Hi Sam, I’m probably one of the oldest guys [close to 74] to write a comment to you, maybe the oldest. First: The automotive industry is an apple orchard of career opportunities; so many trees, and so many varieties. As I read your story, it brought back a flood of memories as I became, although I didn’t realize it at the time, a lifelong Corvette enthusiast when I saw Harley Earl’s Project Opel, XP-122, America’s Sportscar, for the first time in 1953. At age 10 I knew exactly what I wanted my edu path to be and the job I wanted. There are not many people that can say that. You, fortunately, have a passion for a subject and an industry so early in life. That is just terrific! My edu goal was the General Motors Institute of Technology [GMI, now known as Kettering University]; my job goal was to be an engineer on Corvette for suspension system development. I didn’t achieved either, didn’t have the grades or the money. Although, I own a 1980 Corvette 4 speed manual, cause it’s the last year for Corvettes before computers, and a 2013 Grand Sport 6 speed manual, which has every kind of technology management system. I wrench on the ’80 cause I can, the ’13 ... not so much. Second: Success begins with a person’s ‘Will’ and ‘State-of-mind’. To that end, develop a healthy and robust work ethic, aim high and always Pursue Perfection in everything you do. We don’t always achieve Perfection, but achieving the next best thing, Excellence, puts you head and shoulders above your contemporaries. In life, a person’s reputation usually precedes them. Be known for a person of reputation who produces Excellence, and not one who produces Joe-**bleep**-the-rag-man stuff. The automotive orchard; as you already know, there are so many moving parts to a motorized vehicle, whether it is a car, truck, or earthmover vehicle, internal combustion or EV. You may know, then again maybe not, that there are careers wherein people are assigned to: cylinder head development, cam and valve train development, rotating assembly [crank/con rod/piston] development, intake development, transmission and differential development….every moving part of every automotive vehicle has a development group and a career opportunity. At the GM Performance Center, as another example, engines are assembled for the PrattMiller Corvette Racing Team, and certain production engines, like the one in my 2013 Corvette Grand Sport with 6 speed manual. They also do development work on Indy Car and NASCAR engines there, as well. All the manufacturers have these kinds of terrific career opportunities. Being a manufacturers’ Field Tech Rep is a great gig, too. Bosch; they design, engineer, develop, test & validate the technology that manages today’s vehicles. EV vehicles are the future, as you know. Someone already mentioned the tire industry. Working for Bridgestone [Firestone], Continental [General], Goodyear [Dunlop], Michelin [BFGoodrich, Uniroyal], the top four in alphabetical order, is a great career path and profession, too. I wound up in the tire & rubber industry, suspension systems/front end geometry determines tire wear patterns and tire life, I was in my environment, and I can tell you I never ‘worked’ a day in my career. I was always around cars, and trucks, and earthmover vehicles. I spent 1/3 of my career employed with Michelin, starting out as the Technical Customer Service person in 1970, looking to transfer to our engineering department. Albeit, was convinced sales was a better career path. So I went from Territory Rep – to – VP of Sales, in a 43 year career journey. HOWEVER, the best job I know of in the T&R industry belongs to a friend of mine at Michelin. And if I were 47 rather than 74, I’d work for him in a heartbeat. That person is the assigned engineer to the Chevrolet Corvette [can you imagine that gig?!] responsible for designing and developing tires for the PrattMiller Corvette Racing Team and production Corvettes. Now that is a very cool occupation! Then there are careers in automotive journalism, since you like writing. You need to discuss this career path with Don Sherman. B-t-w, Don probably doesn’t remember this, but he use to call me when I was with Michelin. He was always looking for ‘free’ tires to conduct tests with for Car&Driver. I always told him ‘Michelin makes some of the best tires in the industry and the world, we don’t need to be tested by a magazine.’ Third: Which brings me to my final point. If you decide to work for a company rather than being self-employed, always work for a company that is a leader-in-its-industry; a company that engineers and manufactures ‘excellent’ products, and strives for perfection. As such, you’ll never have to make excuses for a Joe-**bleep**-the-rag-man product. Sam, best wishes are expressed for you success, Mike
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