I’ll be honest. I went to college so that I could get a job paying better than that of a high school graduate. I was fortunate to have scholarships, so I do not know the entire cost of my undergraduate education. If I had to guess, I would estimate $10k per year for everything, or about $40k. And in 1993, my starting salary was $32k per year, so using quick math, it was easy to justify the return on the investment.
My first job out of college was in a turkey processing plant. I remember when I told Big Mama where I was going to be working; her initial reaction was “we sent you to engineering school for four years to learn how to cut up turkeys?” It was not the sexy job I envisioned, but the management skills I learned were essential to my destiny. I learned how to effectively get things done, from the turkey farm to the conference room. More importantly, I earned credibility and hands on experience of everything from hatcheries to further processing to transportation and logistics (ask me about how turkeys are artificially inseminated). In other words: Grow where you are planted (1 Corinthians 7:17).
I come from a tithing family, so it was natural for me to give at my new professional level. Proverbs 3:9-10 says to Honor the Lord with your wealth (tithes) and your barns will be filled with overflow (blessings). You have to have an exchange to receive God’s blessings. Giving tithes releases these blessings. I like the way He explains it in Malachi 3:10: Test me in this, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. My blessing was the opportunity to take those management skills and apply them in a new industry. I started working in the compact disc manufacturing industry. I was there for launch of Playstation and DVD platforms (much sexier than turkeys, right?). This company offered tuition reimbursement, so I took advantage of that while working and earned a Master’s degree in Business. Most importantly, during this season I met and married the man prepared especially for me! Blessed!!!
James and I were both career-oriented, so we have moved several times throughout our marriage. Our first move was for James, and I relocated on faith, with no job. But My Father has a plan, power, and provisions (Joshua 1:1-11) for His leaders. I always wanted to work in heavy manufacturing, and he had prepared for me a job that would provide engineering, marketing, and technology experience on both a local and global level. I did not understand it then, but He was arranging everything required for me to be able to lead my own manufacturing company. His requirement for me: Be strong and very courageous. Be careful and obey the word (Joshua 1:7).
If you are one of those people looking for work, I know the short-term outlook is gloomy. What is impossible with man is possible with God (Luke 18:27). It’s 2011 and many of my friends are preparing to send their children to college, faced with a different challenge. I have heard more than one story about skyrocketed college costs of over $40k per year. Putting that into perspective, after about five years, the cost of that child’s education is $200k. I cannot predict the future, however, I wonder what types of jobs will be paying $150k+ starting salary in 2016.
As a business owner, I am integrated into both large and small manufacturing operations. One of the common needs is skilled labor-vocational style jobs like welders, machinists, operators, etc. None of these jobs require a four-year degree, and can actually be used as a stepping stone to advance within progressive companies.
If you or your child is among the many faced with finding a sustainable career option, I suggest looking into manufacturing opportunities. Here’s a link to the most recent data explaining 25 consecutive months of industry expansion (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-01/u-s-august-ism-manufacturing-report-on-business-text-.html). I started in turkey processing and look at where He has taken me. If you do not know where or how to get started, give me a call and let’s discuss what jobs are available in your area. I will end this post the same way I started it: You have not because you ask not (James 4:2). Ask for a job and your purposed work!
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