1/13/2005 10:17:13 AM|||Scott Lewis|||

Do you remember your first or worst job? Did it have anything to do with what you're doing today or where you want to be tomorrow? Consider this - Jennifer Aniston used to wait tables, Madonna served donuts at Dunkin' Donuts, and Jerry Seinfeld hawked lightbulbs as a telemarketer.

All careers start with a good foundation. The same is true for those of the rich and famous. They worked their way into their thriving careers by starting at the bottom and paying their dues. The skills and experience they gained at their first jobs helped to catapult them into future success. So what can they teach us?

Start at the bottom
Successful journalists like Walter Cronkite, Katie Couric and Stone Phillips built their careers by starting in an entry-level position. Young Walter ventured into his journalism career as a small boy selling newspapers and magazines in Kansas City. He says his experience inspired "a future passion for current events, history in the making, the stuff of journalism." While Katie Couric didn't have a paper route, she did use her first job as a desk assistant at ABC to springboard to becoming one of the leading ladies in broadcast journalism. Stone Phillips had a similar beginning. He broke into broadcasting as a newsroom assistant at an ABC affiliate in Atlanta before moving into the big time.

Pay your dues
Those who have worked in the service industry often say it's the best work - and life - experience in the world. You learn to handle stress and keep your cool, hone your people skills, endure a lot of abuse, and work hard for your money. Sandra Bullock mixed drinks as a bartender before working with acting heavyweights Hugh Grant, Nicole Kidman and Keanu Reeves. Alec Baldwin was a bouncer before he tried out his acting chops. Before he served up advice as the psychiatrist Frasier, Kelsey Grammar served up food as a waiter. And, Robin Williams scooped ice cream before he was sprinkling us with his nuttiness.

Get your foot in the door
Just to pursue their passion, some people, did whatever they could to break into their business. They did this regardless of potentially hurt pride or the threat of poverty. Before starting his eponymous clothing line, Ralph Lauren was a sweater salesman at Bloomingdale's. Famous clothing giant Tommy Hilfiger sold clothes from the trunk of a car. And, Broadway actor Nathan Lane delivered singing telegrams. These guys might be big names now, but they used creativity and motivation to take those first jobs.

Bottom line, achieving your dream job takes time and patience. Great careers don't happen overnight and can take years of hard work. But every step along the road can get you closer to your goal.

Jump

|||110563315375509016|||What Celebs Can Teach Us About Success1/13/2005 7:14 PM|||Greta (Hooah Wife)|||Please tell them to open one up in Tulsa, OK. I have to have my coffee shipped from their website. Of course, the donuts here suck too!!! It would be a goldmine here!1/14/2005 10:23 AM|||Anonymous|||I would what kind of tips Jennifer got?1/14/2005 11:55 AM|||The Source|||Hmm...they were just waiters and waitresses, we're just bloggers. Will I be famous someday?! ;-)

lookwhatifound.blogspot.com1/14/2005 12:22 PM|||Grouch|||Hey old man
The first time I did this I said I like Mister donuts instead of dunkin donuts but heck I like all donuts sorry about that..

Ogrouch

ogrouch@onlyinternet.net1/14/2005 1:06 PM|||angrykitten|||There's no donut shops in Mooresville, NC, and I'm very, very sad. I've worked in retail and there really not much worse. Wait, slavery would be worse. So would death. Strike that, retail ain't so bad.1/14/2005 1:40 PM|||Facing Life|||we need a dunkin donut in europe...they can't make donuts here... :(1/14/2005 8:02 PM|||Theodore Craig|||"Bottom line, achieving your dream job takes time and patience. Great careers don't happen overnight and can take years of hard work. But every step along the road can get you closer to your goal."

Yes sir, and so does understand and manifesting all the things which Yahweh God has for us to do in our lifes. It takes Bible study, and prayer, and meditation, and patience, and faith, and courage, and the Holy Spirit!

TC - http://GotTorah.bloghorn.com1/14/2005 11:06 PM|||She Unlimited Magazine|||My first Job was Mc Donalds, second Dunkin Donuts, fond memories and fun tuff work! I think working your way to success build character!

I remember, I used to get tips in the cup by the reggie, mostly at night and mostly by men.

I worked the 12-6 am shift while in college, slept 8 hours went to the few hours at school then home again.

I remember dong the prep and doing the sandwiches in the microwave!


I do remember most coming in for coffee or a refill, and I would always get a tip. I had fun!

I just wish the donuts had less sugar and a more moist like flavor, not all donuts are deepfriend!

: )

Coffee Lover

Magaizne Editor
http://www.sheunlimited.com1/14/2005 11:27 PM|||lynn|||that was great i cant wait till u right more check out my blog1/15/2005 12:24 AM|||Queenie|||Dude, you are weird.
:)

