Lad news: ch-ch-changes

Backstory:  Lad panicked when he graduated during the pandemic. It wasn't the pandemic's fault. He was spread thin playing a D1 sport and trying to stay afloat academically. He has ADD and I don't know that he was taking medication. He failed to get a grasp on what sort of career path he might follow. 

hello darkness:  He started selling cars in Aug of 2020. My family friends own car dealerships. I didn't like the idea, but Lad struggled so much during the pandemic that we walked on egg shells at home. Understatement. Long time readers might remember how difficult that time was. In a nutshell:  dark days. 

Cars:  He's made huge strides and claims that he takes meds (not sure if he does and he's an adult but we tried to give him feedback and make him accountable for his behavior), but dang - selling cars is not sustainable. Every Saturday. Most nights. Cut throat atmosphere. They made it hard to take a Sat off, even if a person accumulated vacation days. A few weeks ago, they paid him in $800 of Amazon gift cards as his bonus for being the top salesman for warranties (or something).

He's interviewed on and off for a few years. 

Network:  A few months ago, I told him he needed to network more, connect with people who we know/who know him. We started a list. He's learned so much selling cars. He's a closer. He's engaging and personable. He started taking the networking path seriously and he was a finalist for a job with Abbott Labs in June, but they chose someone internally. 

He reached out to a twins who played water polo in college. They're older than him, and both work in marketing. They went to high school and college with my godson, who is part of the car sales family. Lad explained his wanting to find a job and would appreciate their help, but hoped they'd keep his search on the down low with the car sales family. 

They connected him to a headhunter who works with D1 athletes. Lad interviewed for a job selling fire safety equipment to businesses. He moved further along in the process - liked everyone he met at the company.

Could this be more unrelated? I found these at
 Costco business center, which isn't convenient
to shop, but these were so yummy and
 healthy. No added sugar (I think).

Coach and I had never heard of this company, but one of Coach's patients is an entrepreneur and he told Coach "It's a national company and it's a great company plus businesses need the stuff they're selling, etc." 

An offer! They offered him the job a few weeks ago, saying they'd put a letter together. Lad told the headhunter he'd like 30 days to decide - he had some bonus money coming his way at the dealership. The headhunter was like, You cannot take 30 days to decide.

The letter didn't happen for over a week, and Coach and I began to get nervous that Lad had blown it. (because he also told the hiring guy at the place that he would need time).

Meanwhile Lad started interviewing with Big Company and he told the fire supply place that he was considering all of his options. Fire equip. sweetened the deal. He got the offer letter the end of last week. 

Living it up on a Saturday:  He and a buddy came to ND and had a great time last weekend. It was so nice to see him enjoying a weekend. Ya know? 

He had another interview with Big Company Tuesday. He was upfront with them, saying he had another offer on the table and Big Company said they had to interview the other candidates - that he was one of 20 applicants they'd narrowed it down to. 

The fire equipment place called him Tuesday morning and asked if he was ready to sign the letter, and what was holding him back. They asked what it would take to get him to sign. He gave them a number, and they met it. He signed. 

I was sort of hoping for Big Company, because I wonder if there is more social options - like more team type structure, but he's excited and fire equip is excited to have him. 

 Good-bye after FIVE years:  Last week, he let the dealership know he was leaving. The managers won't send deals to someone who has one foot out the door, so he has a few weeks off and he is delighted. 

Baby, we want you back: The car boss called him Wednesday. Told him that he and his brothers were talking and that they hoped to keep him with the company, and Lad said no thanks. They offered to pay him an additional % of sales. Lad said, It means a lot that you are offering that, but I'm not interested. 

In July of '24, the brother he was selling cars for not too far from our house sent him packing. Told him to go work for one of his brothers. The other dealership was farther away. Lad was upset, insisting that they brought in a new manager and he didn't like Lad. I tend to see things clearly and we urged Lad to be on time to the dealership, and stop going home at lunch to see his dogs, etc. 

Then - in the spring, the original brother called Lad and asked him if he would come back (the brother Lad was working for was fine with the switch, like the two brothers had agreed). Lad said, No thanks. I like it here. I work well with this manager, etc. (he also knew he was hoping to have a new job soon-ish.)

Timing is everything:  A few weeks ago, a cousin to the brothers who has the same last name posted some horrible politically charged sick sentiments on social media. A woman I haven't seen in a few years was so outraged by it, she called me to ask what connection this woman had to the car family, because she knew I knew them.

Customers were upset and people were tagging her post all over the place, urging no one to buy cars from the car family. Lad said No one is coming in here to buy cars. Great time to be in the process of getting out of the biz. 

*****

All that to say, I've prayed about this for years. I've really wanted my son to get his life back - to go out and enjoy what's left of his 20's. Right now he feels confident. He feels wanted by the fire equipment company (and wanted in the 11th hour by the car place). He feels like he clicks with them. Fingers crossed that he is happy with the move. 

Laptop - womp womp.
See the lower
right side? I think that
 part got pinched
 when I folded it. Not sure
you can tell but the
screen is all lines.

the future looks bright:  I know he wants to date and to spend time with friends, and I so hope that he has time for all of that now. In the meantime, he's available till Oct. 20th and he's agreed to take my dad to PT and he's driving Kay to school tomorrow, because we're in a bind. He's also planning to go with me to buy a new laptop. 

That's the thing I keep forgetting to tell you:  remember my laptop with the screen that was held together by a command strip, a safety pin, and a strip of fabric? I brought it along to Creighton a few weeks ago, and when I folded it - something went wrong - the screen is no longer functioning. It was time (even though I bought it less than 5 years ago). 

Anyone have a laptop recommendation? I don't need fancy. I use it for internet and for google docs, so I don't even need a ton of memory.