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*Touring Ted* 14 Sep 2012 17:13

Do you like your job/career ?
 
This interests me.....

I always assumed most people hated their jobs. I've never found a job I liked.

Some have been better than others and some are fine for a while.

BUT !!! As the majority of people actually spend most of their waking lives at work, isn't it more important that you actually spend that time not wanting to jump out of the top window ?

Is this why more and more people are throwing it all in, jumping on the bike and heading around the world ?

Discuss ! :smartass:

docsherlock 14 Sep 2012 17:36

OK, Ted, I'll chime in here.

The answer is a qualified 'yes'. I say qualified because I work part time for about 8 months a year, four days per week when I do work. In addition, I had to travel far away from the UK to enjoy the same job - I now work mostly in Canada and occasionally elsewhere like the Far East.

The extra time off is for travel; the job pays the bills, but I still enjoy it, largely 'cos I have time off to recuperate between intensive spells of work - the median time to burn out in my line of work is 9 years if one does it full time. Fcuk that.

I worked extremely hard for 24 years to get to this point, but it was worth it because I am happy with the work I do and the time off I have. In addition, en route, I saw pretty much the whole world, worked on most continents and did and saw things that most people only read books about or see on TV.

That's why I advised a chap with your abilities to go for a high end job/profession while you still have the chance.

But at the end of the day, it's all only a job. You gotta be happy with your life, whatever you choose to do.

markharf 14 Sep 2012 19:26

I've always insisted on finding work I enjoy greatly. When I've found myself complaining endlessly about it, I've figured it's up to me to make whatever changes I need until I stop complaining and start enjoying again.

Sometimes the joy doesn't happen right away, and it's necessary to work for a while accumulating the skills or documentation that will qualify you for the fun stuff. Mostly it's possible to make even the early stages themselves interesting or enjoyable, but that's an internal process--it's done by changing your attitude. That's a key point: it's not usually the work itself, but the attitude you bring.

In my earlier career in the construction trades, the learning curve involved lots of backbreaking labor. In middle age I switched to a professional career which required 5 years of sitting in classrooms and taking frequent exams. In neither case was the preparation/learning phase exactly a barrel of laughs, but both were endlessly fascinating and "fun" in their own ways.

I'll acknowledge that the world economic crunch has made a lot of this more difficult. Most of us came of age during remarkably slack, easy times (although we may not have recognized this until it was over). Those days are largely gone now. I'll also acknowledge that the kind of mobility across different vocations I'm describing is more common in the USA than in Europe or the UK. But still....

Executive summary: I believe you're supposed to be reasonably happy, doing something you love doing. I believe it's up to you to find or create the job, lifestyle, and inner strength which allows that to happen. I'll add that it's a rare individual who'll accomplish this while living rootlessly on the road for long stretches. You might need to discover this last bit on your own.

Mark

Austin 14 Sep 2012 21:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* (Post 392591)
This interests me.....

I always assumed most people hated their jobs. I've never found a job I liked.

Some have been better than others and some are fine for a while.

BUT !!! As the majority of people actually spend most of their waking lives at work, isn't it more important that you actually spend that time not wanting to jump out of the top window ?

Is this why more and more people are throwing it all in, jumping on the bike and heading around the world ?

Discuss ! :smartass:

Do I like my job? On the whole yes, but I dont get out of bed going woohoo its work again. There's moments when I despair of the bureaucracy, indecision and Politics, and others when I feel completely deflated and fed up with it all. But most of the time the challenges of the job, intellectual stimulation, working with others, achieving results against all the odds and so on make it very satisfying. I am a civil servant doing a job I couldn't explain to you (not secret, just hard to convey the complexities of IT commercial strategies in government to an outsider). My work is very flexible, I dont have set hours and am mostly left to my own devices. I am measured by results, not time spent at the desk, although I do far more than the set hours - because I want to, not because I have to. I have been a civil servant 30 years and had many roles but most of that time has been like this.

Austin 14 Sep 2012 21:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* (Post 392591)
This interests me.....

I always assumed most people hated their jobs. I've never found a job I liked.

Some have been better than others and some are fine for a while.

BUT !!! As the majority of people actually spend most of their waking lives at work, isn't it more important that you actually spend that time not wanting to jump out of the top window ?

Is this why more and more people are throwing it all in, jumping on the bike and heading around the world ?

Discuss ! :smartass:

Do I like my job? On the whole yes, but I dont get out of bed going woohoo its work again. It gives me a comfortable lifestyle, my kids have grown up in a safe secure place funded by my work. Mortgage paid, and now my children are nearly off my hands I am doing part year work (6weeks unpaid leave in a single block) to do a bit of travelling. I intend to increase the unpaid absence each year to fit in either longer trips or two or more trips per year. Work pays for this and means we dont need live hobo style on the road.

I am early 50s and can draw a pension from 60, but I will probably leave before then and set off on a indefinite trip while I can.

Good luck with your search for something that gives you what you want from life. It was children for me - the best thing that ever happened to me, they are wonderful in so many ways.

Road2Manchester 14 Sep 2012 21:51

what job
 
Face it no one wants to work. If I had a job I would work my boules orf, to get rid of my debts and mortgage, then I would sell this damn house which I have never liked, and all the crap I never really needed, THEN I would take my chances and hit the road. What could be worse than the life here in brokenland. I am suffering from depression , got type 2 diabetes, over weight, suicidal and pretty much unemployable, so if you like your job, then great, they won and you have convinced yourself that that is the right thing to do.


PS ignore me I am bitter, and the wrong side of a few whiskeys :nono:

brclarke 14 Sep 2012 22:24

I taught English at a university on the Pacific coast of Mexico. It was truly a dream job: I loved working with the students, I enjoyed the lifestyle of a small, sleepy beach resort town, everything was great.... except the money. I took home about $1000/month. By local standards that was a very high salary - I spent maybe about $650/month and was able to put away a third of salary.

The trouble is that every time I got on a plane to fly back to Canada to visit family and friends, I'd wipe out the last 6 months of savings. After about three years of this, I realized that if I didn't want to keep working until I drop dead, I needed to return to a higher paying job in Canada and start saving for retirement.

That was five years ago. I have been working in IT since and have actually done a decent job of saving. I am on-schedule to take an early retirement in about 9-10 more years, and I will probably move back to Mexico and teach part-time.

The job I have now in IT? Meh. It's okay, nothing special, and pays the bills - but it will allow me to retire while relatively young and able-bodied.

Quandary 14 Sep 2012 23:31

Yep! I'm pretty much in my dream job. As Austin said, I dont get up saying woohoo! but I have no objections in going to work.

I work in the mining industry. Lets face it, none of us could be doing any of this travelling without the mining industry (steel, copper, aluminium, molybdenum etc) as it would be hard to get places on a bike whittled out of wood. I work 7 days on, 7 days off so effectively I only work for half a year. I class myself as being "semi retired"

I have run my own business for the last 16 years and in the begining I worked 7 days a week, up to 16 hours a day but I got ahead, payed off the mortgage and put some away so that I can now enjoy my time off even more.

My job keeps me active and fit (both body and mind) and I enjoy (yes, enjoy)the stress/pressure associated with meeting deadlines etc.

It would be great if we could all find that one enjoyable, meaningfull task that we call a job but unfortuneately not all of us can.

I'm a lucky one! I'm happy!!

Marty

McCrankpin 15 Sep 2012 00:32

Oh Dear. I'm drawn to this thread.
My answer above is <I don't work at all. For whatever reason>
I'm retired.
But when I worked I would have ticked <Yes. I'm doing my dream job and I'm very happy>

And it all just 'fell in my lap'.

I only ever worked for one employer, and was introduced to that through a visit to my school from a 'Careers Officer'. Without him I would never have thought of this particular company.

Thereafter I took every opportunity that came my way. Whether it was for change of job, promotion, or training.
I only once looked for a change of job on my own initiative. My job at that time had become 'routine' so I found another, including promotion.

All my other job changes/promotions came about through introductions by work colleagues, or through internal 'head-hunting'. On each occasion I still enjoyed the job I was in, but always took the new opportunity.

There were only two opportunities that I ever turned down.
My boss at the time thought I should try for a company scholarship for an engineering degree (my qualifications at the time were just short of degree level). So he put me forward and I gained a scholarship, but not the top one. It covered all the time off, exam costs, NI contributions during time at university, and employment at the same level between terms and at the end. But no salary while away. I think there was a small bursary.
I applied to universities and received 2 offers.
But, I decided my career had advanced rapidly enough that a degree wouldn't be beneficial for the future, particularly with the loss of wages, so I declined.

A few years and a couple of jobs later, I again had a boss who thought I should try again for a better scholarship. He said he'd give me a huge recommendation. That worked. I won one, as before, and would be kept on half pay during the term time. That's about as good an offer as is possible. And I got offers of university places as well.
But, again, with my career having progressed quite nicely since the last time, I decided I liked the work too much to have all that time on half pay, so turned it down.

And however I look at it, with all the hindsight I have, those two decisions were exactly right.

I continued to get fantastic jobs in areas I never ever imagined I'd find myself. And what a brilliant employer - right up to the time of retirement!
When all my retirement papers were on their way to the 'personnel dept' they crossed paths with papers they had sent to me.
Those papers told me I had reached levels of responsibility in areas of sufficiently advanced technology that I had been put forward to join a 'senior programme' that would lead to an MA! On full pay!
Well, when the 'crossed paths' had been sorted out, I had agreement to start the MA even though I was sticking with my retirement. I completed a third of it before my last month at work.

