I'm invading Rock N' Road

[CeeDubb]

For those of you that haven't heard, the real estate/mortgage market isn't doing so great. Guess what industry I'm in? Well, the past year has been horrible for me.

Anyway, one of my goals was to get my degree before I turned 40. That's less than 4 years away! When I first started college I had an idea that I wanted to be an electronics engineer. Well, I worked electronics in the Air Force and while it was interesting, I realized it wasn't something that I wanted to be my career. College went on hold and fast-forward over 15 years and here I am today.

Being in an industry that's so tied to the economy is not very comfortable. When the market good, it was great, but now that the market is bad, it's devastating. So I figured, "There's no better time to go back to school." I've still got a bunch of unused cash from my G.I. Bill so I better use it before I lose it.

It's kind of funny how things kind of have a way of working themselves out. I'm going to go back to school full-time and just wanted to find a part-time job to keep myself occupied and fund my school/living expenses. It would be a definite switch going back to a "real" job as I've basically been self-employed for the past 5 years. What in the hell was I going to do that wouldn't drive me crazy?

Well I have to thank my girlfriend for throwing away my 2008 Specialized catalog. I ransacked the condo looking for it and it was nowhere to be found. The Mission Viejo Rock N' Road is only 2.5 miles from home so I decided to take a quick little ride over there to pick up another one. Before I left I asked a quick little question, "Hey! You folks wouldn't happen to be hiring, would you?" Tracie said, "As a matter of fact, we are. Would you like an application?"

Well guess who's working at Rock N' Road now?

This couldn't have worked out any better. The shop is extremely close. I never really tallied my fuel expenses, but my office is in Rancho Cucamonga and I was spending about $500-$600 every month in fuel. Now I can just pedal to work.

No more shirt and ties! Now I'm not buying $50 ties and paying for dry cleaning anymore!! Rolling into work (I said "rolling") in my cargo shorts, a t-shirt, and DCs is gonna be a welcome change.

I kinda of like bikes so I get to hang out and talk to people about bicycles all day. I've frequented the MV Rock N' Road for the past year and the entire crew there has always been great. Not to mention I'm kinda partial to Specialized stuff so what better store is there to work at?

So along all the other STR folks that work at the other great shops, I offer myself as another resource. Hell...I'm geek-connected to the world, so if you have any questions just shoot me an email. I'll see it right on my iPhone and I'll shoot you back if I'm at the store.

[genusmtbkr5]

Cool deal Chris. Glad to hear things worked out for ya. I'm in that store from time to time. Manny works there a well. Always treated well when I go into any of the RNR locations.

[2wheel_lee]

There's nothing better than "working" in an environment that you love! Congrats on getting out of the shirt and tie gig!

[Jordansrealm]

Congrats on the new gig I will probably see you in there from time to time. I hit them up a few times a month for random stuff as they are the closest shop to my home. I also purchase my now sold Stumpy there and got great CS from Travis (former owner).

[BoingBoing]

I'm very glad for you. Sounds like your life has suddenly simplified SO much.

School can always be a great thing, if you can swing it.

But the real reason for this post is to say that "9.8m/sec² - It's the law" is the best User Title yet. You must be the uberGeek. No wonder you can't sell a house (or whatever it is that you used to do)!

[slowSSer]

nice! congrats! they didn't even reply to my "you guys hiring?" email.

[Keith B]

Terry and Manny are great there, you'll have fun.

[CeeDubb]

Originally Posted by BoingBoing

I'm very glad for you. Sounds like your life has suddenly simplified SO much.

School can always be a great thing, if you can swing it.

But the real reason for this post is to say that "9.8m/sec² - It's the law" is the best User Title yet. You must be the uberGeek. No wonder you can't sell a house (or whatever it is that you used to do)!

The simplification is incredibly refreshing.

I've got more things planned around my little quote.

I leave the house selling to the agents. I just handled your financing and mortgage planning. The beauty is that I'll always be able to do loans for my existing client base. The catch-22 is that I usually put people into a loan where they wouldn't have to do another one.

Originally Posted by slowSSer

nice! congrats! they didn't even reply to my "you guys hiring?" email.

Thanks. Sorry to hear about the no reply, but in my experience it's always better to go in person. It attaches you and your personality to the job inquiry.

