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JonnyQuest
Goose Wrangler


Registered: 12/30/20
Posts: 31
Last seen: 21 days, 30 minutes
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Does your job work for you? 1
#27153146 - 01/17/21 10:14 AM (3 years, 11 days ago) |
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Recently I've been battling with the conundrum of finding work, that suits my interests.
A little backstory: I left the military in 2017 with the idea I wanted something better for myself and to contribute something meaningful to society. Since then I've tried going to college for Forestry, but didn't pursue a degree because I've been told by multiple professionals that it's a frustrating field to get into (apparently dealing with government policy is not for rational people), and dancing around to different labor jobs because that's all my prior experience got me. Being in the military made me cynical and weary of any jobs I take. It made me ask questions that perhaps I'll never find a satisfactory answer to.
Why are we expected as a society to sacrifice our own personal ethics and happiness to make a living? When I tell people that I don't want to take that "perfectly good job at whatever store or restaurant" because I don't want to contribute to a product or cause I don't support, why do they always tell me: I personally feel that we should never settle for anything less than we are worth as individuals. I'm trying to measure personal worth, while trying to not feel entitled. My aim is quality of work, not the money. I don't know about you guys but if I'm going to spend 8-12 hours a day, 5-6 days a week working to make somebody else money, it damn well better be a palatable job. Time is and will forever be more valuable than money. Anyway, I hope this all kind of makes sense and doesn't just come off as some dude complaining about not having it his way. I figured this would be a good community to bounce this thought off of, for better or worse. Just feeling a bit hopeless at the moment.
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  Goin' where the climate suits my clothes
Edited by JonnyQuest (01/17/21 10:40 AM)
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Ahab McBathsalts
OTD Windmill Administrator




Registered: 11/25/02
Posts: 35,107
Loc: Wind Turbine, AB
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Re: Does your job work for you? [Re: JonnyQuest]
#27154755 - 01/18/21 05:51 AM (3 years, 10 days ago) |
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I work on wind turbines. I love it. There is a lot of comradery and brotherhood with our crew. You are dependent on your colleagues and need to be able to trust them. We have a lot of ex-armed forces that come in. It's a little bit of adventure, physical effort, working at heights and there are always mental challenges.
I feel like lots of people don't know about jobs that they can't see in their own small town. There are lots of good jobs for people that are mechanically inclined.
Air plane mechanics has the same high quality work with mechanicals, although airplanes aren't a good field right now.
Elevator mechanics require the same kind of quality of work.
Cell phone tower installation is another rapidly expanding field as 5G towers go up.
-------------------- "Nobody exists on purpose. Nobody belongs anywhere. Everybody's going to die."
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Enkidu
"No-Such-Person"


Registered: 07/09/16
Posts: 10,698
Last seen: 6 months, 10 days
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I got into carpentry and construction about 2 years ago. I worked in food before then while going to college. Hated it. Tried some cashier stores and retail. Hated it. Didnt stay long. Sold a lot of mushrooms while going to college. Mainly made a living off it for a few years.
Moved a few states over as i was having a child with a girl who lived 6 hours away. Needed to build a career stat.
Started with a shitty remodeling company building an addition, then a not so bad but not so great framer doing new home construction framing, then another shitty remodeling company paying me under the table, then another remodeling company that was a good company but fake ass two faced good two shoes employees i didnt fit in with.
Got my hands on just about everything. I liked working with wood and building big shit the most.
Now im working for a company that does mainly carpentry work but can do everything. Multiple crews, offers overtime. Great company. Growing and expanding. We do new homes, renovations, all carpentry work in house. Framing, siding, interior and exterior trim, cabinets, doors, windows.
A lot of this stuff i have very minimal experience.
I love it. Hard work sometimes. Work in all weather. But i rather be outside in the cold and snow than inside a factory or doing demo or an office or just inside at all.
I love that at any second i can look and see the snow falling and the trees and the fresh air.
Probably not for everyone. It can be tough. But i love it. So much to learn i dont get bored. Useful shit i can use in life when i buy my house. Skills i can grow and take with me to any new job. Lots of room to grow.
I work with great guys now and the company is good the pay is more than ive ever made.
Might be worth giving a shot. Theres a lot of opportunity for it. Always be able to find work.
I like that i work for smaller companies and not big corporations destroying the world.
I feel like im contributing by aiding in building living. Minimal waste compared to some things. I worked for TJ max for a week and we shed so much plastic from packaging and supporting this buy buy buy mentality of useless shit it was disgusting.
Anyway yeah. I like the trades. Honest hard work i can take pride in. Learning curve keeps it interesting. Skills i can build on forever.
-------------------- Within You , Without You
      