So why did I retire and not continue in this helluva job?
Many years previously it had started to take me abroad. To many European countries and about nine states of the US. I ran projects in Australia and Hong Kong, but never got to those places. Engineers working for me went instead as they had done all the manufacturer's training courses.
So travel had got in my blood, and the retirement package was very nice, thankyou. I could have continued the MA at Nottingham University but would have had to pay for it. So no decision really.....

This leads me to firmly conclude, in my case at least, and as I said in Ted's other thread, it's who you know not what you know. Making lots of contacts (which just 'came with the job' in the areas I was working in), who then steered me further on my career (and in turn I steered others) was far more useful than the offers of university degrees.

And I wasn't alone. The company employed 250,000 people at the peak. And all us retired types now gather together for big reunions more often than is good for us. The main topic of conversation and reminiscing is always the same, how absolutely and fundamentally lucky we've all been to have worked together it what must have been the best collection of jobs in the world! We acknowledge that absolutely!
And also, we all have absolutely no qualifications whatsoever for giving our children or grandchildren any advice at all when it comes to jobs and careers and universities in today's situation. (And that includes T. Ted!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by markharf (Post 392597)
Mostly it's possible to make even the early stages themselves interesting or enjoyable, but that's an internal process--it's done by changing your attitude. That's a key point: it's not usually the work itself, but the attitude you bring.

Yep, dead right. I think that was the 'lubricant' by which I made progress in my career.


Quote:

Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* (Post 392591)
Is this why more and more people are throwing it all in, jumping on the bike and heading around the world ?


In my case, I threw it in at a time when I could stop work and have sufficient pension to live comfortably. If I hadn't got some 'bug' whether it be travel or something else, maybe I'd still be working. There are people who look towards retirement with shear abject horror, even though they have a big fat pension, usually because they have little or no interests or social life outside of work. And there seems to be quite a few of them in my experience.
The company I worked for all that time ran comprehensive 'Retirement Counselling' programmes. Not something I ever needed, thank you very much.

Last word (I hope).
To anyone reading this who's looking forward to retirement to have a quiet life, travelling or not:
During my career, every single retired colleague always said, "Be warned! After you've been retired for a day/week/month, you'll be so busy you'll never ever know how on earth you ever had the time to go to work!"
Absolutely 100% true......

Nigel Marx 15 Sep 2012 03:15

How good does it get?
 
I'm very happy. I started out working 5am-6.30pm seven days a week (had 7 days off in 5 years at one stage) for nine years in my own business. Various economic ups and downs and then a major accident meant at the end of nine years I had enough for a 30% deposit on a very modest house after selling the business. Not really as planned. That was 20 years ago. Now, at 52 years old, I'm still living in a another very modest house, in another business of my own, I now work an average of 2 1/2 days a week as a specialist photographer which takes me over much of New Zealand. It is enough to keep both me and my wife in food, clothes, good beer and a great life. I have about 15 bikes in the shed, a 4WD, caravan and a small boat, a very small holiday place (one room cabin in the mountains) and a bike trip overseas every year or two. I think I am VERY lucky.

YMMV.... but that's life.

Cheers

Nigel in NZ

Threewheelbonnie 15 Sep 2012 06:50

If it was fun they'd make you pay to do it, not the other way round!

Andy

Keith1954 15 Sep 2012 07:36

What a great thread! .. :yes:

For what it’s worth, I like my job and love the people I work with. I have the choice of employed or self-employed status. I insist on self-employment, as this way I can call the shots. I get away for 2-3 month travel sessions twice a year, with usually a 10-14 day foreign ‘getaway’ break in between.

Six years ago I retired early (age 52), with all debts paid off and a few quid in the bank .. then spent 4½ years doing very little - apart from travelling here and there. The travel sessions aside, I didn’t really like my lifestyle during that period. It’s too easy to grow lazy when there’s not much to get up for in the morning. I even feared premature dementia might set in because I wasn’t using my brains enough (what little I have!)

Look, work is good in my opinion, even a privilege when you’re in your late 50s and get the chance of a second crack at it .. especially if you like the work you do; and even better when it fits-in and around your travel plans.

In summary, I’ll happily carry-on working until I’m 80 .. if I can get away with it.
.

BruceP 15 Sep 2012 08:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Docsherlock (Post 392593)
OK, Ted, I'll chime in here.

The answer is a qualified 'yes'. I say qualified because I work part time for about 8 months a year, four days per week when I do work. In addition, I had to travel far away from the UK to enjoy the same job - I now work mostly in Canada and occasionally elsewhere like the Far East.

The extra time off is for travel; the job pays the bills, but I still enjoy it, largely 'cos I have time off to recuperate between intensive spells of work - the median time to burn out in my line of work is 9 years if one does it full time. Fcuk that.

I worked extremely hard for 24 years to get to this point, but it was worth it because I am happy with the work I do and the time off I have. In addition, en route, I saw pretty much the whole world, worked on most continents and did and saw things that most people only read books about or see on TV.

That's why I advised a chap with your abilities to go for a high end job/profession while you still have the chance.

But at the end of the day, it's all only a job. You gotta be happy with your life, whatever you choose to do.

+1 ... except for the going for a high end job. That way leads to many years of tedious misery :-)

*Touring Ted* 15 Sep 2012 13:51

Fantastic replies......

I've read every word !! I sometimes forget what interesting and experienced people the hubb is populated by.

bier

JetJackson 15 Sep 2012 16:27

Some cool insights to career approaches...

I did Economics at uni but all I ever wanted to do was be an 'entrepreneur', run my own business etc. I think it is that whole being more in control of your own destiny thing. So I did work experience with start-up tech companies and so forth at uni. I learnt a lot about what makes a start-up succeed/fail. I started a music festival and went 15k in the hole after the local council pulled my permit at the last minute (that is a very long story). Learnt a lot about life/business through that. In retrospect I was lucky that I got burnt young when I didn't have as much money to throw at a business.

At the time we had no money to spend on promotion for our music festivals, so we used Facebook and Myspace to really reach out, it was super effective. The older generation of music promoters had no idea how to use Facebook/Myspace. So I went to them and sold my skills at a serious profit. Managed to make about half the money back doing this.

Should have stuck with it, a young guy who did a similar thing is now making millions through this. But I felt the need to move overseas to get away from a bad break up. So I worked in sales, sharpened my teeth in Advertising sales and Recruitment working in the boiler rooms of Dublin. Not my cup of tea though. Burn and churn sales is not for me.

Moved back to Australia when the GFC hit and Irish unemployment went to 15%. I knew then that I had to get into whatever Industry was booming. Took a pay cut to get into a sales job trading chemicals into the Mining Industry. Worked hard and got promoted very quickly and was well ahead of where I was in Ireland after only a year. Most importantly though I was networking like a madman and making as many contacts as I could in the mining and chemical industries. Also saved like crazy and finally quit my job after 3 years to do the trip I am on now.

However the whole year before I left I was setting up opportunities (the numbers game) for when I get back from my trip. I visited all my key customers before I left and explained to them what I was doing, half a dozen gave me their card and told me to call them when I get back.

Almost a year on the road now but the whole time I have been remaining in contact with my old customers, sending them emails every now and again to say hi, a few of them follow my blog.

I now have an offer in hand to join an old contact from an old customer who is starting up a company selling chemical products into the mining industry. I have the overseas contacts that he needs to source the ingredients. He knows how to make the products. He already has an investor who has fronted the cash and I will get a small share in the company which has so much more potential than anything I could have dreamt of starting on my own.

So that's my short career so far. I love what I do... seeking out deals and opportunities and I get a real sense of satisfaction when a deal comes together.

What have I learnt -

It's more important that you make smart career decisions, then it is important that you value and work on every business relationship you have, as said, its who you know, not what you know. Third comes hard work, which will bolster the first two IMO.

Attitude is key, if you don't like doing something I don't think you will ever be great at it.

That nobody 'is their own boss', because you either answer to your boss, your customers, regulators, or your investors... or your spouse. Everybody is accountable to somebody. Having said that, anybody can take control of their own destiny, whether they work for themselves or somebody else.

As someone said in another thread, seeking out opportunities is a numbers game.

That because of my skill set, I am not ever going to be able to make money on the road. My ability is to build business relationships and that is by it's nature going to be tied to a location in general. So my strategy is to put in 3-5 year stints and then take big trips in between these.

Sorry for going a bit outside of the original question but I think this is about more about the whole career satisfaction/juggling work and travel too. As per the other thread.

I also wanted to tie in something someone else was talking about, how some people really like life on the road and fit in with the nomad lifestyle very well, others find after 3-12 months they are ready to get back to a bit more routine and the same postcode. The former, nomads, tend to find it harder to ease back into 'normal' life after an extended trip, where as the latter find it a bit easier. On my trip I have learnt I am definitely the latter, so I think my approach of, travel, career, travel is suited to me. However it obviously wouldn't fit anyone.

Ted, you sound like a bit more like the former, loving the Nomadic life? So a job that you can travel with sounds ideal for the lifestyle you want to lead.

mark manley 15 Sep 2012 18:17

I have ticked a yes because I certainly do not hate my job and get a certain satisfaction from it. I work in mechanical engineering programming and setting CNC machining centres and lathes which is both physical and mental work, it also allows me to make and repair parts for motorcycles which has its uses.
It has the added bonus of even in this climate having more vacancies than people to fill them so it allows me to pack it all in and go off for a while then come back either to a previous employer or a new one if something more interesting turns up.

pete3 15 Sep 2012 18:25

I wish there was a "I don´t know button" to choose ...

As far as I am concerned I was kinda destined from early childhood to take over the family business. Looking back I can see a whole lot of manipulation by my parents, the same thing my mother now tries on my son (fortunately with no luck, we coached him well).

