Do you enjoy your job?

[Hay Dude]

Did 30 years as a builder before I was wiped out by the awful economy between 2008-2012. I was about 45 and in the prime of my carrier. I always did a little farming on the side, so in 2012, I laid off all my employees, sold my trucks, backhoe, skid steer, trailers, etc and bought farm equipment. Wife thought I was crazy, but I hate sitting around like a lazy union worker :laughing:. I knew a handful of large landowners and they had given me permission to farm their property. Off I went into farming with nearly everyone telling me “you can’t do that”, but here I am 8 years later, continuing to expand. Along the way, I added custom mowing. That has grown to nearly 1000 acres of fields we now cut. I was asked to cut a housing complex that has a farm inside of it. Named my price and they took it. Getting close to 1000 tons of hay per year. Selling to cattle ranchers and the mushroom industry.
I like this job better than building, but it takes more hours and pays less.
I continue to take on a construction project over the winter if it interests me.....just built a large barn/garage structure Still love construction. I reminisce back to when I was a kid working for my dad who passed away 10 years ago. My previous customers still call and offer construction work to me, but farming has kind of become an obsession at this point. I can farm 7 days a week until dark and it doesn’t bother me a bit, although I do have to make sure to make time to see my daughter and son, who play college sports. I love traveling to their colleges and going to their games, seeing them become tough, patriotic young adults, visiting other huge colleges and seeing them play against the best.
Anyway, yeah- builder for 30 years, farmer for 8 and possibly into retirement in maybe 20 years....:laughing:

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Thanks for all the replies. I had no idea this would be so interesting when I started this thread. I'll elaborate a little more on my career.

I started working at 10 years old pulling weeds in rice fields, and worked my way through college doing that. I loved farming and wanted to be a rice farmer.

My first 2 years after college, I worked at the LSU Rice Research station doing research on rice fertilization. It was a lot of fun and I learned a lot, but wasn't really happy there.

After that, I worked for 3 years as Farm Manager at the UL Lafayette model farm. That was fun too, but I really wasn't happy there either.

Then, I got a job at a large farm supply company and worked as a dispatcher and salesman for 5 years, then they moved me to manager of one of their stores in a small town. That was lots of fun too, but I was tired of working for others, and wanted to own my own business. So, after 16 years with that company, I bought an existing lawn care business.

Three days after buying the lawn care business, I figured out the business did not exist. I hired a lawyer and filed criminal charges against the seller, and ended up getting my money back. Then, now at age 43, I started knocking on doors and finding work for my lawn care business.

Now, 18 years later, I no longer mow lawns, but we still do a little bit of landscaping. Most of my work is with high schools, universities, and municipalities doing athletic field maintenance and renovations and construction. I call this my version of farming. I get to plant, grow, fertilize, spray the fields, just like if I were farming crops. The big differences in what I do vs. traditional farming, is that I can name my price. And I don't harvest anything.

I really enjoy my work now, especially when I can spend a day spraying fields, or laser grading on my tractor.

And I am rich beyond my dreams. I don't have a lot of money, but I have lots of happiness, and that makes me feel very successful.

 

[Molalla1]

I agree that everyone should have the experience,I was a Hiway patrolman for 3+ years and loved the job and got some neat assignments because I was gung ho , college football games, political conventions etc.. At one of these conventions in the 60's I drove Hubert Humphrey when he was campaigning in our state. This was the first time I ever saw a man wearing make up, plastered on thick.

Everything was going great until one night I stopped a drunk, this guy was really snockered, and when I asked for his license and registration he handed me a $50 bill and his card which said he was a big time judge.This really teed me off and I hauled him off to jail.He was barely able to stand up and a jailer and I had to practically carry him in to the booking area. All this was on film. When the booking officer looked at him he called me aside and asked if I knew who this guy was. I showed him the $50 and his business card and replied "Yes I know and I know he needs to go to jail". I finished my part and went back to work. The next day I went into the office at the start of my shift to turn in my report from the night before. The Lt. for our district called me into his office and said "I need all copies of this ticket and all your notes and the incident report". I tried to talk to him and he said that this order was from headquarters and there was nothing he or I could do about it. I complied and went to work but couldn't stand it so the next morning I turned in all my uniforms and gear and told my Sgt. that I couldn't live with that on my conscience. I got several phone calls from the higher ups but stood my ground.

I really loved that job but that was too much for me.

Jim . . . :thumbsup:

 

[Tomtint]

I agree that everyone should have the experience,I was a Hiway patrolman for 3+ years and loved the job and got some neat assignments because I was gung ho , college football games, political conventions etc.. At one of these conventions in the 60's I drove Hubert Humphrey when he was campaigning in our state. This was the first time I ever saw a man wearing make up, plastered on thick.

