John C.
Senior Member
I got a job at the IH dealer a few months after finishing service in the US Navy. Spent three and half years there and got laid off in the timber industry bust in the early eighties. Did five years at a coal mine working on really old stuff. Was the most satisfying place to work. Did three years or so at a larger coal mine with almost all new stuff. Worst work experience I've ever had. Did five years at the Komatsu dealership both as a field and shop wrench. Moved on to a small shop for a few months and then to service manager job at the Link-Belt dealership. That was another not so fun place to work so went out on my own wrenching and appraising for about ten years. Local Cat used manager was a friend and he asked me to come work for him for a bit to rebuild their process for appraisal. Kind of got stuck there for twelve years. Last year they put a new manager in place who was an ego with no intelligence so now I'm back doing my own thing. I don't pull wrenches anymore but do work with some people on troubleshooting at times but most of my work now is appraising.
I've always seen lots of different jobs as a rounding process that makes a person more valuable. The trick as an employer is to get as much transfer of wisdom out of those of us who are true journeymen before we move on. The mistake dumb employers make is believing that someone has to stay somewhere as there are no other options.
I've always seen lots of different jobs as a rounding process that makes a person more valuable. The trick as an employer is to get as much transfer of wisdom out of those of us who are true journeymen before we move on. The mistake dumb employers make is believing that someone has to stay somewhere as there are no other options.