I got an engineering degree and knew by the time I did my thesis that I never could work in a larger company (where the job opportunities are) for several reasons. My Dad then again offered me to get onbord his business so I made a two years apprenticeship in a job I neither liked nor hated. What followed was emotionally draining, period of hard work which was paid well insofar that I got a share of a third of the business premises. A lot more happened but I am not going to talk about that.

In the end I found myself supporting my folks for more than ten years financially because their only plan for retirement was to hand over the biz to me and let me pay for it. Many times it was taking the food out of the mouth of my children and giving it to my parents. I am still chained to support my mother financially until the end of her life and she is in good shape for her age of 74. :censored:

The job itself is demanding and I have been living in the burn-out zone for many years. It has left a lot of scars on my soul, mind and body. It seems like I am probably recovering, to what degree nobody knows.

The economic woes left me with a lot of debt, something I had hoped I´d not have at my age.

That´s about all I can say about the negative aspects of my job. :biggrin:

The good aspects are that I always had the freedom to be close at hand for my wife and kids. I could employ my chronically ill wife and let her work at her terms. I could make good friends and do friend stuff with them. I could purchase fun stuff like a chainsaw, weedeater, genny and a lot of other stuff on my biz. I can shoot my pellet guns on my own private indoor rage at 30 meters.

After 24 years I am now getting rid of the old crew I took over from my Dad with which I never really got along and can now employ great people I actually like. In one case I could even help - employed a wonderful woman who had fallen upon some rough times.

I was forced to work hard on my own shortcomings and I am still learning, including the therapy I am doing right now. This aspect is probably the most valuable part of my job.

Don´t think I could help but thanks for asking anyway. :p

fraser2312 15 Sep 2012 19:54

Well I'm a plumber by trade, I like my job but I hate the company I work for; they pay me a fantastic wage but for this, they treat me like shit.

I'm at the crossroads right now; I don't know whether to quit and do something completely different, emigrate to another country or just start up the bonneville and hit the road? :confused1:

*Touring Ted* 16 Sep 2012 00:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by fraser2312 (Post 392704)
Well I'm a plumber by trade, I like my job but I hate the company I work for; they pay me a fantastic wage but for this, they treat me like shit.

I'm at the crossroads right now; I don't know whether to quit and do something completely different, emigrate to another country or just start up the bonneville and hit the road? :confused1:

Why not work for yourself ??? Everyone needs a good, honest plumber right ??

Or Volunteer with your plumbing skills. You'd be 'hot shit' in the third world offering professional first world plumbing skills.

Just an idea :)

markharf 16 Sep 2012 04:24

Actually, trying to transfer First World trade skills to Third World situations doesn't work very well at all: you never have the right tools, the parts and practices are all different, and local people can generally do it way faster anyway.

If I hated the people I worked for and felt they were treating me like shit, I'd be out the door. Being your own boss isn't for everyone or every situation, but where I come from a reliable plumber is a rarity, and it doesn't take one long to set up a thriving business.

All this talk about taking skills on the road is fine, but it really depends on where you go. Being an itinerant welder in Europe might be fine, but how are you going to make that work in Africa, Asia or Latin America? Same with small engine repair: does anybody really think they're better at this (using local tools, materials, and parts, of course) than that guy in the little tin shack by the side of the road? Notice how much you pay those guys to do a bit of welding or repair work? Can you survive on that sort of wage, even if you can find the work (and again, the tools, the materials, the parts)?

Mark

*Touring Ted* 16 Sep 2012 09:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by markharf (Post 392726)
Actually, trying to transfer First World trade skills to Third World situations doesn't work very well at all: you never have the right tools, the parts and practices are all different, and local people can generally do it way faster anyway.

If I hated the people I worked for and felt they were treating me like shit, I'd be out the door. Being your own boss isn't for everyone or every situation, but where I come from a reliable plumber is a rarity, and it doesn't take one long to set up a thriving business.

All this talk about taking skills on the road is fine, but it really depends on where you go. Being an itinerant welder in Europe might be fine, but how are you going to make that work in Africa, Asia or Latin America? Same with small engine repair: does anybody really think they're better at this (using local tools, materials, and parts, of course) than that guy in the little tin shack by the side of the road? Notice how much you pay those guys to do a bit of welding or repair work? Can you survive on that sort of wage, even if you can find the work (and again, the tools, the materials, the parts)?

Mark

There are a places (few and far between, I grant you) that work to western standards and charge western or 'almost' western prices.

I can name four motorcycle specific ones off the top of my head right now.

There are plenty of people with A LOT of money in the third world and they like to spend it...

But like you say. It doesn't have to be the third world. USA,Canada, Australia, NZ and think about the developing countries in the East. There is PLENTY of great travel out there and places like Canada and Aus are crying out for skilled trades, even now.

When I was in the Yukon a few weeks back, they literally couldn't pay people enough to stay out there and work.

People behind the bar were on $20Ph plus GENEROUS tips...


Unfortunately for me at the time, none of my qualifications applied and I didn't have a work Visa. Hence why I'm going to give welding a bash. Even if that doesn't work out then at least I can make and sell bespoke stuff from my workshop.

Anyway... We're getting off topic :innocent:

Threewheelbonnie 16 Sep 2012 10:16

I think it would be a OK if you could plan the working part. I'd hate to spend a trip having to deal with "networking" and all the other rubbish that goes with trying to get grubbing little suits to part with their cash. Knowing I had to be somewhere on a certain date to work for X weeks would be OK.

Ted, if you are looking at welding as a transferable skill, take great care with the certification and training records. We have endless trouble with the attempts of local authorities to create closed shops by this route. If you are thinking Canada/USA, do their certification even if it's the lowest level as well as or instead of European/UK stuff. A certified welder is skilled employee, while any fool (such as myself) can tack bits of metal together given enough practice. Pay levels of course reflect this and you can still take on car body repairs even if certified.

This can work the other way too, my UK HGV ticket is restricted to 32 tonnes but the yanks never cared. You would need to know this though, there is next to no money for driving rigids over there.

Andy

monsieur 16 Sep 2012 13:33

We all have aspects of our job we don't enjoy as much as others and, frankly, if we didn't we'd have nothing to bitch about!

I teach teenagers (when they can be bothered to focus) science and really enjoy most parts of the job. The holidays are a bonus but its the sort of job that you can't do well unless you have the passion and the understanding. Once you have some semblance of understanding how a teenager operates and feels then 75% of the job is done for you.

Do I love my job? Yes.
Apart from being an extra in a soft porn movie I couldn't think of anything else I'd rather do :thumbup1:

Magnon 16 Sep 2012 17:42

I enjoy my work when I get to do it (building). Being self employed, working for private customers is a real problem these days. Almost everyone wants something for nothing. Most of my time is spent adjusting quotes or quoting for something completely different. Work is a bit thin on the ground as well, which means when I'm not actually busy on a job I can't go on holiday because I'm worried about work coming in.

The only thing that keeps me sane is a small number of really good regular customers, but even they are feeling the pinch at the moment.

We're lucky enough to have a few other strings to our bow such as holiday accommodation lets and B&B. I'll be retiring from the building game in about 5 years (officially) but will keep the tourism things going to hopefully allow us to travel a bit in the winter.

Dodger 16 Sep 2012 17:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* (Post 392740)
There are a places (few and far between, I grant you) that work to western standards and charge western or 'almost' western prices.

I can name four motorcycle specific ones off the top of my head right now.

There are plenty of people with A LOT of money in the third world and they like to spend it...

But like you say. It doesn't have to be the third world. USA,Canada, Australia, NZ and think about the developing countries in the East. There is PLENTY of great travel out there and places like Canada and Aus are crying out for skilled trades, even now.

When I was in the Yukon a few weeks back, they literally couldn't pay people enough to stay out there and work.

People behind the bar were on $20Ph plus GENEROUS tips...


Unfortunately for me at the time, none of my qualifications applied and I didn't have a work Visa. Hence why I'm going to give welding a bash. Even if that doesn't work out then at least I can make and sell bespoke stuff from my workshop.

Anyway... We're getting off topic :innocent:

As a welder my advice is to stay away from welding .
You'll ruin your health and be treated like shit by your employers especially if you decide to work in the oil and gas or mining industries .
There is a shortage of skilled trades at the moment but I've experienced a few booms and busts and believe me the busts last a lot longer than the booms . Resource industries have an on/off switch , you're better off working in a steadier industry .
High wages in "The North" are because of the high cost of living , which you won't really experience until you've lived there for a while . $20 /hr isn't very much as you'll probably only work for 4-5 months of the year .
There's also a reason that nobody wants to live in the north - think about that for a bit .
If you are going to go welding , stay on the "clean side", TIG welding specialist equipment and that sort of thing , but be warned it takes a long time to become proficient . Welding is the hardest of the trades because it is an art , purely a physical and mental skill and takes dedication .
It's better if you are small so that you can crawl into tight spaces and best to start young , if you're over 30 - don't bother .
You'll also be tested constantly and if you can't pass the job tests - you're done - adios amigo - don't let the door hit you on the way out .

To work from your own shop is nice , but you HAVE to have a niche market and sell to people who will actually pay you for the time involved .
Every Tom ,Dick and Harry will come banging on your door at all times of the day and night and want something welded up for pennies .
Good welding equipment is expensive and so are good premises .If you think you can cobble stuff together out of an old garage with a "buzzbox" welder , think again .

Welding can be great and rewarding but according to my welding instructor buddies only about 5% of those entering the local BC welding school at "C" level make it to "A" level and are working in the industry .If you want to work in Canada you'll have to have Canadian certification and every province is different , AND structural and pipe welding qualifications are different .

