So, it’s been a little over a month since I started my internship with GSOF. The experience I’ve had so far has been outstanding. Since we are currently going through a global pandemic, all of our work is remote and it has made everyone adapt to changes.
For example, right now we should be in Warsaw, Poland doing our European Symposium, but we have postponed it until next year…
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Finally Meeting (Some of) The Team
Recently, however, I did get the chance to go up to The Range Complex near Fort Bragg to do a little work with a couple of our Corporate Partners–which was a nice change of pace and a good excuse to get out of the house and out from behind the computer.
We got to see what new stuff Deployed Resources has and the new upgrades that The Range Complex has been doing–both are working on exciting new things. We also got to shoot some guns, which as you may know…is always fun.
This little trip was the first time that I got to meet Stu and Chelesa in “real life” and not just through a computer monitor. One of the most memorable parts of the couple days, for me, was getting to honor Stu’s dad with a drink at Fiddlers Green and seeing that as people we leave a little history in everything we do.
Whether that means spending about 8 hours going over 13 different uniforms dating back to 1916 or watching someone drive their ATV into a ditch because they’re not paying attention to what they’re doing. Or maybe it’s found in always waiting on the same person in the mornings, or showing up and not having a hotel room because someone forgot to book it after I asked and reminded them 3 times…just maybe.
Joking aside, I know it’s always these things that will make me sit back and smile in the future!
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Sold on Sales (But Not How I Expected)
When I started with the Foundation, all I knew was that I had the gift of gab and that I wanted to be in sales. I know that “sales” is a pretty broad thing, and I had to narrow down what in sales I wanted to be a part of.
One thing I knew for sure was that cold calling was out of the question. I know I hate getting those cold calls from salespeople so I wouldn’t want to do it to someone else. Really all I knew about sales is what I learned from my dad. He sold mapping software to electrical companies and that’s what I thought sales was for the most part.
So when I started here at GSOF, I was matched up to work with Steve Jones and he has taken me under his wing to show me what business development is. I never knew that side of sales and I was immediately hooked. I knew that this was something that I could do, and I know I can do it well with the right teacher.
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The “Transition” Part Of The Program
While in the internship program, I had to go to Hawaii (I know, hard life) to do one last thing for the Army. When I got there I had to quarantine for 14 days as per their state COVID19 guidelines. So there I was, 6 hours behind the east coast time and getting up at 3am to get on the VTC meetings with the team. They all laughed and wondered how I was able to get up and always look the best on camera. Well, I give that credit to coffee and redbull.
Next week I get to turn in my CIF. That is the last big thing that is left for me in the Army. After collecting stuff for 21 years with 5 uniform changes, 6 RFI draws and countless other issued stuff it will be a great feeling to get it out of my house. Not to mention that my wife will get her spare room back so that she can make it into whatever she wants.
Finally, I’m left with the task to find the job that I want to do when “I grow up”. Until now, I have got to play Army. It’s been fun and looking back, time has gone by pretty fast. But there were also times when I thought it would never be over.
With that said, I sit here again at my dining room table, in my makeshift office, typing this out, a screaming infant in the background, my dog laying next to me probably wondering why I’m still home and not taking him outside or throwing the ball.
I “final” out of the Army in 36 days and with the Skillbridge program, I am that much more in front of what life will bring me in the future and what I want to do when I grow up.
…Oh by the way, does anyone out there reading this know of or have a job for me?