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Lorin
Stranger

Registered: 01/19/21
Posts: 46
Last seen: 4 days, 19 hours
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Re: Does your job work for you? [Re: JonnyQuest]
#27167043 - 01/24/21 10:58 AM (3 years, 4 days ago) |
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Find what makes you happy. I work with special needs families and I love my job. Not to much heavy lifting, never getting to hot or to cold. I don't make the greatest money but I'm happy, my wife's happy, kids are happy, and we are all fed. Stay strong you'll find your way.
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Loaded Shaman
Psychophysiologist



Registered: 03/02/15
Posts: 8,006
Loc: Now O'Clock
Last seen: 27 days, 18 hours
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Re: Does your job work for you? [Re: JonnyQuest]
#27173867 - 01/28/21 12:00 AM (3 years, 11 hours ago) |
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Precisely why I went partially self-employed in 2015, OP. I love what I do but I wanted a different permutation of it, and succeeded at that. It took 5 years to build my small business from the ground up in tandem with my full-time career.
You can do it, it's all focus and refusing to listen to people's opinions that have no skin, or experience, in what the fuck it is you're attempting.
Also be ready for weird passive aggressive congrats/jealousy from people you least expected that from, once you start achieving a modicum of success in your given direction.
Success directly reminds people they don't have it, and crabs in a bucket they shall remain.
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  "Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance." — Confucius
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ManianFH
living in perverty



Registered: 07/06/04
Posts: 14,741
Last seen: 15 hours, 14 minutes
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my job doesnt pay a whole lot, but gives me oodles of personal time. Since 2012 have pretty much felt retired. Missed out on higher wages during my earning years, but if i could go back, wouldnt change a thing. Will find out in April if I can keep the trend going - depending on our contract renewal. Fingers crossed.
So yah, my job works for me heh.
-------------------- notapillow said: "you are going about this endeavor all wrong. clear your mind of useless fear and concern. buy the ticket, take the ride, and all that.... " ChrisWho said: "It's all about the journey, not the destination."
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JonnyQuest
Goose Wrangler


Registered: 12/30/20
Posts: 31
Last seen: 21 days, 30 minutes
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Quote:
Success directly reminds people they don't have it, and crabs in a bucket they shall remain.
This is one for the books my friend. It'll probably stay with me forever. Thanks for the insight!
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  Goin' where the climate suits my clothes
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EmKay
Virgin to It All

Registered: 01/31/21
Posts: 12
Loc: Philadelphia, PA
Last seen: 2 years, 11 months
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Re: Does your job work for you? [Re: JonnyQuest] 1
#27185709 - 02/04/21 07:27 AM (2 years, 11 months ago) |
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I am 44 and feel like I finally found my "Career", not just a job when I was 42. I couldn't see myself doing a job where I wasn't helping my community and making a difference. I work as a licensed insurance agent and serve as an advocate for senior citizens in my community to help them navigate their Medicare benefits. I used to run a company that provided home care to seniors and I saw, first hand, what happened when people needed care and could no longer afford it. I wanted to help them before it became a problem. My clients become like family to me. Their kids call me to thank me for helping. It is extremely rewarding. It also doesn't hurt that I get paid pretty well for it. The best thing is that my company pays me. There is never a fee for my services to the clients I assist. The company has seven different ways of compensating me, from commissions, to bonuses, to deferred compensation where they pay into a 401K for me regardless of whether or not I contribute. I hit six figures last year, and it was only my second year here. I know a lot of people in my community who have been adversely affected by the pandemic and lost hours or their entire job because of the shut downs. I've been very lucky to have a career that allows me to work remotely and is virtually recession proof and pandemic proof. The last thing I will say about it is that I LOVE the culture of my workplace. I've had many jobs in the past where I felt out of place and often very uncomfortable with my colleagues. My teammates now are like family and I actually enjoy spending time with them outside of work. That makes a HUGE difference.
-------------------- Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone
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RenegadeMycologist
On the case



Registered: 12/05/20
Posts: 3,817
Loc: Serbia
Last seen: 8 days, 1 hour
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Re: Does your job work for you? [Re: EmKay]
#27185858 - 02/04/21 09:06 AM (2 years, 11 months ago) |
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If it doesn't work, you quit.
Don't burden yourself with wife, debts and kids and you are always free to quit anytime.
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l e a r n i n g t h i n g s
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