So have a think about it Ted , it's not something you can walk right into and make big bucks right away .
As a foreman , I don't even consider guys qualified unless they have 5 years of work experience under their belt - I don't have time to wipe their snotty noses and teach them their job and also pay for their expensive mistakes .:taz:

Learn how not to Weld just by watching this video

This is what old welders turn into ,
Amazin Blaze Weldin Service - YouTube

All the best .

Endurodude 16 Sep 2012 19:30

There's much here with which I agree. I teach Music in a Secondary school and am a Head of Year. Apart from the fact I get to listen to Music all day (although there's a little more to it, obviously!) I love teaching, and am lucky enough to teach Pupils interested in learning (sometimes a rarity in this country). I love the classroom aspect, although there's much of my job that I'm not overly excited about - mostly admin! Not to sound too cliched, but I really feel like I've made a difference in my job, especially the Head of Year side of it, and this gives me a great sense of satisfaction. On another thread, there's a discussion about 'what's the point of overland travel?'; one poster suggests that the only point in life is procreation. I would suggest it's making some sort of difference to the lives of others. I suppose, therefore, I do love my job.

The holidays allow me to travel quite often and, when I retire, I hope to have a pension that will allow me to travel around the world (hopefully I will be healthy enough).

Like many jobs / careers, mine allows me to do the things I love doing. In that respect, I love every minute of it. :D

davebetty 16 Sep 2012 23:26

running your own business is a great way to get away with being a motorcycle overlander. With some serious family commitments and only a relatively profitable business, I saved up enough to buy a bike and go on a months tour in 1.5 years. cheap all around it was, but all the better for it.

I love my job, it is very hard and dangerous, but if i were just doing it to make money, I don't think I would respect it enough.

Knowing I was working to pay for my trip made me a very hard working boy! The work and the travel, they live side by side. Make them love oneanother and you just ride the wave!

Now I am back, I have half an eye on another trip, otherwise, I would hate my work!!!!

Big Yellow Tractor 17 Sep 2012 09:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dodger (Post 392779)
To work from your own shop is nice , but you HAVE to have a niche market and sell to people who will actually pay you for the time involved .
Every Tom ,Dick and Harry will come banging on your door at all times of the day and night and want something welded up for pennies

This is so bloody true. They expect you to stop what you are doing, fabricate something using the bit of scraggy scrap they’ve bought in as a template then weld it together. Then are shocked when you ask for the price of a small drink rather than the hour of shop time you should have charged. Then when you get back to what you were doing, it takes another half-hour to remember what you were doing before you got interrupted.

I do sometimes still do these little jobs because you really can’t be sure what it might lead to but it depends what mood I’m in and how I’m asked.

The other thing that really gives me the dog is when someone asks me to quote for some fabrication work then when you give them the price they say “oh, I can get something like that off the internet for £19.99”

Oh and architects who don't know what they're drawing and imagine that 1000kg of steel structure can be held together with fairy-dust and hung on sky-hooks.

So, back to the question “Do you like your job/career ??”

I am a chippy by trade and used to own a small building company doing good quality extensions, conversions and structural jiggery-pokery. When the big sites closed down a couple of years back, the market was flooded with trades who would work for almost bugger-all and I couldn’t find enough work to keep my lads busy. I restructured, cut costs, the lads agreed to short weeks but eventually I had to call it a day.

I now have what some people call a portfolio career and others call scratching about.
I still do building and maintenance stuff but only for a few of my regular customers from the past.
I sub-contract to a few local building firms occasionally but won’t do anything rough or crappy.
I also subcontract to a local metal fabricator using my site skills to measure or template, set out and then install staircases, balconies and balustrades. I do some fabrication in his workshop when they’re up against it. We’ve just finished building loads of Christmas decorations for shopping centres and street furniture; basically box-section or tubular frames of all shapes and sizes that are wrapped in garlands and lights.
I even do some office work occasionally for a company I worked for 25 years ago in the rubber and plastics industry (seals and gaskets)
If things get really tight I phone an agency and jump into an HGV for a couple of weeks.
I have my own workshop with a mixture of wood and metalworking tools and undertake all manner of stuff from security barriers and gates to reception counters. I especially enjoy dicking about with bikes and will be building some luggage racks, tool boxes, etc.

So, back to the question “Do you like your job/career ??”

Yes.

I am lucky that I have a small house with a small mortgage. I don’t make loads of money and there are times when work is very thin on the ground. I do pretty much pick and chose what I do though; I’m not afraid to turn sh1tty work away.

I can trundle off for a day’s trail-riding at short notice if I fancy it or spend a day or two dicking about with my bikes. I may not ever have enough time or money for “the big trip” but am scratching that itch with a few weeks away here and there.

Sometimes I think that I should have done things differently but I have friends who are in high paid jobs with big houses and new cars and to be honest, they all look at least ten years older than me and spend their time moaning about how crap their lives are. They also seem to think that the rest of the world is really bothered about the specification of their new M3/5 or the size of their telly.
Not for me I’m afraid.

garrydymond 18 Sep 2012 23:01

I work as a Director at a private English school in Mexico City. There are aspects of the job I love, watching people learn, helping teachers get better or promoted and parts I don't like much. I have done the job for a long time and I and things have changed. I now look forward to retiring and having time to travel more. Will I miss the work? I don't know but as it gets closer I think about that more and more. I love working with people but I guess I will love being on the road and meeting new people.
Time will tell.

backofbeyond 19 Sep 2012 13:07

I've been musing on this since the topic started. Do I actually like my job/career. Well, given that I'm getting towards the end of it it would have to be a somewhat reflective question. Over the years / decades I've inhabited heady academic heights and scratched around in the gutter for a few quid. I've worked for large corporations, small businesses, been a company director, self employed and a casual, paid by the hour, drone. Some promised fame and fortune (but didn't deliver) others were just a means to an end and yet others had me working 90+hr weeks with eventual stress induced medical conditions. All of them have had good and bad points. They all, even the drone ones, had one thing in common - I did them because I was interested in them. That for me has always been the biggest motivator; I have to have some interest in the work. Money has almost always been secondary.

Of course you can't totally divorce money from the equation, everyone has to live and the ideal would be to find the type of work where job satisfaction and high monetary reward go hand in hand. Those jobs do exist but as a rule of thumb they tend to have fairly high barriers to entry. My wife and a number of other family members are medical doctors, a profession which in it's higher echelons in the UK at least is well paid compared to the national average. All of them have had periods where they have questioned the wisdom of their career choice. One gave up medicine for a number of years to work in television production before going back to it because of the stresses in the tv world. Another has been (is) studying for a law degree in their spare time "just in case"! This is someone right at the top of the medical career structure but mindful of the way the NHS is going. Nothing comes without its downside.

I know a number of other people with seemingly high flying jobs, big salaries and "golf club" lifestyles whose jobs have been teetering on the edge for years and everytime an assessment of corporate future requirements "review" comes to their department have been driven to drink by the stress of it all. Kids in private school, big mortgage, wife with "needs" etc all hanging on the slash of an accountants pen. Everytime I look at the dismal state of my bank account I remind myself things could be worse.

All of this doesn't help Ted find a direction in life and I don't really have much advice to offer other than to point out that the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence. Over the long term I suppose I have noticed that the people I know who have been able to successfully achieve some sort of work / life / finance equilibrium have been those who have worked to the strengths of their personalities rather than pointing out the magnitude of their qualifications. I was very aware of that yesterday when we attended my son's degree ceremony. Several hundred people all with the same qualifications but with vastly different personalities all talking about what they're going to do next. Be interesting to see who follows their head, who follows their heart and who end up on the checkout at Tescos.

xfiltrate 19 Sep 2012 23:16

Happiness
 
backofbeyond,

I applaud the cogent descriptions of your interesting path and the caring and sensitive nature of your analysis of this topic.

I am one of a number of older riders who, for better or worst and for whatever personal reasons, have posted hard won long term experiences and observations on threads like this one.

The best definition of happiness I have discovered is:

"Happiness is overcoming the barriers to a goal."

I am currently in Spain and yesterday watched Real Madrid take out Manchester 3 -2 and noted forward Cristiano Ronaldo's prone exhibition of the elation of happiness upon scoring the winning goal.

Mr. Ronaldo knew what his goal was and experienced happiness after overcoming the barriers to his goal.

For me, it is really that simple. If you are not experiencing happiness by overcoming the barriers to your goal, perhaps you might consider creating a new goal for yourself.

When deciding upon a goal, one might consider if it contributes to not only your survival, but the survival of your family and mate, your friends, your fellow countrymen, the plants and animals and the planet , your material needs, you, yourself as a spiritual being and contributes to the survival of a concept of a Supreme Being -

And, it is always good to remember that without the barriers to your goal, if you agree with this well reasoned and seasoned, definition of happiness, there can be little happiness. So, perhaps viewing your daily toil and trouble with this in mind. might , just maybe, be happiness for you .

My most recent "job" is treasure hunting. I bought a metal detector and am "working" nearby beaches. Keeps Elisa, my Spanish lover happy becaus she likes me on a short leash - for good reason I might add... happy because she knows where I am and what I am doing, brings joy to countless sun worshippers , swimmers and kids who surround me during the moments I am bearing down and digging up a treasure, I pick up and dispose of a lot of litter, and turn over any antiquities to the Spanish authorities , spread good relations as a North American by speaking fluent Spanish to a population, some topless, who normally doesn't strike up conversations with strangers, and I have found thousands of euros worth of coins, gold and silver necklaces, bracelets etc and I practice walking meditation see Tangozen.com while praying to God.

ps I am a happy man

xfiltrate

eat , Drink and Be Careful and buy insurance

Chris S 19 Sep 2012 23:48

I wouldn't quite stretch to "dream job" but I do enjoy most of the work I do. My work (forestry contractor) does let me see some pretty nice places but can be a bit of a pig if the weather's too hot/wet/windy etc and the income is pretty poor compared to the effort/expenditure involved.

