I graduated from Southwestern University in 1992, and held a job as a manager for a rental car company for about a year. After leaving there (which may be the subject of an entirely different post someday), I had a period of time when I was unable to find a job. I finally went to work for Dillard's department store in mid-1993.
Now, one of the reasons that I eventually got into real estate is that I enjoy variety in my tasks. I do not do well with repetition. The old scene from "I Love Lucy" where Lucy and Ethel are trying to wrap chocolate candies from an ever-faster conveyor belt is like a nightmare to me, not because they get behind, but because it seems like such a terrible job.
I went to work at Dillard's in "Men's Collections", which was essentially the nicer guys' clothes with recognizable names. Back then, it was Nautica, Tommy Hilfiger, DKNY, Perry Ellis, and others. This job offered a ton of mind-numbing tasks for me and my co-workers, including folding giant loads of clothes, hanging giant loads of clothes, intricate and repetitive cashier work, and my personal favorite: standing.
Yes, standing entailed much of my job as a full-time employee. I had to wear a suit every day, which is something else I really don't care for. So, wearing a suit and standing. It sounds easy enough, but with dress shoes (or at least with the dress shoes that I could afford), my feet and lower legs began to ache around hour number four.
The point of this post was something that I don't have to worry about now that I am in real estate. Here's the best part, and I should probably note that this is the absolute truth: I was mistaken for a mannequin no less than FOUR times. I know that my friend Candace Robinson will appreciate this story, since she used to work at JC Penney dressing mannequins.
I suppose that this could be taken as a compliment, since mannequins are generally attractive, at least the ones I have seen. The reason that this happened so much was that I was standing stone-still for long periods of time waiting for something to do. An unsuspecting customer would start to browse near me, and I would notice them and turn to greet them, at which point they would jolt and shout, "I thought you were a mannequin!" After this happened twice, I started to think about just standing up on the little podium along with the mannequins in order to intentionally freak people out. This is where your mind goes when you are ridiculously bored.
The funniest occasion when this occurred later became a story that my wife has asked me to repeat many, many times to friends of ours over the years, and I will never forget it. I was standing rigidly at attention in the Nautica section, and I heard someone behind me, so I turned and said, "Hi, how are you today?" I honestly think that the women might have wet themselves they were so surprised. The best part was, they spoke French, and the only word I could pick up was "mannequin", which sounded like "mahn-eh-keen".
Thankfully, in the eleven years of my real estate career, I have never once been mistaken for a mannequin. I can state with some level of certainty that this is something that won't happen to me again. I have several stories that I may choose to share from other previous jobs of mine.
Needless to say, my tenure at Dillard's was short-lived. I think I was there for about four months, which was probably three and a half months longer than I could tolerate.
Thanks for reading!
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Jason,
I too like the difference with each Client. Everyone has their own particular needs in a home. Individual interaction, dedicated time alloted to each Client makes for a lasting relationship.
Have a great Thanksgiving.
Jason,
Wow!!! Dilliards has been around that Long?? Just Kidding.
Tom Weiss
This is so funny Loveseat! I wrote a short story years ago about a department store night watchman who had an imaginary affair with a mannequin. I'm starting to understand the widsom in that ;-) They just fascinate me. I went to a Paris flea market several years ago where there were hundreds of mannequins with their parts and pieces laying everywhere. I watched in amazement as all kinds of people picked through them, carefully assessing each one as though selecting a china pattern. Just crazy!
Jason - Funny story. Your feet might not hurt, but I bet yours hands do after typing for hours. Thanks for the chat last night. That was fun.
When we were kids, my sister loved to jump up on those podiums and pretend she was a mannequin. She would pose and everything. She would be very upset and confused when people weren't fooled. On to the point of your post, I don't like standing in suits for long periods of time. In fact, I listed that as a "weakness" on many job applications. I worked at a golf course after college in what I considered a goof-off position. I wasn't ready to fully commit to the workforce of adults, so I thought working outside service would let me maintain a great tan and put just enough bucks in my jeans to go out at night. Unfortunately, the major job requirement turned out to be standing. I did get to wear a secret service type earpiece (holding wrist to mouth to mimic having a hidden microphone never got old, "I've got a visual."), but all of that standing was killing me. Amazing just how hard it can be on the body and mind to do nothing for 8 straight hours. I decided rather quickly that if I was going to kill myself doing nothing, I might as well kill myself doing something ... and making a substantially better wage to boot.
