I didn’t choose the oil business, it chose me. 

First, I would like to thank you for reading and mention that I have no intent to speak illy of any competitors or businesses. I will be as vague as possible when describing those I come by along my journeys. Competition, capitalism, and the free market are what make the word go round, so I am thankful for those who keep me competitive.

This journal is meant to be a light and fun way for me to give people a look into what kind of things go on in this line of business.

It’s not glamorous, its isolating, and its tough, but boy does it beat sitting at a desk in a cubicle all day with supervisors constantly breathing down your neck. I make my own schedule, I work from home, I get to see the sun, enjoy the weather (everyone close to me know this is a huge hobby of mine as i was once a weather girl in Michigan), stop wherever I like for lunch, and see some pretty awesome things – well maybe they are only awesome to me.

You might wonder how on Earth a 26-year-old Michigander like myself has found themselves in the cut-throat oil industry of Chicago. Well, most of the time so do I!

Here is a little story of how I came to be in this position today:

I was finishing my last few classes at Michigan State – A degree in Spanish Language – with no real idea on what I wanted to do. For a long time I pictured myself being a physical therapist and either owning my own holistic practice that would combine massage, nutrition, and therapy OR working as the physical therapist for NASA; helping research the effects of zero gravity on the musculoskeletal system and building paths to recovery for the Astronauts upon their return. I had big dreams and still do. Once I realized how scary another 4+ years of school to attain a Doctorate degree along with surmounting debt was, I started to set my sights more on nutrition. I was working a nutritional and exercise counselor for an upscale supplement company and had just started renting a small home on a small lake a ways from campus. The I got a call from one of my closest friends who had moved to Chicago a year prior. She told me that her company, an upscale athletic club in the north shore was hiring membership sales reps. I came for an interview that weekend and at the disapproval of my mom was moving in with the friend two weeks later. Talk about changing your life on a whim.

Now when I was in Michigan I started to become very interested in law enforcement. I worked at the health club for a whopping 3 months before switching to a similar club in the city, eliminating my 35 mile reverse commute. At this point I was filling my free time with police ride alongs, NIPSTA trainings, and testing. I had my sights set on the Lake Zurich police department who was hiring and had also applied to Glenview just for good measure.

All was fine and dandy until one day at the club, a woman came in to buy a membership from me. She praised me for my professionalism and told me about a position she was hiring for at her company and that I was perfect for the job. I thanked her but assured her I was on my destined path. She continued to persist via Linkedin days afterwards, so flattered, I humored her and went for an interview. That day my destiny changed. I had stumbled into something new that I thought was completely awesome. Oil. Not fuel oil, but lubricants and the like. Shell, Chevron, and Citgo, all big and shiny were wooing me into the arms of the woman and I took the position. It was fast paced, demanding, and a challenge. I love a good challenge. I told myself I’d only do it for a few years, use the salary to pay down some student debt and then I could go back to policing.

This woman became my mentor and inspiration and my friend. She believed in me and she taught me everything she knew – well all that she could fit into about 6 months time. I spent time with her family, I listened to her, and I admired her intelligence in the industry. She was full of great ideas and knowledge. I was her marketing girl and I did the best I could without any formal marketing training. After about 6 months in a very toxic office environment, my best was no longer good enough and the GM was convinced that they could save money on my position – or so I was told at one point. After changing my life around, I was kicked to the curb, living in an expensive city with nothing saved up, but i had something left – Passion. Passion for the industry and to be successful. I was determined to land another job in the industry and I was hoping it would be something in outside sales.

Three months later I found myself at Keller Heartt. Now there are some burnt bridges between this woman and Keller. They were eager to take me on with my passion, determination, and to put me up against her as her equal. They showed me that she may have not been her true self with me and how it feels to actually trust your company and everyone in it. The oil business in Chicago is huge but small. Everyone knows everyone and I’m sure there are plenty of other burnt bridges out there.

So here I am, learning something new every day and always trying to find ways to better myself for my customers. I am incredibly happy in my position and with my company. I am given the guidance and tools I need to be successful in helping companies to manager their oil better. I have also made many great connections and friends along the way.  I now reside in the NW suburbs in a town home with a dog, a cat, and the love of my life with hopes of eventually opening a side LLC in a slightly related field as well as investing in some income properties. Everyday I wake up excited for what the day may hold and where I will find myself next.

It’s crazy how life changes and leads you along a path to where you are today. Never in my life would I have expected to be working with heavy-duty engine oils for Shell in the 3rd largest city in the US, but here I am.

Jump at every opportunity you get, because you never know where it will take you.