Jack Stein:
CLASS OF 1969
Mather High SchoolClass of 1969
Chicago, IL
Adlai E. Stevenson High SchoolClass of 1998
Lincolnshire, IL
Jack's Story
Hi To All Visitors,
Following is my story from high school on,
After floundering at Mayfair Junior College, I received a wake up call when my girlfriend at the time (Wendy Mitchell) went away to school at SIU and dropped me for a new guy at school. I was devastated and determined to win her back! I was forced to buckle down and make the dean's list in order to transfer to SIU and get back my girl. I earned a 3.5 average that semester out of 4 and made the dean's list and my parents funded my quest for Wendy. After failing to wooh her back I was able to accomplish my own goals which were to work out and excel at intramural sports. Of course to me, education was secondary and I did not do well there. My self esteem was derived from building my physique and playing intramural sports with guys like Alan Lery, Arthur Glass, Warren Preis, and a few other former Matherites. We had a great time there.
I met my first wife down at SIU and was able to go back home and get married. My first job was working as a shoe salesman at Chernin's in Morton Grove. I excelled there and became the top salesman at the store in 6 months time. While the money was good for the time, my self esteem was hurting every tim...Expand for more
e I had to tell people my profession or lack of one. That job lasted about 2 years and I continued to work out to keep in shape and my marriage was there, but not really terrific. My wife met a fellow worker at Woolco (yes her job sucked as well) and her husband offered me a job as a life insurance salesman. I found out how hard it is to bring the coffin in the home and come out with a check. I floundered in that business for 2 years time.
In 1983, a friend of mine gave me a pass to a wholesale fishing tackle distributor show where I handed out my resume and desire to get into this industry. I landed a job as a manufacturers rep and bounced from rep group to rep group until finally taking a position as National Sales Manager for South Bend Sporting Goods. This job lasted about 1 year but gave me the knowledge and confidence to start my own distibutorship in 1993. I serviced the fishing tackle dealers in the Chicagoland area and was able to grow this business beyond my expectations. Unfortunately, about 5 years into this venture, the big box stores like Sports Authority, Sportmart, and finally Bass Pro Shops erased most of my customer base. Once again I was about to venture into unknown territory.
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