The question that has plagued me ever since I decided to venture into the upper echelon of careers as a lawn guy (not to be confused with lawn boy). The versatility alone of the title has let me try out less pompous versions but they all return the same result.
"I cut grass," "I mow lawns," and the overly cocky "I'm a landscaper."
I almost cringe for the person doing the asking when they tell me they're "profession." It’s always hard for me to not include the word "just" when answering back, "oh, your just a doctor?" and even harder to refrain from adding "that's cute" at the end.
It’s been difficult to stay grounded in the fast pace world of a lawn guy. I still think I have what it takes but in an effort to not isolate myself from the common people I decided to sell the business and move on. Much like a champion body builder ridding himself of the steroids and trying to compete in the “Natural” division, I find myself having difficulty fitting in with the noticeable remnants of my bulging career quads (Quads of course being the sexiest of bulging muscles). I wanted to be able to not have to constantly justify my job with the obligatory “it’s really not as totally awesome as you may thing.” (Even though it was)
So now what?
Did the methadone of moving to New York and getting married rid me of my status addiction?
I wish there was a happy end to this story. I can say I am working on it. I’m trying to find a Bruce Wayne balance to my Batman professional life. I want to be able to have the typical “where are you from, what do you do?” conversation without the resulting “you’re so rad I wish I were you” comments.
This past weekend we went to DC to visit Sarah Stancliff and clean out our storage unit (read junk pile in Sarah’s basement). They had a barbeque and then we went to visit some of Sarah’s friends. As you would suspect, DC is filled with some rather impressive resumes and I had hoped it would allow for a more fluid transition into their social network. Big oops on my part. Stacey just passed the California bar, Mike works at the Pentagon, Pete is just finishing patent law, and Sarah practically runs a nonprofit and does counseling on the side. I would add more but this list bores me. I have found though that my efforts to tone down the haughtiness of my new job situation have been thwarted by my loving wife. I try to explain to Pete that I’m an intern with almost nothing to do all day and I make/design skis. I already see the shame in his eyes of the sorrowful years wasted chasing a law degree. “Did I say too much?” I’m worrying. Then suddenly Christy steps in and lays down the hammer, “Adam is actually trying to start up a ski company” BOOM! It’s too late. Why didn’t she just say “curer of cancer” or “pirate fighting ninja”?
On the long bus ride home between the rotating smells of Mr. “B.O. Diarrhea pants” I decided I need to let everyone know ahead of time what I have been up to since the days as a lawn guy.
The ski stuff is starting to take off. We just finalized things with our manufacturer and they will get be getting started immediately. It’s still very new but very exciting. We are of course working hard and hoping for the best.
We are moving back to Utah at the end of June and while the ski thing is taking off I will be trying to get a job at Fidelity Investments. That will be the full time gig that actually pays money. (As opposed to the first year ot two of the ski thing)
Right now I am doing an internship at a company called AKQA. They are an interactive agency. The company is actually pretty cool but since the individual positions are rather specialized I end up writing blog entries instead of having a lot of actual work.
I’m off to fill in a spreadsheet. Up up and away!
"I cut grass," "I mow lawns," and the overly cocky "I'm a landscaper."
I almost cringe for the person doing the asking when they tell me they're "profession." It’s always hard for me to not include the word "just" when answering back, "oh, your just a doctor?" and even harder to refrain from adding "that's cute" at the end.
It’s been difficult to stay grounded in the fast pace world of a lawn guy. I still think I have what it takes but in an effort to not isolate myself from the common people I decided to sell the business and move on. Much like a champion body builder ridding himself of the steroids and trying to compete in the “Natural” division, I find myself having difficulty fitting in with the noticeable remnants of my bulging career quads (Quads of course being the sexiest of bulging muscles). I wanted to be able to not have to constantly justify my job with the obligatory “it’s really not as totally awesome as you may thing.” (Even though it was)
So now what?
Did the methadone of moving to New York and getting married rid me of my status addiction?
I wish there was a happy end to this story. I can say I am working on it. I’m trying to find a Bruce Wayne balance to my Batman professional life. I want to be able to have the typical “where are you from, what do you do?” conversation without the resulting “you’re so rad I wish I were you” comments.
This past weekend we went to DC to visit Sarah Stancliff and clean out our storage unit (read junk pile in Sarah’s basement). They had a barbeque and then we went to visit some of Sarah’s friends. As you would suspect, DC is filled with some rather impressive resumes and I had hoped it would allow for a more fluid transition into their social network. Big oops on my part. Stacey just passed the California bar, Mike works at the Pentagon, Pete is just finishing patent law, and Sarah practically runs a nonprofit and does counseling on the side. I would add more but this list bores me. I have found though that my efforts to tone down the haughtiness of my new job situation have been thwarted by my loving wife. I try to explain to Pete that I’m an intern with almost nothing to do all day and I make/design skis. I already see the shame in his eyes of the sorrowful years wasted chasing a law degree. “Did I say too much?” I’m worrying. Then suddenly Christy steps in and lays down the hammer, “Adam is actually trying to start up a ski company” BOOM! It’s too late. Why didn’t she just say “curer of cancer” or “pirate fighting ninja”?
On the long bus ride home between the rotating smells of Mr. “B.O. Diarrhea pants” I decided I need to let everyone know ahead of time what I have been up to since the days as a lawn guy.
The ski stuff is starting to take off. We just finalized things with our manufacturer and they will get be getting started immediately. It’s still very new but very exciting. We are of course working hard and hoping for the best.
We are moving back to Utah at the end of June and while the ski thing is taking off I will be trying to get a job at Fidelity Investments. That will be the full time gig that actually pays money. (As opposed to the first year ot two of the ski thing)
Right now I am doing an internship at a company called AKQA. They are an interactive agency. The company is actually pretty cool but since the individual positions are rather specialized I end up writing blog entries instead of having a lot of actual work.
I’m off to fill in a spreadsheet. Up up and away!
