It’s A Dirty Job, And I Love It! February 9, 2009As originally published on Forbes.com
It’s A Dirty Job, And I Love It!
by Mike Rowe, 12.09.08
Whether it’s milking venomous spiders or picking up roadkill, the secret to career fulfillment is not to follow your passions, but to chase your opportunities.
I’ve been thinking about the first time I castrated a lamb with my teeth. (It’s a real job, I swear.) I was ...read more...
Mike Rowe’s Exclusive Interview with Mike Rowe February 9, 2009Not long ago, I called a spur-of-the-moment press conference to announce the premature launch of my latest endeavor, a well-intentioned website called mikeroweWORKS. Sadly, the spontaneous nature of the conference resulted in a conspicuous lack of reporters, leaving me no choice but to interview myself. I found a quiet corner in a local bar on the San Francisco waterfront and ...read more...
Mike Rowe blames his success on Fred King February 7, 2009by Mike Rowe
Mike Rowe was a stuttering 9th-grader when he met the most outrageous and inspirational choral teacher ever to wear fake teeth. Mike’s life changed for good the day he stole an “Oriole Four” record from the teacher’s office…
When strangers would ask me how I wound up with my name in the title of a hit show, I would ...read more...
The Sweat Equity of mikeroweWORKS February 6, 2009From the MRW Water Cooler
Q: Evening Mike,
If you’re anything like me, you sit there sometimes with beer in hand and think about past accomplishments and future endeavors. When you get praise thrown your way, you shove it off as being in the right place at the right time…whatever…your to humble, Mike. What’s your “Sweat Equity” in this place, my man? ...read more...
The Office Space February 6, 2009From the MRW Water Cooler
Q: Over the weekend, in an effort to avoid anything election related, I was watching one of my favorite funny movies, Office Space.
The first questions are how many people here have had similar situations and feelings about your job? And if so, what would you want to do?
The second question: do you have my stapler?
– ...read more...
Real Work February 6, 2009From the MRW Water Cooler
Q: Mike (and forum readers),
I think the best idea I can come up with is to follow your dreams. Do whatever it is you want to do, not what someone tells you is a better idea. Get the word out that skilled trades are as important (if not more) that white collar jobs.
-Bryan
Hi Bryan, and Welcome
I ...read more...
Is it all good for the cause? February 6, 2009From the MRW Water Cooler
Q: Mike,
It has just come to light that you are in People Magazine’s ‘Sexiest Men Alive’ issue (yeah…crazy, I know. That’s what I thought.) .
Do you have any concerns that this may reflect in a negative way on what you are trying to accomplish here or is all publicity good right now?
I really would hate for ...read more...
Where’s the Pride? February 6, 2009From the MRW Water Cooler:
Q: Where’d the pride go in a job well done? What happened to the personal satisfaction one takes in them when they can look over the day and actually see something accomplished? When did we turn into this “quickest, easiest, cheapest way” society that takes virtually everything for granted? Those questions were rhetorical, here’s the real ...read more...
Not sure if you will see this… February 6, 2009From the MRW Water Cooler
Q: How does Discovery feel about your endeavor here? Specifically that you have a message board, and many fans have come over to post. Are they supportive? Have you had to “talk” to them?
Kristi
Hi Kristi,
DCI is a big company, and I can’t presume to speak for them. I can tell you that my contacts there have ...read more...
How do you like your coffee, Mike? February 6, 2009From the MRW Water Cooler
Q: Hi Mike,
Ok, first of all I have to clarify that I don’t work at Starbucks or any coffeeshop around. The reason I asked this question is because I have seen a few pictures of you holding a large cup of coffee. So I assumed you’re quite a coffee drinker. With all of those flavours to ...read more...
Mike, since you’re a member of Screen Actors’ Guild February 6, 2009From the MRW Water Cooler
Q: Today I read few articles about the threat of a strike. While I’m reading these articles, the only thing I could say is Are They Kidding?
-Maria
No Maria, they are not. Unions form for different reasons. Unions strike for different reasons. Not all union action reflects the will of many of its members. In fact, ...read more...
Mike, who’s sponsoring mikeroweWORKS? February 6, 2009From the MRW Water Cooler
Q: Hi Mike,
Nice place you have here. You’ve been doing some remodeling I see. Now that I understand where I really am and that construction has not quite finished (if ever), I was wondering how expensive it is to run a piece of real estate like mikeroweWORKS?
-kelby
It ain’t cheap.
How does owning real estate in cyberspace ...read more...
I feel foolish February 6, 2009From the MRW Water Cooler
Q: Mike,
will this be the best place to ask questions about Dirty Jobs? It seems weird to ask it over here rather than over at DJMB, but if you’re going to be spending more time here, then it seems to me a waste of time posting questions over on the DJMB. I realize you don’t have ...read more...
Potential and Limits on this “War on Work” February 6, 2009From the mrW Water Cooler
Q: This is my first post ever on a website with my name on it. Hope it works. – Belinda
Hi Belinda,
First of all, you appear to have a pulse and a computer, which makes you part of the “target audience.” Congratulations. Secondly, I don’t plan to “glorify” work. I only mean to suggest that defining it ...read more...
Disdain it…Walk away from it? February 6, 2009From Mike’s Mud Room on Discovery.com
Q: Mike:
It seems to me like you absolutely disdain anything Hollywood, or Star Quality, etc. I got that impression from past comments you have made. So what are you gonna do now that you are basically “in it”? I’ve read the following passage that you wrote:
“With Dirty Jobs, I simply miscalculated. I didn’t really think ...read more...