Could your Internship Lead to a $2.2 Million a Year Salary?

This month, I'd like to highlight a real life successAnd now, he's being paid millions to do something
story from someone who followed the exacthe loves.
same steps that I encourage all of my studentsSo, what's the lesson for you? First, he did
to follow, and it will give him a $2,200,000 a yearexactly what I've been encouraging my students
salary for the next five years.to do for years: take the initiative to contact
For those you not from San Diego, or who aren'tpeople in the business or field that you are
NFL fans, the Chargers General Manager A.J.interested in and offer to work for free,
Smith just recently signed a 5 year contractrequesting only a letter or recommendation if you
worth $11 million dollars. But what's interestingperform well just like for A.J. Smith did. Many
about this isn't the salary, since pro-football paysemployers will ignore you or say no...but you only
its' players, coaches and managers very well; it'sneed one to say yes. Then, when you get your
how A.J. ended up in the NFL in the first placeopportunity, treat it like you were getting paid. It
that's fascinating.was reported that Smith clocked in and out on
A.J. Smith was a health and physical educationtime like a factory worker, even when he was
teacher in Rhode Island twenty two years agovolunteering. If you find that you hate something
when he left to join pro football full time with theafter a little while, that's great. Now you don't
Chargers. When he first decided to get started inhave to waste any more time on that field or
the NFL, though, he had no pro footballcareer, and you can move on to the next item
experience. It didn't matter to him, though.on the list.
Here's what he did: he wrote letters to a numberOn the other hand, if you find it's something you
of NFL teams asking for one thing only: thelove, you never know what that first job might
opportunity to work for free. Most ignored him,turn into. In Smith's case, it was his first 'boss'-the
but one team said yes, and that's all it took. Jimguy he worked for free for---that set up the
Trimble, the late personnel director of the Newsecond job for him; only this time, he was getting
York Giants was intrigued enough to contact himpaid. And, it led to him becoming the Charger's
back and see what he had to say. Here's whatgeneral manager in 2003 when Bill Butler (the GM
Smith explained, 'What I'd like to do is come workbefore him) died.
for nothing. I'm not asking for pay, I'm asking forAlso, I'd say to not begrudge being a rookie.
experience; so that the following year, if I'm anyEverybody has to start at the bottom of the
good, then at least I could have a letter oftotem pole and wage scale. So, don't feel like
recommendation.'you're being taken advantage of by working for
He spent a year with the Giants as a volunteerfree. You're not because you're gaining something
scout, then moved on to New England (atvery valuable to you…experience.
Trimble's recommendation) as a part timeFinally, since you're going to work for decades
film-grader…for $3 an hour. He barelyanyways, you might as well find something that
made any money, and it apparently cost himyou're passionate about. It's often been quoted
money to do the job by the time he had paid histhat you should 'find something you love to do,
car's gas, but he got his foot in the door. His wifeand you'll never work a day in your life'; well, this
Sue was quoted in the San Diego Union Tribuneis partially true, you should find work you enjoy,
recently as saying "We never got into thisbut you have to find something that pays
business for him to be a general manager. He wasdecently as well. Who knows, maybe like A.J.
getting into this business to be in something heSmith of the Chargers, you'll find something that
loved. He would have taken being a janitor. Hewill ultimately pay you millions for what you would
would have taken any position to get his foot indo for free.
the door."