When I hear folks say “there’s no such thing as the perfect job” - i’m quick to tell them about the ten years I spent working for a fishing lure brand called Terminator. From 1997 – 2006, i was fortunate, blessed actually, to Help take that unknown brand of premium lures from birth to its placement in 2,400 Walmart stores, and international distribution in Australia, Europe, and South Africa. That ain’t brag. That’s fact. And it’s saturated in a ton of treasured memories. Work weeks ended at noon on Friday, a chocolate Labrador roamed the office, dress was casual, travel was very minimal, creative freedom had no limits, we were pretty much our own bosses, and the pay was of market fairness. Like most everything else in Life, a lot of Terminator’s goodness is forever rooted in the people that were a part of it. Guys like Bill Chester of Table Rock Lake, MO that worked as ‘regional pro staffers’ to help us call on retail tackle dealers, hand out samples at local tournaments, preach our titanium gospel at consumer shows, and plaster our logo on their boats, trucks, and most of their clothing. Yesterday, wedged between a March and April consumed with many days spent working away from home - and a barrage of emails – I went fishing for only the second time in 2014. Bill Chester took me. I’ll never forget what guys like Bill have meant to my career – and Life. True. Loyal. Friends. Proven by the passing of time -- 16 years in Bill and I’s case. I hope I gave him a sense of my appreciation yesterday. As our time on the water came to an end, I asked Bill why in the world he still had the Terminator logo on the side of his boat 8 years after our association with the brand sadly ended – and he said this, “That’s a source of pride and great memories, there’s a part of me that smiles every time I look at it.” Me too, buddy. And I don’t apologize for knowing that’ll always be the case.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 16:56:18 +0000
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