Career Change?

[Vegas69]

You must adapt to the economy and times. I've had to reinvent myself over and over and over in the Real Estate business. Things just haven't stayed constant long enough to get in a groove for very long. As the old saying goes, you can't expect a different result with the same approach.

[GregWeld]

Todd -

that would be the deffinition of insanty.... Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.


I fixed the whole work thing and just retired. Work is really overrated! Besides... It interefered with my social life.

Seriously. I feel for everyone that is struggling with work, or the lack if it.

[70rs]

Originally Posted by Vegas69

You must adapt to the economy and times. I've had to reinvent myself over and over and over in the Real Estate business. Things just haven't stayed constant long enough to get in a groove for very long. As the old saying goes, you can't expect a different result with the same approach.

I totally agree Todd. And that is exactly what I am doing as we speak. Life is too short to simply tread water. I have always been one to make things happen and improve any given situation. Why stop now right? Time to move forward.

[michael6372]

I am constantly thinking about this. The job I currently have is shaky at best(paper industry). I just don't know where to go or what to do. Not having a college education doesn't help either. There are not many jobs in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (or anywhere in Michigan) so if I'm going to try to find a different career, I'll probably have to move.

My question is, how many opportunities am I going to have to get a good paying job so I can support my family (and my car habit) without a degree? Being almost 39 years old, are many companies going to take a chance on a farmboy/papermaker from Michigan?

Michael.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by michael6372

I am constantly thinking about this. The job I currently have is shaky at best(paper industry). I just don't know where to go or what to do. Not having a college education doesn't help either. There are not many jobs in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (or anywhere in Michigan) so if I'm going to try to find a different career, I'll probably have to move.

My question is, how many opportunities am I going to have to get a good paying job so I can support my family (and my car habit) without a degree? Being almost 39 years old, are many companies going to take a chance on a farmboy/papermaker from Michigan?

Michael.

Michael.

Maybe it's time to go back to night school while you still have the opportunity and the job to support it. There must be something in the industry you're in - that could tie your current skills in with something say more high tech, if you had the training.

Living in Washington - we have many loggers - they have NO skills outside of whacking down trees.. or pulling green chain in a mill... the problem with that is that it's so single focus. No logging - no mill - no job. They all seem to go down together. What they needed to do was gain some additional skills while the logging was still booming (It's always been boom or bust here).

My Brother in law used to hump roofing... I told him that he needed to quit actually DOING the roofing - and start to contract that out - run the jobs - and take a percentage... to which he replied "I can't afford to do that"... I told him he couldn't afford NOT to do that... because it's one thing to hump roofing when you're in your 20's - but you're pay is limited by how many square you can do in a day... and how long your body will take the abuse. So after awhile he DID start to become a roofing contractor... then remodeler... then he got into commercial work. Now he builds MiniStorage units in 3 states... has many employees and even today his work is booming. I'll take no credit except to start him thinking that he must make the effort to "change" his situation. The rest was up to him.

There has to be something for everyone - that they love to do... and, that they can earn a living at. The key is to take the chance.

I tell my kids - "life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans"... and it's so true. What I don't want them to do is to forget about making their plans - setting goals - and working towards them. It's not a straight line... never is...

What separates the 'broke / on a budget' but good race car driver from another one -- is that the good driver can win in a crappy car... and when he does that... the guys with good cars take notice and say - wow! If that guy can win driving that POS... imagine what he could do if he was driving for my race team. That's making your own "luck" - was he lucky - or did he push on despite all the hard work - working nights so he could race on Saturday... which finally got him noticed.

Now.... if I could just get my wife to take that 3rd job... I'd be all set!

[tones2SS]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Michael.

Maybe it's time to go back to night school while you still have the opportunity and the job to support it. There must be something in the industry you're in - that could tie your current skills in with something say more high tech, if you had the training.

Living in Washington - we have many loggers - they have NO skills outside of whacking down trees.. or pulling green chain in a mill... the problem with that is that it's so single focus. No logging - no mill - no job. They all seem to go down together. What they needed to do was gain some additional skills while the logging was still booming (It's always been boom or bust here).

My Brother in law used to hump roofing... I told him that he needed to quit actually DOING the roofing - and start to contract that out - run the jobs - and take a percentage... to which he replied "I can't afford to do that"... I told him he couldn't afford NOT to do that... because it's one thing to hump roofing when you're in your 20's - but you're pay is limited by how many square you can do in a day... and how long your body will take the abuse. So after awhile he DID start to become a roofing contractor... then remodeler... then he got into commercial work. Now he builds MiniStorage units in 3 states... has many employees and even today his work is booming. I'll take no credit except to start him thinking that he must make the effort to "change" his situation. The rest was up to him.

There has to be something for everyone - that they love to do... and, that they can earn a living at. The key is to take the chance.

I tell my kids - "life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans"... and it's so true. What I don't want them to do is to forget about making their plans - setting goals - and working towards them. It's not a straight line... never is...

