What was your dream career?

[SuperDuty]

So after a discussion with my youngest son last night about his goals in life, it made me reflect on my life. That conversation has lead to this question.

 

So what was the career that you wanted to do for your life? Did it happen? How did you end up doing what you do?

 

My dream job since I was a young man was to be a DNR law enforcement officer. That didn't happen for me as I was set to leave for college and my wife (girlfriend at that time) got pregnant. So, instead of college, I went to work. Having worked with my dad in construction, I naturally went to building houses. That lead to me eventually being an electrician and funny enough, I was an electrician for DNR overseeing the electrical work on all DNR properties for a 11k acre reservoir. That was tough because I worked every day right beside the guys who I envied for their job. The CO's would pull into my shop every day towing a boat or quad that they just used on patrol and I'd think how fun their job must be. I did enjoy some of those same perks, I would set buoys on the lake, dive down to retrieve sunken boats, work accident scenes on the lake, clear trails in the forest, and even do security patrols and rule enforcement at the recreation areas - but it wasn't law enforcement and that was my passion. 

After spending a few years as an electrician, I finally gave into a guy who had been bugging me for years to come work for him repairing copy machines, fax machines and printers. That lead me to servicing computers and networks, which I enjoyed 23 years in the IT field. And finally 5 years ago I quit the IT field after my business became so successful that both my wife had to quit our jobs to dedicate ourselves full time to our fast growing business. This year, we are opening our 2nd business. It's been a great life for me but to this day, I wish I could have become a CO. 

 

 

[Bluebasser86]

I would love to guide full time but the lack of retirement and health benefits to support my family keeps me from doing it.

 

Game Warden was always something interesting to me, as well as law enforcement in general. Started working in a detention facility at 21, moved to a different department at 23 and became a certified LEO (deputy). Now a Master Deputy after 10 years. Only 17 more years to go.

[SuperDuty]

So you're a deputy sheriff on road patrol or inside of a detention facility? I have a couple of buddies who are certified LEO's but work in a prison. 

 

17 years can't go fast enough huh?! ? I'm 47 and my Hope's are that by 55, my sons will run both businesses and I'll collect 50% to spend my days fishing somewhere that has really good fresh and salt water fishing. Lol

[slonezp]

My dream was to have a sugar momma and be her boy toy.....that didn't work out so well. I had an opportunity to marry rich twice but my conscience got the best of me both times. The first time was to a nice Italian girl. I was recently divorced and was not ready to settle down as the single life was very good to me. The second time was to a short Jewish girl who could cause a deaf man to commit suicide because she wouldn't stop talking. So, instead I work 50 hours a week and comment on fishing forums.

[SuperDuty]

@slonezp that's pretty funny! And what is it you do 50 hour a week?

[slonezp]

1 minute ago, SuperDuty said:

@slonezp that's pretty funny! And what is it you do 50 hour a week?

In a previous life I was a journeyman pipefitter UA Local 597. More specifically a commercial refrigeration mechanic. Back in 2012 I suffered a career ending injury after a piece of equipment came off the ceiling of a cooler and took my left arm with it. 3 surgeries and the left shoulder and arm, on a good day, are probably at 40% of what they should be. 

 

Today, I sell commercial and industrial hvac/r controls and parts to pipefitters and provide technical support. 

[SuperDuty]

Man dude, really sorry to hear that! Must make fishing difficult, too. 

[slonezp]

The psychological aspect of the injury was as difficult to get through as the physical. You spend your entire life making a living with your hands and then poof! 

Prior  to the 3rd surgery, I couldn't spend more than a couple hours on the water without being in severe pain. I stopped fishing tournaments. After the 3rd surgery it took about a year, but I can do 6-8 hours throwing a jig or worm, without being too uncomfortable. If I throw crankbaits for more than an hour without switching it up, my arm will fatigue to the point where I can't even lift it. I do a good amount of live bait fishing as well which works out. I have an 80 year old father and a 3 year old grandson who use nothing but live bait.

[A-Jay]

I didn't know it when I signed on the dotted line but it certainly worked out that way.

Had the distinct privilege to serve this great country,

and to work with, for and alongside, some very dedicated and honorable men & women.

Having the opportunity to reach out, grab a hand and look another person straight in the eye as you save them from imminent death, is a powerful thing.

The images & emotions stay with a man: every time & forever.

Admittedly it wasn't an easy career that's not for everyone, but I certainly have no regrets. 

I do however, wish it didn't go by so fast. 

Met my wife doing it - and that may be the best aspect of the whole deal. 

A-Jay

  

[Scott F]

I’m just shy of my 65th birthday and I don’t know if I’ve ever spent much time thinking about what my dream career could have been. Back when I was around 21, I wanted to be a recording engineer/ record producer. I used to record local bands and run sound on some small tours of the Midwest. I saw that as my way into the recording studio. It didn’t take too long to see that I did not enjoy hanging around with the rockers I was meeting. After that I took a few different jobs doing the best I could at each until I landed in the job I eventually retired from. Turns out my dream job is the one I started after I left my last job...being retired. If I’d have know how great it was going to be, I’d have retired 40 years ago! 

[gim]

I currently work for the federal government which is generally not a bad gig but if I could do it again I’d go for college professor. The quantity of time off is fairly ridiculous for a teacher.

