.....as a GM parts manager after 28 years. It feels very strange. My counterman (future parts manager) and I sat down with our boss today just to go over the transition. It seems almost unreal. I will be 51 in a couple of weeks, and still feel young, yet I am giving up some of my responsibilities. I am staying at the same job, just will not be making the GM parts decisions. I will be doing more counter time and phone calls, which I enjoy very much. That is all good. I just feel like an old horse who has volunteered to go out to pasture without being asked. (This was my decision to do it this way).
I hope to take a bit of time off here and there, as work permits, to spend time at our kid's activities and to work on cars of course!
I did NOT want to be the grumpy old parts manager who is 60, still not willing to step down, and hates going to work each day. I love my job and sure hope I still love it working in the shadow of the 40 year old man I have been mentoring for the last 5 years to replace me. (Also my decision)
Sorry, just needed to tell someone.............. It feels kinda weird!
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
its always best to make your own decisions. tough when they take the job from you, or you retire on the last day you can legally work-lotsa retires die right after that.
Originally the plan was to do a 4 day workweek, or even less. However, some "expenses" this summer changed all that. It's all good, the expenses were also our decsion, not unexpected.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
My Dad retired early from a steel plant-just a year early but he said it was his decision not the boss's or the governments, now I understand your not retiring but its a similar application.
I lost my job at the same steel plant 5 years ago (they closed)-when they take it from you its a serious blow. When they take it from you and they are still there it would be even a more serious blow.
While I am not retiring, I am giving up some of the stresses. I will be able to give some of the not-so-fun stuff to the parts manager.
Also, I am opening the door to more time off when it suits.
Not sure how the $$$ will work out, but it always has for me so far, so I hope it continues...
My dad dropped unexpectedly at 62, when I was a young boy (11). Yeah, I know, late addition to the family. Anyway, I think his death has a lot to do with my decision to do this. It also helps to have the most supportive wife in the whole world. Just one of the million good reasons why I married her.
-- Edited by Carl Stevenson at 22:04, 2008-10-02
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Thanks Pascal. You are one of the few people on here who have met my successor, Luc. He's a great guy, and I know he's going to do well. It just feels funny that he will be MY manager now...
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Carl, I'd say you have your priorities right. I only know you through this forum yet I would consider it an honour to work beside you in any capacity. I am sure Luc has the utmost respect for you as well and he knows he will be able to rely on you to help get through the tough spots. At our age (I'm almost 51 too) we're on the downward slop, might as well take advantage of that. Best of luck with the new duties my friend.
Thanks, gotta go get my beauty rest for my last day as a GM parts manager. Never know, the president of General Motors may stop by to wish me well (hahahahaha) !!!
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Congrats Carl. I think you made the right decision. I agonized about stepping down from Service Manager to an Advisor but now I have no regrets. It's nice to leave the job behind at the end of the day.
Congrtas!!! I'm sure you will enjoy the less stress in your life, and the "extra" time to relax. Sounds like a very smart decision you made. ENJOY!!!
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1960 Pontiac Strato Chief Safari 1960 Laurentian Safari 1960 Laurentian 4door(scrapped) 2001 Grand Am Traded on a '96 Suburban 2WD 2002 Hyundai Accent(SOLD) 1968 Grand Parisienne Scrapped and SOLD
Congratulations on the semi retirement. if i didn't have the 65 km drive each way, when i retired from the military i would have come back as a reservist and worked part time. but this is not about me. enjoy not having the pressure and doing what you want to do.
Congratulations! You are doing the right thing! I wish I had, been able to do the same... You will love it! Just make sure, you let, Luc become the manager.. You need to let him worry, and you enjoy!... We all "like you" for how you treat us, not what your position is/was.. Now you will have time, to post on the site!!! regards Carl Hicks in Clinton
Congratulations! You are doing the right thing! I wish I had, been able to do the same... You will love it! Just make sure, you let, Luc become the manager.. You need to let him worry, and you enjoy!... We all "like you" for how you treat us, not what your position is/was.. Now you will have time, to post on the site!!! regards Carl Hicks in Clinton
More time to post??? Oh, that would be good, wouldn't it?
Thanks for all the well wishes. The president of GM STILL hasn't called.........
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Carl congrats on change in jobs. I'm still at the point where i'm working my way up. The most important thing like you've said is enjoying what you do. I'm having fun at my job and that always helps you do the job well. And i have to agree, i like being able to leave work at work. Again congrats and all the best!
Carl! I just got a call, and it was wrong number! It was the President of GM Canada.... He said he was looking for Carl#1 and thought it was me! I told him, he was wrong ,and I would pass along message, to You... He said, he was sorry, but he had sent your GM employee ''thank you'' cheque to my address.. I said thanks, and will forward it .... sorry he missed you!!!
.....as a GM parts manager after 28 years. It feels very strange. My counterman (future parts manager) and I sat down with our boss today just to go over the transition. It seems almost unreal. I will be 51 in a couple of weeks, and still feel young, yet I am giving up some of my responsibilities. I am staying at the same job, just will not be making the GM parts decisions. I will be doing more counter time and phone calls, which I enjoy very much. That is all good. I just feel like an old horse who has volunteered to go out to pasture without being asked. (This was my decision to do it this way).
I hope to take a bit of time off here and there, as work permits, to spend time at our kid's activities and to work on cars of course!
I did NOT want to be the grumpy old parts manager who is 60, still not willing to step down, and hates going to work each day. I love my job and sure hope I still love it working in the shadow of the 40 year old man I have been mentoring for the last 5 years to replace me. (Also my decision)
Sorry, just needed to tell someone.............. It feels kinda weird!
Wow, that is a hard thing to do. I have managed an AC DELCO distribution warehouse for about 22 years. Many times in anger I have wanted to toss it in and get back to the counter dealing with my customers and forget the b/s that comes with control. The parts business has changed so much in the last 10 years and continues to multipy the rate of change daily that control is no longer enough to keep most people happy as it comes with a super heavy head office download of pressure.Look out in the parking lot at work oe at the coner as you drive to work, there is 500 differant vehicles that may require parts from you today and you have to offer three differant price points to fit any given quote the service dept states while the whole time holding your head up high shouting "Long Live the General"! God help us if the service dept ever discounts the labour rate other then a factory special and holy crap what do you mean labour for the tech's isn't covered? O yeah the GM parts rep is in your office because your warranty rate is too high and the shop now needs a cabin filter for a 2007 BMW getting the $29.95 oil change special and we don't have one at a GM dealer (imagine that) .................I could go on but man I hear ya! Best of luck......... p.s. the BMW still needs that filter!
Sounds as though u made a smart move Carl, enjoy the rest of your career with little or no stress. I often thought about semi retiring from the Auto trade, but I have another 9 years to go before my 55 goal. Enjoy life and family while u can, cuz u never know what's around the next corner.
Now you will have time, to post on the site!!! regards Carl Hicks in Clinton 
sorry he missed you!!!