What do you do for a living?

[DAPUNISHER]

As long as you both got where you wanted, it was worth it, I guess.

My goal is being somewhere, not going somewhere. I want to be happy, not become happy. Generally speaking, focusing on the future makes one lose grip of the present, which to me, is infinitely more valuable.

That's a good perspective. We were too busy to consider any of that. I think that's what I have done a poor job of conveying. There were no philosophical choices or decisions involved. We got on the rat race treadmill and ran because we had to. We were happy then. We are even happier now. I loved cooking and running my biz. She loves her profession. Our kid is in his early 20s and working as a software engineer with zero debt either from education or personal. His net worth is already higher than majority of Americans going by the stats they publish. Of course he still lives with us because we have a wonderful relationship and it allows him to save and invest like a madman.

 

[FoulOnWhite]

My kid says his friends are all either rise and grind or wake and bake.

My work is my partner as i am her full time carer, which means i get to stay home. wake and bake, i don't smoke

 

[AusWolf]

That's a good perspective. We were too busy to consider any of that. I think that's what I have done a poor job of conveying. There were no philosophical choices or decisions involved. We got on the rat race treadmill and ran because we had to. We were happy then. We are even happier now. I loved cooking and running my biz. She loves her profession. Our kid is in his early 20s and working as a software engineer with zero debt either from education or personal. His net worth is already higher than majority of Americans going by the stats they publish. Of course he still lives with us because we have a wonderful relationship and it allows him to save and invest like a madman.

To be honest, I could have easily gone down the rat race myself. There were times when I applied for better (or rather, better-paid) jobs. I could have gotten them, ending up being way more stressful than I am, but I didn't. Then I saw some far less competent people getting those jobs for various reasons - politics? Manager friends? Who knows. And I saw some really good people getting those jobs, then quitting after a couple of months when they couldn't handle the stress. All this made me ask myself: why do I actually want these jobs? And I realized that I actually don't. It was a moment of enlightenment to say the least.

"You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes, well, you might find
You get what you need" (The Rolling Stones)

 

[silentbogo]

Oh, man... work identity crisis at 37 is not just normal, but more common than you think. Heck, just lemme throw some examples at you.
Back when I was young and green I had an older friend (used to go to gym together). Nice smart dude, got masters in robotics, but the work opportunities at that time in that place were scarce to non-existent. He started working as electrician and quickly grew up to work on big projects (corporate, govt. etc) and started making enough money to forget and abandon his main specialization.
And after I came back to Ukraine, I've seen many examples of people finding their niche after job loss or "existential crisis". One of my buddies worked for nearly 20 years in automotive repairs. Now he's making 3D printer filament. My good friend and previous dude's former business partner was a web designer (and before that he did the same thing as you). Now he has his little rapid prototyping business(3D printing, CNC, etc.).
One of my regular customers used to run a construction company, but after the building boom in his area finally collapsed - he became an ISP. At the start he didn't even know how it all works(or how anything works ), but now he's doing good.
Recently met an interesting dude who used to work as an economist(which is definitely an underpaid profession in Ukraine, probably one of the lowest behind teachers, medics and janitors), but now he makes big-ass plastic barrels.
Heck, I myself quit college after 1.5 years(CS, or as it was formally called there - applied math, since we had no CS dept in that college), then spent wa-a-ay too many years doing random entry-level "monkey-jobs" and side-hustles until I finally got into electronics and chip-level repairs. Now I have a little workshop, nice regular customers, and some resemblance of stability(even with war in the picture). Money isn't great, but enough to cover my bills, needs and at least some "wants". If I'd decide to go work for someone - I'd be thrown out of the door as soon as they saw my education and qualifications

All examples except one have a single common thing - if nobody wants your skills, start working for yourself. Even if it doesn't get you financial stability - it'll definitely teach you new skills. Also trying something different isn't a bad thing. I'm about the same age as you, but had at least 10 totally different jobs before settling on electronics repair. Anything you could think of, from flipping burgers to sysadmining an ISP, from re-stocking supermarket shelves to creating electronic gismos for quest rooms.

 

[Nhonho]

I'm a surfer, but I'm on vacation right now.

