Joel Gets a Job
If there is one thing I have learned about life, it’s that change is inevitable. Nothing stays static. Life is dynamic.
The changes in my life have led me to an interesting place. I didn’t see it coming and wouldn’t have planned for it. But nevertheless, life has a way of unfolding before us.
Businesses come and go. Relationships are fragile. Uncertainly lurks with each new morning. As Roseanne Roseannadanna used to say, “It’s always something.”
It’s great when all pistons are pumping and our lives are free from crisis and/or drama. But those seasons are few and far between. Crisis and/or drama is more likely to exist in some form than not. We find ourselves in transitional times. These are the “in-between” places.
The key to not only surviving, but thriving, in those in-between places, is the choices we make when we find ourselves neither here nor there.
The past few years have found me in a number of in-between places. As a result, I made the choice to pull back from my business by selling off some of my sites and bringing my staff of over thirty people down to a staff of one. (That would be me!).
I have called this period of time a sabbatical of sorts, even while I continue to be engaged with my business on some levels. It has been a much-needed break and has allowed me to ask the question “What do I want to be when I grow up?”
My sabbatical has led to a wonderful time of personal growth and introspection, allowing me to focus on areas of my soul that had been somewhat neglected.
I may or may not discuss more of this personal journey in the future, but for now I really just want to set the stage to explain one of the choices I made. I found it to be instructive in my life, so I want to share it with you in hopes that you may glean something useful from my experiences.
Last summer (2012) I began thinking through options of things I could do with my life that would stir up my comfort zone. What activities could I participate in that would shake my paradigm and re-establish a sense of perspective that I may have forgotten or missed entirely?
One thing I have recently done is participated in an Improvisational Comedy class at a local improv club. I’ll save that one for another day, though. Back to last summer…
I started working when I was fourteen years old. My first job was making pizzas and sandwiches at the food court in the local mall. Other jobs through the years included clerk at a video store, a department store and a toy store, I spent time as a janitor in a health club, interned at an ad agency, spun records at nightclubs and did a couple radio DJ stints. I’ve worked at two nationally syndicated radio ministries in a number of capacities, and my first real entrepreneurial outing was as a mobile disc jockey. I estimate that I was hired for well over one-hundred private functions from 1988-1994.
In 1995, I started my own Internet business and haven’t looked back.
That said, I hadn’t worked for anyone else for a LONG time.
I didn’t “need” the money, but I thought finding a part-time shift would help expand me both personally and professionally. After all, every experience can be a learning experience.
I wasn’t looking for anything long-term, but I did want to work somewhere that made sense for me. One or two shifts per week would give me the opportunity to both bring value to an organization and hopefully walk away with a new perspective.
I began surveying the opportunities that existed.
Outside sales? Negative. Been there, done that. I have sold emergency response equipment to the elderly and ill (Remember “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up”? Yes, I did housecalls to sell that gear!). I sold Encyclopedia Britannica door-to-door.
Food service? I just couldn’t see myself lasting behind a drive-through window or as a waiter for very long. Next, please!
Retail? Yes, it had to be retail. So where would I be able to be of value and enjoy my position?
The standard operations came to mind first. Target, Wal-mart… I could make a nice greeter, but maybe I’ll wait until I am seventy years old for that.
Clothing store? I’m not really all about style. Clothes don’t excite me.
Electronics? Hmmmm… now there is something I could relate to. But do I really want to be a “blue shirt” at Best Buy, having to annoy customers with “Have you found everything okay?” every time I see them? No, I don’t think I could pull that off. I suppose there is The Apple Store, but I am already too much of an Apple user. Besides, Apple is no longer hip… they just think they are.
That left me with just one option in my mind. A niche that I am familiar with, have had success in, and enjoy on a regular basis.
Books!
As a New York Times best-selling author, I wondered what it would be like to work at a bookstore.
Apart from a few small, independent booksellers, there is only one real “big box” store left in the retail space… Barnes & Noble.
I know books. I love books. Barnes & Noble SELLS my books! Wouldn’t this be a great place to bring my knowledge and see what it would be like on the other side of the counter?
So I did a short stint as a bookseller at B&N. And in my next entry, I’ll share my experiences, along with some of the things I discovered both personally and professionally while on the job.
What questions do you have for me about this experience? Perhaps I’ll be able to answer some of them in my follow-up post. Feel free to use the comments form below for questions or just to speak your own mind!
Hey, I’m looking for that book with the red cover 🙂
I’ve worked for 3 different bookstores in the past. Most writers would sob if they knew how little most people know about what books have been published recently, what books people are talking about, or even what books are currently on the bestseller lists.
Interesting narrative Joel. So, you are part of the club that learned by doing… a lot of different thing. Not much different that the experiences of many.
So, tell us what you learned from all of this, please. What is the take away… the a ha moment?
Quite a journey Joel. Amazing what you have done and gone through. What were your duties at B&N? Manager, supervisor, cashier, greeter, or were you just sitting at the table reading books and giving out reviews?
Let us know.