That said, I'm happy enough, we get by and we get away for short trips when we can.

I'd like to get away more and for longer but trying to fit it in seems to be the hardest bit as my wife can only get time off during school holidays and can't take more than a couple of weeks off in one block without it becoming a bit of a chew.

nicola_a 20 Sep 2012 21:53

I loved this post, backofbeyond.
You speak wisdom.

BlackDogZulu 20 Sep 2012 23:37

This thread has made me really think about things for the first time in years. My first answer was 'it's OK, but ...', but on reflection I would say it's a bit better than that.

A fair day's work for a fair day's pay is an honourable thing. As others have said, it's all about your attitude. I have worked with teachers (good pay, long holidays, pleasant working conditions) who did nothing but moan, and I have worked with people in a call centre (lousy pay, terrible hours, high stress and low job satisfaction) who were sunny and cheerful. I know which of those I admire and which I despise.

I was a teacher for 18 years, becoming something senior in a large school, but I had to give that up owing to illness. When I recovered, I built a new career in commercial training and ended up as H&S manager for a medium-sized company. I had to take time off from that job when my wife was very ill, and all that I could get when I returned was a job as a security guard, working nights. Sometimes I think my career has been backwards, as I seem to be earning less year by year, and at 58 I doubt if I could ever get back to the kind of job that would pay me a decent salary.

But there's no point in moaning. I can support myself and my wife, I don't owe anybody anything, and if I manage my own expectations and stop believing I am entitled to things I will never have, I am quite happy. A careers adviser once said to me that the ideal job was one that gave you "all of the things you need and some of the things you want". I thought that was very wise.

So I'm OK. I never have trouble getting up and going to work, and I never dread the working day like I sometimes did when I was teaching. I enjoy the good parts of the work I do and put up with the parts I don't like. I feel very lucky compared to someone who lives on benefits. But also, I feel lucky compared to some who work in the same company as me, who are on mega salaries but are stressed and angry and driven and dissatisfied.

Domestic circumstances mean that I can't do the long-distance travelling that I yearn to do, but I have had a few good trips and on balance life is good.

brclarke 22 Sep 2012 04:49

I noticed that several posters (including myself) said they had very satisfying jobs while teaching.

Maybe that is the secret - find an interest you excel at and teach it to others. That doesn't have to mean traditional schooling, but sharing what you know with others.

markharf 22 Sep 2012 05:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by brclarke (Post 393421)
.... find an interest you excel at and teach it to others.....

Yup. Or: find an interest you're not very good at, and teach that to others. "Them that can't do, teach."

wearthefoxhat 22 Sep 2012 06:12

I've spent 30 years in the same industry. I don't know anything else.
I've been bottom of the food chain and been fortunate enough to spend 12 years as MD of a £250m turnover international business (but unfortunate or dumb enough to have been doing it for a wage on behalf of the owners - albeit a pretty good wage). I've been out of work for some months now, and am planning a long term (low budget) Africa / Asia trip (my wife and I will sell up and just take off). There's a charity we've supported in Uganda and that's where we're heading.
I've seen this thread a number of times and wondered why on earth anyone would want to even think about posting on it - I've spent years avoiding the gossip / 'TwatBook' generation of telling people what you think and believing that anyone else gives a monkey's.
I fully intended to post something cynical and make some sort of sarky comment - maybe some form of venting?
HOWEVER......
No matter how many sad gits I see with bling'd-up Land Rovers that will never encounter more than a high kerb, there's nothing makes more sense than the cliche'd sticker you see on many of them.....

ONE LIFE - LIVE IT!

This is not a rehearsal.
If you love what you do you're amongst the most fortunate people on the planet. If you dont, examine your motives and expectations. Decide what's really important in your life and get on & do something more personally (but not necessarilly financially) rewarding.
That's my tuppance worth. I've got any urge to tweet / twat / poke / post out of my system for another 10 years. AND I'm quite happy about taking the mick out of Land Rover owners as we're taking off in an old Defender.

martyboy 22 Sep 2012 08:22

[QUOTE=wearthefoxhat;393423]

If you love what you do you're amongst the most fortunate people on the planet. If you dont, examine your motives and expectations. Decide what's really important in your life and get on & do something more personally (but not necessarilly financially) rewarding.
That's my tuppance worth. I've got any urge to tweet / twat / poke / post out of my system for another 10 years. AND I'm quite happy about taking the mick out of Land Rover owners as we're taking off in an old Defender.[/QUOT

For me the first line of the above quote sums it all up, 15 small words one massive statment.

MW2K8 24 Sep 2012 21:37

I REALLY don't enjoy my job. Certain aspects are meh, ok i suppose. Dealing with the public isn't too bad... However some co workers, politics, jobsworths etc can really piss me off!!! To the point where i'd gladly change career tomorrow if i could....

It's definately the means to an end for me... Until i marry some wealthy Cameron Diaz lookalike...

Though certain jobs such as teaching or nursing should be more of a calling... Something you really want to do... Love to do even...

Ah shit...

i am a nurse... :-S

pheonix 25 Sep 2012 13:45

my answer is actually a mix of 2 and 3

I don't mind my job, it's the company and people who irriate. It pays well and is a means of funding my holidays. With just myself to pay the bills, it's a constant catch-22.

The only people I have known to be genuinely happy at work are Self Employed

dash 25 Sep 2012 14:26

Somewhere between 1 and 3.

I'm not sure about 'dream job', but I think I get paid pretty well for not working desperately hard (most of the time) at something I find reasonably enjoyable (most of the time), and when I asked my boss about taking twelve weeks off next year, his first comment was "so where are you going then?".

On the other hand, seven years into this job I won't really say that I fancy doing it for another thirty-five or so.

Magnon 25 Sep 2012 18:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by brclarke (Post 393421)
I noticed that several posters (including myself) said they had very satisfying jobs while teaching.

Maybe that is the secret - find an interest you excel at and teach it to others. That doesn't have to mean traditional schooling, but sharing what you know with others.

I've met quite a few teachers over the past few years for one reason or another. I have been very impressed by their committment to their work in the main although I have come across a few who've been ground down working in some of the worst schools in the UK.

I think teachers are motivated by good students who in turn are only good students because their teachers are talented and motivated.

It makes me realise that I would have been a hopeless teacher which is verified every time I try to help my daughter with her maths and physics homework.

Big Yellow Tractor 26 Sep 2012 07:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magnon (Post 393906)
I've met quite a few teachers over the past few years for one reason or another. I have been very impressed by their committment to their work in the main although I have come across a few who've been ground down working in some of the worst schools in the UK.

My "Ickle Girl" is a teacher and she loves the teaching but hates the bullsh1t and politics, which as she has progressed (she’s a year head now) have become more and extreme.
She spends more time managing people now than actually teaching and is looking into taking a demotion at another school to get back to what she really loves.

Considering some of the bullying and abuse that newly qualified teachers suffer from megalomaniac heads and other staff, it’s a wonder any of them make it through their first year though.

klaus 26 Sep 2012 08:38

Interesting thread, so let me add my 2 Yen.

Do I like my job? I have to say yes, because it is so much fun teaching those kids not only English but many other things for their future life.

No, it's not for the money, if it was I'd quit today and find something better or move out of Japan.

Matt Cartney 2 Oct 2012 10:23

Aah, the holy grail! A job you enjoy! I've been looking for this all my life. The jobs I've done include working in a climbing shop (tedious after a year or so), working as a cycle mechanic (tedious after a couple of years) and news photographer (a hideous, soul destroying way of making a living - and I'm talking 'news' here, not 'pap').

I ticked 'It's OK' for my current situation, because actually I do two jobs and that's the average! -

1) I work as a civil servant which has good flexibility and promotion prospects and pays the bills, but is also furniture chewingly tedious. I'd give it up tomorrow if I could.

2) I also write children's books. (www.dannylansing.com) I have been working my arse off at this for six years and made almost no money out of it. I now have two published and a third on the way. I am amazed at how difficult it is to make money out of writing. As it stands, I would have made a hell of a lot more money over the last six years if I'd just spent the time doing a paper round. Having said that, I absolutely love it!

I often dream about what it would be like to be able to jack in the day job and commit to writing full time. It would be fantastic. I normally come home after a ten hour day, eat my dinner and then switch on the latop and write for a couple of hours - firstly because I have to (books don't write themselves!) and secondly because I love it.

It is exhausting frankly. I am totally knackered all the time. But I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that one day it will all pay off and I will be able to spend the rest of my life doing a couple of big 'research trips' a year and writing the rest of it.

If you look at any success story, whether it be an athlete or a business person or anything else, there is nearly always an enormous amount of work behind that moment of glory. And a great personal commitment to the venture.

Who knows if my work will pay off? I don't. But I really hope it does, as the alternative is another 30 years in a bowler hat and I wouldn't wish that on anybody!

Matt :)

realmc26 2 Oct 2012 10:42

I've been a bartender, night club manager, Phys ed teacher, Remedial Massage therapist, Pilates and Gym owner/teacher and somewhere in the middle a Firefighter for 23 years which I'm still doing.
Every day I go to work much of it is spent laughing with the 8 other guys I spend 48 hours with in a 4 day shift.
More like family than co-workers.
Every day is different. I can spend 10 hours on a day shift without a call, working out in the gym, watch a movie with the guys, read a book, a bit of training and pinching myself somedays that I'm actually getting paid to have fun and hang out. Or I can be flat out, hot tired and/or dealing with the odd dead body or two.
I get 4 day weekends every week and get 1 month off every 4 then every 5 months in-perpetuity till I retire or drop off the perch.
Its a great job to indulge other passions, careers and travel.

