What do you do for a living?

[Bluebasser86]

17 hours ago, MisplacedTexan99 said:

I'm a 911 dispatcher. I dispatch police fire and Ems, night shift. It's a thankless job for little pay. I work overnight, weekends, and holidays. When the phone rings you never know what the situation will be but you do your best to help. You experience every emotion possible, from heartbreak to the high of saving a life to terror sometimes all in the same hour. I took a 30k a year pay cut from my last job, and I couldn't be happier. I would do it again in a heartbeat. It certainly is not for everyone but for the most part I love my job. 

I sat with our dispatch for 4 hours one day, I don't know how you do it. Some of the stuff people dial 911 for just made me shake my head. A woman called because there was a squirrel in her yard and she was afraid it would bite someone. Another called because a raccoon when into the storm drain and she thought that didn't seem normal. A person called because they saw someone driving around getting into people's mailboxes (it was the mailman). It really made me wonder how some people survive the perils of day to day life like walking and breathing at the same time.

[DubyaDee]

I got very lucky stumbling into my career. My Sr year of college I started working part time at an insurance agency. I just started my 3rd year owning my own agency and it's the best job I could ask for. 

 

You don't have to have too much education, you get flexible hours, you're dependent on yourself, don't have to answer to big brother, potential for great money, residuals can pay you for life.

 

Since I'm still in the beginning stages I still work full time. A lot of our tenured agents work 1 day a week and golf the other 6. Down the road I'll have tons of free time for family and fishing. It's a great career that is very under the radar.

[Master Bait'r]

Some surprises in this thread for sure!  Cool to see what everybody does behind the persona.  

 

I started off real life as a welder and custom metal fab guy at my family's industrial production shop when I was 15.  Ended up getting a bunch of certifications in TIG and Pulsed MIG welding and engineering for high pressure water etc. and becoming a pretty successful production outsourcing firm for a few large clients.  Fast worward 17 or so years and I just left the family business to be the Operations Manager at a ski area in VT.  I've been heavily involved in volunteer organization, pipe & chairlift repair work with for the last 8-9 years and they offered me the job to run the place!  Now I am in charge of everything from all the chairlifts, snowmaking, heavy equipment, personnel and infrastructure upgrades as well as the upkeep of the mountain itself.  It's insane these days.  I came in with a new & aggressive ownership/investor group and we are adding chairlifts, snowmaking and an insane amount of work needs to be done by next season.  It's pretty intimidating but I've got a great team and a killer hill to work with.  If any of you are NE skiers or snowboarders you should hit me up!  

 

Also excited to learn my surroundings here in Southern VT.  The landscape is so incredible I can't wait to explore the lakes and ponds in the region.  The ice is *almost* gone!  

[kylek]

I sell used auto parts at a salvage yard in Kansas City.  I have been here going on 13 years as of tomorrow.  

[moguy1973]

I work for the Missouri Gaming Commission as a regulator for the slot machines in the state.  So if you ever come to Missouri and gamble at one of our casinos don't blame me if you lose.

[iaYakker]

1 hour ago, DubyaDee said:

I got very lucky stumbling into my career. My Sr year of college I started working part time at an insurance agency. I just started my 3rd year owning my own agency and it's the best job I could ask for. 

 

You don't have to have too much education, you get flexible hours, you're dependent on yourself, don't have to answer to big brother, potential for great money, residuals can pay you for life.

 

Since I'm still in the beginning stages I still work full time. A lot of our tenured agents work 1 day a week and golf the other 6. Down the road I'll have tons of free time for family and fishing. It's a great career that is very under the radar.

I feel like Insurance is hit or miss, maybe you have to get lucky. When I first started communicating my desire to find rewarding opportunities, the first people to contact me were from insurance companies, and I expected this. I'm guessing it has high turnover? Or these recruiters/agents want you to take over small accounts and then get rid of you? I'm not sure. But it sort of turns me off how desperate some of them sound when pursuing potential new hires.

[J._Bricker]

I am now a sheepdog in retirement, and I'm thankful I have my health to allow me to enjoy it. I now get to do all those things I used to do before or after work, on days off, took a day off or vacation on a daily basis. To those of you already retired or soon to be, congratulations!.... you don't need me to tell you this, but you earned it. To those who are in the middle of their career or just starting out I'd say retirement isn't necessarily for everyone, but it does give you something to look forward to while following life's path.

