David Crosetti

I was born and raised in California. I worked in the family business for a number of years and then decided to spread my wings and try working for someone else. My first significant job was with Frito Lay. After a stint in the salty snack business, I transitioned to the beverage industry, working for All American Bottling Company as a Sales and Marketing Manager in Northern California and then later in Nashville, Tennessee. I got the chance to go to work for Coca-Cola, just before they introduced New Coke. Needless to say, that was quite the experience. It was a character builder to be sure.

I worked for Coca-Cola in Northern California, Tennessee, Florida, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. I kept my suitcase ...More packed, because at the time, the soft drink industry was going through a period of consolidation and my job was to go to a recently purchased operation and get it functioning according to the Coca-Cola way. That was a great job and I got to meet a lot of interesting people, including my wife.

When I left the soft drink business, I went in to the bottled water business--home and office delivery with Suntory Water Group. I was a Regional Manager with three sales centers in central Florida.

We came back home to Mississippi (the kids and the wife are natives) to be closer to family. Took a job as General Manager of a commercial uniform rental company. No pun intended, but that is really a dirty business. Got the operation profitable and it was sold to a competitor. They decided they didn't need many of us, so I did what comes natural to me. I found a line of work completely different from the previous life.

I now sell restaurant equipment and a food service program to convenience stores. It is a cold calling, door pulling, gut wrenching life--but I absolutely love it. I put my customer's needs first and my own desires second. As a result, I don't have to cold call anymore. I work off referrals. Life is good.

I like my job and I love the company I work for. I think of myself as semi-retired. That is, I enjoy getting out of bed in the morning and getting out and seeing my customers and potential customers. Every day is a new adventure. I try to live each day like it was my last--that means I often burn my candle at both ends. But, I wouldn't have it any other way. What about you?

Have a new instablog up. I'm looking at Social Security and strategies for using SS to the best use. Hope you enjoy the article. 3 days ago