Contemplating Career Change

[MoKelly]

It's the new 40!!!

Yep - a lot is in your mind and attitude.

MoKelly

 

[grsthegreat]

i get about $95 per hour servicing generators. dont advertise anymore, stopped doing that 5 years ago. more work than i want to have right now. everytime i service 1 new one, they always want business cards to hand out to friends looking for generator service.

 

[mbohuntr]

Well, I'm on my 3rd career, and contemplating starting over (again).. I left my first career as a fabricator partly because I couldn't make enough to support my family. And partly because my back gave out, and the Dr. suggested I find something easier on the body. I did security work for a while, and found it unchallenging.. so I went back to school and got a degree in electronics, and became an industrial electrician.

I absolutely love what I do, but I am very tired of unrealistic timelines, constantly changing expectations, and the general BS. It seems like every job is an end of the world emergency, and we are just a convienence to MGMT to further their careers. We are on call 24/7 Just got a write up after finishing a rush job 1/2 hour early, but missing a signature.... Again...I love what I do, but if it wasn't for the good benefits, I'd have quit and told them to stuff it long ago. It isn't worth the stress...

 

[WVH1977]

Thanks for all the replies. My wife stays home and she is homeschooling. Mid-life=early 40's for me. I had another long day today but it went by quick. I really appreciate all the replies.

I am not rushing anything. Just seeking advice and received great feedback. Also talking wth close friends and family too. I am lucky and blessed to be in a good position with job security. However, at the same time due to benefits, pay and job security I am a slave to it as well.

The biggest risk I have taken in this life so far was joining the military and leaving home. That turned out to be the best thing I ever did with my life and led me to where I am at today. I am also very good at what I do. I sometimes wish I was better at other things but it is what it is. If I do decide to leave my current job, I will make sure I have a path forward and enough to get me through.

The good thing is I don't have to leave the position and I don't have to make any rush decisions. I just know the last couple of months it has really been on my mind to just start over. If I did not have a family I think I would have already jumped and took the risk.

 

[PuffyC]

I went through exactly this at 40 - had a great paying job but it sucked so bad everyday I’d think the money wasn’t worth it even if it meant we had to live in a shack. I even went to some sessions about a couple skilled trades and was about to pull the trigger, but then I didn’t. Looking back it was probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The job got better and by staying I’ll be able to retire at least 15 years earlier than if I hadn’t. But it’s all just luck and you can’t predict the future. Maybe quitting and becoming a plumber would have led to my own chain of plumbing companies, you never know.

 

[ovrszd]

Yep - a lot is in your mind and attitude.

MoKelly

I'm 69 going on 43.

 

[ovrszd]

My Dad always said "leave a job for a better job only". His point, always improve your position. Sometimes that is hard to lock down. Good luck in your choices. Keep us posted on whatever course you take!!!

 

[Citydude]

I guess I always looked at the financial side of jobs I had. It had to support my living standards.

My dream job would have not met that standard.

 

[EddieWalker]

I forgot to mention that one of the hardest parts of being self employed is getting up and making things happen without anybody telling you what to do. I've met so many contractors that come and go because they start out full of energy and they are getting lots of jobs, but then they lose that drive and slowly it all falls apart. They never seem to realize that they are the problem, that they have become combative with clients instead of understanding that when you work for them, you have to kiss up to them. Being self employed means doing what they want. Every day, you have to be able to push yourself to get up, go do the job, then after the job, buy supplies, look at jobs, write bids and still take care of your home.

Best description that I ever heard is that self employed people only work half the day. You even get to pick which 12 hours you want to work!!!

There are just a lot of people that need somebody to set their schedule for them, tell them what to do that day, and then make sure that they do it properly, who will never succeed on their own. You have to be brutally honest with yourself if you are that type of person, or if you are a go getter, self motivator type of person that does not need encouragement, or atta boys to do the best job possible, every day.

 

[MoKelly]

Best description that I ever heard is that self employed people only work half the day. You even get to pick which 12 hours you want to work!!!

You are so correct!

My wife quit her office job (accounting) and opened up a tennis club (her dream - since her early 20’s).

She worked hard and long hours - first refurbishing a huge warehouse then building a membership base. She was everything - owner, maintenance crew, back office, marketing and pro. She opened at 7am and closed at 9pm. 7 days a week.

After 6 months she was able to hire folks to work at front desk and more pros. Still worked many hours but it got so she could spend more time with members - which is what she wanted.

10 years later she was doing very well. Decent money - but still not an overwhelming per hour rate.

Then, she was given an offer to buy the business. More than she thought possible. They had big expansion plans. They wanted indoor soccer and other sports. Basically, they wanted the facility.

So, she decided she could make more money selling and investing then working - both in total and per hour.

She looks back fondly on all the work and stress. But, she did sell when the opportunity arose.

I 1000% admire all folks who run their own business. It’s not easy snd definitely not for most.

