My first task was in a shopping mall.
This was back in the late 80s, when shopping malls were giant, out of control behemoths the size of city blocks.
It was stressed work, however a fun way to spend my night & weekends & make a little spending currency. One day a client was rude to me, so I was rude back. When the supervisor demanded I apologize, I told him to go to hell & I quit. I was really proud of myself that day. It was that feeling of independence & power that drove me to getting my Heating & A/C certification. I came to realize, not after that shopping mall task, that if I l received a specialized set of skills, as with Heating & A/C repair, then I could have total control over my work. I would not have to eat crow, or mince my words, because my Heating & A/C skills would provide me value. That took some work, even though I was bound & determined to get my Heating & A/C certification & beginning looking for a fine task. I could be freelance, & just choice up whatever labor I could find, or I could go to labor for an Heating & A/C supplier for guaranteed pay & benefits. One day I idea on being my own Heating & A/C supplier, even though I still need years of experience to get to that point. Even when I do labor for another Heating & A/C supplier, I am still essentially my own boss, & won’t have to take any tasks I don’t want to. That kind of freedom is pressing to me.