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Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

Their First Job: 40 Under 40 Nominees Look Back

The Business Journal asked some of the 40 Under 40 nominees and honorees about their first jobs and how that experience shaped them. Also, what lessons did they learn that have helped them later in their careers? Aaron Green, Afriat Consulting Group Inc. One of my first “serious” jobs was as an intern for Senator (now Vice President) Joe Biden, on the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations: I had an intern program manager at the U.S Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Gabe Bitol, and he taught me something that has always stuck with me. On my first day on the job he told me, ‘Dress for the job you want, not for the job you have.’ I’ve always followed that advice since, however it is also emblematic of a greater work philosophy of mine, which is: don’t just do the bare minimum to get by, but be the best employee that you can be, and you will get to where you want to go. Luis Garibay, City of Lancaster When I was 12 (growing up in the Antelope Valley) I was cutting yards and doing yard work for a friend of my mom’s. It definitely showed me the value of hard work. It also taught me that I’d better get an education so I don’t have to do this for a living. I just don’t have the talent I guess to do it. They’re always fun that first job. You really learn what you can do and you cannot do, and figure out what I am good at and sticking to that. Lindsey Carnett, Marketing Maven Public Relations My first job was an internship when I was at college at California Lutheran University and it turned out to be my first real job out of college. I figured that I like variety and I like independence and I like getting what I work for. That’s what shaped me and made me a driven person. This was at a small boutique PR agency, and that is what I have now. Omer Samiri, iVision Mobile I don’t know if my first job really helped me in my business today. I would say that some jobs down the road helped out but my first jobs weren’t interesting; mostly in retail in malls and serving in restaurants. I started a nightclub promotions business out of college and that was helpful. It gave me the tools I needed to run my own business. That’s how I got started in entrepreneurship. When you are running your own business you are the jack of all trades and wearing a lot of hats. I learned a lot doing that. Dan Kahn, Kahn Media In high school I worked various retail type jobs, but the summer after I graduated from high school a friend of my family approached me about an opportunity. He was the editor of a mountain bike magazine based in Chatsworth, and knowing that I was an aspiring writer who happened to love cars, he told me the same company he worked for also had a car magazine that needed an entry-level writer. I interviewed for the job, got it, and within a week was cranking out stories for a magazine called “All American Chevys.” I ended up working extremely long hours for very little pay, but through the process of attrition I was the editor of two national magazines (the Chevy title and a magazine called Kart Racer) within a year. After a few years I earned a journalism degree, worked for a major publishing house, spent some time as an editor at a major consumer website, then eventually changed sides and went into PR. Despite all that, I learned one very simple lesson that stuck with me to this day: if you love what you do, none of the negative stuff matters. A dozen years later I still work in the communications field (now on the PR side of the fence) and I still focus most of my business on the automotive industry. I still work the long hours, but I’m happy to do it. I love my job. Lewis Chappelear, Monroe High School My first job was when I was 16 years old working at A&W restaurant. I was the fry guy. I’d work until midnight and go into school the next day smelling like French fries. After having that job I realized just how tough work can really be. My second job was a lifeguard and I found out that all I had to take a couple of classes and could get a really great job. Meesha Dibner, Michel Financial Group My first job was in customer service. I worked at a store called the Coffee Bean (not to be confused with the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf). It was all customer service. I think each job that you do gives different skills that you are going to need to progress through life. That was the first time I overcame my shyness and was able to talk to anybody who walked up to the front counter. It did help me and now I am in marketing. So coffee does work. Justin Krane, Krane Financial Solutions My first job at a wire house (a brokerage with multiple locations) was not the right place for me, and I learned a ton because of this. 1) I learned I was a true entrepreneur and control my own destiny 2) I learned about how strong relationships built around empathy can strengthen a client/advisor relationship 3) I learned that I love to consult and help people where I have no conflicts of interest 4) I learned that I need to take time and rejuvenate – I meditate every day 5) I learned that I need to deliver a client experience that is first class 6) I learned that I needed to take a fair amount of time to work on my business and not just in my business. – Compiled by Mark R. Madler

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