 

[Icon Charlie]

Oh, man... work identity crisis at 37 is not just normal, but more common than you think. Heck, just lemme throw some examples at you.
Back when I was young and green I had an older friend (used to go to gym together). Nice smart dude, got masters in robotics, but the work opportunities at that time in that place were scarce to non-existent. He started working as electrician and quickly grew up to work on big projects (corporate, govt. etc) and started making enough money to forget and abandon his main specialization.
And after I came back to Ukraine, I've seen many examples of people finding their niche after job loss or "existential crisis". One of my buddies worked for nearly 20 years in automotive repairs. Now he's making 3D printer filament. My good friend and previous dude's former business partner was a web designer (and before that he did the same thing as you). Now he has his little rapid prototyping business(3D printing, CNC, etc.).
One of my regular customers used to run a construction company, but after the building boom in his area finally collapsed - he became an ISP. At the start he didn't even know how it all works(or how anything works ), but now he's doing good.
Recently met an interesting dude who used to work as an economist(which is definitely an underpaid profession in Ukraine, probably one of the lowest behind teachers, medics and janitors), but now he makes big-ass plastic barrels.
Heck, I myself quit college after 1.5 years(CS, or as it was formally called there - applied math, since we had no CS dept in that college), then spent wa-a-ay too many years doing random entry-level "monkey-jobs" and side-hustles until I finally got into electronics and chip-level repairs. Now I have a little workshop, nice regular customers, and some resemblance of stability(even with war in the picture). Money isn't great, but enough to cover my bills, needs and at least some "wants". If I'd decide to go work for someone - I'd be thrown out of the door as soon as they saw my education and qualifications

All examples except one have a single common thing - if nobody wants your skills, start working for yourself. Even if it doesn't get you financial stability - it'll definitely teach you new skills. Also trying something different isn't a bad thing. I'm about the same age as you, but had at least 10 totally different jobs before settling on electronics repair. Anything you could think of, from flipping burgers to sysadmining an ISP, from re-stocking supermarket shelves to creating electronic gismos for quest rooms.

It's called "Shifting Gears" and it looks like you did a lot of that. Good for you on that.

As stated before IIMHO, you have to collect as many skill sets in life in order to be successful. I have both worked in Blue and White collar work related environments. The 10's of thousands of dollars that saved became hundreds of thousands of dollars later down the road. In successful investments, I studied myself into investing into the financial market as well putting sweat equality in income investment property.

As I love to tell many of the "uppity people here in Silicon Valley" that I made my fortune by
pushing a broom, slinging a mop, and by cleaning porta potties.

And to put it bluntly. The only thing that the financial institutions care about is the amount of the color of green that you have in an account and REAL NET tangible assets in your portfolio. And in my case, I know this to be a hardcore fact.

So IMHO it does not matter in what kind of job you are in, what matters is how you are going to live the rest of your life comfortability,
not listen to the current echo chamber of nonsense that is being spouted about "what is it to be successful", and believe in yourself when you go along the path of life.

 

[A&P211]

As long as you both got where you wanted, it was worth it, I guess.

My goal is being somewhere, not going somewhere. I want to be happy, not become happy. Generally speaking, focusing on the future makes one lose grip of the present, which to me, is infinitely more valuable.

Come and join me in building an airplane in the garage. I'll take you out for flight lessons after.

 

[AusWolf]

Come and join me in building an airplane in the garage. I'll take you out for flight lessons after.

I'm on my way. Where do you live?

 

[Space Lynx]

I'm on my way. Where do you live?

well i need a place to stay in the UK, so you go flying with him, and I will stay in your apartment while you gone, win win for us all.

 

[kapone32]

When I was in High School my Economics teacher spoke about the Govt, GM and the largest Telecom in my Country as employers that you could get a pension. I was not into work as a young man so I only worked in the Winter. When I was not yet married I got a job working for the Telecom mentioned above and it has been 23 years later. I did go to Maple Leaf Foods as a Supervisor but went back to my Telco after 5 years. Got my service bridged too. I really want to open a Sim Racing school though.

 

[AusWolf]

I really want to open a Sim Racing school though.

Let us know when you do (especially if it's in the UK).

 

[kapone32]

Let us know when you do (especially if it's in the UK).

Actually I want to do it in Barbados. So fun in the sun and a round of Spa while you are at it.

 

[mechtech]

When I was in High School my Economics teacher spoke about the Govt, GM and the largest Telecom in my Country as employers that you could get a pension. I was not into work as a young man so I only worked in the Winter. When I was not yet married I got a job working for the Telecom mentioned above and it has been 23 years later. I did go to Maple Leaf Foods as a Supervisor but went back to my Telco after 5 years. Got my service bridged too. I really want to open a Sim Racing school though.

*cough bell? cough* I think at one point in time, the teachers pension owned them? But ya, in most if not all commonwealth countries, the allure of a government/big corp pension can be a big thing.

