El Paso is a great place to be if you’re retired. If you need to earn a living, forget about it. The wages are low thanks to the proximity of the Mexican border. I heard that Dallas offered plenty of opportunity for earning higher wages.

On the downside, I had no money saved and no car. I had some money in a 401(k) that I could cash in as well as my last check from the previous employer (including a small severance). I prayed hard and got to work.

I gathered cardboard boxes and started packing. I negotiated a place to stay (temporarily) in Dallas with a couple of friends who lived there. All I needed to do was figure out HOW I was going to move all of our belongings. Thankfully, we had no furniture. Just our clothes and personal items. This came out to about 30 boxes of freight. I couldn’t rent a truck because I had no driver’s license at the the time (long story). I would need help, but had nowhere to turn. So I got out a marker and a piece of cardboard and made a sign.

The sign said something like “Own a truck? Need ride to Dallas.  Will pay $$$” I then went to the sidewalk and held out my sign for the passers-by to see as they travelled up busy Mesa Street. I was surprised by how well and how quickly it worked! Before long, I was set up with a ride to Dallas the following weekend.

A retired gentleman made extra money hauling cars between Dallas and El Paso. He had a long, empty trailer on which to load my boxes. I paid him $300 and we were off. The ride went well as I chatted with the man and his wife. Twelve hours later I was in Dallas, unloading the trailer on a hot summer afternoon.

Now the mission was to find a job. I worked tirelessly, walking for miles every day, stopping to fill out applications everywhere I could. Over the course of a month, I applied at about 30 different companies and scored 3 interviews. The money was beginning to run out as well as my time with a roof over my head. Fear set in and I became very discouraged. While out job hunting, I stopped at a church and prayed, begging God for relief.

Two days later, my prayers and hard work paid off. I was hired by the Dallas Morning News, which turned out to be the best job I ever had. Over the next few years, I made great money – more than twice what I made in El Paso. I had put my faith in God, took a risk, and made a big move that paid off.

Fast-forward about 6 years. I’m no longer at the newspaper (my choice… big mistake… I should have never left… but I digress…). I’m working in a cubicle farm for a company that promised gold but delivered pyrite. I’ve been doing inside sales for the better part of the past 15 years. Sitting on my butt for a living has made me fat and lazy. I’ve got management experience but inside sales departments always hire from within and they all expect me to start at the bottom. I’m getting too old to play this game. It’s time to put my experience to work in a position where I can make some real money.

I’ve been researching car sales for about a year. I’ve never sold cars before so again, I’ll be taking a risk. I know that most car salesmen average around $40-50k the first year and can make up to $70 or even $100k with experience. I’ll be out of the cubicle and on my feet. I’ll get plenty of exercise walking the parking lots as I learn the inventory and work with customers.

I’m chomping at the bit to get started next Monday. I even struck up a conversation with a stranger at 7-11 last night who was driving an older-model Ford Mustang. I couldn’t resist asking him about his car and if he was interested in trading it in for something newer. “Hell yeah!” he said. He asked for my number and hopefully I’ll hear from him next week. I’m telling everyone I know to come see me for their next car or truck.

I’m hoping and praying this new adventure will pay off. I’m upgrading my wardrobe and preparing myself for working 50+ hour weeks. It’s been over 10 years since I worked on a Saturday so that’s kind of a bummer. But that’s OK with me – I have goals. I have debts to pay off and tuition to pay for. I want to buy a house. My daughter will soon be going to college. I have a grand-daughter who needs to be spoiled. All I need is the cash to make it happen and I’m more than willing to work hard for it. I never thought I’d say this, but God-speed Monday!