Do you remember your first job?
When I was in elementary school, I made money shoveling snow, mowing people’s lawns, washing cars, and picking up dog poop for neighbors. I still carry with me the lessons I learned back then. I learned to be willing and willing to work hard. I learned that if you care about people and do a great job, people will hire you again. I learned that if people like you, they will recommend you to their friends and colleagues.
People sometimes forget that every great achievement started with a goal and was backed by commitment, hard work, perseverance, and gradual improvement. To illustrate this, I started keeping a list of the earliest jobs famous people have worked on. When you look at them now, you cannot imagine that they have ever done anything different than what they do now.
But we all start somewhere. Here is a list of some famous people and their early jobs:
Madeline Albright, former US Secretary of State
First Job: Department Store Bra Clerk
Alan Dershowitz, Author, Lawyer
First Job: Deli Factory Worker
Michael Eisner, former CEO of Disney
First Job: Camp Counselor
Nancy Grace, CNN anchor, attorney
First Job: Sears Candy Clerk
Jay Leno, comedian, host of The Tonight Show
first job: McDonald’s
Cal Ripken, Jr. Former Major League Baseball player
first job: errand boy in the minor league clubhouse
Tony Robbins, author, motivational speaker
first job: janitor
Gene Simmons, KISS rock star
first job: paperboy
Russell Simmons, founder of Def Jam Records
First Job: Fast Food – Orange Julius
George Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees
first job: raising chickens
Isiah Thomas, former NBA basketball player
first job: shoeshine
Donald Trump, real estate investor
first job: collecting soda bottles, then rent money for father
Oprah Winfrey, Billionaire, Talk Show Host
first job: radio station announcer
Many millionaires started out as newspaper boys or worked in fast food. There were many humble beginnings of people who changed the world. These people were born with greatness within them, just as you have greatness within you. These people progressed, improved themselves, worked hard and grew in their greatness. These people never gave up on their dreams.
No matter your current occupation, what you do is not who you are. We all have to start somewhere.
People who achieve greatness in anything follow their bliss. They don’t waste your time. They start and continue.
What gift or passion do you possess that you have been longing to develop or pursue?
What secret dreams do you harbor that you haven’t started yet?
What are you waiting for?
Set your goals and get going.
Make your move.
No one else can do it for you.
Take the next step.
Live your dreams,
Jill Kohenig