My first job was in a shopping mall.
This was back in the late 70s, when shopping malls were giant, out of control behemoths the size of city blocks.
It was busy work, however a fun way to spend our night and weekends and make a little spending currency. One morning a customer was rude to me, so I was rude back. When the director demanded I apologize, I told him to go to hell and I quit. I was absolutely proud of myself that morning. It was that feeling of independence and power that drove myself and others to getting our Heating and Air Conditioning certification. I came to realize, not after that shopping mall job, that if I l received a specialized set of skills, as with Heating and Air Conditioning repair, then I could have total control over our work. I would not have to eat crow, or mince our words, because our Heating and Air Conditioning skills would give myself and others value. That took some work, but I was bound and determined to get our Heating and Air Conditioning certification and start looking for a nice job. I could be freelance, and just option up whatever labor I could find, or I could go to labor for an Heating and Air Conditioning supplier for guaranteed pay and benefits. One morning I plan on being our own Heating and Air Conditioning supplier, but I still need years of experience to get to that point. Even when I do labor for another Heating and Air Conditioning supplier, I am still essentially our own boss, and won’t have to take any jobs I don’t want to. That kind of freedom is substantial to me.