The Joy Of Reinventing Yourself!

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

When I was in high school, the only thing I thought about was being a coach. I have always loved being involved in sports. The picture to the left is our high school baseball team in 1965. We went to the state tournament my senior year. I went on to college to get my teaching degree. I graduated from Mayville State University in Mayville, North Dakota in 1969. I was offered a teaching and coaching position in Hatton, North Dakota.

This was the beginning of a 45 year career in education. At least, that is what I thought, at the time. We spent the next 11 years in Hatton. They were very good years. I grew personally and professionally. The skills I learned have lasted me a lifetime. I learned how to be a leader. I learned how to speak in front of people. Above all, I learned a great deal about human behavior.

Things change. In 1980 my wife, kids, and I decided to move to Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was difficult to leave education. It was also difficult to leave our home area. Our daughters were 12 and 9, at the time. It was time to reinvent myself. I resigned my position and we headed for the cities, without a job.

I interviewed and received an offer, as an entry level programmer, with the Unisys Corporation. I spent the next 8 years writing computer programs. During that snapshot in time, our daughters were getting braces, on their teeth. The corporate benefits came in pretty handy. As life would have it, it was time to reinvent myself again.

In 1988, I accepted an offer with Hayden & Associates to become an IT Corporate Recruiter. Compensation was straight commission. The thought was very unsettling for my wife and I. We spent many a night talking about it. Finally, my wife, Jesse said let’s go for it. We have never looked back. I am in my 25th year recruiting IT professionals. In fact, I have been independent for the last 20 years.

When Y2K came along, IT recruiting went dormant for about 3 years. What are we going to do? It was time to reinvent myself, for the fourth time. I took the necessary education and obtained my real estate license to sell residential real estate, in the state of Minnesota. I ran my real estate business along side my recruiting business. The real estate business is something I had thought about, for some years. I am sort of a handyman. I was a math teacher, so the numbers just dance in my head. I also  enjoy sales.

I spent 10 years in real estate. We all know what has happened to the real estate business, since 2006. It was time to reinvent myself, for the fifth time. I terminated my real estate license.

In 2008, my wife and I bought a portfolio of charged off credit card debt, with financing from an investment group. Our mission was to collect as much of the face value, as possible. Our business model was small claims court. We have been working the portfolio for the last 4 years. It has been a very good business for us. Again, I run this business along side my IT recruiting business.

As I look back at the last 44 years, it has been an adventure. It is an adventure I wouldn’t trade for the world. It has not always been easy, but the rewards have been worth it. Having my independence is probably the greatest reward of all. I have taught high school math, coached high school basketball, written computer programs, recruited IT professionals, sold real estate, and bought and collected credit card debt.

There is common ground, in all of these opportunities. First and foremost, you need to be self motivated. You need to run with a sense of urgency, be willing to learn quickly, be willing to be diligent, be able to deal with stress, really appreciate the feeling of independence, enjoy trying something new, and have an understanding of effective time management. I have often said, act like you know where you are going and believe that you are going to get there!

Last year, a very good friend approached me with an career opportunity. I still have my recruiting and collection companies in play. Was it time to reinvent, for the sixth time?  I looked at it and decided it was too good to pass up.

If you would like to feel the excitement that goes with reinventing yourself, click the button on the right side, the top, or the bottom, of the screen and let your adventure begin! Step out of your comfort zone. I wish you all the best!