Good way to look at it.. def some truth here.
Everyone has to "earn their stripes". I went to college to be a lawyer. Graduated with a degree in Political Science then decided that a BA was enough and I was done with school (stupid). So... no lawyer.
I took my first job in trucking (go figure) as a dock supervisor for Roadway Express in 1999 working nights Wednesday through Saturday 2130 to 1030. My job, as a 22 year old kid right out of college, was to tell 30 year veteran Teamsters old enough to be my dad what to do--EL OH EL. I got told to Go **** Myself more times than I can count my first month there.
I refused to call in sick or EVER be late for work, ever. Did not want to give those pricks the satisfaction that they got me. I pounded that concrete working every shitbag shift you can think of for YEARS. My feet would hurt so bad it was crazy and NOTHING you could do about it. Worked my way up through pretty much every management job you can do in trucking up to Regional Director of Operations for another company years later.
Fast forward to today.... now work from home as an advisor/consultant for a private equity firm that buys and sells trucking companies. Make more money than I ever have and actually have to find things to do some days. It's crazy how things have changed for the better.
But yeah.... Everyone's got to earn theirs before things get easy boys!!
Keep after it.
I dig the story man. Good deal. True 'work your way to the top' scenario. I'll give y'all my history, I like this shit.
Started at 17 years old working at Napa. I worked there for 2 years, same as you did Dom, any shift I could take. Working between 3 different stores, parts driver, phone sales, and counter sales. LONG days, 7am-8/9pm Monday - Friday, and all day Saturday.
Began making connections at the dealerships I would deliver parts to, and got to know a guy at Ford / Nissan (share a dealership, weird combo I know) named Greig. Talking shit with him one day, I say 'when you gonna give me a shot to show you what I can do?' and stared him in the face, he goes 'you serious?' I said 'as a heart attack'
Walks me in to see the parts manager, who gives me a shot. Parts manager was a total **********, one of those 'you don't need to make money cuz you're young' type of guys. So I got paid half of what the other guys did, to do the same job. Worked there for a few years, bouncing between parts and service, went to a few different ford dealers. Applied at the Injected, the shop I last worked at, and HOUNDED the owner. Wore him out with phone calls and visits, until he gave me a shot. Couple weeks in he goes 'man wish I had you working here years ago'. Loved the job, just didn't work out in the long run. The performance industry is tough, long hours, and cutthroat industry. But very very rewarding. Its nice having guys call ME when their shit is acting up 'what do I do?'. Nice to be appreciated by the customers.
Started lugging 120lb bus batteries, ended up running the front of performance shop.
Younger guys nowadays don't understand the fact you have to put your ****ing head down, and WORK to get to the top. Most people did not START as CEO.....