Do you remember your first job?

When I was in elementary school, I made money shoveling snow, mowing people’s lawns, washing cars, and collecting dog poop for neighbors. I still carry with me the lessons I learned back then. I learned to be willing and eager to work hard. I learned that if you care about people and do great work, people will hire you again. I learned that if people like you, they will recommend you to their friends and colleagues.

People sometimes forget that every great achievement started with a goal and was backed by commitment, hard work, perseverance, and gradual improvement. To illustrate this, I began to keep a list of the earliest jobs famous people have worked on. When you look at them now, you cannot imagine that they have ever done anything other than what they do now.

But we all start somewhere. Here is a list of some famous people and their early work:

Madeline Albright, Former US Secretary of State

first job: department store bra sales clerk

Alan Dershowitz, Author, Attorney

first job: Deli factory worker

Michael Eisner, former Disney CEO

first job: camp counselor

Nancy Grace, CNN host, attorney

first job: Sears Candy Clerk

Jay Leno, comedian, host of The Tonight Show

first job: McDonalds

Cal Ripken, Jr., former Major League Baseball player

first job: errand boy at the minor league clubhouse

Tony Robbins, Author, Motivational Speaker

first job: janitor

Gene Simmons, KISS rock star

first job: Paper Boy

Russell Simmons, founder of Def Jam Records

first job: fast food- Orange Julius

George Steinbrenner, Owner NY Yankees

first job: raising chickens

Isiah Thomas, former NBA basketball player

first job: Shoe shine

Donald Trump, real estate investor

first job: collected soda bottles, then rent money for father

Oprah Winfrey, billionaire, talk show host

first job: Radio station announcer

Many millionaires started out as paper kids or worked at fast food. There were many humble beginnings of people who changed the world. These people were born with greatness within them, just as you have greatness within you. These people progressed, improved, worked hard, and grew to greatness. These people never gave up their dreams.

Regardless of your current occupation, what you do is not what it is. We all have to start somewhere.

People who rise to greatness in anything follow their bliss. They don’t waste your time. They start and move on.

What gift or passion do you possess that you have been yearning to develop or pursue?

What secret dreams do you harbor that you haven’t started yet?

What are you waiting for?

Set your goals and get it going.

Make your move.

No one else can do it for you.

Take the next step.

Live your dreams,

Jill koenig