MoKelly

 

[Rowdy Redneck]

I forgot to mention that one of the hardest parts of being self employed is getting up and making things happen without anybody telling you what to do. I've met so many contractors that come and go because they start out full of energy and they are getting lots of jobs, but then they lose that drive and slowly it all falls apart. They never seem to realize that they are the problem, that they have become combative with clients instead of understanding that when you work for them, you have to kiss up to them. Being self employed means doing what they want. Every day, you have to be able to push yourself to get up, go do the job, then after the job, buy supplies, look at jobs, write bids and still take care of your home.

Best description that I ever heard is that self employed people only work half the day. You even get to pick which 12 hours you want to work!!!

There are just a lot of people that need somebody to set their schedule for them, tell them what to do that day, and then make sure that they do it properly, who will never succeed on their own. You have to be brutally honest with yourself if you are that type of person, or if you are a go getter, self motivator type of person that does not need encouragement, or atta boys to do the best job possible, every day.

I too am a self employed contractor and some days it can be tough to find the motivation, especially when the weather is crappy and I have outside tasks to work on. Overall I love it though.

Yesterday evening my wife was telling me about how she wasn't at all focused on work for pretty much the whole day. She is a remote marketer for a tech company. My response: "Sorry to hear that, but the good news is that you are still getting paid for the day!"

 

[JM7500]

I’ve been in the same situation. I’m an engineer (licensed professional). Mentally, I do not find my job fulfilling. I push paper most of the time. Financially, the job is very fulfilling. I got my new tractor yesterday. My job allows me to take care of my family, which for me is the purpose of working.

No matter what, it’s just a job.

 

[OzKioti]

I reckon Mark Twain nailed it:

“Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”​

 

[Bikewanderer]

So this is probably not the site for a question like this but since I have been using this site I have found tons of good information from many folks of all ages and experience on here that has absolutely nothing to do with tractors.

I am middle life, wife and kids and a very good job. I have been in an office environment now for 12 years and been in management now going on four years. I am getting burned out with this job. I think about it on the weekends and dream about it at times. It is not physically hard at all but the mental stress just builds all the time. I feel stuck because I make really good money and have great benefits. I am scared that I have gone too far now in life to make a drastic change. I also am not getting any feeling of reward from doing this job. You can never see the end product.

I really want to get back into a skilled trade and wish I had done this 10 years ago. Really want to be an electrician. I miss working with my hands and being physically tired at the end of the day knowing I did a good days work. I also dream of having my own business one day that would involve a skilled trade. It would probably take me 10 years to get there but I am really getting burnt with my current career.

Has anyone on here had a similar situation in their lives and what did you do? Did you take that risk? Was it rewarding? My mind tells me to stay where I am at and stick it out for another 20 years but my gut tells me to get out and do something different. I have to keep my family in mind with this decision if I decide to change. I keep telling myself money is not everything in life but I live comfortably with my current situation. It would take about 4 to 5 years to get back to where I am at now if I jumped to a skilled trade. I do have other income and programs available to me (veteran) if I go into the skilled trade to offset the initial pay cut. Any advice/opinions would be appreciated.

I could have typed this whole thing.....hard to walk away from a good job.

 

[Macinnis]

I love my job, but hate the work...if that makes sense. Computer programmer...love creating something from nothing.

what I hate is all the bs...like I am supposed to be a mind reader on what you want because you are unable to articulate it. Or, I tell them that’s not going to work, I am told to do it anyway...then, 6 months later tear it down and build it correctly...but btw, we need to keep that crap data while we rebuild. And the pure lack of appreciation...it’s amazing.

I learned a long time ago any job I took in this industry would be like this. I am basically a ***** and go wherever the money is...that’s about all I can do.

 

[tradosaurus]

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I reckon Mark Twain nailed it:

“Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”​

You forgot to add the closing sentence...

"Because that job isn't hiring".

 

[Wakey]

The Bobs!

 

[RSKY]

I told my wife about this thread. That somebody with a secure high paying but boring and frustrating job was thinking about quitting and starting to work for themselves not knowing how much it was going to effect his family's lifestyle. With the possibility of spending long hours away from the family in the new career.

Her comment.

"Divorce looking for a place to happen!"

LOL.... or maybe not so funny.

Good luck

RSKY

 

[tradosaurus]

I told my wife about this thread. That somebody with a secure high paying but boring and frustrating job was thinking about quitting and starting to work for themselves not knowing how much it was going to effect his family's lifestyle. With the possibility of spending long hours away from the family in the new career.

Her comment.

"Divorce looking for a place to happen!"

LOL.... or maybe not so funny.
Good luck
RSKY

My FIL retired from his engineering job in the mid 80's and bought a print shop. He and his wife worked long hours with no weekends and vacations for two years before deciding that it was not a job you want to do in retirement. Sold the print shop within 4 years and went back to work with his previous company as a consultant.
If you want a lower stress job with great benefits and decent pay go work for the fed gov't.

On your last part of your comment, the sad part is that is what women believe is the only leverage they have over a man. Probably a warning to you too.

My wife knows never to pull that D word out because it won't work on me.