Memory Lane for me, too - and a reminder (although I don't need one) of how proud I am of you!
University Tour Guide: How to walk backwards without tripping. A very important life skill. :)
Old Navy:
-Face Recognition(customers who would ask you to find something in their size and then wander around, expecting you to just see them and remember who they are)
-The "right" way to fold jeans
Summer Camp Counselor:
-How to belay(climbing wall)
-Basic First Aid
-How to lead a camper to Christ
-How to send a fax
-How to organize activities for 200 4th-6th grade boys for a week
-How to make an omelette(and change a coffee filter
-How to make mopping and cleaning urinals a cheerful activity
-How to lead morning devotionals with high school kids
-How to work a sound booth
Sac State Marching Band Secretary:
-How to take meeting minutes(and still contribute to the meeting)
-How to write a polite thank you email to a HS band director whose band kids were a nightmare to work with
-How to compensate for other people's minimal efforts, keep a positive attitude in freezing cold weather, and cheer on the fans of a losing team
-How to change from a skirt, button up top and heels into my marching uniform while driving to a game(cruise control is a beautiful thing)
Teaching ESL in Thailand:
-Patience.
-How to motivate through a language barrier
-The importance of candy bribes..er, incentives
-How to keep my cool in 90% humidity
-How to keep track of 150 ten-year-old students' names, grades, homework, and progress
-How to resist the urge to just "play game!" every time I enter the classroom
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