I had the privilege of meeting and initially interviewing Micah Bowers for employment. I was impressed. He recently completed his Master’s in New Media at Purdue. I assumed he could write, and hoped he wasn’t sick of it from his college days. After his first week on the job, I asked if he’d like to write a post from the “The New Guy” perspective. As you’ll see, I was rewarded with a post from a writer with a great voice, writing from an interesting perspective, who is informative, humorous, and entertaining.

Enjoy…

Randy Clark

November 15, 2011   | by Micah Bowers

When it’s time to start a new job, most of us are inclined to wonder, “What if it doesn’t work out?” Actually, new jobs stir up a lot of “what if’s.” “What if my coworkers don’t like me?” “What if I’m not as qualified as I thought?” “What if my car breaks down on the way to my first day?”   For me it was, “What if I look like a total newbie?” After landing a job in the installation department at TKO, my excitement about the opportunity was quickly tempered in realizing I would be working in a skilled trade, for which I had no previous training. I love to learn, but it’s humbling to be the least knowledgeable person on a job. So, I resolved to do two things: Show up, and stay positive.

My First Day

On my first day, I arrived early and watched as the installation crew sauntered in to get their assignments. I paid careful attention to what the guys were doing with their tool belts. HOW did they hold them? WHEN did they put them on? Anything to make it seem like I had some idea of what was happening around me. Turns out, I was wasting my time. Within five minutes, I received a nickname (or something similar to a nickname) that made my status quite clear — “New Guy.” I’ve given it some thought, and I think it’s a perfect fit. I mean… I’m new, and I’m a guy. Really, that’s all anyone needs to know. Anyhow, as the new guy, there’s much to learn — years worth of learning!

Vehicle Graphics Installation and Fishing

Installing graphics is a lot like fly-fishing; there’s an order and rhythm that must be internalized until the process becomes a harmonious marriage of thought and feel. Ed, my supervisor, has been teaching me the ins and outs. He’s a knowledgeable guy and cares about the quality of work TKO produces. So far, my basic understanding of the installation process is greater than my ability to perform the required physical tasks in a skilled manner. Ed assures me I’ll get the hang of it, but he also cautions that the learning curve is steep, and like any skill, becoming a good installer takes time and practice.

Being this is my initial post, it’s worth mentioning that the installation department at TKO has a swagger and personality which, along with my training experiences, I aim to highlight heading forward. As for my pre-employment fears of looking newbish, well… they were realized. It doesn’t matter, though. I’m “New Guy.” That’s just the way it goes.

How Can We Help You?

If you’d like fleet graphics designed to capture attention, printed on state-of-the-art equipment, and installed by expert certified installers, we’re here to help.

If you’d like further information or advice, be sure to Contact Us.

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TKO Graphix has been a national fleet and vehicle graphics company helping customers since 1985. We provide full-service graphic design, digital printing, screen printing, graphics installation, and removal of large format graphics.

TKO Graphix is a Certified 3M™ MCS™ Warranty graphics manufacturer. Our installation crews are 3M Certified and are employees of TKO Graphix, not sub-contractors.

We’re in our fourth decade of helping businesses, large and small, brand their fleet of tractor-trailers, service trucks, and company vehicles. Whether you have a fleet of thousands or a few vehicles, we are here to lead you through the vehicle branding process.

When it comes to making your graphics a reality — it all begins with our design department services. From a concept on paper to road-worthy advertising for your vehicles, the TKO Graphix design team can help bring your vision to life. Our team specializes in creating fleet and vehicle graphics while keeping your brand consistent across all types of vehicles in your fleet.