I think of the small decisions that had a big effect on my life. I only have time for two.
When I was a year out of high school, and hadn't been any more ambitious than to be a poor quality employee doing Lawn Service, the recession hit (1973/74).
Since I'd already worked for a couple of the employment options, quit one job and got fired from the other, I accepted an offer to be a groom at the harness race horse training track.
I planned to do it for just that winter, but I found that I loved it and loved the responsibility that comes with caring for an animal. I stayed with it for 12 years, worked on 50 tracks, and got my trainers and driver's license. I only drove 30 races, but it was a really fun career that I didn't know I wanted.
In 1986, I had an apartment in Lakewood New Jersey. I was training at a training center West of Freehold, and racing horses at The Meadowlands, Yonkers Raceway, and Garden State Park.
I got a catalog in the mail at my apartment, with all of the classes available at the local Community College. I leafed through it, and saw a class in repairing outboard motors
I like to fish, and I figured that if I could fix outboards, I would be able to own a boat without spending too much money.
Since I was thinking of taking that class (although not seriously), I mentioned it to my dad on my weekly call home. His response was to immediately stop talking and say "I'll talk to you next week."
When I next talked to him, he told me that I should quit my career on the racetrack, move home to Florida, move in with his parents, and start school at the community college. He said I should then transfer to the University of Florida and apply to veterinary school.
Well obviously, he had lost his mind! Although I had the 3rd highest SAT in the county, I had also graduated from high school with a 1.8 GPA (it doesn't matter if you get an A on every test if you only come to class on test day).
Still, I figured you never turn down a chance to get an education.
I never took the class in Outboard Motor Repair, but I've been a veterinarian for 21 years.