Paul
I am curious how often you were recognized, and also whether you feel you were treated any differently from the rest of the staff. Also, wasn’t it a hard sell getting hired, given how over-qualified you are?
I look forward to you shareing your experiences, I took a part time job a while ago simply because business is suffering. Its helped a hell of lot and made me some new friends
cheers
Dave
Joel, I find your “transition” fascinating. I’ve followed your career for 8-10 years and have participated on the edge of a few of your projects.
Now I’m having to make some decisions as to how to make the most of the next 10 years or so as my wife is in early stage dementia.
I’m 80,in excellent health. I’m a professional speaker/trainer but need to reduce travel I’m also an award-winning novelist and children’s picture book author. I feel I still have a lot to offer and am trying to determine how best to package it to do the most good and be able to “keep the home fires burning.”
I’ll follow your changes with interest.
–Dale Smith
Can’t wait for the follow-up, Joel. Sometimes I ponder taking a weekend/night job for a distraction, but I keep thinking “No, my ‘big idea’ might hit and I need to be able to do THAT!” Sadly, I usually end up puttering around Facebook or YouTube instead.
Sounds like it was interesting!
did you find this experience invorgating. Did it change your perspective on business and working for ‘the man’. I wish I had had your opportunity to make an interbusiness flourish. I know how to work for ‘the man’. Best of luck
Hi Joel,
What an interesting post. Funny how we tend to form a perspective of someone through remoteness. I had an impression of a hugely successful and wealthy guy, who had life and experience all worked out. But your post certainly has synergy with experiences from my own life.
Up to 2006 I had two manufacturing factories, a wife and kids, and wonderful new home. Within 3 years all but the kids had gone. Recession, migration of work to China etc etc. Then an enterprise to develop a new Golf Ball Detector went bad – my partner spent the 500k investment money and fled to South Africa. Then an enterprising new airline start-up, 12 months success until one of the aircraft crashed in Cork, Ireland killing our pilots and 4 passengers.
Now studying and getting overwhelmed with the online business world, but mostly coming to terms with loss and life’s challenging lessons.
To date the aircraft accident is one of the most painful lesson of all.
I will follow your posts with great interests to find some salve and hope in life. Best of luck Joel. Regards, Rich.
Surprised at wanting to shed the responsibility and grind of a 30 person staff? NO
Surprised at wanting to work retail and having to deal with self-entitled buyers? Somewhat
Looks like you were ready to shake thing up in your life. Can’t blame you. Actually, WAY TO GO !!!
When you decide what you want to be “when you grow up” will definitely find you, when the time is right. Always has. Always will. Look forward to following your journey. Keep us posted. I’m sure you’ll have some great stories.
That’s what I call courage. To step back and re-route the journey. Thanks for sharing Joel. Much love, Abe
I would think that working in a Bookstore would be like working in a candy store, everything looks enticing and I would probably be buying way more than I would be selling.
Even so, I could see the benefits of being in the business of selling books on that level, because you can hear the questions being asked by the end user and get an idea for what the people are looking for. It makes for great research, since you can immediately tell if a market exists for a particular topic by the amount of people asking for it.
Having gone through a similar period of wondering where I might best be serving and still not being sure, I can see how putting yourself in front of people you are actually helping to refine in yourself a servant attitude – since dealing with the public can make you want to serve people to the lions instead of helping them. If you can experience the public and still want to help them, you have gained valuable insight from the direction you have taken.
Keep up the great work, since greatness comes from within and you still have a full tank!
What I’m curious about is how you got hired as a B&N bookseller when you are clearly over-qualified.
Hey Joel …
I’m intrigued with your post … Mainly as I’m at an intersection in my own life too. I’ve been in missions now for nearly twenty years and have for the last few years attempted to make an income from internet marketing to supplement the fund raising that I do to stay in missions. (I work for an organization that requires we raise our own funds)
Well … For different reasons I suspect, I’ve been thinking about ’employed’ work too. After all the wolves have to be fed regardless of what I do and I’m a family man. It just flies against everything in my heart though and I’m frustrated that I haven’t had a breakthrough in I.M. as I see the potential to have an income that won’t demand to much of my time. The arguement in my heart & head is faith provision vs provision if you know what I mean and the contradictions I see in values in I.M. don’t make it any easier …
I’m not really drawing to a particualr conclusion here Joel, just sharing some of the journey with you … and thanks for sharing yours … I’m looking forward to reading more 🙂
Rich,
I love your honesty. I have had a similar Journey both personally and financially and thank God that is behind me for the most part.
Joel was the first person who showed me that Internet Marketing could be a real business back in 2007. I has taken a while but I now enjoy great friendships with a large group of top marketers.
The reason I am responding to your post is because I sense that you are making a mistake that I and many others have made. Internet marketing has this mystique that it is different then old fashion Marketing. It’s Not!
It is just Marketing over the Internet. create a Marketing plan, Choose a market to sell into, find where your customers are, and get in front of them. It’s that simple.
Don’t buy into all the nonsense and shinny objects.
I hope that helps and if you have any questions feel free to contact me.
