Late 1980’s Cupertino, CA. The crowded auditorium in Cupertino was filled with hundreds of sales, marketing and technical personnel who proudly wore the rainbow logo, either as a fixture on their shirts or emblazoned on their souls.  “The journey is the reward” had been drilled into the group’s psyche for years, and each one of us lived this truth together.  Cultish no, but passion driven, yes. At the front of the auditorium, Mr. Z (VP of sales for Apple Computer, Inc.) was laying out the yearly business plan for the sales group in attendance while the marketing and product groups al ..read more

1984 Cupertino, CA. The room was one of many like rooms on the Cupertino campus, not larger than 12ft by 12ft. Brightly lit by fluorescent lights, it may have served the purpose of a small meeting room if there had been a table or desk in place. With only two slightly angled but facing chairs, it felt more like a confessional without the sliding curtain. The role-play sessions were going smoothly, no need apparently for the pre-training anxiety and hand wringing I experienced that morning. (Has been and always will be true that the pretense is worse than the actuality in any upcoming situatio ..read more

Blog 6 Late 1983 – 1984 Tampa, FL As the double oak office doors closed behind me, I fell helplessly back against them, my suit sliding slightly as I tried to steady myself.  If there was a white light moment, this was it.  As I steadied myself, a realization of what just transpired hit my emotions like a Florida waterspout.  I gazed back at the double doors and took in what a hand-written paper sign bellowed in almost illegible script: “Apple Computer, Inc.” I had spent the last few quarters of 1983 working for Roger’s Sales Associates (Apple’s Rep Firm in Florida) (see blog 5 ..read more

Blog 5 1983 Ft. Myers, FL. Having made a transition from the frozen tundra to the warmth and humidity of Florida, I secured a position at an Authorized Apple / IBM Reseller with locations in Ft. Myers and Naples.  Having solicited them (see Blog #4) prior to the move, I proved myself during the first week by selling through multiple Apple product…to the amazement of the sales manager who I remember saying during the interview, “I will give you a chance since we don’t sell much Apple.” “You have one month but I have little hope you can sell any Apple product down here…”   Game on ..read more

Blog 4 1983 Spring Maplewood, MN – Ft. Myers, FL Early Spring in MN. was just like the proceeding winter months…grey, overcast, the snow turning eventually to rock-hard brown gravy and an opaque sun that never showed its brilliance.  Dealing with this type of environment waned on the soul for those of us who underwent “cabin fever.” (A real affliction to those of us who suffered through it.)  No amount of OTT Lite could cure it. On a Sunday afternoon, my roommate Doug and I landed at MSP having just spent several days trying to cure the fever by partaking in the annual mid-west sprin ..read more

Blog 2 Winter / Spring of 1980 Maplewood, MN – 22 years old Dusk had settled in on a frigid (how surprising) winterish spring day on 7th street in St. Paul.  A childhood friend slid across another whisky-sour in a run-down tavern best fit for my grandparents, as it reeked of stale beer, fried food and perfume popular I would guess in the 1930’s.  One of many such bars on 7th street, this one was favored as a precursor bar – one you went to in order to lubricate on cheep booze prior to going to higher end clubs that same evening and just holding on to one drink all night.  He had ..read more

The winter of 1979-1980 St. Paul, MN 1979…twenty-one years old…and the omnipresent winter grayness of the Twin Cities in November. In a borrowed suit, I approached the building.  New construction yet forlorn and sanitized, complete with a handwritten sign on the door which read “Deltair Solar Systems, Inc.” I had found the job listing in the St. Paul Pioneer Press that morning while getting fed by my Polish Grandmother, and having not had a job in months the listing cried out “no experience necessary.”  Why not…since I had six dollars to my name, a Minnesota “beater” car, worn out sh ..read more