Everything was going great until one night I stopped a drunk, this guy was really snockered, and when I asked for his license and registration he handed me a $50 bill and his card which said he was a big time judge.This really teed me off and I hauled him off to jail.He was barely able to stand up and a jailer and I had to practically carry him in to the booking area. All this was on film. When the booking officer looked at him he called me aside and asked if I knew who this guy was. I showed him the $50 and his business card and replied "Yes I know and I know he needs to go to jail". I finished my part and went back to work. The next day I went into the office at the start of my shift to turn in my report from the night before. The Lt. for our district called me into his office and said "I need all copies of this ticket and all your notes and the incident report". I tried to talk to him and he said that this order was from headquarters and there was nothing he or I could do about it. I complied and went to work but couldn't stand it so the next morning I turned in all my uniforms and gear and told my Sgt. that I couldn't live with that on my conscience. I got several phone calls from the higher ups but stood my ground.

I really loved that job but that was too much for me.

If the law does not apply to all, It should apply to none. There was a similar case up this way a number of years ago with a local judge....It got real ugly as the cop wouldn't back down and brought the episode to the local news. ....I suspect this happens more than people think with the politically connected.

 

[Hay Dude]

My wife’s brother was killed while walking down a country road by a drunk who was “ connected “.
He basically paid a fine and never did any time. Dad was a congressman or something

 

[oosik]

Do I enjoy my current job? YES, MOST definitely. I'm retired. My current job - entertain myself. I'm great at it and completely enjoy it.

 

[Citydude]

I agree that everyone should have the experience,I was a Hiway patrolman for 3+ years and loved the job and got some neat assignments because I was gung ho , college football games, political conventions etc.. At one of these conventions in the 60's I drove Hubert Humphrey when he was campaigning in our state. This was the first time I ever saw a man wearing make up, plastered on thick.

Everything was going great until one night I stopped a drunk, this guy was really snockered, and when I asked for his license and registration he handed me a $50 bill and his card which said he was a big time judge.This really teed me off and I hauled him off to jail.He was barely able to stand up and a jailer and I had to practically carry him in to the booking area. All this was on film. When the booking officer looked at him he called me aside and asked if I knew who this guy was. I showed him the $50 and his business card and replied "Yes I know and I know he needs to go to jail". I finished my part and went back to work. The next day I went into the office at the start of my shift to turn in my report from the night before. The Lt. for our district called me into his office and said "I need all copies of this ticket and all your notes and the incident report". I tried to talk to him and he said that this order was from headquarters and there was nothing he or I could do about it. I complied and went to work but couldn't stand it so the next morning I turned in all my uniforms and gear and told my Sgt. that I couldn't live with that on my conscience. I got several phone calls from the higher ups but stood my ground.

I really loved that job but that was too much for me.

My wife is a circuit court judge for the state of Wyoming. She served on the judicial conduct board for three years.

I don’t know if there was such a thing in your state back then but one letter to the state judicial clerk, that judge would have been un-seated and disbarred from practicing law.

 

[two_bit_score]

I spent 38 years as a Risk Manager and in Risk Management consulting. Prior to that I was a Texas Peace Officer. I have also worked for several state agencies, counties and municipalities. Managed our family land and mineral interests, and rentals. Although retired from a primary employer after those 38 years I still basically do the same thing as I did then with just more freedom to pick and choose assignments and who I want to work for. I have worked from sacking groceries and sweeping floors to the halls and offices of the pink granite dome.

I love life!

 

[Molalla1]

I spent 38 years as a Risk Manager and in Risk Management consulting. Prior to that I was a Texas Peace Officer. I have also worked for several state agencies, counties and municipalities. Managed our family land and mineral interests, and rentals. Although retired from a primary employer after those 38 years I still basically do the same thing as I did then with just more freedom to pick and choose assignments and who I want to work for. I have worked from sacking groceries and sweeping floors to the halls and offices of the pink granite dome.

I love life!

:thumbsup:

 

[shooterdon]

Retired in 2012. Started in engineering after college, and "progressed" through various management positions in two companies until I became a CEO. Turned the first company around. Became president of a second company until it was bought out. Stayed with them a few more years as a Sales VP for one of the product lines.

Loved my jobs most of the time. Have six patents but no royalties as we signed away our rights to patents. Would not need a tractor if I had those royalties...LOL.

I have been blessed with good jobs and good bosses...so I tried to be a good boss when I had the role.