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Do You Enjoy Sex or The Art of Landing A Job...

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408

He came to US from the Ukraine when he, like me, was 40. I was a regular guy, and Nick was a decorated guy, one who was involved in coming with his best men and pumping the concrete into Chernobyl’s reactor in 1986 right after the explosion. He was a big boss, used to have a company car, a driver… and still he immigrated to the US, was looking for every opportunity to work, took construction jobs and shoveled dirt…

His wife, a music teacher, took college courses in accounting, and she was able to land a job. Not a lot of money, but it was a start. Nick did not have much luck, but kept trying, and did not whine. That’s when we met in the Bronx, and from that day our friendship was formed.

He finally landed a job with the city as inspector and that when we left for Florida, and they stayed in the Bronx. Soon he told me that he switched to a private large construction company, and became a Project Manager.

With his funky English, he was an unlikely candidate for the company to hire, but when you talk to Nick, you can’t not notice the energy, over the top confidence, and brilliant sense of humor, which was shining even through the language and cultural barriers.

Humor got him the job. They showed him a project and asked his opinion and there was something he said that surprised them. They did not see anything wrong with it, but the boss said that they never did it this way.

And Nick turned to the boss and asked him how old he was when he lost his virginity. They guy was stunned, but answered.

- You see, you did not have sex before, but you liked it, didn’t you? Same here. You never did it before, but try it and you will like it. Even though you might still like sex more…

Everybody burst into laughter and that’s how Nick got his foot into the company.  He is a great guy, and a very knowledgeable and resourceful engineer. They learned it later and learned to appreciate it.

He is still there.

He is their VP.

Comments (14)

Jessica Holtzman
Keller Williams Realty, Inc. - Moorestown, NJ
Real Estate Agent in Southern New Jersey

I have to say, the title of your blog caught my eye!  Good advertising!

Feb 15, 2012 12:10 PM
Adrian Willanger
206 909-7536 AdrianWillanger-broker.com - Seattle, WA
Profit from my two decades of experience

Jon-Good for Nick, I'm glad to see hard work got him in the door and his brains and sense of humor led to bigger things. 

Feb 15, 2012 12:17 PM
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

Your title got my attention...I guess it's just been that kind of day. It's a good thing this didn't backfire on Nick.

Feb 15, 2012 12:22 PM
Leslie G. Rojohn
MoonDancer Realty - Sylva, NC
GRI, ABR ~ MoonDancer Realty

Good thing the boss wasn't a woman.  She may have had a different first experience.

Feb 15, 2012 12:45 PM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

@ Leslie, hahahahahha.

I love your stories, Jon. You connect well with people, and you're a briliant story teller. Plus, I can hear your accent in your words -- it jumps right off the monitor and into the air.

Feb 16, 2012 02:51 AM
Mike Frazier
Carousel Realty of Dyer County - Dyersburg, TN
Northwest Tennessee Realtor

Jon, no one knows our capabilities except us but sometimes we are scared to step out and take a chance.

Feb 16, 2012 03:04 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Jessica - it is just a story, no advertisement (LOL)

Feb 16, 2012 03:28 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Adrian - what was surprising to me was the fact that even with poor (at that time) English, humor still was understood and still worked well.

Feb 16, 2012 03:31 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Debbie - at that time it was not really a big risk, if it backfired... but it, along with his very impressive resume of working in the disaster areas, worked for him there

Feb 16, 2012 03:32 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Leslie - I hear you. Yep, this was totally a guy's perspective... but the bosses were guys, too. Sort of helped him (LOL)

Feb 16, 2012 03:33 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Elizabeth - I always suspected that I have the accent even when I write, and you just confirmed it. 20 years ago it would have upset me, now I smile (LOL)

Feb 16, 2012 03:35 AM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Sounds like just plain common sense to me.  That is what this country has lost in the last decade.

Feb 16, 2012 08:54 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

William - You gotta be a certain type. It is not me. I would not say it in this situation, for sure. But Nick is not sleazy, he maintains that decency about him, so it is not offensive, even ifit is rough around the corners.

But he needed to make a point after they kept saying that they never did it this way. he didnot like this objection, and I find it a brillinat thing he said. Warmed everyone up and got the point across

Feb 16, 2012 11:35 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Mike - true, thank you

Feb 16, 2012 11:36 AM