Alert: Digression in progress!
Isn't it alarming how difficult in can be to secure a good job with a college degree? I tried to find employment in the criminal justice field for a year after graduation. Nobody would have me without on-the-job experience, degree or no. I am forever grateful that I did not find work in that field, but it was very frustrating nonetheless.
Have a fantastic holiday, Jason!
MANA LISA - This is why I enjoy our business so much - the relationships. Thanks for your comments, and have a great holiday!
GARY - You make a good point, although it sounds too boring for me. But, if necessary, I think I have the proper training for the jobs you mentioned. Have a good one -
SUSAN - Bingo!
LINDA - I thought so, too. My wife thinks it's hilarious when I tell the story "live". Thanks!
DAN - Good stuff. I couldn't agree more with you. Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!
TOM - Good one. I left you a message on your cell phone yesterday, but I don't know if you got it or not.
KATERINA - I think it is the latter. I have zero faith or interest in zodiac signs myself. Thanks for your comments - have a great Thanksgiving!
JENNIFER - That is really wild. Who knew that there was a subculture for that? I hope you also have a terrific Thanksgiving, my friend.
RYAN - Good point, and not far from the truth. I also enjoyed getting a chance to chat with you. We'll do it again sometime soon. Have a great Thanksgiving. I hope to see the Cowboys trounce the Jets tomorrow.
Jason,
I did get it, and I E-Mailed you..
Talk to you soon,
Tom Weiss
WALDOJASON?Jason,
I can actually understand the feeling. I worked many years in a men's shoe store at the beginning of my retail maganement career. I had to wear a suit every day and did plenty of standing. I was also mistaken for a mannequin quite a few times as well, so I can truly relate. I can also relate to being grateful that it won't happen again. Real Estate definitely has it's unpleasant moments, but it's never boring!
Have a Happy Thansgiving.
HA!HA! Too funny. I have ADD way too bad. I would "invent" things to do...things that the managers probably wouldn't appreciate.
Great story..thanks for sharing it.
I was always in the restaurant business...and could never be mistaken for a mannequin....I always had something to say to customers...."Thanks you, hello, how are you, what can I get for you today?"
I always felt for the people in clothing stores...i would always wonder..."What did they do before I got there to give them something to do?"
I'm glad you are in the real estate business, Jason...i get to read you blogs!!
=-)
TOM - Sounds good. Thanks for your email!
CANDI - Thanks for your terrific comments. I loved them. Have a great Thanksgiving. I will try not to frighten any shoppers over the long weekend.
ANDREW - Thanks for making me feel better. You are the first person I've met that has had this experience. Have a terrific Thanksgiving!
ROLANDO - I like the latter option. It makes for a funny visual.
KAY - Yes, it is hard work. I had more than my share of retail experiences before I got into real estate, and I truly hope that I never have to return.
JESSICA - That made me laugh. Dillard's was the only job that I "quit" simply by never again returning after being reprimanded for something asinine. Have a great Thanksgiving - let's talk next week.
PATRICIA - That sounds like a nonsense decision on someone's part. Standing really does suck. It made me begin to appreciate comfortable shoes. Have a great Thanksgiving tomorrow!
ALEX - Thanks for your kind words. You are actually right - those employees don't have anything to do at all for long stretches of time. Have a great Thanksgiving!
ROBERTA - Thanks for checking it out - glad you liked it! Happy Thanksgiving!
ADAM - I look forward to hearing/seeing your story sometime soon. I agree with you about the anatomical correctness - not a great thought. Talk to you soon!
I'm sorry, I had to laugh that you were standing at such attention that you were mistaken for a mannequin. How did you not just pass out! Thanks for the laugh and glad to hear since getting in to real estate you haven't been mistaken since.