Do/did you love your career?

[Billinfla]

Moved back to Florida, got my Florida contractors license. 4-41/2 hour test sections. Pre-hurricane Andrew, but should have been a warning.

Long story short....construction sucks. Fucking gubment and lawyers. The "building Department" is your adversary. Clients can really be assholes. Last 15 years did major upscale kitchen remodelling. Inside in the a/c. Still a problem. This time. goddam how to tv shows. Clients thinking they know everything. "Why does it take so long? " "They don't do it like that on tv"

[jmike]

I tell the "know it alls" call Chip and Joanna Gaines if they don't like it!. I do a lot of remodels, office space, medical and the owner/occupants often refer to the DIY shows.

[V_Thirteen]

Television is cancer.

[LFBB]

Ya got to tell them up front, this is life not a reality TV show, in life if you run into an unexpected problem, and there are always unexpected problems it takes days longer then the original estimate. On TV they show cute people with a hammer and when they cut a full crew comes in and does the grunt work, cutie pie get the credit, the grunts do the work. If you want cute, hire someone else.

[Billinfla]

Used to be you'd stand back and look at a completed project ans say "I did that"! Now, you say "Well, another PITA job out of the way. I never want to see this damn place again"

[jmike]

Truth!!

[Billinfla]

Sorry I can't post a long post without losing it 1/2 way thru

[erie skipper]

I'm one of the lucky ones; still doing what I enjoy which is selling boats. I've been a dealer principal, gm, sales mgr and now just a semi-retired part time boat salesman working 4 days per week 8 months per year. The other 4 months we spend in south Fla and recharge our batteries. Life is good!

[Bstnsportsfan]

Good for you guys for finding and doing what you love!

[erie skipper]

41 years for me, then add the 7 years I sold Fords so 50 coming right up!

[massbay]

We must be the same vintage.
Full time in boat biz since 1974,except for 5 yrs in a truck riding out a non compete.

[V_Thirteen]

Sorry I can't post a long post without losing it 1/2 way thru

Take deep breaths... it'll be OK.

[erie skipper]

Sorry I can't post a long post without losing it 1/2 way thru

Maybe think of a way to fine tune what you do into something that gives you more satisfaction; I do remember the headaches of management quite well. And yes, the govt is a tough nut to crack and even tougher to swallow these days. Make sure you take some time for yourself and do more things that you do fine satisfaction in. Hoping the best going forward for you.

[Billinfla]

Maybe think of a way to fine tune what you do into something that gives you more satisfaction; I do remember the headaches of management quite well. And yes, the govt is a tough nut to crack and even tougher to swallow these days. Make sure you take some time for yourself and do more things that you do fine satisfaction in. Hoping the best going forward for you.

I retired!

2 of my last 4 jobs resulted in me filing a lien. Prevailed on the first and are in a good position on the other...he's a fucking lawyer who claims he didn't understand "cost plus" contracting. He's retired and REPRESENTS HIMSELF. Tells you something.

[Bstnsportsfan]

Lawyers can be the sleaziest of all. Hope the second claim works out in your favor Bill.

[Billinfla]

thanks

[illibilli]

Building for a lawyer??? I have never done. I wonder why?

[KMac]

I retired!

2 of my last 4 jobs resulted in me filing a lien. Prevailed on the first and are in a good position on the other...he's a fucking lawyer who claims he didn't understand "cost plus" contracting. He's retired and REPRESENTS HIMSELF. Tells you something.

The absolute worst..

[Billinfla]

Take deep breaths... it'll be OK.

I like big breaths...

[V_Thirteen]

And you cannot lie?😁

[bluewaterposer]

I cannot lie----

[Billinfla]

lol

[hookedup]

I only retired from my job do to a health issue, otherwise I'd probably still be working. Started working on computers when they were tube and relay computers. At the end I was migrating computer systems with hundreds of computers to the cloud. Lots of stuff in between. Been all over the country and a few times out of country. Lots of challenges,working mostly with good people with good work principles.

Foolishly went into management a few times and had over 100 employees worldwide. Don't recommend management. More fun fixing a programming problem than trying to fix a personnel issue. Once you fix a computer program it will run well forever. Fix an employee issue and I swear each time I thought I'd made progress, six months later they were right back to their bad habits. I had one CEO tell me to quit trying to help an employee improve, just fire them and hire someone else. He might be right, but I always felt I should try.

