Work...

[cohunter14]

Well, my career has finally come to a head. I\'ve been fortunate to be successful in my career thus far, but some things have recently changed at work that have finally pushed me over the edge, so to speak. When you are standing with one foot out the door and someone gives you a push, there isn\'t much of an alternative.

My dream has always been to bust my tail and retire in my early 40\'s because I have never liked work. After some reflection, I realized that maybe it\'s time for a new outlook and to find a job that I enjoy enough so I never really want to retire. My father has been successful in his profession and I always laugh because he could have retired years ago, but instead chooses to continue on, although working less and less. I now want that satisfaction in life.

For those of you who may be at a \'career crisis\', I highly recommend reading \"48 Days to the Work You Love.\" The book really makes you reflect on what you enjoy, what you are good at, and where your skill set lies. If you enjoy your current job and are happy, don\'t read the book! :lol:

I read this book about three years ago and never followed through with what I wanted to do. Instead, I took another job with financial security and stability. Although I haven\'t made a final decision, I am 95% sure I am going to jump head first into a new career where I am my own boss and working on 100% commission. You could say it has been my calling or passion for many years to go this route and I am finally ready to trust my heart...I think! It\'s a tough thing to do when you are supporting a family, but I am doing my best to apply my inner Dan to the situation and stay positive I know I can make it work, just need to commit and make it happen!

It\'s funny, but the closer I get to committing, the more and more the anxiety goes away and the more excited I get. We\'ll see what happens!

 

[colorado russ]

Derek, I applaud you for going where your heart leads you instead of the mighty dollar! I\'m in a similar \"crossroad\" with my career although it\'s pretty stable but I\'m just halfway satisfied. Rarely do I get up in the morning wanting to go to work. More often than not, I wake up thinking about my projects.

Your Dad and mine sound very similar. He had his own business, would get up at 0430 every morning(without an alarm clock), in the office by 0530 at the latest. NEVER would one of his hands or foreman beat him to the office! If you called him anytime at work and asked \"How\'s it going Dad?\", his reply was always \"Great!\" and he meant it! I have always been envious of that. Could\'ve and should\'ve(damn hindsight) taken over his business when up for sale but didn\'t want to live in OKC area.

Now, we\'re going full circle. Dad\'s health isn\'t great so our plan is to move back to OK next year. This is a PRIME OPPORTUNITY for me and my wife to do exactly what you\'re talking about. Luckily, housing is much more expensive in CO than OK so we\'ll not have a house payment and don\'t have car payments. And I have land to hunt on so won\'t need a lease! Crunching the numbers...it\'s very doable for me to find something else more enjoyable. Just have to cut the umbilical cord from corporate america along with the big paycheck!

Best of luck to whatever you decide is right!

Russ

 

[cnelk]

Woah...
That is exciting and scary at the same time!

I am at where Russ mentioned \'Rarely do I get up in the morning wanting to go to work. More often than not, I wake up thinking about my projects.\'

I am just over 2 years to retirement and I cannot wait to start something new at that time.

Until then.... Hmmmmm

 

[colorado russ]

Brad, i need another 8 in order to get a small pension and put some serious $$ into retirement.....assuming I can keep the pace and my sanity...oh, and my marriage. This would be to keep our current standard of living and have a hefty nest egg in the 401K. Caveat: None of that money is any good if you can\'t enjoy it.

I\'ll elaborate on my Dad just a little to help put things in perspective. He\'s 74. Been an ironworker most off his working career with 25+ years in the field doing welding, steel construction. Heavy smoker - 3 or 4 packs a day of Pall Mall no filters. Started own business in 1982 and been killing it the last 15 years! Lots of income to do what he and Mom wanted. BUT, he was out of shape having spent the last 15 years behind a desk. Couldn\'t go on vacation because of not being able to walk very far without being winded. Went to doc and got diagnosed. COPD and emphyzma in one lung about 25% good. Other lung struggling to keep up. Fast forward after a couple of years with an oxygen concentrator at home and portable oxygen tanks everywhere he went. Definitely not getting any better and unable to go on vacation with my Mom.

18 months ago he had a lung transplant. WOW! Was back home recovering after about a week in the hospital. Oxygen was returned to vendor. Life was getting better but still tired and legs hurt so couldn\'t vacation. FINALLY, had a spinal tap done and diagnosis is Multiple Sclerosis which is now being treated. Likely that he won\'t ever be able to go on a vacation with my Mom - health is one reason but stubbornness is another.

So, I go on vacation every year with my wife at least a week off. Every other year, we\'re starting to go on a 2 week vacation. The only positive thing coming from my Dad\'s situation is me learning what I don\'t want to happen in my life so exercise and eating good are my top priorities.

 

[elky McElkerson]

cohunter!! congrats. two things. congrats on having a plan, and congrats on having the stone to get it into motion.

i\'m kinda the opposite.

i have a degree in photography. i was GREAT at it in school. my professors loved me and i pushed my assignment to the limit. i didnt anticipate a few things. i\'m not great with criticism, and i really focus on \"what can go wrong\". two things not great with the profession. i did lots of work.

funny story for someday..but i had drug cartel folks throw insane money at me to do a wedding. i didnt do weddings..and messing up baby drug cartels daughter princess\'s wedding photos seemed like a quick way to die. i declined..carefully.

anyways..living that exciting life wore me down. i wanted stability. so i went back to school, did a 180 and became a license civil engineer. boring, but i love my job. i am cynical..and i anticipate problems. so it is working out. you dont know how much money i save by saying..\"hey, if you do that..wont this happen?\" who knew my \"what can go wrong\" attitude could be a benefit?!

now i dont define myself as a civil engineer. i define myself by what i do outside of work. bowhunt, mountain bike, husband, cook..etc. my job is fun, pays great, but it really is a means to an end. i cant wait to retire..just hope i\'m healthy enough to milk that pension..and crush my 401k.. bassboat!!

i like working for the man.

 

[cohunter14]

Thanks for the support guys. It\'s funny, but I was typing that up and at the same time wondering what I was doing, sharing that with you all. But it\'s quite the group we have here and it\'s nice to just be able to throw some stuff out there and know you have some support!

It\'s so funny how life works. I went into the working world having no idea what I wanted to do. I ended up in the industry I\'m in and the paychecks and continued growth made things feel okay. It\'s like I started following the path that a \"grown up\" does...get a job, go to work, get paid, and enjoy the heck out of weekends and vacation. But the realization of how unhappy I really am with work and the idea that I could do something I truly enjoy was quite the epiphany. Sure I\'m giving up the guaranteed paycheck that I have right now, but the income potential is actually greater if I have success in the new gig, and in my opinion success is easier to come by if you enjoy what you are doing.

Russ, good luck in your future! Might want to check out that book...it\'s a good read. Cliff and Brad, I have to say I have some jealousy in your two situations of being close to retirement and liking the job. Hopefully I can check one of those off the list soon!

 

[iccyman001]

Best of luck to you, Derek!!!!!!
I know you\'ll make the right choice and we are here for you if you need anything. :upthumb:

 

[bnsafe]

good luck and well done having the nerve to do it. i HATE work. always have. good luck with whatever turns out for ya