The money is not amazing compared to many careers but its decent and the pension is pretty damn good.
As far as non-portable jobs go, I cannot think of many jobs where you could work full time and take of 3 continuous months to travel every year if you juggle your leave around. Plus I get 3 months long service leave after 10years then 6 extra weeks every 5.
No complaints here:thumbup1:

*Touring Ted* 2 Oct 2012 11:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Cartney (Post 394706)
Aah, the holy grail! A job you enjoy! I've been looking for this all my life. The jobs I've done include working in a climbing shop (tedious after a year or so), working as a cycle mechanic (tedious after a couple of years) and news photographer (a hideous, soul destroying way of making a living - and I'm talking 'news' here, not 'pap').

I ticked 'It's OK' for my current situation, because actually I do two jobs and that's the average! -

1) I work as a civil servant which has good flexibility and promotion prospects and pays the bills, but is also furniture chewingly tedious. I'd give it up tomorrow if I could.

2) I also write children's books. (www.dannylansing.com) I have been working my arse off at this for six years and made almost no money out of it. I now have two published and a third on the way. I am amazed at how difficult it is to make money out of writing. As it stands, I would have made a hell of a lot more money over the last six years if I'd just spent the time doing a paper round. Having said that, I absolutely love it!

I often dream about what it would be like to be able to jack in the day job and commit to writing full time. It would be fantastic. I normally come home after a ten hour day, eat my dinner and then switch on the latop and write for a couple of hours - firstly because I have to (books don't write themselves!) and secondly because I love it.

It is exhausting frankly. I am totally knackered all the time. But I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that one day it will all pay off and I will be able to spend the rest of my life doing a couple of big 'research trips' a year and writing the rest of it.

If you look at any success story, whether it be an athlete or a business person or anything else, there is nearly always an enormous amount of work behind that moment of glory. And a great personal commitment to the venture.

Who knows if my work will pay off? I don't. But I really hope it does, as the alternative is another 30 years in a bowler hat and I wouldn't wish that on anybody!

Matt :)

Matt... Total respect and Kudos to you for continuing with your writing. I love the paper round comparison. You know yourself, money doesn't make a man happy.

I wish you the best of luck. I'll try and spread the word about your books.

By the way... How and where do you buy them from ?? You're website could really do with a shop section.

Ted

Matt Cartney 2 Oct 2012 12:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* (Post 394709)
Matt... Total respect and Kudos to you for continuing with your writing. I love the paper round comparison. You know yourself, money doesn't make a man happy.

I wish you the best of luck. I'll try and spread the word about your books.

By the way... How and where do you buy them from ?? You're website could really do with a shop section.

Ted

You are right - that's a good point! I need to add a function for buying signed copies direct from myself.

In the meantime, they can be bought on Amazon or Bookstore.co.uk (and probably elsewhere online). A fair number of Waterstones branches have them as stock too, in Scotland anyway. I believe a few of the big ones in England too.

Any spreading of the word is much appreciated, book promo is a long and tiring road if you aren't JK Rowling or haven't been on the X-Factor. doh

Matt :)

Matt Cartney 2 Oct 2012 12:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by realmc26 (Post 394708)
...Firefighter for 23 years which I'm still doing.
Every day I go to work much of it is spent laughing with the 8 other guys I spend 48 hours with in a 4 day shift.
More like family than co-workers.
Every day is different. I can spend 10 hours on a day shift without a call, working out in the gym, watch a movie with the guys, read a book, a bit of training and pinching myself somedays that I'm actually getting paid to have fun and hang out. Or I can be flat out, hot tired and/or dealing with the odd dead body or two.
I get 4 day weekends every week and get 1 month off every 4 then every 5 months in-perpetuity till I retire or drop off the perch.
Its a great job to indulge other passions, careers and travel.

The money is not amazing compared to many careers but its decent and the pension is pretty damn good.
As far as non-portable jobs go, I cannot think of many jobs where you could work full time and take of 3 continuous months to travel every year if you juggle your leave around. Plus I get 3 months long service leave after 10years then 6 extra weeks every 5.
No complaints here:thumbup1:

Sounds great. I reckon if I didn't have a medical condition that made it impossible, I would have had a serious crack at fire-fighter. The combination of it being a proper 'hands-on' job, being of real community benefit and being, I expect, properly exciting at times, always really appealed.

Still, gotta play the cards dealt to you...

Matt :)

sparco 2 Oct 2012 13:15

hate my job from my guts ! its destroying me , but then again they pay me good, in my poor country so i keep my mouth shut ;p

i dream of being a scuba instructor somewhere i have license, or underwater welder, or military services, non of those i have in my country

BaldBaBoon 2 Oct 2012 21:04

I voted a resounding " I hate my job "

However, Needs Must.

In better times I have left jobs in my specialised field due to moral reasons. I simply cannot abide dishonesty or not working to 100% in all aspects of being a professional, but due to the situation worldwide in trying to get employment I am having to work for a company that grinds against every sense of " doing the right thing ".

The job itself is ( or should be ) very rewarding, training new members of the armed forces in various skills and trades that they will need in the field....the kind of job that demands you do the best you can to help and advise and even go beyond what the job requires on paper if need be.

But when you add a civilian organisation that simply values profit and economy above all else in charge of the training...then you get a very unpleasent experience in the way of a working day. Maybe I am at a disadvantage by being ex-forces and actually caring about what I do and the effects it would have if not putting 100% into the job.

The company appears to lurch from near miss to accident on a daily basis without any discipline to the idiots involved, it appears to be company policy to do the least possible work and investment for the max financial return...and if you help the soldiers/customers...then that is a bonus to them rather than being our main aim.

I will leave the instant I get something better.

Miniemojaz 2 Oct 2012 22:35

I love my job and work for myself. I couldn't go back to being employed as such I don't think.

Dick Puhlir 5 Oct 2012 12:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* (Post 394709)
I love the paper round comparison. You know yourself, money doesn't make a man happy.



Ted

Really?! You sound like someone who has never known need. Dont fool yourself, money makes people happy.

Dick Puhlir 5 Oct 2012 13:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaldBaBoon (Post 394771)
. Maybe I am at a disadvantage by being ex-forces and actually caring about what I do and the effects it would have if not putting 100% into the job.

.

What makes you think that being exmilitary means that only you care about doing a good job? I find that pretty arrogant as well as being totally wrong. If (civilians)didnt do 100% then the military would be out of a job, being as they only consume taxes and produce nothing.

No, I'm not happy about being told I dont do 100%.

*Touring Ted* 5 Oct 2012 17:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dick Puhlir (Post 395086)
Really?! You sound like someone who has never known need. Dont fool yourself, money makes people happy.

A rather sweeping judgement from very little information. I'm probably the poorest person I know. (Cash wise)

I've had lots of money and I was miserable...

I've got far less now and I'm far happier.

Do you need money to travel..... Yes, you do ! How much though. That's the question.

docsherlock 5 Oct 2012 20:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dick Puhlir (Post 395086)
Really?! You sound like someone who has never known need. Dont fool yourself, money makes people happy.

I think a certain amount of money is required for happiness; I believe this has been studied and it has been postulated that the optimum amount, after which more does not make one happier, is about 30k GBP per year.

BaldBaBoon 6 Oct 2012 20:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dick Puhlir (Post 395087)
What makes you think that being exmilitary means that only you care about doing a good job? I find that pretty arrogant as well as being totally wrong. If (civilians)didnt do 100% then the military would be out of a job, being as they only consume taxes and produce nothing.

No, I'm not happy about being told I dont do 100%.

Well done, on doing your job very well.

I was stating what was happening in my particular work place. Where you have a complete split in work ethics, The ex-forces employees being the only members of the company ensuring that jobs get done to the required standard/on time and as safe as possible for the customer and the general public, and the rest ( including management ) taking every shortcut possible or putting as little interest and effort into the job as they can get away with.

As to just consuming taxes....Ever hear of an organsiation called The Royal Engineers?

They are the ones that provide complete year round emergency support to the British Isles and any other area, worldwide as requested. They rebuild your roads and bridges and provide sanitation and clean water supplies as well as producing electricity for those towns that end up getting swept away in floods as happened quite recently up north. They also provide artisans/machinery/materials to rebuild anything from mountain tracks around Snowdonia to walkers bothies for the national trust to adventure playgrounds for disabled childrens charities for free.
Clearing fallen trees after major storms in areas that convential equipment cannot enter etc etc.

Quite a few of their teams are currently using their well drilling specialists creating freshwater supplies around Africa for various charities,and rebuilding villages, again for free. They also get a little busy providing route clearence and vehicle recovery for when ill equipped individuals get stuck in a ditch in the UK during these nasty winters we are getting.

Plus being bin men when required due to strikes.

And being Firemen when required due to strikes.

And being fuel tanker drivers as required due to strikes.

And being security guards as required due to Private company cockups.

Not forgetting RAMC providing a great deal of the trauma specialist Doctors and Nurses that serve in the nations hospitals when they are not on active service elsewhere....just to name a few.