 

[ratirt]

Actually I want to do it in Barbados. So fun in the sun and a round of Spa while you are at it.

Then even more reason to let us know when it is operational. I'd come dip my butt in the sun a bit.

 

[Cvrk]

I handle logistics at the place I currently work, I have to talk to customers very little and I have very little interactions with people outside of the business. I like being busy, which isn't always the case at my current job, but I'd rather be bored at times over having to deal with stupid people. I'm pretty content with my current job.

What does logistics mean? You are in a warehouse and get boxes that yo have to open? Can you explain, so I would know what to search for ?

my dream job is probably some stress free admin job in academia, turns out those jobs are harder to get than you would think, probably for that reason... humans have gone insane since the advent of the internet. I can't imagine working retail. Every time I have to go to Walmart I pray for strength in my arms and speed in my legs so I can be done and out of there as fast as I can, for the sights can leave scars on my cosmological understanding of evolution.

I think you need to know somebody, political... there's bribes to be paid in order to get that job. Maybe the USA is different.

Oh, yeah the stuff that I see on the net. People in Walmart parking lots are....well, not people.
And yes. 100% remote job. Able to move to any place of the world and work from a laptop...travel all time. Maybe start a YB channel as a travel vlog on the side: AMAZING! Dream come true....who knows #crickets

Nothing. I feel myself stupid as fuck and I feel that I'm good for nothing, not begging for any pity here but that's just I've felt since I was about 20. I'm 33 now.

In 1 hour I am leaving for another job interview. I also feel useless and stupid. By now I should have been married with children and already should have paid 40% of my house mortgage.
I am single. I feel the reason why I never did anything important with my life is because I don't have a woman. Many guys, get motivated and step out of their comfort zone and sacrifice because they have to feed the family.

My viewpoint is that you should try to work with something that you are relatively good. I think that if you turn your hobby into your daily work, it will become less fun.

My dream is to turn my hobby into daily work. it would be the best thing that can happen to me.
The way I see it. We hate our jobs, right? But you take the hobby and now you get paid instead, also because you work that hobby every day.... basically you get good at your hobby. Years pas by, and all of a sudden you are an expert in that field. Experts get paid more etc... It's amazing.

Normal humans do this: go to work. Hate. Get paid. Put that money into life + hobbies. I love photography. So wi ill invest in software, cameras, lenses etc. never make a single $ from hat, put I keep putting money into it. Imagine the hobby you already invest time + money to ear a living. Now that is SUCCESS.

at the end of the day, 90% of my work history was me being unhappy.

I am int he same boat. And i feel like it's my fault for it. I Lost my hair, now I am getting bold. My healthy has decreased, cuz I hated what I did every day for 8-10 hours. Thats so much pressure on the mind& body.

I get your point. It's gonna suck when you turn your hobby to your job and you start to hate it.

I am at page 4, not have enough time to read everything(I will come back). I never thought people would reply. You are amazing. This is therapy for me. It really is.

 

[Vayra86]

Kind of in the same boat as OP. I'm 35, Dont really know what I want but would like it to be IT related. I'm working as a factory worker for 9+ years I wont lie kind of sick of doing the same thing day in day out.

Been there for a long time too... I started off studying for English teacher, ended up quitting that and ended up in callcenter work, which is really similar to an assembly line/repetitive shit. One thing led to another and now I do IT stuff and have a very wide perspective on potential jobs within and around that space... The funny thing is, every time I still nudge myself back into a coaching/teacher/information transaction kind of role, and it works every time. I think it doesn't even matter what the subject matter is. That's the thing though, you have to find what makes you tick.

You could go about it this way; think about these things for a few days:
1. what motivates you in your current job and in life, what makes you go faster/do things better?
2. what doesn't / has the opposite effect?

Write that down, as precisely as possible. Sometimes it takes a bit of research to really find what the essence is of what motivates you - its often not 'I repair things' for example, you need to look for the urge that's behind the repairing of a thing. What makes you complete that project every time? Where does the intrinsic drive come from? It often comes down to elements that make you, you.

After that, start searching: how do I get more of what motivates me, and less of what doesn't motivate me in my work? Consider that almost every line of work has a small element in it that doesn't motivate at all, but that's fine, as long as it is outweighed by good stuff.
The answer is often your most optimal direction. Every step in a new direction though is refreshing. Might not get it right the first time, but you'll have a new experience to refine your direction further.

With regards to IT, there are SO MANY fields around and within IT that have nothing to do with coding, so this also means there are numerous ways to 'get started', and then one thing leads to another.

