Advice for a Serial Career Changer?

CplDevilDog

Hi all,

so the last few days, as I was reminding myself what "paint into a wet edge" means and listening to my knees pop , I was thinking about what I should do for the next 20 years or so (Keepin' it light )

I'm 40 (or 41?) so I figure 20 years, unless my Bread Winner, Sugar Mamma wife divorces me in which case it'll be 'til they push dirt over me.

Name a thing and I've probably done it. The list is below along with a Grade A-F at how good I was at it an a score of 1-10 of how much I enjoyed it.

Loss Prevention Officer---------------------(A, 10)
Marine-------------------------------------(B, 7)
Police Officer------------------------------(A, 5)
Computer Programmer----------------------(F, 8 )
Framing Carpenter------------------------(A, 9)
Construction Supervisor Field Lvl-----------(A, 3-8 )
House Spouse ----------------------------(C, 7)
1-man-band Remodeler (Under the Radar)-- (A, 8)

Looking for advice, opinions, critique. I have the list narrowed down, so we can eliminate a few things like Baker, Accountant, Licensed Massage Therapist, etc

1. One-man-band Remodeling (Taking the show public)
2. Small Remodeling Co
3. Electrician
4. Career Criminal (Bank Jobs mostly)

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rossfingal

1st Electrician
2nd Remodeler

When I was in my 40's - I had the chance to become a licensed
plumber or electrician.
I didn't - OOPS!
(I was making a lot of money at what I was doing)

rossfingal

DrHicks

4. Career Criminal.

We have a Presidential Election coming up. You could be a write-in candidate.

rossfingal

Yeah, why worry about Banks
(You might get shot at!!)
Go, for the American Taxpayers - unlimited, funds!

CplDevilDog

Thread moved to Community>Mid-life Crises

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CplDevilDog

Just thinking out loud I guess.

I enjoyed Framing houses ('til I fell off the 2nd floor) but I don't think I'll enjoy it as much at 60.

I hated Supervising Residential Production for the first 12 months, til I got the hang of what to look for, when to make a phone call, who to hold responsible.

Just because I failed Discrete Math doesn't mean I'm retarded

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DrHicks

I'm about 10 years ahead of you. Mine is a white-collar job, involving a constant influx of people. My bad right knee, and bad lower back don't bother me much, and bad weather is an inconvenience rather than a problem. I love my job, but I also need the outlet of working with my hands, and attacking a job that actually has a date of completion. Thus, I continue to renovate houses.

Don't be scared of an indoor job. There can be some really great things about them. But you might want to be your own small-job contractor on the side. Extra bucks, and a good way to get some honest dirt under your fingernails.

Yoyizit

Here's another take on choosing a career
http://www.google.com/search?client=...w=1271&bih=806

At 40 you can expect to live to 80. For some this is good news, for some it's bad. If you make it to 80 you can expect to live to 87 but at age 110 you get only one more year.

I think most people only change careers 3 times but with the economy lately that number may be trending upward. For me it was/is engineer>couldn't get into law school>whistleblower>contractor.

How many feet did you fall? Any permanent injury? A survival book said to avoid a 14' drop at all costs and I think half the people survive the sudden deceleration from 35' and the other half may need phys. therapy forever.

CplDevilDog

Nah, I make it sound worse than it was for dramatic effect. It was literally the 2nd floor as opposed to the roof.

Only 9' onto plywood. The problem was, as the floor joist slid forward, I put my hands behind me to catch myself. Hands went over on side of the joist, body went over the other.

Orthopedist couldn't figure out how I tore both shoulders out in such a short fall. 6 weeks physical therapy and no Archery for a year.

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CplDevilDog

Whatever I do it has to be portable. My wife's job will require at least one more move and possibly two before we retire (3 moves?).

Also considering Home Inspections but only as an Independent. After being on the receiving end of a Real Estate Agent's Pet Inspector I don't feel I could do that to people.

Instant Karma and all that...

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CplDevilDog

Any opinions on Small Remodeling Company using all Subs?

Part of the reason I started doing the 1-Man-Band thing was to learn as much about other aspects of remodeling as I could. Its not much good knowing Framing, Electrical (although, see my post over in Electric) and Plumbing if your Drywall Finishing skills make you afraid to open a wall.

Now, I'm coming to the realization that I'm never going to be great at everything (anything?)

Maybe I can be the "front man" for people who are great at what they do, over and over and over again.

__________________
Can correctly identify Shinola 3 out of 5 times*
*Under ideal conditions

Some days, my Life needs a Rewind/Erase Button.
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rossfingal

You don't have to be "great" at "everything"! -
I know people in all the trades who are "great", at what they do!
(And, I do mean "Great"!)
Would I have them run a major remodeling project?
Probably not!
Somebody, has to have a grasp of the whole progression of events.
How one thing is going to affect, everything else!
You sound like, you're probably in the "arena"; of "grasping the progression
of events"!

rossfingal

jbfan

The problem with being a one man band at anything is moving.
If the spouse has to move, you have to start over.

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cleanerair56

off topic (but that's what this board is about!), but how long were you in the marines for?

CplDevilDog

4 years active. 94-98

MCSFCO, 2nd Platoon, Bangor, WA
3/8 Lima Co 2nd Platoon Camp Lejeune, NC

A very quiet and un-eventful tour, thank God.

Hats off to the men and women serving in our armed forces today.

__________________
Can correctly identify Shinola 3 out of 5 times*
*Under ideal conditions

Some days, my Life needs a Rewind/Erase Button.
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