Ralphc[@]MonetizedClicks.com
It is interesting that you chose that venue. Twenty years ago, before B&N got so big, you could go into an independent book store, like Tattered Cover, and say “I’m from Dayton, Ohio and forgot my id and credit cards and I want to buy these three books.” They would immediately open an account for you and give you the books.
Book people have a different demographic and psychographic profile. It is a totally different world. I hope your experiment showed that.
Thanks for the personal touch.
I look forward to hearing more about your time at BN. I worked for both Walden Books and Crown Books as a store manager and I LOVED being a bookseller. Having hired and fired many employees in the stores I managed, I can tell you that Joel would not have a problem being hired. He would be a booksellers dream. Most of the employees in the stores I managed had college educations and were well read. People that applied at my stores had to pass a written test and also give me an unprepared impromptu book report on the last 3 books that they had read.
I think that the world would be a much different place if everyone had to work in retail or fast food for a year or two. It certainly would be a kinder place.
I am always intrigued by stories regarding career change. Purpose is of course a key factor for me, which I see as much wider than the specific job or career choice. So I am looking forward to hearing more about your specific employment journey. Hopefully, even in the telling, your purpose will shine through as an example to others.
Joel,
I don’t know what happened to your Internet business but I know that you didn’t quit because you couldn’t do it or weren’t successful in it. You were very successful in the internet marketing business and you know that and everybody knows that. You may have overworked yourself and gotten tired of it because it is a fast pace business. If so, it’s good that you broke away from it to rest for a while. I have no doubt that you can start the internet marketing business any time in the future from scratch and make a successful come back. But apart from the internet business, you are a very gifted writer. So, if you do nothing else, you can always write books on internet marketing or any other topic and it will sell like crazy. So, take your time, rest well and come back with a bang. Let me say this: Joel, you will succeed in whatever you do… whether it’s serving God full time in a ministry or serving people in a new business or simply working for somebody else. You did it successfully many times before, and you can do it again. God bless you and your family.
I have been between “here” and “There” I was an engineer with a major aero space company for many years. I loved it, it was major focus. 50 to 60 hours a week, sometimes more. I loved it. Then one day I realized I was hanging on the cliff of burn-out. Burn-out is real. I had to heal so I went to my farm.
I had to heal. No house (had a travel trailer), no running water, no electricy. It was a giant challenge. A battle with nature, … and I found a CLOSENESS TO God I had never experienced before. I was by myself, no backup. It was the best three years of my life! I healed. I went back to the “grid” so to speak and have been successful ever since.
I’m now 60 yrs old and ready to retire. Guess where I am going!
Love you Joel!
Hi! You surprise me a little, but not a lot.
I think you are flexible enough, love to learn new staff, consistent when you really like something, honest with yourself…. so you really can be successful in a lot of positions.
I remember you saying, IM/AM will never be the same and I agree with you!
I think you are in a crusader to find out what you love to do…. and this is positive.
So you will succeed anyway!
I love to read your next post!
Regards
Michaela
This is a very refreshing and interesting update and read…thank you. Being away from the daily workplace for years myself, from time to time will consider going back to work part time. Coming from a person with your past and present success, your sharing of your new adventure in life is appreciated greatly.
Joel,
Fascinating that you did this.
Really looking forward to hearing about your experiences.
By the way, good thing you didn’t to the Wal-Mart route – as a former Wal-Mart cashier and assistant manager, I have to tell you it’s definitely a life experience and makes you question the general public!
interesting. I’m doing the same thing now. (not a book store, but first job in nearly 10 years)
Mine’s more of a get into the mainstream journey, but I understand the process, and like you, I’m learning a lot.
Nice update.
Joel,
It is so happy to see a successful internet marketer like you who will still go back to the book store and work in there for a few hours just for personal growth.I used to be some of do some of your work which have mentioned above and I knew that they were just no easy job at all. I think your experience must be great. However, I would like to ask you just two questions :1.Have experience God’s presence in this experience and 2.How did God spoke to you for your personal growth through this experience?
Great comment and guidance Ralph.
Joel, I’ve long been a fan of yours, keep us posted on your B&N insights and experiences, and best wishes to you for happiness and health (on all levels).
Believe me or not;
While you you are reviewing your ideas of new job, I would tell you to work in a bookstore.
And now you tell me that.
It is interesting and you will feel wonderful feeling while you stay between the great people who put their life experience in little papers and share it with you.
I’m sure that you will be another man after this experience.
I really envy you and hope to get this chance one day.
Waiting your first story from your new life and I’m sure that it will be interesting experience.
Good luck my friend
I am sure you are right…but then that is why people like you are so important to those people that actually get out of their chair and drive to a book sellers.
In the Portland metro area Powell’s has book sellers that are amazing. I have never asked a question that they did not answer without making me feel dumb. That is a very good thing!
b+
Isn’t it great to be able to take a job just because you want to and not because you have to? I’ve been my own boss for so many years I know it would be weird to work a regular job. But I must confess, I have really thought about it and will probably do it in the future. I know people who are greeters (yes, they are over 70) who could retire, but actually enjoy what they do and being useful to others. Bookstore sounds great. Let us know what you learn.