And yes. 100% remote job. Able to move to any place of the world and work from a laptop...travel all time. Maybe start a YB channel as a travel vlog on the side: AMAZING! Dream come true....who knows #crickets

This is the wrong approach, sorry to say

Don't think of the conditions under which you want to work before finding what you really want to do, because then you really aren't looking for better work, you're looking for a comfort zone and working within your comfort zone leads nowhere (just stagnation which eventually means boredom and not liking what you do). The best work to do though forces you out of that comfort zone from time to time, so you can learn to be more comfortable in more zones - that comfort is also experience and that experience is real value, for you and for whatever you do.

Also... 100% remote means you build very little in terms of a network. You're on a network, but meeting people face to face is where real ties are made and real connections happen to scratch each other's backs. Face to face is where doors get opened. Online you just don't know, its the curse of anonimity and distance.

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

My dream is to turn my hobby into daily work. it would be the best thing that can happen to me.
The way I see it. We hate our jobs, right? But you take the hobby and now you get paid instead, also because you work that hobby every day.... basically you get good at your hobby. Years pas by, and all of a sudden you are an expert in that field. Experts get paid more etc... It's amazing.

Normal humans do this: go to work. Hate. Get paid. Put that money into life + hobbies. I love photography. So wi ill invest in software, cameras, lenses etc. never make a single $ from hat, put I keep putting money into it. Imagine the hobby you already invest time + money to ear a living. Now that is SUCCESS.

Be careful with that. Almost everyone I know that did that found a different hobby - when they no longer enjoyed the hobby they made into a career.

 

[neatfeatguy]

What does logistics mean? You are in a warehouse and get boxes that yo have to open? Can you explain, so I would know what to search for ?

It can vary a bit from place to place, but generally handling logistics means working on shipping/receiving and dealing with trucking related things that may or may not involve the following, based on my experience:

• forklift work (I do very little of this at my current job, only if no one else is around)
• routing trucks for shipments outside of our delivery area
• deciding delivery routes for our trucks in our delivery area
• handling any issues that arise with shipping/deliveries; such as mis-shipped merchandise, billing issues, damaged shipments and so on
• working with 3rd party logistic companies that you may use (or may not use, but you have to talk to them if they cold call)
• general shipping/receiving work: unpacking/packing boxes, putting stock away, inventory management
• handling DOT (Department of Transportation) stuff for your company

These are just things I've done a couple of different places and the current place I work, it all depends on the company and their needs.

 

[Kyan]

Wow, there's a lot of interesting life story here.

I'm 25 and I've study in system and network administration. My first real job was where I've done my last professionnal intership for my study. They did not keep me after the trial period at the company (in france you have 2 month to "test" a job and you or your employer can say "I/you go away"). The problem was that I was bored of being almost alone is this small company, someday the only word that I would say was "hello" and "goodbye". We were like 6 in total and for like 2 weeks, I was alone with the 2 boss, days was long and so I was not working properly at all. It was hard since I've lost my first job in speedrun mode but I've quickly understand it was a really useful experience.

Then I've done job related to computer but almost nothing about system and network administration. I've actually given up on working in this domain, I've understand that I need a work with at least weekly physical or manual work. I'm not good at working non stop behind a screen, but doing something else is not a problem.

On this thread I realise that even when I was a kid, I've always made the minimum in school, and I do the same at work. Always enjoying the present and don't care too much about the future. I will add that about the best work, I think it's one that is kinda related to your hobby/what you love. This way, you always have a job that satisfy your curiosity and which you can be good at, but you're not doing an overdose of your beloved hobby.

Actually, I work in the centralized workshop that repairs train station screens. I keep touching pcb and hardware stuff that I can't touch at my home but it's not that far from repairing/building computer. The fact that I'm repairing thing have a value to my eyes, and I believe it's skill that will be needed seeing where the world is heading. I see the result of my work almost instantly and that's what I want, I can't work something for weeks/month and see almost not result, I generally just lose motivation.

 

[BoboOOZ]

My dream is to turn my hobby into daily work. it would be the best thing that can happen to me.
The way I see it. We hate our jobs, right? But you take the hobby and now you get paid instead, also because you work that hobby every day.... basically you get good at your hobby. Years pas by, and all of a sudden you are an expert in that field. Experts get paid more etc... It's amazing.

Normal humans do this: go to work. Hate. Get paid. Put that money into life + hobbies. I love photography. So wi ill invest in software, cameras, lenses etc. never make a single $ from hat, put I keep putting money into it. Imagine the hobby you already invest time + money to ear a living. Now that is SUCCESS.

