Day 8 of My Writing Challenge
How I got into marketing.
I never thought marketing would be the thing I ended up doing as a career. I mean when I was seven I heard Metallica for the first time and knew I was destined to be in a band. Unfortunately after 20 years of playing music I never was able to make the music thing an actual career. I mean, one I made money at.
So I went back to school with the little money I had. I borrowed money from my brother, borrowed money from my roommates, borrowed money from my parents, borrowed money from my girlfriend at the time and finally, after several years, I made it out with that little slip of paper called a diploma.
The Magic Moment
I was riding my bike back from the library on a weekday afternoon. I knew working at Chipotle was just a means to an end so I started going to the library on my days off to read Entrepreneur magazine, books about negotiating, law books, GMAT study guides and text books. Why you ask? I was looking for something. I was looking for answers and I thought since I didn’t have any idea how to use a computer at the time that the library was the best option.
So here I am sitting at the cross walk, waiting for the light to say walk, and I had a moment. I realized music, specifically playing drums, would never be my end game. I stared into space as the cars raced by during rush hour and started to tear up. The water works were kicking in because for the first time in my adult life, and after 15 years of playing drums, I was beginning to accept I wouldn’t be a professional drummer. And that was OK.
It was a bitter pill to swallow, but another realization came to me in that moment. I thought “Well if I’m not a drummer, than am I kitchen worker forever? I loved my job fabricating stone countertops, but it’s such a laborious job I would never be able to do that forever.” So what do I do?
I decided on mass communications. It seemed like a good starting place and we all have to start somewhere.
Fast forward seven years and I’m graduating college with a focus in public relations. This would be the beginning of my marketing career and the rest of my life.
It’s funny how my mind was so focused on music and being a drummer that I never realized there was actually more out there. I’m so grateful for everyone who helped support me along the way and I’m thankful to have stayed strong through the hard times.
For everyone out there just starting, stay strong! Keep your head up because we all have good days and bad days. It’s how you finish not how you start so stay positive. Everything works itself out in time.
Work hard and stay humble.
Cheers!
