How unconventional moves unlocked exponential career growth
Kickstarting the Journey
If you’ve ever found yourself yearning for a way to drastically grow your income without a traditional degree or years of climbing the corporate ladder, this story is for you. In 2013, I was earning $15 an hour in an entry-level position, unsure how I could break free from the ceiling that seemed inevitable. By 2017, I reached a six-figure salary, I had a team of almost 70 individuals and was in charge of a large facility with a multi-million dollar operating and maintenance budget. This transformation wasn’t accidental; it was the result of strategic and unconventional career moves. Here’s how I did it—and how you can, too.
Miserable Beginnings
It was late February 2013. I had just quit what I thought was my dream job (in my dream career field) as a bass player in a nationally touring band. Driving my 2008 Plymouth Breeze on I29 between Fargo and Grand Forks, North Dakota in whiteout conditions – I was holding on for dear life. I met my dream girl while on the road and we decided to give it a real shot. So I moved from beautiful Denver, CO to the flat, barren wasteland of Grand Forks, ND. My girlfriend (now wife) said I should stay in Fargo for the night because the conditions weren’t safe. I pushed through and made it to my final destination – I had a job interview the next day that I was NOT going to miss.
The next morning (after an interview and some pre-employment testing) I was offered a job making $15/hr as a Packaging Operator. I would also have health insurance and a 401k and since I was quickly approaching 26 years old, my parents were more than a little relieved about this. It sounds funny now, but I couldn’t believe they were going to pay me that much money. The most I was ever paid previously was maybe $10/hr. I had zero experience and a music degree.
In my first days on the job, all I could think about were ways to get out of it. I was working a rotating shift (exhausting), I now had a boss to answer to (something I didn’t really have as a full time musician) and I couldn’t see a clear path forward. For some reason, a switch flipped for me one day, “what if this could be MY THING?” I thought to myself. “What if I just threw myself into this the way that I had done with music for so many years?” One thing I did identify was that this was a large company and there were tons of opportunities if you were willing to put in the effort. So I decided to stick around and see what I could make happen.
Making Moves – Fast
My first promotion was about three weeks into the job. I moved from Packaging Operator to Packaging Technician – this was an increase of $7/hr! $22/hr! HOLY SHIT!. Again, I could not believe they were going to pay me that much money.
I had been talking with a supervisor and he told me that the Packaging Tech role was open on one of the shifts. They had been trying to fill it for months unsuccessfully and the main reason was because no one could pass the test. I spoke with a guy that had recently been promoted and asked him everything I could think of about the test. I got on Wikipedia and Google and consumed as much information as I could about the topics he listed. That week I went into HR and ended up passing the test with the minimum passing score… luckily they weren’t tracking my GPA. This was binary – pass or fail. Promotion or no promotion. I got that first promotion and it changed my life completely.
Most people would sit back at this point and enjoy the fact that they just increased their salary by almost 50%. Fortunately, I’m not wired that way. I went to the union contract to see where my pay sat on the spectrum. It was closer to the high end but it wasn’t the top. I went into HR the next time I was on day shift and asked the HR Generalist, “I don’t want to bite the hand that feeds me here because I am extremely grateful for this new opportunity, but where do I go from here? I see House Mechanics make more money than me but don’t see a clear path to that. Maintenance Planner is another job that intrigues me but we only have one of those in my area. Have I peaked already?” She didn’t have a real answer for me.
Reflecting on this time period now, I realize that one of my strengths has been my ability to network. But I never really saw it that way. I just enjoyed making friends with interesting people and have an unquenchable thirst for learning new things. I became friends with a few key people at this moment in time – our Maintenance Planner (who was friends with the guy that ran the whole facility), the Mechanics and Electricians (who taught me so much about troubleshooting equipment) and my Supervisors (who encouraged me to apply for new opportunities.
I worked overtime every chance I could. This was partly because I was saving for an engagement ring, but also because every minute I spent at work I was learning as much as I could. I wanted to be the guy that could solve any problem and would show up at the drop of a hat if they needed me. The Mechanics began pulling me into bigger projects they were working on. I learned to weld and quickly became recognized as one of the best troubleshooters on the packaging line.
Eight months after that first promotion, I was promoted again – this time to House Mechanic 1st. I can’t tell you exactly what my wage was at that time but it was another significant increase, and I would move to straight days instead of shift work. I was engaged, making good money and life was good.
The Move into Management
One of the Supervisors quit on pretty short notice that following spring. I knew it was my time. By this point I had begun doing an online degree through the University of Minnesota in Manufacturing Management. I figured with my schooling, experience and the connections I had built, I was a shoe-in. I polished my resume and sent it in while working to perfect my interview skills. Then I waited.
About three months later I still hadn’t heard anything. Not a peep.
So what now? Give up? Move on? Start looking for work elsewhere? Nope. Looking back, my next move was a little crazy.
I mentioned my dilemma to my friend the Maintenance Planner and he called the guy in charge of the finished product end of the factory – the Packaging & Warehouse Supervisor. He suggested that I call the Packaging & Warehouse Manager because she was in charge of the first part of the selection process. I did and she asked me to send my resume again. That got me an interview.
I had a shaky and nervous interview in front of a large panel of people. Again, I waited. Months. Several months later, a new supervisor showed up at work. “What the hell” I thought.
Very shortly thereafter another supervisor left for a job closer to his home town. Undeterred from my first experience, I sent my resume again and once again contacted the Packaging & Warehouse Manager. This time I got it! My first job in management. I was excited and nervous and just wanted to make sure I was doing everything right.
In a later post I’ll talk about how difficult it was to make this move from hourly worker to salaried management employee.
This eventually led to a lateral move into a management role in another department and then several months later, I was promoted to Packaging & Warehouse Supervisor at a different facility. I was now in charge of an operation with dozens of employees including four management employees.
Key Lessons Learned
Reflecting on my journey, several key takeaways stand out as critical factors in my success:
- Apply for any job you think could help you grow: when I was attempting to move from the Packaging department to the Factory process (a lateral move that I knew would open up opportunities), I applied and interviewed something like five times. Be persistent and adjust your approach each time you fail.
- Talk with people in decision-making roles: Don’t be shy about what your goals are. When I decided to apply for my first management position, it was not a surprise to anyone around me. When I got the job, I was proud and relieved that my plan had worked out, but I was not shocked. By that point, it felt inevitable.
- Build cross-functional business knowledge: The more you understand about different aspects of a business—operations, maintenance, finance, and management—the more valuable you become as an employee. These skills create opportunities to rise within an organization.
- Network and contribute visibly: Relationships matter. Show up for committees, projects, and initiatives outside your regular duties. Visibility leads to trust, trust leads to opportunities, and opportunities lead to growth.
Looking Back
My journey from $15 an hour to a six-figure salary in just four years is proof that career growth doesn’t have to follow a traditional path. The key is to make bold, strategic decisions, even when they defy conventional logic. Growth is often nonlinear, requiring moments of sacrifice and pivots that might seem like setbacks.
Ultimately, trusting in your ability to learn, adapt, and contribute in meaningful ways will set you apart. If you’re willing to take calculated risks and think beyond immediate rewards, you can transform your career—and your life—in extraordinary ways. After all, sometimes the most unconventional moves lead to the most remarkable destinations.