My Story in 2 Minutes

What a wonderful life! I want to share with you my story in words and pictures. My transformation from a dying way of life in the no-longer-respectable mortgage banking world to America's Last Great Frontier - the OIL and GAS industry. From sedentary lifestyle and busted commission reports to ice, heat, blood, sweat, and mud in a very dangerous way of life. This forty-one year old has just checked into the "real world". One based on hard work, character, and long hours. And I couldn't feel more excited! Two days ago I said good bye to my family in Pittsburgh to board a flight to Houston with a couple totes of clothes, a laptop, and some fear. This is a huge leap of faith for me, and to quote my wife, "You are branching way out of your comfort zone, and I respect that!". And just why am I doing it? For the money? For my wife's respect? Hmmm. Maybe both? No, much more than that. I realized after 5 tough years of mediocrity, falling income, and losing respect for myself I needed a spark. Enough rolling the dice as a mortgage loan officer and hoping your customer's house would appraise, or hoping your pay check customer would stay with your deal until they found a better rate elsewhere (and cut ties just before the payday.) Or after putting in 60 hard hours depending on a staff who had no incentive to get the deal done by the deadline... and having to start all over again and again. No, not that either. That was a world I was perfectly content to leave to soul search for the next job. I realized after 41 years, growing teenagers, no savings, and no plan, and that I was missing one of those ingredients. A plan. A future. A legacy. A purpose for my life other than to be my kids' most die-hard sports fan. So on a whim I visited the Marcellus Shale job fair in Washington in March. I put together a new resume and a purpose letter. But 30 minutes later I was 50 pages of paper lighter and heading back to my car with my head hanging low. "Sorry... you don't have the experience". I'm sure millions like myself have heard those words before me. Especially in these difficult times. I was as good as unemployed. Working in a job I longer enjoyed, dejected, abused, and uninspired. If your job is sales, how do you sell a product you no longer believe in? My years of working hard for others were highlighted by my efforts to go to great lengths to make sure my clients had a roof over their heads, and it was soon going to pay off. I might not have hustled to get the best sale. Schmoozed with the best realtors. Stayed on top of hot leads the way others did. Instead I focused on the business I earned and made sure I became my client's friend, their trusted partner, and worked hard to make sure adversity was met, denial was overturned, and my customer had a way forward. Even if I had to give up my pay and food on the table... to make sure the deal closed. But it didn't always work that way, and more and more I lost the battle and begged for my customer's mercy... although it wasn't a mistake that was mine. My customer's misfortunes tattooed me, the way Libras let things get to them. Then I had a talk with God. He told me there was a way, and it really wasn't going to be that hard to find. It didn't involve copying resumes, on-line applications, or long lines at job fairs. It was right there in my contact list in my phone. It was all very simple. I found out it wasn't always the degree you earned. The oil and gas business is about who you know. And who you helped in the past. And there was a saint's name and number in my phone, someone I connected with, laughed with, and cried with when his mortgage loan went from approved to denied just a day before his closing. But this was more than a business relationship. It was constructed by God. The circumstances by which I was acquainted are legendary. But I never believed it would go this way. Several months later, by word of mouth, arranged meetings, interviews, and by digging deep to make my resume the best I could, I was given the offer letter to work for the best oil well services supplier in the world, and given instructions to pack my bags, quit my job, and kiss my kids goodbye to embark on the greatest journey of my life! Whether I'm here in Texas for a month, or two, or three, the bottom line is they've made an investment in me. And I've dropped everything to double down on the same bet. It will be hard, but God-willing, I will accomplish things I never dreamed of. I will learn how an oil rig works, all about the engineering that goes into drilling, solids control (aka drilling fluids) and how to be the safest person out there. To be an expert at what I do, a prime example, a risky bet that paid off. How to work with high voltage electricity, deadly gases, explosive materials, bone-crushing equipment, and pretty tough personalities. I will be certified for off-shore rigs, and learn how to survive disasters. And underwater helicopter escapes! And when I return to Pennsylvania with my equipment and certification cards, I will understand how this is my purpose in life. And what will be the best job of my life. And the time of my life! Stay tuned.....