 

Continued success everyone, JB 

[DubyaDee]

13 minutes ago, iaYakker said:

I feel like Insurance is hit or miss, maybe you have to get lucky. When I first started communicating my desire to find rewarding opportunities, the first people to contact me were from insurance companies, and I expected this. I'm guessing it has high turnover? Or these recruiters/agents want you to take over small accounts and then get rid of you? I'm not sure. But it sort of turns me off how desperate some of them sound when pursuing potential new hires.

 

It's tough to find good employees, and insurance agencies are on every corner. So you'll always find jobs available. The one thing I hear from other agents is they can't find anyone to work.  

 

Most sales jobs aren't extremely picky about who they hire because it's commission based. If you can sell, it's worth hiring you. If you can't sell, you don't make any money and you quit within the first couple weeks/month. There isn't too much risk for Agency Owners. Owning an agency is the end goal and have huge benefits.

 

 

[MisplacedTexan99]

12 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I sat with our dispatch for 4 hours one day, I don't know how you do it. Some of the stuff people dial 911 for just made me shake my head. A woman called because there was a squirrel in her yard and she was afraid it would bite someone. Another called because a raccoon when into the storm drain and she thought that didn't seem normal. A person called because they saw someone driving around getting into people's mailboxes (it was the mailman). It really made me wonder how some people survive the perils of day to day life like walking and breathing at the same time.

Lol those calls can be very frustrating for sure, but sometimes they are funny and a nice moment of levity. That's really cool that the dispatch center let you sit in with them, it's a great idea and can be really eye opening for the public. It's not at all what most people think. 

[Turkey sandwich]

I work in home remodeling sales and when I'm not totally broken/recovering from back surgery I teach Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts.  The regular gig is awesome - I help people solve problems, have a flexible schedule, enjoy most of the people I work with, and the company culture rocks.  The Jiu-Jitsu gig has allowed me to travel and teach and compete all over the country.  When I'm not all kinds of messed up from back problems, I genuinely have two jobs that I really enjoy.  If only being an adult lent itself to allowing more time for fishing and hiking, I'd be thrilled.  

[Bassin' Brad]

I'm a service tech for a company called Water Processing. I drive a service van and install/ service/ and sale reverse osmosis (drinking water) systems and soft water systems for residential, commercial and industrial use. 

[deaknh03]

7 hours ago, Master Bait'r said:

Some surprises in this thread for sure!  Cool to see what everybody does behind the persona.  

 

I started off real life as a welder and custom metal fab guy at my family's industrial production shop when I was 15.  Ended up getting a bunch of certifications in TIG and Pulsed MIG welding and engineering for high pressure water etc. and becoming a pretty successful production outsourcing firm for a few large clients.  Fast worward 17 or so years and I just left the family business to be the Operations Manager at a ski area in VT.  I've been heavily involved in volunteer organization, pipe & chairlift repair work with for the last 8-9 years and they offered me the job to run the place!  Now I am in charge of everything from all the chairlifts, snowmaking, heavy equipment, personnel and infrastructure upgrades as well as the upkeep of the mountain itself.  It's insane these days.  I came in with a new & aggressive ownership/investor group and we are adding chairlifts, snowmaking and an insane amount of work needs to be done by next season.  It's pretty intimidating but I've got a great team and a killer hill to work with.  If any of you are NE skiers or snowboarders you should hit me up!  

 

Also excited to learn my surroundings here in Southern VT.  The landscape is so incredible I can't wait to explore the lakes and ponds in the region.  The ice is *almost* gone!  

What mountain?

[Master Bait'r]

48 minutes ago, deaknh03 said:

What mountain?

 

 

Magic

[deaknh03]

1 minute ago, Master Bait'r said:

 

 

Magic

aha, must be part of the wiseass chain.

[Master Bait'r]

Just now, deaknh03 said:

aha, must be part of the wiseass chain.

 

 

Aaahahahaha

 

There are definitely a few of those around ?

