I’m a big fan of Steve Jobs. Not just Steve Jobs, the entrepreneur, but also Steve Jobs, the presenter. Jobs sure knew how to control a room. I loved watching all his keynote speeches where he would reveal new products. In college, I was an Advertising major, and when I would give presentations in classes, I would format them like a Steve Jobs keynote. There is one speech of his that stands above the rest though, and he’s not talking iPods or iPhones:

If you want to stop reading now, that’s ok with me because the lesson’s in the video. Going to stick around with me for a few more minutes? Great.
My degree was technically “Journalism and Mass Communication with a focus on Advertising and Public Relations”. I was excited to try and find a job in my field once I finished. When I graduated, I was the manager of a Coldstone Creamery.
I made a mistake in college. I should have found an internship. I should have gotten experience somewhere. After college, I got a side gig writing articles and blog posts for a local swimming school, but finding a full-time job in my field was proving impossible. Everyone wanted experience, but I needed a better paying job right then. So, I decided to try something else.
Even though I continued writing swim school articles, it felt like I was bailing. Like I earned a degree for nothing. But, I decided to just trust that it would work out and keep moving. I thought sales would be right up my alley….but what to sell? At the time, I thought it had to be a product that I was already familiar with. The iPhone had just launched at Sprint and Verizon after being exclusive to AT&T for a couple of years. I figured that since I probably knew more about the product than their current sales team, it was worth applying. I interviewed at a Spring retailer and got the job (I’m now sure it had nothing to do with my knowledge of the iPhone, but rather my ability to have great conversations with my soon-to-be boss). I was soon promoted to a store manager and managed several stores in the district (sometimes two at a time). Eventually, I needed a change, though. Retail is not easy, and I found myself working 12-hour days regularly, 6 or 7 days a week. I needed something where I had time for me. And as you can gather since you’re reading this, I landed in the automotive aftermarket.
This story is proof that the dots will all connect later. I work in the Sales Department of a transmission remanufacturer. It may seem like I wasted time learning all the features of the latest cell phones. Not true. Besides learning how to sell at Sprint, my skills from that chapter of life come in handy all the time. Selling phones means you know about all the latest tech, all the cool features. Now, I’m a guy who can help co-workers when they are trying to find a way to use technology to make a task easier. I’m the guy who is part of our beta testing team when we implement new tech products and processes in our day-to-day. That focus on journalism in college? Well, you’re reading something I wrote right now. I don’t know what comes next for me, but I am confident my learning, growing, and taking on challenges aren’t in vain. Listen to Steve Jobs. Learn other skills. Do other things you love. The dots will connect later.
 

It’s not always clear how your dots will connect into a pretty picture in life. For Eric, it took him through ice cream, swimming, cell phones to this very article. How have your dots connected? Share your thoughts below or email Eric directly.