You may remember the story from my blog last week which included my Volkswagen van, affectionately known as Eddie. (Jump back to read more about Eddie here: https://sarahboxx.com/goal-setting-and-the-unexpected/). If you didn’t get a chance to read it yet, Eddie was known for being tried and true, a real workhorse that propelled me over state and country lines and back again.
Just before I turned 21, I packed up Eddie to the brim, squeezed in my Irish Setter and began a long road trip. It was almost too good to be true, I was moving to San Diego. There was a bit of natural fear, hesitation and caution as I broke free from the ties of home. I was young, free and the sky was the limit! I didn’t have a job or any real plan, but since I’d been steadily employed since my early teens, I was confident I would be able to find something, anything, to support my new life in Southern California.
I ended up getting hired by Safeway Corporation to work and support staff in the distribution warehouse, specifically the meat warehouse. I was nervous, excited and a bit out of my element. This was not like my last job. I would not work traditional hours. Nor was my role equivalent to a regular office worker.
Looking back, warehousing couldn’t be any farther from the type of work I had done. I wasn’t sure about much, but I knew I was up to the challenge. Even in doubt, I could see the bright side: I had landed a job and would be able to cover my basic expenses without having to call for help with the rent. I was continuing my independence journey!
Arriving at work by 3:30am and finishing my day at noon was not the schedule I had envisioned. Then again, it did open up a lot of time during daylight hours and I was grateful to be employed at a good wage. Now, you might think I had some sort of warehousing experience, or at minimum, secretarial or support staff experience. Yet, I had neither. What I did have was a work history that showed I was dependable. I had proven math skills, strong grammar and communication skills, and a positive attitude to top it off. I had a strong belief in myself and my abilities and a desire to learn new things. Little did I know, I also had a boss (Phil) that saw my potential even before I did.
Thinking back to my first day, I remember feeling like I was in an alternate world, one where life takes place when most everyone else is sleeping. I drove through a secured gate, parked near a loading dock, passed by the dispatch office, and made my way down an elevated platform to our small office. Opposite of the office were huge doors that opened into the meat cooler: a massive, cavernous room with pallet racks that went nearly to the ceiling. Each time the door opened and closed, the cold air flooded the dock and poured into our office.
Outside the office, action continued nonstop. People were punching time clocks, picking up store orders, heading into the cooler on motorized pallet jacks. They would efficiently pull the merchandise needed and build it into a solid loads to be transported to the stores. There was a continuous line of 25- and 40-foot trailers arriving for loading and offloading merchandise. Long haul truckers from across the country delivered specialty meats and foods. Local drivers picked up trailers and got them out to the stores. It was a well-designed operation that gave me an entirely new perspective of what it took to put food on the grocery shelves.
It became clear right away that at 21, I was one of the youngest employees and one of only six or seven women throughout the entire complex. Most employees were part of the Teamsters Union. Support staff (me) and management were not. For a new kid, in a new town, on unfamiliar territory, with very little experience, I definitely felt like an outsider to a well-formed “family”. Thankfully, I was able to shrug off self-imposed labels and perceived limitations, and ultimately succeed.
I really value the five years I worked warehousing. I grew up in many ways, and learned a lot from this job, and from the diverse co-workers, attitudes, and ideas I was exposed to in that environment. In truth, I have a lifelong appreciation of logistics and what it takes to put food on our tables; something I never would’ve had before I worked there.
On a closing note, you don’t have to do it alone. Although I didn’t have much, I did have some support at the warehouse, a cheerleader in my court. Reflecting on things now, my boss, Phil Schwab, made the biggest impact on my life. In fact, much of what I learned from Phil has influenced me throughout the years, particularly when it comes to helping others exceed beyond their self-perceived limitations and pushing myself beyond fear and doubt. It’s truly amazing how much one person can affect your life as you carry on and exemplify their positive example! I’ll share some of those inspiring stories in the next few weeks – stay tuned!
