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