First Days Of Work: Flashback
Apparently, from what I’m reading on Twitter a lot of people are starting work at a new job today, temporary and permanently. I happen to be stranded in the city I started my first internship in now, so why not take this as a reason to write about my experiences back then.
It all started out last minute, as always, when I received the short-notice (a few days before it started) that my application got accepted and I was one of the very few who got a 4-week internship at our local radio station. That was pretty cool in my book, a real radio station, how awesome that was to me back then. So, I remember the first day of work, being so nervous and one hour too early so I had to wait outside and wandered around the city. Everything was still closed, except one fruit and vegetable seller’s stand. He greeted me a good morning, so I sat down on a bench closeby and watched him go about his work.
I found it very interesting as he greeted everyone, made a billion little jokes perfectly adapted to whoever walked by, in his firm but strong voice, clearly roughened out over the years. He gave a free flower to a woman, I still recall that, and I thought: This is so cool, he can give free flowers to just about anyone he wants to, what a great job. It was so inspiring to me, seeing this guy working his ass off, getting up at 6am or earlier every day and deliver his passion like there’ll be no tomorrow. I was pretty fascinated and later often remembered this guy.
My first day of work was crazy. 20 new faces, so many specific terms, the world of radio was crazy, so was my boss. I liked him, because he totally kick-started me into journalism and got me to do real news coverage, reading my reports on-air and telling me straight out what sucked. It took me a few days to figure it out, but I noticed how his honest criticism improved the way I write and go about the news coverage day to day. I got my hands dirty with audio production, even produced radio commercials with professional speakers. I was sent to political events, got to interview pretty cool people who handed me their cards, call me, if you need something, they said. I was totally going nuts with this job. My boss never had more than a minute to talk, but he was the first person ever showing a shitload of trust in me. I said: Boss, I think I can’t do this, I don’t know how? And he always said: Figure it out, show me later. So I did. It was pretty rough at first, but helped me to become aware that very often uncertainty is a bitch keeping you from doing your work despite having everything at hand needed for that task. I failed quite a bit during a lot of my assignments, they laughed at me and I was pissed regularly. But towards the end of my internship I noticed that nobody complained, there was nothing I wasn’t allowed to do, I was on the same jumpseat as a journalism student (she certainly hated me, but man, she was so blonde, a constant distraction), and two other reporters. I was this 16/17 year old guy, who wanted to proof something and they let me, and honored it. I think this was essential to everything that followed. And you bet, working at a radio station in my town is a surefire way to attract girls, lots of girls. I flirted with about 3 girls during a usual day, as said, awesome work. Once my boss asked me where I was all morning; I had lost time in an electronics store, not buying stuff, but talking to a girl behind the counter for almost two hours straight. That was strange, and fun. A few years layer, she saw me at a festival and well, odd situation. I just loved working for a radio station.
So, I started off every work day walking by the fruit and vegetable seller to pump myself a little more seeing his motivation. I had my ups and downs, but this guy was a constant straight A, he never was in a mood other than super nice and super motivated. Fascinating.
This morning, I sat on that bench again. He is still here, after almost 10 years. And guess what, he’s still doing it his way, 100%. He greeted me, I sat down and there he was talking to a group of elderly ladies, all smiling because of his little jokes and flirts with them. I had to leave for my train then, but if this helps me through my next ten years, I’ll return and finally buy something there. You’ve inspired me, thanks man.