First off, I don't think it's normal to hate your job. If you do, either your job is horrible, and you should change it, or you need to broaden your perspective a little. I believe trying to be the best of whatever you do as a job makes it far more enjoyable.

Second, business means making a profit. If you love digital photography, unless you are one of a few select star photographers who have very high revenues, you will have to cut a lot of corners in order to make a profit. And how does cutting corners make you feel about the hobby that you love? Bad. I've known many photographers who used to love photography before making it a business, and not so much after.

A job should mostly give you revenue and security. It is up to you to find the enjoyment in it, and it is part of growing up. A hobby is there for pure fun, it's you playing as a child. Are there people who get paid to play? Yes, but they're an absolute minority.

 

[kapone32]

It can vary a bit from place to place, but generally handling logistics means working on shipping/receiving and dealing with trucking related things that may or may not involve the following, based on my experience:

• forklift work (I do very little of this at my current job, only if no one else is around)
• routing trucks for shipments outside of our delivery area
• deciding delivery routes for our trucks in our delivery area
• handling any issues that arise with shipping/deliveries; such as mis-shipped merchandise, billing issues, damaged shipments and so on
• working with 3rd party logistic companies that you may use (or may not use, but you have to talk to them if they cold call)
• general shipping/receiving work: unpacking/packing boxes, putting stock away, inventory management
• handling DOT (Department of Transportation) stuff for your company

These are just things I've done a couple of different places and the current place I work, it all depends on the company and their needs.

I actually did everything you listed working for Maple Leaf as a Dispatch (Logistics) Supervisor.

 

[TIGR]

I'm 37 too. As a wedding photographer and videographer, I shoot weddings on the weekends and during the week I edit while being a stay-at-home dad. I sometimes feel inadequate, but it's all-around a great arrangement for my family.

There's great value in picking up a variety of skills and knowledge. When I started posting on TPU, I was building and repairing PCs for a living. That led to peripheral IT work that helps me to this day. I'm actually posting here for the first time in three years because I just got a new video card for my video editing workstation — a purchase informed by this old hobby/work.

It's also good to have big dreams, and devote some spare time toward achieving them. For me it's writing. I'll probably never be a successful author, but I've been developing a series of novels and that "work" has been its own reward while enriching my life. And hey, just loving your pursuits better positions you to succeed in them, so who knows?

Work hard, be bold in accepting opportunities, and remember to have fun along the way!

 

[Cvrk]

@Kissamies

I am a CNC Operator too, cant sit still lol you picked the perfect job

What is this CNC? Can you elaborate, on what do you do in those 8 hours? Do you need a degree for this?


@Kissamies but you live in Finland. That's like one of the best countries on the planet. You step out of your house or office and walk directly into the most amazing nature. The low crime rate, high income. You guys are the best. + Sana Marin

@TIGR oh yeah. I am in love with filmmaking. Photographer....sure, but anything with a lens I'm in. I love to shoot portraits. I think I am a bit gifted, I can "see" the person. Don't know if that makes sense. People are cringed in front of the camera. Give me 3,5 minutes, if I am lucky i will do it in 2 ...ill just make them feel relaxed. Maybe it's because I am one of the least intimidating people on the planet.

Where I am ....making an actual living out of photography, not happening. Btw Whats your main camera and lens?
I write to. I have a mini novel in separate parts. I sell it on Amazon as a coloring book. They are like 1 page with text, the other you can color, cuz nobody buys just for the text. I am still working on my main novel, "the big one" a few hundred pages. I never have time to work on just my novel. I need to have money, to return into a small cabin in the forest and just be by myself....in my mind. Since I am broke, that will never happen.
Now I am about to publish my 3rd mini novel, about a woman on a plane that was sitting next to a guy, she gets up and starts panicking. Saying that there is something wrong.... plot twist, something did actually happen.

 

[freeagent]

What is this CNC? Can you elaborate, on what do you do in those 8 hours? Do you need a degree for this?

Computer Numerical Control. I have 8 years on a Lathe, but maybe only 2 years on a Mill. I am just an operator, and I can do simple setups. I didn’t go to school for it but learned on the job. It is highly technical, and I love it. I just hate the stress that can go with it.

 

[Cvrk]

Computer Numerical Control. I have 8 years on a Lathe, but maybe only 2 years on a Mill. I am just an operator, and I can do simple setups. I didn’t go to school for it but learned on the job. It is highly technical, and I love it. I just hate the stress that can go with it.

So you use Autodesk? That's where you make the design and then the machine will cut whatever you tell it to? Like a printer where you make parts, for carts etc?