Jack Of All Trades...

After discussing my drinking habits with a certain Mr Jack Daniels last time, I thought I'd keep the 'jack' theme going with another rather light-hearted topic...

The old phrase goes...'Jack of all trades, Master of none...' ~ hell, ain't that the truth!

For the past three years I've been actively seeking a potential way to enable me to work and live in New Zealand, but alas it seems like it's just not meant to be.
The problem stems from the very phrase stated above...I am a Jack of all trades and I am a Master of none.
When you seek the possibility of moving abroad, especially to New Zealand or Australia, you have to have a specific skill or trade which is in demand or in short supply over there...and herein lies my problem.

Despite being in employment in one guise or another for nearly 30 years, I don't possess any such skill or trade...well, not officially anyway.
I spent the time from when I was 15 to 32 in retail, the last 12 of which in management, yet you don't really get any formal qualifications for that, although you do pick up some vital skills in man-management.
I then went 'back-to-school' to obtain some accountancy qualifications for another job, but once my role at work got moved into a different part of the business this proved irrelevant so this wasn't persued.
Once I became a Payroll Manager I hoped this would involve attaining the neccesary qualifications, as this position can enable you to earn mega-bucks, but unfortuantely work only wanted me to hold the title, not gain the credentials required.
After this I took a complete career change and worked in logistics, but the only possible qualification attainable would have been a fork-lift license, which I would have loved to have gained as this could've been an opportunity for a skilled position in New Zealand, but once again work felt it wasn't neccesary for me to take the tests as there were sufficient numbers of qualified drivers in place already on my particular shift.
Finally, I returned to office work where I'm now in pensions, and I have studied for some exams already, but whether this is where my future lies remains to be seen.
I even persued the possibility of becoming a skydive instructor, based in New Zealand. All the training would be done over there and they offered a 98% guarantee of future employment once you successfully passed all the exams. The only problem was that the course was quite expensive and funding/sponsorship would be required by the UK government. I enquired about this, only to be knocked back...as funding can only be given on the condition that you then return to work in the EU...which rather defeated the purpose when the whole idea was to work in New Zealand in the first place!

So for all of near 30 years of hard graft, I am indeed a 'Jack-of-all-trades ~ Master-of-none'!
But rather than focus on the negative, I thought I'd look at the positives ~ what can I do & what can I offer?

I am a great listener and provider of well intended advice (a counsellor?);
I am a deep thinker (a philosopher?);
I am a very spiritual believer (a buddhist?);
I am a good understander of minds (a therapist?);
I am a great de-stresser with oils (a masseuer?);
I am a patient man (a humanist?);
I am a keen traveller (a nomad?);
I am a good carer of young people (a child minder?);
and I am a lover of life (a goodness guru?).

Therefore, it appears that as I've missed my niche in life, or my vocation, it must surely be time that I market myself and advertsise myself accordingly.
I shall describe my new proposed job title as:

~ Goodness Guru Steve Muskett ~ A philosophical, mobile masseur/therapist available for hire ~ will take care of all of your personal needs & restore your body, mind & soul back to good health

Er, yeah...it's a bit of a long shot ain't it?! Lol.
I'll keep working at it, but the business cards can wait for the time being.

I think I'm a bit of a lost cause in need of St.Jude (the patron saint of lost causes), hence the picture attached to this blog from the great movie, 'Man On Fire' starring Denzel Washington who plays a character with similar issues.

I think the only realistic way that I'm going to get to live and stay in New Zealand is if I marry a lovely, local Kiwi girl...are you listening, Ange? Lol...or if the global company that I currently work for, feel pity on me and set me up in their Wellington office...please?

PS ~ incidently with regards to my previous blog...I must confess to falling off the wagon already!
But I must stress it was with mitigating circumstances and was work related.
Firstly, I attended the inaugural meeting of the unofficial Leeds United Fan Club, and secondly I am shortly due to particpate in the works' quiz which both (in)conveniently (?) happen to have a pub as its' venue.
But I will strive to keep my alcoholic intake to a respectable moderation, and I shall never stray into the binge drinking days & haze of my past...I can promise you that!

However, I've had quite a lot of issues to deal with of late...enough to drive any sane(?) man to drink, believe me! Despite this, I've tried to keep the nature of my blogs light-hearted...although I can't promise it'll remain that way, but I do find that writing these blogs gives me a sense of escapism & enjoyment...so thank you for reading them & thank you for your support.

Until next time ~ take care.

Ramblin' Steve