Daniel Muller - CHANGING COLLARS: Lessons in Transitioning from Blue-Collar Roots to White-Collar Success

Copyright 2019 Daniel Muller

EBOOK ISBN: 9781644386071

PRINT ISBN: 9781644386064

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

Published by BookLocker.com, Inc., St. Petersburg, Florida.

BookLocker.com, Inc.

2019

First Edition

DISCLAIMER

This book details the authors personal experiences with and opinions about lessons learned in the white-collar, professional world. The author is not a licensed attorney, accountant or advisor.

The author and publisher are providing this book and its contents on an as is basis and make no representations or warranties of any kind with respect to this book or its contents. The author and publisher disclaim all such representations and warranties, including for example warranties of merchantability and business advice for a particular purpose. In addition, the author and publisher do not represent or warrant that the information accessible via this book is accurate, complete or current.

The statements made about advice and services have not been evaluated by the U.S. government. Please consult with your own legal, accounting, medical, or other licensed professional regarding the suggestions and recommendations made in this book.

Except as specifically stated in this book, neither the author or publisher, nor any authors, contributors, or other representatives will be liable for damages arising out of or in connection with the use of this book. This is a comprehensive limitation of liability that applies to all damages of any kind, including (without limitation) compensatory; direct, indirect or consequential damages; loss of data, income or profit; loss of or damage to property and claims of third parties.

You understand that this book is not intended as a substitute for consultation with a licensed financial, legal or accounting professional. Before you begin any change of your lifestyle in any way, you will consult a licensed professional to ensure that you are doing whats best for your situation.

This book provides content related to career lessons and advice in the white-collar professional world, and related topics. As such, use of this book implies your acceptance of this disclaimer.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In the last twenty years, over ten million Americans have grown up in blue-collar families but have chosen to pursue white-collar careers. Changing Collars is a fascinating and instructional narrative focused upon helping and enabling these and future blue-collar Americans to succeed in their white-collar professions. Drawing upon his own experiences growing up in a blue-collar family, and in his 35 years of gradually learning the ropes and climbing the corporate ladder in a white-collar world, Daniel Muller provides extremely valuable insights and lessons to help millions of blue-collar root employees on their white-collar career journeys.

Combining personal experiences and observations along with those of fellow peers in the white-collar world, Changing Collars provides deeply insightful and practical lessons about the significant differences between blue-collar and white-collar cultures and mores, as well as highlighting the common misunderstandings that blue-collar candidates have about the white-collar world. The lessons here are further enhanced by the organization of these lessons into early-career, middle-career, and late-career examples.

These examples and lessons are rarely discussed in college coursework, or in other texts, simply because many of these lessons are held dear and shared only with a select few, mainly others who have grown up in white-collar families and backgrounds, and those on the fast track to senior positions.

The lessons shared here are meaningful, readily applicable and entertaining for anyone who is employed, or will be employed, in the white-collar world, and who is searching for new tools and the keys to future white-collar career success.

Table of Contents

The news is laden with stories about those who lack real opportunities for self-realization and self-improvement due to a lack of education, a lack of opportunity, a lack of family support, a lack of jobs, or a lack of fairness in hiring and promotion and pay.

However, there is one hidden story that impacts millions of current and future workers, one that is rarely if ever discussed and studied. It remains as one of the most important and impactful societal problems of the last forty years.

The story is about the millions of American citizens who grew up, or are growing up, in blue-collar families who venture into the white-collar world. Their journey into this very different white-collar culture is one that has been forced due to economic realities (i.e., fewer blue-collar jobs), but also chosen by some who see this migration as an opportunity to fulfill their personal goals or to improve their economic lot.

Most who have completed the migration well understood the need for education and training to have any chance for success in a white-collar profession. Those contemplating the migration today likely also understand this. But what most do not understand is the fundamental change required in basic behavioral skills and the change required in how to think and solve problems. Without such a change, ultimate success is nearly impossible.

The white-collar world, compared to the blue-collar world, is as different culturally as two nations located on opposite sides of the world. In many ways, the foundations for success in the white-collar world are polar opposites of the foundations for success in the blue-collar working world.

The key impact of this problem is the absolute waste of talent and capabilities of these blue-collar candidates. Some have overcome these fundamental differences in culture and behavior and succeeded. But given my experience over 35 years in making this migration myself, and in conducting research on this topic over the past 10 years, it is clear that a significant majority have struggled, and continue to struggle, to succeed. Most fail to understand the fundamental and not-so-obvious differences in these environments. This struggle takes a significant toll on the success of white-collar entities which are not taking full advantage of the talents and energy of many of their employees. A larger toll is taken on the psyches of millions of those in the midst of the migration who continually become frustrated and at times highly discouraged due to their ongoing frustration with a world where extra effort, hard work, honesty, and personal time investment frequently yields minimal or near-zero results.

This book is dedicated to helping those contemplating, or already on the voyage of, migrating from a blue-collar world and culture into a white-collar land of opportunities and challenges.

Look, Dan... you come from a small town and a good blue-collar family. Nobody in your family ever did anything other than work in a blue-collar job. Why invest a lot of your money, get into debt, and spend four years of your life in a college education? Even if you graduate, you wont find a good job around here anymore; this community is dying. Just follow in the footsteps of your dad, or uncle, or brother, or aunt or sister, and get a job working shifts in a local manufacturing or assembly plant. Grow up! The dreams you hear about on TV are only for the wealthy families and those who know people in power. Just get a job, make an honest days pay for a good days work, get married, and support your family.