The last work with the cloud migrations was fun, challenging and oh my gosh lots of hours. Very fulfilling to see a task like that from start to finish.

[erie skipper]

The car dealer I worked for in the 70's once told me that the single biggest problem I would ever have in business would be the employees--and he was spot on!

[bluewaterposer]

I mostly enjoy the driving aspect, but, humans suck as drivers go! You just accept that people drive bad and allow for it!
I'm compotent at my profession and always try to do my best and be above any bad behavior, I try and stay out of everyone's way and be invisible and just DRIVE!

Very curious as to when autonomous trucks will do most distant driving and last mile preformed by real human drivers.

No trucks, no economy!

BWP

[MercuryMan200]

Sometimes. It's been a great career but our dispatch system is the absolute worst. They promote 911 abuse and that makes the job suck. I signed up to help ill/injured people and put out fires. Not go to 20 year olds with toe pain or a 80 year old with a stomach at a skilled nursing facility. And don't get me started on the 30 year old that calls 2-3 times a week at 3am for various reason only to tell you he doesn't want to go to the hospital.

[Smitty45]

No , I've never liked any job I've held , hard to call them a career . I quit high school to hire in Chevrolet in 1977 , I worked at 5 different divisions , getting laid off and transfering , and retired at 30 years exactly , way to young . Never fit in to the UAW workforce , because I did my job instead of pretending to work .
The others used to tell me I made them look bad , I would tell them they made themselves look bad , I was just doing my job .

Planed on opening a Subway or some other small business , but my wife at the time met her soulmate , dammit ! LOL
After 24 years of being together , she left me at Christmas time to move in with her boytoy , left her 18 year-old daughter with me , but I digress .

Tried to get established with the FLW , fished some Rayovacs and did alright , but never cut a check . I just wanted to do it , if I could've made it pay for its self , I would've been happy .

Traveled for a couple years , fishing and hunting , but spent more than I should've having fun .

Now I'm working for a property management company , building manager / maintenance for a condo association on the beach , but it sucks , big time .

The people are idiots and have no idea how to run a business , but won't listen to me or my Boss . They never seem to see me working , but after everything is done , if they see me standing still for five minutes , they call the boss .

I don't really need to work , I got a pension and benefits , and don't care to bust my ass at my age , but still want to hunt and fish , so I work to pay for my play , you know ?

I'm ready for a change , just don't know what's next . I do I few side jobs for people I know , painting , kitchens , closets , but don't really enjoy that either .
People have unrealistic expectations .

I have no biological kids , my current wife will be set after I'm gone , unless the market totally tanks , so I could stop working altogether , but I get depressed when I have to much time on my hands .
Can't play all the time , dammit , LOL !

[Billinfla]

I mostly enjoy the driving aspect, but, humans suck as drivers go! You just accept that people drive bad and allow for it!
I'm compotent at my profession and always try to do my best and be above any bad behavior, I try and stay out of everyone's way and be invisible and just DRIVE!

Very curious as to when autonomous trucks will do most distant driving and last mile preformed by real human drivers.

No trucks, no economy!

BWP

Trains! Intermodal. I guy, 500 trailers.

ALL drivers are getting worse, as a group. Certainly automobiles. Sure, I know how fast just about every vehicle I've owned will go, but it's not done on I95 at rush hour.

[MikeO]

I used to love it and still do sometimes but now with two girls, a wife, two houses and a few pets I now find myself counting down the days till I am home again. Private jets, fancy boats and all the fruit associated with it is fun at first but its lonely traveling all the time.

I’ve started my own company on the side that is coming along nicely but is still on the back burners until I can work out how to make the full time jump. Same industry but as my own boss and the ability to pick and choose clients. I’m enjoying the flexibility and love the fact I am dance dad on Mondays and Wednesdays and can spend more time with my 5yo.

[Parker Yacht]

I left that life to have "my own time" and spend Holidays at home.
I do not regret it.
First couple of years were tough adjusting to not being on botes. As time wears on and I get older, don't miss it one bit.