What separates the 'broke / on a budget' but good race car driver from another one -- is that the good driver can win in a crappy car... and when he does that... the guys with good cars take notice and say - wow! If that guy can win driving that POS... imagine what he could do if he was driving for my race team. That's making your own "luck" - was he lucky - or did he push on despite all the hard work - working nights so he could race on Saturday... which finally got him noticed.

Now.... if I could just get my wife to take that 3rd job... I'd be all set!

Very well said Greg!! Very well said.

[waynieZ]

Tony unemployment has a program that they pay for school . Have you checked into that yet ? Maybe it will help you.
Wayne

[joemac]

I was in a similar position earlier this year, except I decided it was time for me to leave where I was at. I have decided to start my own small business. This was mentioned above and is what I recommend. Now I do have a woman that has decided to stick with me until I get on my feet. It takes time to replace your income and is very much like starting over at the bottom but is much more rewarding and I am pleased with my decision.

Also I will note that my area has seen little effect from the economic downturn before you say are you crazy to walk away from a job in this economy? We have a navy base very close and the government contractors are many. I also believe the economy is what you make of it, make some hard decisions now so when we turn this thing around you are in a much better position.

[michael6372]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Michael.

Maybe it's time to go back to night school while you still have the opportunity and the job to support it. There must be something in the industry you're in - that could tie your current skills in with something say more high tech, if you had the training.

Living in Washington - we have many loggers - they have NO skills outside of whacking down trees.. or pulling green chain in a mill... the problem with that is that it's so single focus. No logging - no mill - no job. They all seem to go down together. What they needed to do was gain some additional skills while the logging was still booming (It's always been boom or bust here).

My Brother in law used to hump roofing... I told him that he needed to quit actually DOING the roofing - and start to contract that out - run the jobs - and take a percentage... to which he replied "I can't afford to do that"... I told him he couldn't afford NOT to do that... because it's one thing to hump roofing when you're in your 20's - but you're pay is limited by how many square you can do in a day... and how long your body will take the abuse. So after awhile he DID start to become a roofing contractor... then remodeler... then he got into commercial work. Now he builds MiniStorage units in 3 states... has many employees and even today his work is booming. I'll take no credit except to start him thinking that he must make the effort to "change" his situation. The rest was up to him.

There has to be something for everyone - that they love to do... and, that they can earn a living at. The key is to take the chance.

I tell my kids - "life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans"... and it's so true. What I don't want them to do is to forget about making their plans - setting goals - and working towards them. It's not a straight line... never is...

What separates the 'broke / on a budget' but good race car driver from another one -- is that the good driver can win in a crappy car... and when he does that... the guys with good cars take notice and say - wow! If that guy can win driving that POS... imagine what he could do if he was driving for my race team. That's making your own "luck" - was he lucky - or did he push on despite all the hard work - working nights so he could race on Saturday... which finally got him noticed.

Now.... if I could just get my wife to take that 3rd job... I'd be all set!

Thanks for the reply! I have thought about school, the problem with that is I work swing shift. That makes going back to school impossible. I have tried to move to a different department in the mill so I can just work day shift but there are no openings. My company is trying to reduce the number of workers at our mill and our union contract expired about 16 months ago. If the company gets their way with the contract they are offering, they will be able to cut 20-25% of the workforce here(about 200-250 jobs). The town I live in has only 13,000 people and the job outlook here is very bad. There are alot of things I would love to do for a living. Living in such a small, older community makes it hard to start a business that will be successful. I have seen many people try to start a business here only to have it closed within a year, just not enough people to support it. Sorry for sounding so negative, just trying to give an idea what it's like here. I have thought about trying to start something online so location isn't a major factor to being successful. I do not have very much experience besides working on the family farm and the paper mill(I also filled oxygen cylinders for a medical co. for 5 yrs). Work ethic isn't a problem, I think my lack of experience and not having a degree is what's hurting me the most. If you don't mind me asking, what do you do and how did you get there? Any advice is greatly appreciated!!!

Michael.

[GregWeld]

Okay --- I'll continue on my soap box for one last post...

To do what I'm saying -- might involve selling your house and living off the equity (becoming a renter during the build)... it might involve (if you're young) living in your parents basement for a year... it most likely WILL involve some sacrifice in order to get started. You MIGHT fail... You might use up all the equity you got when you sold your house - and the project doesn't get completed (because you're a lazy POS and don't have the skills you thought you had...) or the market for what you built just isn't there.... BUT at least you would have TRIED and would have LEARNED and would have given it your best shot.

Now -- Remember my buddy I told you about that worked his fingers to the bone with a restaurant and buying poopie little rental houses - and building on this and working for 20 years to get somewhere... here's his house - across Cozy Cove from from my house (old house - I SACRIFICED THIS HOUSE IN ORDER TO MOVE TO A PLACE WHERE I COULD HAVE A SHED FOR MY CARS -- which was more important to me - than to have this view...)