Griffs Jobs

Yes, teamwork is the key to success in many jobs…
With my first big commission check I could buy my 1st home. I put my
entire $6,000 commission check as a down payment on a new home development
that was being built in Duarte, Ca. Unfortunately, I sold the
Townhouse less than 2 years after I bought it due to a divorce from my
1st wife. The first of two divorces I went through which is never good
when it comes to smooth sailing in life and your career.
Job #6) Parker & Son Publications – 1983 Print Salesman
Some things in your life change the course of your Career and in my
case my Dad decided to Sell his Printing Business. My dreams of running
the business someday were not going to happen. When my Dad
brought me in to his office to tell me that the company was being
acquired he said the firm buying his company wanted to retain me on
the payroll and would like me to stay on with the Company. My gut said
no so I told my Dad that I was going to decline the offer to stay on as
an employee with the new ownership. At this point in my life which was
about working for my Dad and not my passion the water started to leak
in my career boat. The sinking would take 15 – 16 years with temporary
career patches to stop the sinking but the damage was done. The damage
was done when my Dad sold his company his dream his passion.
Not my dream my passion I was doomed but not done.
My first job after I left my Dad’s business was working with an established
Publication Printer based in Los Angeles which was known for
publishing the Parker Law Directory. They had a niche as a Union
Printer doing various publications and jobs for Union Organizations like
Kaiser Permanente.
I absolutely felt like a fish out water working as an outside printing salesman
at Parker & Son. I went into the printing business to work with my
Dad and hopefully one day take over the business. That road ended. My
new road was a road I was not familiar with. I was in a no-win situation
doing something that I was never passionate about. I was only working
in printing at this time because the money was good and being recently
married I was not able to change my career job since I now had obligations.
Well 6-9 months into the job I was not loving I was called one
morning into a meeting by the General Manager and the rest of the sales
force. The General Manager started the closed-door meeting by saying
(I will never forget the words) “Gentleman after 80+ years of business
we are closing our doors”. I left the meeting a bit numb and on my way
out I was thinking okay now what.
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