This paper presents a structured five-year career plan written from the first-person perspective of an undergraduate student working in automobile warranty sales while pursuing the longer-term entrepreneurial goal of opening and managing a sports bar. The plan addresses career goals and objectives, promotional opportunities, career management strategies, a skills inventory, job satisfaction attributes, action steps, potential barriers, and relevant training programs. Drawing on sources including Brian Tracy, Arthur P. Brief's work on job satisfaction, and a personal interview with restaurateur Guy Fieri, the paper illustrates how intentional networking, side ventures, and education can bridge a current sales career with an ambitious entrepreneurial dream.
"A clear vision, backed by definite plans, gives you a tremendous feeling of confidence and personal power." — Brian Tracy
Over the next five years, I plan to remain in the sales arena — either in my current position selling warranties or, hopefully, in my dream position of being the owner-manager of a sports bar. My current job selling automobile warranties has allowed me to pay for my living expenses and to fund my education without taking out loans. I am extremely grateful to have a position, especially in this economy, that has allowed me to live comfortably while also pursuing my dreams. Since I possess strong people skills and persuasion skills and I enjoy finding ways to market a product, I feel I could perform satisfactorily if I continued in the auto warranty business. However, my larger career goal is to open a sports bar and successfully run and operate it myself.
In fact, this is more than just a "larger" goal — it is the dream I have been hoping to pursue for most of my life. It would be relatively easy to continue working in the warranty business, but doing so without striving toward what is truly in my heart would come at the expense of following my passion and inner voice. One of my favorite business speakers on sales and marketing is Brian Tracy, who offers this guidance to those who may be afraid to dream or to follow their dreams:
"The starting point of great success and achievement has always been the same. It is for you to dream big dreams. There is nothing more important, and nothing that works faster than for you to cast off your own limitations, than for you to begin dreaming and fantasizing about the wonderful things that you can become, have, and do." (Tracy, n.d.)
I certainly hope that five years from now I will be able to look back and feel proud that I cast off my limitations and dreamed big. I hope to have already opened my sports bar and recovered a substantial portion of the money invested in starting up the business.
In my present job selling automobile warranties, career growth comes in the form of increased sales and, therefore, increased commissions. I work for two co-owners, and the business structure consists of two owners, an office manager, a sales manager, and sales staff. I do not intend to pursue ownership of the business, nor do I intend to take on a more clerical or organizational role as office or sales manager. As a result, my future there would essentially keep me in the salesperson role; however, based on my sales performance, I could move myself into higher and higher tax brackets. There are no "promotional" opportunities in the traditional sense of changing positions, but there is meaningful room for growth in earnings potential.
Several studies have shown that an increase in salary or even title will not compensate for a lack of interesting assignments. According to relevant business literature, if your career has hit an impasse, better pay will not help with regard to job satisfaction — what you need at that point is greater challenge ("Can high salary buy job satisfaction?," 2006). I feel I have already reached that impasse, which is why my five-year plan necessarily includes the additional challenge of pursuing my entrepreneurial dream.
According to business writer Jenny Ho, there are key distinctions between a job search and career management. Specifically, a job search is a one-time event undertaken when a job is lost or when a person has been laid off in order to find another position. Career management, by contrast, involves the continual development of relationships over the long term — relationships with those we encounter on a daily basis — in order to achieve ultimate business goals (Ho, 2009).
In the auto warranty business, I have established myself through career management by attending car shows, visiting dealerships, and organizing a yearly golf tournament. My relationships, I believe, provide the foundation for my success as a salesman. In the three years since I started the charity golf tournament, we have not only raised money for local charities and built business goodwill, but we have also generated new clients and strengthened relationships with existing ones. For as long as I continue in the auto industry, I will continue to engage in these activities.
With regard to the sports bar, I have taken several steps to begin the career management process. I had the opportunity to meet Guy Fieri from the Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives television show. Curious about his career path after hearing that he had started by selling garlic fries out of a trailer at special events, I asked him about it directly. He confirmed: "Yes, I did that for many years and I still have trailers at special events and festivals selling garlic fries. That's how I made enough money to open my first restaurant, Tex Wasabe. It is from a trailer that I was able to follow my passion." He continued to explain that as long as you are willing to experiment, willing to dream, and willing to do the hard work, then you have a "chance" at success (G. Fieri, personal communication, September 8, 2008).
"Sales experience and relevant academic coursework"
"Assessing satisfaction in sales versus bar ownership"
"Funding challenges, key tasks, and training plans"
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