I've held 3 positions since I consider officially starting my career journey.

1: Assistant Manager and Technician of an auto body shop

This was a startup where I worked as a contractor wearing many hats (still in business 6 years later!). This role taught the importance of knowing your customers and suppliers. Whether they were rural or urban, tech savvy or not, trusting through online social proof or word of mouth.

2: Industrial painter, and machine assembler of machine tools

Self employment makes certain aspects of life difficult, so I went back to working for a company. In this role, I learned that there are unacknowledged truths in most businesses. When you can't reasonably compromise, make the decision to move on.

3: Continuous improvement specialist for an automotive brake manufacturer

Understanding a problem allows for identifying the best possible solution. And using data from similar business cases helps sell top management on the necessity for a change. The lesson: Culture change is hard, and should be initiated when the problem is understood - and with a data backed solution.

5 other lessons learned:

• Prepare yourself for retirement early and take care of your health.

• The ability to follow directions and think creatively is a skill.

• There is a quiet honesty to working with your hands.

• Work smarter not harder and conserve materials.

• Customer service is the heart of any business.