Seems like a bargain to me.

ironworker842 9 Oct 2012 00:03

I fit into "its okay I guess" category. I work a lot in the mining and oil/gas industry as a union ironworker. I erect structural steel sometimes ,but my specialty is welding. Long hours, back breaking work sometimes, and the worst is when you get a foreman you don't respect or get along with. Just makes those long hard days that much longer. But on the plus side of things, great pension, great pay, and as soon as the job or contract is done you not obligated to go on the next job, its as easy as calling my union hall's dispatcher and telling him im traveling for the next year, as long as my dues are paid they don't really care. So its great in that aspect, but like someone already posted, it can be booming with work, then all of a sudden its like a switch and there is none. Which is a good excuse to travel I think, but I have no bills or wife or kids, so I consider myself fortunate. I have been on bad jobs which turned into good ones all by changing my state of mind. Which I think is key , when Im at work i only think about the present moment and my task im on, I learned that it is useless and debilitating if you worry about the future, past, why the job sucks etc.

-Scott

*Touring Ted* 9 Oct 2012 09:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by ironworker842 (Post 395560)
I But on the plus side of things, great pension, great pay, and as soon as the job or contract is done you not obligated to go on the next job, its as easy as calling my union hall's dispatcher and telling him im traveling for the next year, as long as my dues are paid they don't really care. So its great in that aspect, but like someone already posted, it can be booming with work, then all of a sudden its like a switch and there is none. Which is a good excuse to travel I think,

-Scott

That's what's got my attention with the welding...

docsherlock 9 Oct 2012 10:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* (Post 395616)
That's what's got my attention with the welding...

Yeah, but Ted, I think he is in North America judging by the terminology; you may want to look into the transferability of your course credentials if you are aiming to work there. Also consider studying there, as it will make a visa much easier to get.

I may be able to get you a welding gig in Vancouver if you would be interested in that - was recently talking to a guy who said he could not get decent welders for love nor money - which opens it up to overseas people. Pay was pretty reasonable too. PM me when you get your quals if you are interested.

*Touring Ted* 9 Oct 2012 10:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Docsherlock (Post 395622)
Yeah, but Ted, I think he is in North America judging by the terminology; you may want to look into the transferability of your course credentials if you are aiming to work there. Also consider studying there, as it will make a visa much easier to get.

I may be able to get you a welding gig in Vancouver if you would be interested in that - was recently talking to a guy who said he could not get decent welders for love nor money - which opens it up to overseas people. Pay was pretty reasonable too. PM me when you get your quals if you are interested.


The U.S doesn't really interest me.

Canada does.... But I'm a couple of years off being a good welder.

:)

ironworker842 10 Oct 2012 08:24

There are so many people from overseas in Alberta right now working, they can't get the man power for theses jobs. You can make decent money just being a labourer for the time being. Lots of camp jobs too if thats what your into, they pay for your lodging, food, you hop on a bus to go to work. You can literally save 100 % of your earnings. Downside to camps tho it can seem like a jail after a while. After 21 or 30 days working straight, that week off seems like 2 days and its back to work for another long haul. All you have to remember is its not forever lol.

-Scott

MooN 10 Oct 2012 13:34

sorry jumping in a bit late to this thread

i've actually thoroughly enjoyed my job untill recently (apart from one short episode in '96 when it all went to shyte due to a management change...) but this last year life has dealt us some heavy blows which have somewhat changed my priorities & the company directors have shown themselves to be somewhat lacking in compassion or understanding & after years of "flexibility" on my part have been singlarly inflexable in return, so screw 'em, i want out asap & am now actively looking & have told them so.

xfiltrate 12 Oct 2012 14:45

Why I like my job....
 
As described in a previous post to this thread, I proclaimed that "I am a happy man" and in context this could be understood in terms of my "job" as beach comer with the advantage of a very advanced metal detector.

As I continue to read this thread I have become more and more impressed, not only with the earnestness of each contribution, but with the levels of intelligence and abilities demonstrated, that absence of this thread I would not have imagined. I admit, this is my lack of perception. And, of course, ignoring any geo-political preferences, that in themselves are not representative of the true wit and wisdom of the authors.

My point is this, I owe more than just "I am a happy man" to this thread. After several days and nights analysis I have come away with this understanding of why.

One would have to read Zecharia Sitchin's descriptions of the
Annunaki of 450,000 years ago and how homo erectus became homo sapiens, for the purpose of providing labor for gold mining operations to understand my point of view.

After applying much of my attention since my last post answering the question of why I am happy with my "job" of beach coming, I have come to the conclusion that it is in line with an ancient goal with which I was tasked by space travelers called the Annunaki.

xfiltrate

realmc26 12 Oct 2012 15:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by xfiltrate (Post 396171)
As described in a previous post to this thread, I proclaimed that "I am a happy man" and in context this could be understood in terms of my "job" as beach comer with the advantage of a very advanced metal detector.

As I continue to read this thread I have become more and more impressed, not only with the earnestness of each contribution, but with the levels of intelligence and abilities demonstrated, that absence of this thread I would not have imagined. I admit, this is my lack of perception. And, of course, ignoring any geo-political preferences, that in themselves are not representative of the true wit and wisdom of the authors.

My point is this, I owe more than just "I am a happy man" to this thread. After several days and nights analysis I have come away with this understanding of why.

One would have to read Zecharia Sitchin's descriptions of the
Annunaki of 450,000 years ago and how homo erectus became homo sapiens, for the purpose of providing labor for gold mining operations to understand my point of view.

After applying much of my attention since my last post answering the question of why I am happy with my "job" of beach coming, I have come to the conclusion that it is in line with an ancient goal with which I was tasked by space travelers called the Annunaki.

xfiltrate

Xfiltrate I just re-read this 4 times. I have no idea what your talking about LOL. Sometimes when I read your posts I'm not quite sure if your just taking the piss, indulging in mind altering substances or your one crazy beach combing loon. But as always looking forward to your next mind altering take on the deep questions of life. BTW beach combing in Spain sounds like a pretty fine way to make a living. The Annunaki would be mighty proud. Enjoy!

xfiltrate 12 Oct 2012 18:49

Thanks realmc26
 
My best answer to your multiple choice quiz - all of the above.


For my particular post in question you really have to read Zecharia Sitchin's books for a reasonable understanding of what I tried to explain in a few words.

And thanks for the spelling correction I guess it is "beach comber" and not "beach comer" although parts of my original post this thread might make an argument for my spelling.

xfiltrate

martyboy 13 Oct 2012 11:06

Anunnaki, "those who Anu sent from heaven to earth" or "those who from heaven to earth came" may well have been the biblical nephilim. Sumerian creation story, Sumer is now called Iraq. Not sure what its got to do with this thread but I'm loving it. I did not enjoy my job when I was doing it,so I quit and went traveling, but I'll have to qualify that by saying my kids are all grown up and previously I did the 9 to 5 grind (had two jobs) for a lifetime, looking back I'm not sure a lifetime of mind numbing toil was the right thing to do and i do feel I've missed out, on the other hand I've got a great family, but I can't help think that I wished I'd had the balls to have long term traveled with the kids when they were younger.

xfiltrate 13 Oct 2012 15:18

The Sun Also Rises
 
Sitting at my desk, looking out at the sea that touches the north coast of Spain, and listening again to Hemingway (thanks to YouTube audio books.) I am in awe of martyboy's last post.

I have no children, I kept pretty good track and would know if I did. At least I am sure I have had no children with the 2 women I have married. Each of my three brothers and one sister have two - a boy and a girl and one wife or husband. They are much younger and were , 3 of them born in exotic locals - to young to learn any second languages...

I have chosen long term traveling. Probably because long term traveling choose me as a child. I am the outcast uncle who grew up watching Japanese TV that consisted of Kabuki theater and Sumo wrestling with a smattering of very early U S sitcoms dubbed in Japanese and watching no T V in Turkey where I graduated high school. The long term traveling bit is not overrated, it is just not understood from the point of view of the offspring.

When I finally returned to my country, I believed that my classmates at university in the States, were speaking some form of code when spending hours discussing the metal covers of the wheels of their automobiles - "hubcaps" I believe, and the number of barrels their precious carburetors had (I admit I did once own a Volvo 122s with SU carbs, probably as a result of early childhood exclusions from conversation) I became so very let down - when I discovered ...no this was not code for some greater philosophy that I had yet to learn, but was indeed the asphalt rubber metal beer driven world that these "local" boys had inherited and had been created upon.

Happily, long term traveling gives a kid one great advantage - adaptability so soon , very soon, after handily winning a fight with one of the local boys who ridiculed my style of dress, I wore the only cloths available to me in Turkey, (after he shoved me hard, I broke his arm by grabbing it and breaking it upon my upthrust knee, a move I learned in karate class in Japan) I quickly became a guru of sorts of pistons, rings and 4 speed transmissions and most everything else related. Intelligence just because it is directed elsewhere, is still intelligence.

As for the Annunaki and the meaning of my previous posts. The Annunaki, according to Sitchin, genetically created Homo Sapien to mine the planet earth for gold, necessary to the Annunaki for reasons I will not go into here. The point being, I, in my current profession on the northern coast of Spain, as beach comber with a metal detector, and a finder of treasure the greatest of which would be gold in one form or another am living the destiny for which I was created according to Sitchin. Perhaps this explains my posts to realmc26, to whom I need to disclose, that the only mind altering drug I admit to is the good wine I am drinking now.

martyboy, perhaps any insights regarding the effect of long term travel on your offspring could have been and the meaning of Sitchin's work related to my current profession of beach comber have been worth the read for you.

Your post was very interesting to me.

xfiltrate

surf dude 15 Oct 2012 02:31

I'm retired and I love it, work on my bikes, work on my boats, go surfing, go to a movie, go for a ride, what's not to like.

xfiltrate 23 Oct 2012 21:48

Origins of the employment of men and women
 
If anyone is interested in learning more about the research/books of Zecharia Sitchin, the Anunnaki and how my earlier posts this thread relate to employment of human beings, there will be a radio show on this evening: ANCIENT GENETIC TINKERING

Go here to find a local station or tune in via internet.

