My First Job: Darran Littlefield, partner, Point B Solutions Group

December 4, 2005

My First Job: Darran Littlefield, partner, Point B Solutions Group

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Darran Littlefield

Current position: Partner, Point B Solutions Group, a professional-services firm specializing in project leadership. Point B has practices in Seattle, Portland, Denver and Phoenix.

First job: Working on the course-maintenance crew (as a teenager) at the Pleasant Hill Country Club in Pleasant Hill, Calif. Duties included watering, trapping moles ($1 bonus per mole), mowing and changing the pin placements.

How I got the job: I was practicing my putting when the golf-course restaurant manager came out to ask me if I was interested in washing dishes that evening. After a quick call to my parents — who roundly approved of my taking the position — I was oriented to the sink, sanitizer and a growing pile of dishes.

At midnight, the nighttime water man came in for a quick bite before heading out to set the sprinklers. His assistant hadn't shown up, so he asked if I wanted to help out, after the dishes were in order, of course. After another quick call to my parents, I was lugging sprinklers around the course. That first day was probably my most fun and memorable day on any job.

What I learned: That opportunities can come along at any time, without warning, and that saying yes to something that at first might seem out of the ordinary can often be a very good thing. But perhaps the most important thing I learned is that you need help from others to be successful. This includes an understanding and supportive family and a network of friends and work associates.

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