Because of my travels, I am missing today's Oprah where she returns to her first job as a news anchor.
My first job was washing and folding hospital gowns. I still grossed out when I think of it.
Oprah wins.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
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24 comments:
I used to work with my brother serving appetizers and washing dishes at the dinner parties of our parents friends. We had fun and we worked hard for the money they paid us. I also was a babysitter extraordinaire. I don't really remember spending the money I earned, mostly I saved it for college.
My favorite thing in this show was Suze Orman saying that what you are is not what you do, it's how you treat people and how you serve them. Be kind to people and be pleasant to people. Suze loved being a waitress, my mom says that besides being a teacher, being a waitress was her favorite job too.
Cleaning a deli at the end of the day.
Certified Babysitter...oh thats right, certified!
My first job was for two months at a Renaissance Festival. Yes, I was in costume and had a terrible accent. I worked at a jousting game where drunk people sat across from each other on a log and tried to knock the other one off with a pillow. They landed in hay, which I had to periodically fluff throughout the day. Turns out, I'm really allergic to hay, and I left on my last day with pneumonia, which it took me a month to get over. Fun memories!
This is great. First off, Susie - I am so happy there are people who enjoy waiting tables. I was terrible at it. I didn't really spend my money either - I've always worked, but can't remember spending! And yet...where did it go?!
a.e. EW. Sorry. But, wow, that sounds unpleasant to me, but I have a total aversion to mayo! Was it a family biz?
PR hahaha! how on earth did you get certified?
CS. I'm jealous of your story. I would have LOVED that (not the allergy part, but the costumes and such) when I was younger. Did you ever do the joust?
Hi Robyn!
I just found this site completely by accident, and I am thrilled! Though my feelings about Oprah go back and forth, I read O Magazine regularly and am always trying to put Oprah-endorsed practices to use... This idea is/was fabulous! Debating on sifting through the archives or waiting for your book...
Hey Homevalley! Welcome to you. Well the good news is, most of the text in the book is new material...so there shouldn't be too much repetition. I hope. At least that was my aim. Let me ask you a question - what do you like the most about O magazine? xo robyn
My first job (other than doing my sister's paper route on weekends) was watering plants in offices. I wasn't supposed to talk to the people in the offices, but did anyway.
My favorite moment from that job (other than quitting) was when I watered a plant and the man sitting behind the desk said "you don't need to water that one. It's silk."
I worked in a tourist gift shop because I wanted so badly to use the cash register and push those buttons, but because I was so young and only the summer help, I only got to walk around the store and dust and watch for shop lifters. I would wipe the bottom of my feet with the white dust clothes so that it looked like I had been busy dusting all day.
What a great job for motivating me to go to college!
Betty
Robin. LOL!
Betty. Did you ever find a shoplifter?!
I was a Merry Maid. I actually was good at it and did like it when the homeowners were not home. There were lots of regular customers I never met, but I felt like I knew them b/c I knew their houses - the sweet couple who always left a tip, the house with the room full of wigs we weren't allowed to touch, the weird family with the mom that saved every (AND I DO MEAN EVERY) disposable razor and sliver of Irish Spring soap in a lump in the bathroom, etc. It was a hoot and I got to do a job unsupervised for much of the day - what could be better?
I babysat, like a lot of kids do, but my first real job was working at a pizza place.
I started out washing dishes (wooooo boy was that not fun), then worked at the counter and eventually they let me make the pizzas.
I honestly learned a lot and wouldn't trade any of my experiences for the world.
My first jobs were a combo of the following - Walking beans and detassling corn for the neighbors (farmers) and babysitting. My first "Real" job was a cashier at a local K-mart. I wasn't really good at it though.
LO, that's awful! I hope they were mostly clean and stain free!
I loved this episode. It fit my mood yesterday perfectly. I know there were other things I wanted to comment on, but I can't remember them right this second.
My stepmom and dad owned a hair salon, so my first job was sweeping up hair, cleaning tanning beds (eww! They smelled like burning hair and skin), answering phones, and straightening the store. This would have been 1992 and I got paid $2.50/hour (and I was 12). I started waitressing at 16 (once I got my driver's license) and did enjoy the job, but really treasured the friendships with the people I worked with (some of whom I'm still in touch with).
I loved what Suze said about not being what you do. I truly agree. I also think my life was shaped by starting to work at a young age.
I think that the thing that I like most about O magazine is the book reviews and recommendations. I also like seeing some of the lower priced products. I like the magazine so much (I've been getting it from a coworker when she's done with them) that I bought subscriptions for two people this year (there was a buy 1 get 1 promotion). I think the pieces are the right mix of being entertaining and informative. I skip the Dr Phil section (he makes me mad) and re-read Suze's articles.
I stuffed envelopes for a week at the Herman's Sporting Goods store my friend's dad ran. Sadly, that skill was to be a huge part of another job I held during the early 90s recession.
My first job was receptionist and ad taker at a Chicago Neighborhood newspaper. I was 15 or so and the lady owner seemed, at the time, to be about 90, probably was more like 60. I learned how to use the "plug type switchboard." That is where I met my first real boyfriend, dated, married and had 2 daughters. Unfortunately the story does not have a happy ending, because we did divorce, but the memories are there and the children are great human beings.
I started babysitting when I was eleven, but my first "real" job was when I was fifteen. I worked as a receptionist for an insurance salesman, who also wanted me to make cold calls for him to drum up business. Ugh. I am not the kind of person who enjoys asking, "Would you like a free quote on your car insurance?" :>P My boss also seriously hit on me, but I was so totally naive that I didn't realize it until much later.
My first job was as a lifeguard at a large water park here in GA. I stayed for 8 summers, moving up the ranks as I went. The last 3 seasons, I was the trainer of the lifeguards! I love it there and still return to visit the full time staff (aka my friends).
LO, missing you! And now 3 posts, wow!
My first job: basket room attendant at the local public pool. We did not have lockers; we had baskets that people stored their clothes in, and then turned them into a room where the basket was stored, and retrieved by, yours truly.
I used to work as a beach boy- raking sand and bringing people there umbrella's and chairs.
It was forced upon me by my mother "get a job" she would say. It was not until my second Job at an ice cream shop where I felt the thrill of meeting people, servicing and most importantly making some $$$. It is funny how the first job can have such an effect of being. It is also interesting how in such a time of economic strife how some people feel forced into things and other start something completely new. well after almost a year therapy and soul searching I am making my way. :-))
My first job I was an Co-op/Intern at a Fortune 500 Company. Not your typical 16-year-old job, but I definitely learned a lot about corporate America and myself!
LO- I never did the joust myself. Getting knocked off a log with a pillow into a pile of hay by some big drunk guy is not my idea of fun. It was cute to watch the kids do it, though, and we'd sometimes hold the really little ones on the log to give them an unfair advantage!
I have to note that one of the worst parts of the job was the cold and mud. Renaissance wench outfits are not known to be good in cold, wet weather (it was October in Kansas), and when it rained the mud was horrible!
wow! these comments were fun to read! this question made me remember my own 1st job (window dressing! i got to work on the themes n then dress up the mannequins & style all the accessories in the store fronts!).
I realise - I was lucky to have had a job which made me happy and which as a fun creative job...i have fond memories and it still makes me smile :) - perhaps, thats the reason now, in all my jobs i have tried to be creative, happy and had fun.... & when it was no longer a happy space - I moved on!
Came across the blog by chance... sounds very interesting! Look forward to following yr blog regularly n I hope the book will come out in India too :)
you! washing and folding hospital gowns! oh shivers. squirms. squeeeellls.
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