[deaknh03]

2 minutes ago, Master Bait'r said:

 

 

Aaahahahaha

 

There are definitely a few of those around ?

I was married on Burke mountain, my 1st marriage 25 years ago. Beautiful place, we went back many times.

[RMax]

I'm a high school student...

 

 

I am also a part time recreational technician, and I plan to go to college for either vet/zoology.  Something with animals, I don't know what yet.

[Turkey sandwich]

16 hours ago, DubyaDee said:

I got very lucky stumbling into my career. My Sr year of college I started working part time at an insurance agency. I just started my 3rd year owning my own agency and it's the best job I could ask for. 

 

You don't have to have too much education, you get flexible hours, you're dependent on yourself, don't have to answer to big brother, potential for great money, residuals can pay you for life.

 

Since I'm still in the beginning stages I still work full time. A lot of our tenured agents work 1 day a week and golf the other 6. Down the road I'll have tons of free time for family and fishing. It's a great career that is very under the radar.

 

This is huge.  A lot of folks miss out on quality careers in sales because it isn't the traditional "If you want to make money become a Dr or lawyer" route.  I opted out of law school and do not regret it for a minute.  If not for the weird back injury nightmare, I'd have been swimming in free time while still making great money for the past three years.  As of now, I work a 4 day work week and have an absurd amount of flexibility.  I am much happier than 80% of my lawyer friends.  

 

Part of what kills people, drives them crazy, or otherwise just makes them miserable is the idea that pursuing a job for the sake of making money, or at least the idea of making money, is what enables happiness.  It is exactly the wrong solution to the wrong problem.  Money is totally a renewable resource.  You will always make more (though, learning how to make it efficiently is a very valuable life skill because...).  Time, on the other hand, is not.  You will never be able to create "new" time.  So, really, any job that provides you with time and the freedom to do whatever you want with it is a job worth creating.   This is what is never taught in school, and probably the most important lesson I've learned regarding creating a meaningful life.  

[dave]

I manage a sign supply distribution warehouse and sales office during the week.  

 

On the weekends, I take people fishing for money.(never thought I'd ever say that)

[DubyaDee]

7 hours ago, Turkey sandwich said:

Part of what kills people, drives them crazy, or otherwise just makes them miserable is the idea that pursuing a job for the sake of making money, or at least the idea of making money, is what enables happiness.  It is exactly the wrong solution to the wrong problem.  Money is totally a renewable resource.  You will always make more (though, learning how to make it efficiently is a very valuable life skill because...).  Time, on the other hand, is not.  You will never be able to create "new" time.  So, really, any job that provides you with time and the freedom to do whatever you want with it is a job worth creating.   This is what is never taught in school, and probably the most important lesson I've learned regarding creating a meaningful life.  

 

Absolutely. I look at my career as an investment. If I work 40 hours a week for the next 8 years, I'll have the rest of my life to hang out with my family and get some fishing in.

[iaYakker]

24 minutes ago, DubyaDee said:

 

Absolutely. I look at my career as an investment. If I work 40 hours a week for the next 8 years, I'll have the rest of my life to hang out with my family and get some fishing in.

 

As far as insurance goes, would you recommend a small agency as opposed to a state farm/nationwide/etc etc? Maybe this question doesn't make sense.. I'm not too familiar with insurance, but I do know people that have made great livings doing insurance sales.

One thing I'm very interested in is freelance editing, because I like writing and analyzing this type of communication. But I'm having a hell of a time figuring out how to make money on the side with editing...

[RichF]

I'm a GIS Analyst.  It's cool, but it's not fishing.  Can't say I'd ever be 100% happy doing any job because it wouldn't be fishing lol.  

[Mike L]

Retired Sales and Marketing Manager. After 41 yrs I had enough.

We now live full time in a motorhome just meandering around. 

 

 

 

Mike 

[RoLo]

On 4/13/2017 at 3:33 PM, Raul said:

Professional Hitman for El Chapo.

 

 

Where has he been lately?

I had a dinner appointment with JG, but he was a no-show!   

 

 

[J Francho]

On 4/13/2017 at 3:33 PM, Raul said:

Professional Hitman for El Chapo.

 

I liked it better when you were Darth Vader.