Using skills and connections he acquires working in a shipyard in Greece, Aristotle relocates to Indiana in my novel What’s Left.
How did your grandfather wind up pursuing the work he did?
Job skills could open up new worlds
You never know what we'll churn up in cleaning a stall
Jnana's Red Barn 
He was a Bostitch (staplers) salesperson for a number of years. Family lore says he was really proud of his job. He even won salesperson of the year. (I have one of his staplers that still works, and which I use today.) Then they fired him, and the tale goes he was really torn up about. Later, he had a flower shop with my grandmother and some other crafty-type businesses.
Being fired, especially the first time, is devastating. Thanks for sharing this example.