Introduction
From this case study relating to a full time firefighter engaged in the Fire Department of Rochester, New York, Jim Blaesi, 28 years, who is also the owner of an automobile garage in the inner city, it is apparent that he is putting his time and contacts to good use.
Started off as assistant to car dealer
Initially, he started working when he was just 14 years old, as an apprentice of a mechanic in a friend’s car dealership shop. Later, during his high school days, he also engaged himself in “oil change and tune up franchises.” Later on, he progresses to car dealerships and also a truck-renting enterprise. (Stress management and personal productivity, P.345, chap.15).
Fighting duties were mainly night duty and shift work
Besides being the owner of an automobile garage, he was also a full time employee of a fire-fighting unit in Rochester, New York. He got plenty of time to pursue both occupations, since his fire-fighting duties were mainly night duty work and practically four day shift work ensured that he was free on weekends, when he could attend to his automobile garage. Besides, his two assistants in the garage helped him during the time he was off duty at the fire department or when he was on night duty there.
Firefighting was a family profession
It is evident that even in his younger days, he had groomed himself to the firefighting profession, primarily because his grandfather, father and uncle were also in the same trade, and he also relished this job well which was well paying and rewarding. During 1990, he began seriously thinking of setting up his own automobile garage and was successful in locating a 2 lift garage in Hudson Avenue which was up for sale. Priced at $ 120,000 for more than 9000 sq feet it was indeed a cinch, since uptown prices were not less than “$2.5 Million.” (Stress management and personal productivity, P.345, chap.15).
Good scope and future for automobile garage business
He also realized the tremendous potential that this garage could hold out in the future and was able to plough back the profits of this repair shop back into it. He was able to invest further $400,000 into the garage, after paying off the initial loan and also making additional investments by converting it into a seven lift garage. He was able to do this since both he and his wife Gina were well employed; they were able to save enough money to invest in this automobile garage. Moreover, his shop also had a good reputation and attracted large number of clients, including several government institutions.
Blaesi’s primary profession as a New York firefighter provided him ample scope to pursue his automobile garage occupation since his duties were invariably at night, and besides, he had work off during weekend shifts. During this time, he spent time at home with his wife, and took care of household matters. His assistants took care of his shop during this time.
Blaesi showed Interest and enthusiasm in pursuing his goals
It is seen that Blaesi has been able to strike a harmonious balance between his home, his profession as a full time New York firefighter, and his occupation as an owner of a profitable automobile garage. He has been able to do so since he has great interest and enthusiasm in what he does. He does not hesitate to spend even “80-100 hours” weekly on his work, something which he enjoys doing. (Stress management and personal productivity, P.345, chap.15).
He has indeed come a long way in his activities since his apprentice days. Both his jobs are keeping him fully occupied, and he spends his rest time with his wife, Gina. The couple is yet without children after four years of marriage, but is intent upon starting a family soon. His wife has a full time job as a tax specialist with a “National payroll” and human resource firm, “Paychex.” (Stress management and personal productivity, P.345, chap.15).
Thus, both financially and psychologically the couple is doing well and is happy in their respective professions. This is mainly because Blaesi has been able to make good use of his early contacts in both his firefighting job and automobile garage business.
His principal employment of firefighting has been one pursued by his grandfather, father and uncle too and he had put forth his first application in 1994. He had opened up his automobile business in year 2000, when he was ardently seeking a job opening with the fire department. His efforts were rewarded during 2002, with a job offer in the fire services, after nearly eight years of waiting. His profession of firefighting was something that he was passionate about, and his love for automobiles ensured his success in this business too.
Conclusion
By striking an even combination between interests, profession and home, Blaesi was able to use his contacts well and strike a harmonious chord of balance between all these three fronts. He now nurses plans of buying land in the locality for constructing an automobile towing service business.
Reference List
Stress Management and Personal Productivity: Interpersonal relations case 15.2: The extreme job firefighter.