The quintessential, "Jack of all trades and Swiss Army Knife" package.

As a detailed in a previous blog, I started my career in retail. I worked for a shoe company and back in those days, the shoe business was leased out in most department stores.  I worked as a manager and supervisor. One had to learn all aspects of business. I did the window and in-store displays, stocking and inventory management, hiring and training, doing payroll and HR functions, writing ad copy and marketing functions as well as first and foremost on the floor selling shoes.

After I left retail I landed a job as the manager of a wholesale book distributor. In this job, I once again was called upon to wear many hats. I did all the functions necessary because  I only had one other employee at the beginning a person to answer the phone, bookkeeping, and taking orders. I did the inventory management orders and stocking, packing shipping and receiving of books. I designed the product catalog and all the marketing materials, I was the sales department going to conventions, prospecting by telephone and school visits.

I also was in charge of the IT functions. In 1986 this entailed everything related to computers. It was a great time to start because it was at the beginning of the computer age.  I had to set everything up. We had a book company on the internet even before Amazon. I designed the website and monitored the back end. I also managed the security and back up of physical computer systems,
I was afforded the luxury of taking computer classes.

The school book business was changing and we weren't able to adapt because of poor ownership.  I decided to buy a leadership and management training franchise. I wanted to improve companies because of my previous experience in retail and the wholesale business with poorly run companies. Well, the timing was very bad because I started in 2006 and the recession was hitting and the first things cut was training.

After a few years of "bridge jobs", I landed at a tent and event rental company as business development manager. I once again started to take on many other roles due to the size of the company and its expanding needs. I once again took on IT duties and ran the social media. I implemented a CRM and email campaign. I was called on to manage projects in the field when we got too busy for the GM to handle. I also took on the tasks of writing bids and proposals. I then was called upon to get permits for our tents, This became a real challenge, I  had to learn CAD and deal with architectural drawings.  I increased my sales and prosecuting duties to help launch our expansion into three other markets.

Now you see why I call myself the Swiss Army Knife of skill sets because Jack of all trades is still not valued in some circles. By the way, the original expression is; Jack of all trades master of but not one.