It is finally official and I can now share it with you. I am making a career change. Hopefully it will be my last. Perhaps you might call it a consolidation, instead. For years my heart has been with TEAM OREGON, our motorcycle training organization. My body has been forced to be elsewhere in the name of making a living. Now I've been given the chance to re-unite the two.
This is a camera phone photo taken yesterday at a class / instructor training event.
Once in a while orbits align and you have the chance to follow your heart. I was given such a chance and I knew if I didn't pursue it I would regret it for the rest of my days. So I went for it and things worked out.
I've been appointed as the new Training Manager for our motorcycle training organization. It is a full time staff position. It includes oversight over our nearly two hundred instructors and those we expect to add over the next few years as we grow to meet the demand. Repsonsibilities also include quality control for our current training materials and courses. As time goes on we will be testing new methods of training such as online courses.
There's a bit of trepidation being felt here, too. I've spent 12 years training for this position. Not with that exact purpose, but in doing the things involved in the job. Over the course of that time I've become friends with all the wonderful people who are my fellow instructors. It has been gratifying to help so many to achieve success and the satisfaction of accomplishment. It will be great to be in a position to help them more but there is also the worry of making sure I do right by them and our students.
I cannot begin to describe how blessed I feel. Some good folks have unselfishly shared their time and energy on my behalf over the years. I have been, and always shall be, grateful for them and have always tried to pay it forward. I have a passion for riding motorcycles and teaching others to do so for the first time or to improve their skills. Now I can also make a living at it. How lucky can a guy be?
Miles and smiles,
Dan
That is awesome news mate, extremely pleased for you. From what I know of you I would say Team Oregon has made an excellent decision. And you know what they say, find a job you love and you never work again.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to hearing all about it it in due time. Great stuff.
Dan,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new position. I am sure it is going to be wonderful and you will love it!
Congratulations Dan. I don't think there is a better man suited for the job.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you get to follow your heart are able to do what you love for a living.
Congratulations! I can think of nothing better than earning a living doing what you love to do!
ReplyDelete-Peace
Dan:
ReplyDeleteCongratulations ! Not many people are able to enjoy their passion and make a living with it too. You are perfect and you truly care about people.
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
This is great news. Congratulations Dan. It is always wonderful to hear that the "orbits align" and someone has a chance to work at what they love.
ReplyDelete~Keith
Circle Blue
A well deserved congratulations Dan.
ReplyDeleteThis is outstanding news Dan! My heartfelt and yes, a bit jealous, congratulations!
ReplyDeleteTo do something you love and get paid for it....
dom
Redleg's Rides
Colorado Motorcycle Travel Examiner
Congrats - glad to see you can follow your heart!
ReplyDeleteThat is fantastic news! Congratulations! I think you will do a wonderful job, and it's where you heart is, so it's a double blessing. It's not often that we get to make a living from what we're passionate about. I very happy for you!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your career move, they definitely picked the right guy for the job. I am very happy for you, and wish you best of success.
ReplyDeleteMr. Iron Dad: I couldn't be happier for you with this dream of a job!
ReplyDeleteQuestion. Does that mean you won't be riding all over the state anymore and just be working out of a central office or will you still get to have the miles and smiles too?
fasthair
Congrats Dan,
ReplyDeleteI can't think of a better person for the position.
Mr. Irondad
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on you new position. You are a fortunate person to be able to combine making a living and doing something you love.
GAW
High five! What a wonderful opportunity.
ReplyDeleteSo as Training Manager, does that mean your nickname is going to change to IronFist?
Now that he's finally outed himself, I couldn't be happier for Dan myself, even if that means I have to call him "boss" now.
ReplyDeleteNow that he's finally outed himself, I couldn't be happier for Dan myself, even if that means I have to call him "boss" now.
ReplyDeleteA change is as good as a rest.
ReplyDeleteMy concern would be will the position supply monetary compensation equivalent to your current position? And will the new position allow you to grow as person? One minor point,You have another other series of voctions. Writing a interesting blog expands upon your word skills, your photograph has improved immensely and at some future date
your use of camera and related could lead to other projects and forms of employment. At some point your physical and yes mental being shall cry enough; and then you'll continue to something else.
Never give up Dan, your late much loved grandmother didn't give up easily, nor shall you. This you do perhaps partly in remembrance of her.
Ride safe, and happily for the rest of your days.
Bryce
Woohoo!! way to go!!! :DDD
ReplyDeleteYou rock dude, i have no doubt you're the best man for the job!! Enjoy it all, and i suspect you're going to have more to say on training here ;-)
Peace man, have a great week!
A huge congratulations to you, Dan! I suspect you'll be perfect in this position -:) The results usually shine when one is following his/her heart -:))
ReplyDeleteDear IronDad (Dan):
ReplyDeleteThere is no greater satisfaction than standing in that special place when the planets and the stars align, sending that beam of light right into your future.
Congratulations on your new position.
Fondest regards,
Jack/reep
Twisted Roads
Congratulations!! That is great news and you will be perfect in the job. Does this mean that you will also get to do tons of riding to 'view' sites?? ;)
ReplyDeleteliving the dream for the rest of us! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteGail
So does this mean you have to obey speed limits and quit riding in adverse conditions? To set a good example and all...
ReplyDeleteCongratulations too!
Steve Williams
Scooter in the Sticks
Congratulations, what a wonderful opportunity for you!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, but we miss you and your musings. You seem to be working harder now with one job than you did with two. Hope you're having fun and I look forward to seeing you.
ReplyDeleteYou can't get any luckier! Most people can't do what they love to pay the bills. The ones who do are envied by everyone else. Good luck, congrats and thanks for writing a short enough blog post for my pea brain to follow.
ReplyDeletecongrats! send me a note. I will be coming your way soon!
ReplyDeleteA huge congratulations, Dan! You have worked hard and prepared well for this serendipitous event. 12 years of focused study and practice puts your training on par with all the PhDs of this world. I'm really happy for you!!
ReplyDeleteMr Irondad, Sir:
ReplyDeleteI liked it better when I knew you when. Now that your hobby is now your job we are missing you . . .
I thought one post a month was not quite bearable, but 3 months seems like an eternity.
Oh, I know what happened. The Company took back their LapTop, am I right ?
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
My Flickr // My YouTube
OK,enough time has passed. Post something already Dan.
ReplyDeleteWe hate to think you are just having fun.
Steve Williams
Scooter in the Sticks
One question in the interview was "what do you want to do in your first 100 days?"
ReplyDeleteThat's just ending. He has been very, very busy. He has been having a lot of fun, though.
Congrats on the new gig! And please forgive me for just now noticing...
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear something you love can now pay the bills. If only I could make that happen for myself. Best of luck in your new endeavors.
__Orin
Scootin' Old Skool
BTW - what's the windscreen you have on your feejer in the photos? Does it work well?
ReplyDeleteBTW: what windscreen are you using on your feejer in the photos? Looks good, does it work well?
ReplyDelete