[flyfisher]

Being a teacher and that is what I am doing and have been for the past 5 years.  I do plan to move up to administration.  My goal is in 5 years to be a principal or move towards something else in education that can combine my previous career of being a process engineer with education as education is sorely in need of streamlining and reducing of wasted time and effort.

[Russ E]

straight out of high school in 1981, my dream was to own a lure company. 

I did start a company and was fairly successful making and selling spinnerbaits and jigs at fishing shows around Iowa.  it did not make enough to live off of, but it did help support my fishing habit. I was also working in a factory to pay the bills.

Then i got married and had a family. the lure company died out and the factory job took over.

 

My new dream job was to become a controls engineer at the factory I was working. Not so much for enjoyment, but because I was an electonics/computer nerd and it paid very well. After 5 years of school while working full time in maintenance, that dream came true.

 

After 28 years at that job I retired at 53 years old.

Now 4 years into retirement I finally realized this was my true dream job.....

If I work it is because I want to, not because I need to. That is a great feeling.

 

 

[Catt]

Don't know if one could call it a dream job but rather a  job dreamed of.

 

I've known my wife for 65 years, as teenagers we talked about moving to Africa & leading expeditions into the Congo.

 

I had written detailed notes on everything required from food, supplies, guns, medicine, & equipment. We read everything could about the African jungles & collected maps.

 

As adults neither of us can figure why the Congo!

 

 

[Mobasser]

My dream was to be a carpenter. I always liked this work and had an uncle that got me started at age 25. Now I'm 62, and carpentry hasn't been a real easy profession. I've been able to raise my kids, and keep my head above water, and stay married to the same gal for 36 yrs now. I'm looking forward to retirement, possibly next year if things work out right. It's a good skill to know, but a tough way to make a living.

[DanielG]

My dream career was to be a Science Teacher. I became one and did that for over 30 yrs, and at a Jr. High at that.

 

It was great until the latter ten years when things started to change. I still loved to teach but regulations made your hands tied a bit taking all the fun out of it and making the job very difficult when it didn't have to be. And yes it's still the same today for those in the job. But it was a good living for my family and I did a good job as best I could and tried my best to keep it fresh. Would I do it again? Knowing what I know the answer would be, I would really want to but probably wouldn't for a variety of reasons. that would be a hard decision.

I encouraged my two daughters to do something else unless they couldn't help it. I always told them, "Do something that you can make a decent living at, where you'll be respected, and where your salary, medical, and what you do for work isn't decided by a group townspeople, who know nothing about how to do your job, make all decisions (i.e. public school boards)."

Today, in their mid 30's they are doing well in other fields, in jobs they like, that fulfill the above criterion. And they're making double and triple at this point what I did just before retirement with a masters degree. I'm very proud of them.

[DogBone_384]

I have my dream job.  I'm a Firefighter.

[DanielG]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

Don't know if one could call it a dream job but rather a  job dreamed of.

 

I've known my wife for 65 years, as teenagers we talked about moving to Africa & leading expeditions into the Congo.

 

I had written detailed notes on everything required from food, supplies, guns, medicine, & equipment. We read everything could about the African jungles & collected maps.

 

As adults neither of us can figure why the Congo!

 

 

 

I have a niece and her husband who in their 30's are building a safari hotel in Kenya and have teamed up with a local company to do sightseeing safaris. We're from Maine but he spent a couple of tours in Afghanistan and is used to being abroad in unnatural situations so it's working for them.

[Sam]

Marine attorney.

 

Got married instead of law school.

[Jig Man]

I had 2 of them and got a crack at both.

 

1. Bass fishing guide.  I did it for 6 years.  It was a pretty good gig except most clients had a very low skill level.

 

2. Be in retail boat sales.  I got a job as sales manager at a boat dealership.  It should have been great fixing people up with their dream boats or quality preowned units.  It turned out to be a nightmare.  

[Bankbeater]

Going to college, my dream was to get a job in either the marketing, or the financial field.  Reality set in after graduation, when I discovered that without someone on the inside to actually get me in the door my chances of landing a job in one of those fields was nil.

For the past 33 years I have worked in the facilities / construction management field.

[Hook2Jaw]

I wanted to teach high school English and Literature.

 

I climb trees and apply saw.

[Bluebasser86]

17 hours ago, SuperDuty said:

So you're a deputy sheriff on road patrol or inside of a detention facility? I have a couple of buddies who are certified LEO's but work in a prison. 

 

17 years can't go fast enough huh?! ? I'm 47 and my Hope's are that by 55, my sons will run both businesses and I'll collect 50% to spend my days fishing somewhere that has really good fresh and salt water fishing. Lol

I work in detention, mainly what I've done for the whole 13+ years now. I'm one of the crazies that would rather work detention than on the road. I get paid the same, and I've never been shot at ?‍♂️ Plus I don't have to deal with freezing cold temps in the winter and triple digit heat in the summer.

[Happybeerbuzz]

When I was 14 I thought I wanted to fly an  F15.  Then I grew too tall and my eye sight went to crap. 

[SuperDuty]

Lots of interesting careers here! And it really is amazing how our careers sometimes choose us instead of us choosing them. I surely admire the ones that made their dream job happen.