Find the Jobs for the Taking

I retired from the Marine Corps after 24 years and started working in what appeared to be a great job almost immediately that was more money than I made gross as an E-9. What a magnificent deal, I thought to myself; I'm living the dream. Then Miss Katrina showed up, and, long story short, we had no house left.

I picked my family up and started from scratch in Texas. The company I was working for offered me a new position in that area so I jumped on it. We moved to Dallas and my job was going great for the company, but something was missing for me. You see I was a consultant, and I learned that as a consultant you are always on the outside looking in. You never make it happen, you simply advise or facilitate others and never get to feel the exhilaration and even the frustration of taking an idea or a plan and then implementing it and seeing it through to competition and beyond.

I had always been the doer, the one that lived for the challenge...and it simply was not there for me. So I moved on to another position. A friend from active duty who retired a year before me was working for a small company and he told me there was an opportunity in the company he was working for. I met the owners of the company and was blown away -- two men in their 30s who were passionate, motivated, genuine, and appeared to have the integrity of those in the military.

We met, and when it was over I was offered a position. But there was one catch: 

“We don't have a job for you, but we'll figure one out.” The long and the short of it was they liked me and I liked them, but there was no opening there was no immediate plan to create a position so we were all in a bit of a quandary. I had a wife (stay at home) and three kids and I had to put groceries on the table. I prayed about it and ultimately took a leap of faith and accepted the job.

It was a small sales, service, and distribution company.  I spent the first two months on trucks with the men, and in the warehouses learning every job in the company. I was responsible for all sales, service and distribution of our product West of the Mississippi. I was also responsible to continue to grow our company further and further west, while leading, training and mentoring the eight district managers assigned to me, the entire sales force, and every person who worked for our company on the western flank.

I am now living the dream. The man (the other retired Marine Master Gunny) who introduced me to the owners now oversees all operations for the entire company, and I answer to him and the owners only. Many times as a career enlisted Marine you ask yourself “I wonder if I could do it better than the Colonel did.” Well I'm getting to find out.  It’s tough no doubt, but I have two main objectives: accomplishing the mission, and the welfare of the employees. I have the responsibility I could never have had as an enlisted Marine. I am in a position to truly affect our organization both good and bad.

We have been prepared for this our entire careers. We do have the leadership ability that is sought after; we simply have to make it known to the right people.

My final advice to you on your transition is trust your God, your heart and your family, there are great jobs out there for the taking. I used to always tell my buddies when I retire I will go to work at Taco Bell and within one year I will be at a corporate level. You have to believe in yourself like that . . . not arrogantly but confidently. God Bless all of you and thank you for your service.

(Submitted by P Cashion)

Comments

[D Smith]

I want to say a big Thank You to P. Cushion on his post. I have 21 years in the Air Force and I was just praying today at work about what I will do at the end of my career. When I came home his article was the first I read and that was the answer to my prayer--Trust God!! Thank You So much for your post. I have no need to read the other post as yours is the most important.

[L. James]

Wow, this is EXACTLY what I needed to hear. Trust God. Thank you so much for your post. I am currently a Marine on active duty. I am a SSgt with 8 years active duty service debating if I should get out. I know the ability to succeed is inside me. Your post just gave me the extra motivation I needed. My husband and I are planning on moving to San Antonio, TX. We have never lived in TX before but we are just looking for a new start after the military. Thank you so much for the advice!!! God bless you!!!

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[SONIA]

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