Q1/15/2005 10:17 AM|||Bullion Grey|||Start at the bottom? Work your way up?
Really you don't buy that do you? Most people DONT start at the bottom, the start where they can get a job. Actors didn't go from donuts to Oscars! There is no way up from donut - dunked or not. That old tripe is so worn that it is transparent.
We know actors get ahead by acting classes, contacts and a little of inside tips. Also luck plays about 10% of their "success". It is misleading to say that if you work hard, be patient, and take time that you'll end up where you want to be. Of the few who did make it, MILLIONs haven't. We don't hear all their stories cause it isn't fashionable to speak of the "loosers". Once I was scouting a story about a man raised by a real nazi in America. He was stepfathered by a German from East Germmany who fought under Hitler, then was captured by the Americans and since he was a scientist first was brought into the NASA program as were 100s of other nazi criminals. When I asked Esquire Magazine to see if they were interested one of their editors said is the man who was raised by this nazi ok today? Of course he is not. I told them he goes to therapy twice a week and has many problems. That killed interest as the editor said:"We want to tell a story like that only if he was a success today and ok." Oh, ok.... Just one of many examples about how our eye's are shielded from the many who don't make it.
I hope people don't base their live's on the few famous figures who made it. I hope people look beyond what is served up and find their true center by using common sense and awareness, learnign from all who take a shot at this mystery we call life.
One day we will get real and see that we don't admire fame or fortune, but are obsessed with it. Obsession and admiration are fields apart.1/15/2005 10:17 AM|||Bullion Grey|||Start at the bottom? Work your way up?
Really you don't buy that do you? Most people DONT start at the bottom, the start where they can get a job. Actors didn't go from donuts to Oscars! There is no way up from donut - dunked or not. That old tripe is so worn that it is transparent.
We know actors get ahead by acting classes, contacts and a little of inside tips. Also luck plays about 10% of their "success". It is misleading to say that if you work hard, be patient, and take time that you'll end up where you want to be. Of the few who did make it, MILLIONs haven't. We don't hear all their stories cause it isn't fashionable to speak of the "loosers". Once I was scouting a story about a man raised by a real nazi in America. He was stepfathered by a German from East Germmany who fought under Hitler, then was captured by the Americans and since he was a scientist first was brought into the NASA program as were 100s of other nazi criminals. When I asked Esquire Magazine to see if they were interested one of their editors said is the man who was raised by this nazi ok today? Of course he is not. I told them he goes to therapy twice a week and has many problems. That killed interest as the editor said:"We want to tell a story like that only if he was a success today and ok." Oh, ok.... Just one of many examples about how our eye's are shielded from the many who don't make it.
I hope people don't base their live's on the few famous figures who made it. I hope people look beyond what is served up and find their true center by using common sense and awareness, learning from all who take a shot at this mystery we call life.
One day we will get real and see that we don't admire fame or fortune, but are obsessed with it. Obsession and admiration are fields apart.1/15/2005 3:25 PM|||callieischatty|||Your blog is great!1/15/2005 6:59 PM|||She Unlimited Magazine|||I think the point was Do you remember your worst job! I do, it was a bittersweet feeling, my first job was at Dunkin Donuts (as a worker, not an owner or franchise owner). I knew it was not my life goal to work from prep to manager and owning and operating a large chain was way out of my reach!

It is true, all careers start with a good foundation, that being said, your first real, worst job makes sense. I know I felt like I was thrown into the wolves making my first appearance at the counter. Many codes, buttons and many customers waiting in line. It really does build character. How can it not! It also says" I do not want to be doing this the rest of my life" feet hurting and the smell of fast food when leaving! (exception, those who own their franchise, or own their own fast food chain, or chain).

Ok, start at the bottom! A journalists like myself and editor working at the Ole DD does not make or break you! You have to bring with it what you learned and what foundation you learned via the whole experience, it is then up to you!!! Paying your dues, give me a break, that is a little over used, right? Did it really help catapult me into my now editor/IT related job? Maybe, it is all about ambition, how eager you are ,and in the Hollywood Life "Who you know"! This being said for actors and the like.

What did I learn, how to handle stress, keeping your cool when it gets hot in the kitchen. Regardless of what background you came from, silver spoon born, or just getting by, I think it is a must to work in the service industry once!

Build Character and Move On!
http://www.sheunlimited.com1/15/2005 9:23 PM|||thewenchsaid|||This is my first time at your site here. I enjoyed my visit very much and I will return to see what you write next.1/16/2005 1:02 AM|||Sheila|||hey there dunkin' donut enthusiast, this my first time reading your blog. i happen to just come across it through the blogger site while updating. quite glad too cause i am a dunkin' donut enthusiasts. ever since i was a small child. the whole dunkin' donut i believe is a childhood memory and those memories are imprinted in my mind so i don't think i'll ever get away from such happy pastimes. too bad they don't have more of them here in so cal. that's probably the one thing we don't have here. enjoyed your post, keep them coming cause it's going to be a regular stop for me.1/16/2005 8:35 AM|||Rikke|||Hi, I second the comment above -More Dunkin' Donuts in Europe please! (BTW, there's one opposite the Berlin Zoo train station -Maybe to honour a certain American-Berliner...)1/16/2005 9:12 AM|||Fieyro|||How did he get the pic and font????? I need 2 know. If any1 knows, tell me. http://www.idinamenzelsblog.blogspot.com is my blog....:'( HELP!!!! I want idina as my b/ground1/16/2005 10:03 AM|||AGK|||Personally, I thought this was a great message. Thank you!1/21/2005 12:30 PM|||d.j charly|||you are very crazy the donuts are bad for yourself visi my page putamierdadeblog.blogspot.com

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THANKS_NOK1/26/2005 7:22 PM|||Just A Girl (?)|||if you can look back at your life and do not feel as if you ever had a single bad job you are probably in denial, have no long term memory or are the luckiest f-ing person in the world.2/01/2005 12:20 PM|||justaddboost|||yeah i remember seeing Jennifer Aniston waiting...but she only had 16 peices of flair on. i think her boss was giving her a headache about it...lol

good post. its very true, any/all carrers start wtih a solid foundation. nice to konw waht i do will only help my future.2/03/2005 5:22 AM|||Mukta|||Hi

A point to remember here though: no matter where you are, you need to focus on where you are headed. Sometimes, even a dead-end job gets too comfortable to break out of.

If we have an idea, we must work on it pronto - as the saying goes: Ideas are like fish; they don't get better with time.

Cheers