Though they have a pretty good website, most of their customer interaction is in-store and on the phone. Perhaps the web is an opportunity area that we can explore. I'll bring it up.

[tbowren]

I hear the Employee Discount you will get on bike stuff is considerable.

Depending on how much you purchased a month on your bikes in the past, this new job could work out very well.

[Fired Yo Momma]

No more Iphones either man

[CeeDubb]

Originally Posted by tbowren

I hear the Employee Discount you will get on bike stuff is considerable.

Depending on how much you purchased a month on your bikes in the past, this new job could work out very well.

Great incentives directly from Specialized.

I'll have to be calm. Back in the day I used to be a manager at Circuit City. At that time, employees could get items at cost. One day I pulled a report on all my Circuit City purchases over the years and it tallied to over $27k. I couldn't believe it!! All the car/home stereo, computer, cell phone, camera, music, and video games stuff seriously added up. Now that I'm not exposed to the stuff every day, I don't spend nearly as much.

This little move may prove to be dangerous around bikes.

[foofighter]

great to hear you're taking a bad situation and turning it into an opportunity for broadening your horizons. also getting a part time gig doing what you like doing (bikes) is just icing.

[CeeDubb]

Originally Posted by Fired Yo Momma

No more Iphones either man

Not 'til June.

[Rob]

Congrats dude. I've been going to interviews at Rock N Road too. Looks like I'll be working at the Irvine location.

[CeeDubb]

Originally Posted by Rob

Congrats dude. I've been going to interviews at Rock N Road too. Looks like I'll be working at the Irvine location.

Sweet. Congrats to you, too!!

[Rob]

Originally Posted by CeeDubb

Sweet. Congrats to you, too!!

Thanks.

I'll be bike commuting too, but mine is 22 miles each way (for now)

I might take the train part of the way some days when I don't feel like riding that far, or if it's raining bad.

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by CeeDubb

For those of you that haven't heard, the real estate/mortgage market isn't doing so great. Guess what industry I'm in? Well, the past year has been horrible for me.

Anyway, one of my goals was to get my degree before I turned 40. That's less than 4 years away! When I first started college I had an idea that I wanted to be an electronics engineer. Well, I worked electronics in the Air Force and while it was interesting, I realized it wasn't something that I wanted to be my career. College went on hold and fast-forward over 15 years and here I am today.

Being in an industry that's so tied to the economy is not very comfortable. When the market good, it was great, but now that the market is bad, it's devastating. So I figured, "There's no better time to go back to school." I've still got a bunch of unused cash from my G.I. Bill so I better use it before I lose it.

It's kind of funny how things kind of have a way of working themselves out. I'm going to go back to school full-time and just wanted to find a part-time job to keep myself occupied and fund my school/living expenses. It would be a definite switch going back to a "real" job as I've basically been self-employed for the past 5 years. What in the hell was I going to do that wouldn't drive me crazy?

Well I have to thank my girlfriend for throwing away my 2008 Specialized catalog. I ransacked the condo looking for it and it was nowhere to be found. The Mission Viejo Rock N' Road is only 2.5 miles from home so I decided to take a quick little ride over there to pick up another one. Before I left I asked a quick little question, "Hey! You folks wouldn't happen to be hiring, would you?" Tracie said, "As a matter of fact, we are. Would you like an application?"

Well guess who's working at Rock N' Road now?

This couldn't have worked out any better. The shop is extremely close. I never really tallied my fuel expenses, but my office is in Rancho Cucamonga and I was spending about $500-$600 every month in fuel. Now I can just pedal to work.

No more shirt and ties! Now I'm not buying $50 ties and paying for dry cleaning anymore!! Rolling into work (I said "rolling") in my cargo shorts, a t-shirt, and DCs is gonna be a welcome change.

I kinda of like bikes so I get to hang out and talk to people about bicycles all day. I've frequented the MV Rock N' Road for the past year and the entire crew there has always been great. Not to mention I'm kinda partial to Specialized stuff so what better store is there to work at?

So along all the other STR folks that work at the other great shops, I offer myself as another resource. Hell...I'm geek-connected to the world, so if you have any questions just shoot me an email. I'll see it right on my iPhone and I'll shoot you back if I'm at the store.

The guys at the Laguna Hills store are top notch