Home - Coast to Coast AM

steveindenmark 27 Oct 2012 09:50

I came to my brothers wedding in denmark 11 years ago. At the time I was working in private banking for Barclays bank in the uk.

All my days were spent in suits and dealing with clients. Long hours and lots of travelling.

At my brothers wedding I got sat next to my brothers production manager and we got happily p"""ed together.

The following day he reminded me that I "swore on my life" that I would move to Denmark and work for them. 6 months later I had sold my house in the UK and moved over to Denmark. I have been here 10 years now.

I make sails for yachts and am in short/jeans and t shirts every day. Have a lovely danish girlfriend, a little cottage in the country, close to lovely beaches. I love it here. I wish i had come 30 years ago.

I operate a laser cutter, which cuts the sail panels. I was in my 40s when I moved here with very little money, didn`t know the language and had no idea of sailmaking. You are never too old to learn new tricks.

The big bonus is that my girlfriend loves motorbike travel.

If the chance comes your way, take it.

Steve

*Touring Ted* 27 Oct 2012 10:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveindenmark (Post 398104)
I came to my brothers wedding in denmark 11 years ago. At the time I was working in private banking for Barclays bank in the uk.

All my days were spent in suits and dealing with clients. Long hours and lots of travelling.

At my brothers wedding I got sat next to my brothers production manager and we got happily p"""ed together.

The following day he reminded me that I "swore on my life" that I would move to Denmark and work for them. 6 months later I had sold my house in the UK and moved over to Denmark. I have been here 10 years now.

I make sails for yachts and am in short/jeans and t shirts every day. Have a lovely danish girlfriend, a little cottage in the country, close to lovely beaches. I love it here. I wish i had come 30 years ago.

I operate a laser cutter, which cuts the sail panels. I was in my 40s when I moved here with very little money, didn`t know the language and had no idea of sailmaking. You are never too old to learn new tricks.

The big bonus is that my girlfriend loves motorbike travel.

If the chance comes your way, take it.

Steve

Brilliant Steve.. Good for you mate.

Sometimes the grass really is greener. It ain't just a saying.

loganyellow69 27 Oct 2012 11:06

do you like your job
 
yes , I teach medical students in the gambia after deciding with my wife to go around the world on our bikes and make it a lifestyle !!!!!!!!!!!have had varied jobs in the uk from stacking shelves , scaffolding , prison officer , prison service manager , education trust manager , best thing I did was to follow my and my wifes dream and have an adventure . I love my job as I make everyday different and love learning .
someone once said that "find something you love and just get paid for it " simple really .................................................. .......
our bloggy thing if you wanna looksee is Adventure Motorcycling & Mugs of Wine

monsieur 28 Oct 2012 10:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveindenmark (Post 398104)
If the chance comes your way, take it.

Sums it all up nicely :thumbup1:

Someone else mentioned 'having the balls' - I like my job and glad I had the balls to take it up 10 years ago but I so wish I still had balls and took up the travelling mantle with my teenage kids.

sparco 1 Nov 2012 14:39

hooray i quit my job, 30 days more to go to fullfill agreement until they find somebody else and moving to thailand, hell yeah

s445203 2 Nov 2012 11:24

I'm still figuring it out so don't feel qualified to answer properly, nor do I think sharing all the little personal details will add much to the discussion.

I will however, recommend Studs Terkel's "Working" (Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do: Amazon.co.uk: Studs Terkel: Books book. It's probably in my top 5 books of my life and is basically around 200 interviews with people from as many varied walks of life as you can think of (from yacht broker to production line worked) on the topic of "What do you do all day and how do you feel about what you do all day". It's a little dated (mid-West US, circa 1950-1970), but the main points haven't changed and I found it a breathtaking read.

dave08 3 Nov 2012 08:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparco (Post 398775)
hooray i quit my job, 30 days more to go to fullfill agreement until they find somebody else and moving to thailand, hell yeah

Best wishes for the future my friend,

Dave'

molly 4 Nov 2012 06:08

I absolutely love my job. It's what I have always wanted to do. I teach math at community college. My students are adults, so they want to be there. What could be better?

Oh yeah, loads of time off. :D

sparco 5 Nov 2012 10:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave08 (Post 398948)
Best wishes for the future my friend,

Dave'

thanks mate ! , hopefully you will come to grab some asian beers there, it is nice trip from uk to thailand , and you have gsa, so it will be a shame not to take it and get dirty ;)

xfiltrate 5 Nov 2012 16:57

Studs Terkel forever
 
s445203 - perhaps a Studish Terkelish book might find a market among the general "stay at home" public if written about those who overland internationally on motorcycles why and how they do it.

Thanks for reminding me that it is not "one thing after another" but "the same thing over and over again". I have admired Terkel's works since graduating with a minor in Leisure Studies, no joke, from the University of South Florida's Institute on Leisure with world renown expert on leisure Dr. Max Kaplan at the helm, you don't even want to ask the titles of paper I wrote - but I will tell you anyway - after spending an all expense paid summer camping, loving and goofing off at several provincial parks in Canada I wrote a scholarly paper detailing campers' desires regarding communal or private camp fires, this all went well until I camped at Oka national park near Montreal - where the indigenous Tribes were effecting armed resistance to any white mans' campfire - communal or otherwise.

Viva Leisure Time!

Long ago - before many of you reading here were born...I developed a great affinity for Canada and Canadians and their attitudes toward work and leisure... today I am pleased to report that more than one Canadian parks a motorcycle at our parking facility in Buenos Aires.

There is another thread at HU Bar re "why you do it" I really have enjoyed reading this and that thread. Hopefully my posts are not too off topic.

Damn this Spanish wine is good , but so is Malbec

Xfiltrate

rymm 23 Nov 2012 11:13

the sun helps
 
i work to make money, not because i want to work. but the best job i had was when i was living in a house full of travelers doing farm work in australia. the job its self wasnt good or bad, but the people i met and lived with while doing it actually made it a highlight of the trip.
pretty much you dont feel like such a failure working for minimum when your in another country. when a home working for minimum, it hurts my soul.

*Touring Ted* 23 Nov 2012 11:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by rymm (Post 401504)
i work to make money, not because i want to work. but the best job i had was when i was living in a house full of travelers doing farm work in australia. the job its self wasnt good or bad, but the people i met and lived with while doing it actually made it a highlight of the trip.
pretty much you dont feel like such a failure working for minimum when your in another country. when a home working for minimum, it hurts my soul.

Tell me about it..

I've just got a job as a van driver... £6.20 an hour.

Do I have that little value of my own life that I sell it for £6.20 an hour ????

Okay, it's only while I'm back at college doing my welding and fabrication course but It still hurts.

docsherlock 27 Nov 2012 01:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* (Post 401508)
Tell me about it..

I've just got a job as a van driver... £6.20 an hour.

Do I have that little value of my own life that I sell it for £6.20 an hour ????

Okay, it's only while I'm back at college doing my welding and fabrication course but It still hurts.

Mate, it's not what value you put on your life, it's the open market rate that puts the value on it.

Depressing, innit?http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...cons/icon8.gif

*Touring Ted* 27 Nov 2012 09:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Docsherlock (Post 402041)
Mate, it's not what value you put on your life, it's the open market rate that puts the value on it.

Depressing, innit?http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...cons/icon8.gif

It's resetting the balance.

I worked for PlayStation for a few years. I did literally NOTHING and got paid for it. Working a 4 on / 4 off shift. And they'd let me take MONTHS off for travelling.

When I say nothing, I really mean NOTHING !! Happy times.

jkrijt 28 Nov 2012 15:09

I work because I need the money and knowing that I have to work, I tried to find a job that I enjoy.
I work as IT-architect/Specialist for a big company and sometimes I hate the politics and bureaucracy but I do like the technical challenge.

I am 55 now and I have to work another 12 years until retirement. having a wife, five children (and five grandchildren), four cats and a mortage unfortunately means that I was not able to save for early retirement but I won't wait for retirement to travel.

Every year I try to spend two weeks alone on my bike. I have done trips in South Africa and the US but mostly in Europe (http://jkrijt.home.xs4all.nl/trips/index.shtml ) I am healthy now, I have a nice bike now and I can afford to travel a few weeks every year so I enjoy my life now as much as I can. I hope that I can travel a lot more after retirement but that won't stop me from traveling now as much as I can.

bethfrizzell 28 Nov 2012 17:37

Yes, I enjoy my job, but a dream job, I don't think I'll ever dream about work. I dream about time off and what sort of mischief I can get up too. I believe life is about living and enjoying. Find a job that you can enjoy and that will help you live the kind of life you want- and that way life is nothing but enjoyment.:mchappy:

brclarke 1 Dec 2012 21:58

I've been working at my current IT job for a year. It's okay, but one thing is starting to really irritate me. I would actually like the job plenty, but two of the people I work with are the laziest, slack-ass dogf**kers I've ever worked with in my life (and I've been working full-time for close to 30 years).

My supervisor had an annual performance review with me last week (it went very well), and asked me if there was anything he could do to help me in my work.

"Yeah," I said. "Get ***** and ***** to get off their fat arses and do some work for a change!" (Well, I didn't phrase it quite like that.)

It has really started to bring the job down in my eyes. The problem is that my workplace is heavily unionized. Without getting into an argument about the pros and cons of unions, the fact is that these two long-time employees have it good with lots of seniority, so they know that as long as they do the absolute bare minimum necessary, they can't be laid-off or fired.

When the monthly stats go off to management, month after month you can see me completing two to three times as many tasks as them; most months I do more than the two of them put together. Now, graphs and charts don't give you a full picture of what work is really getting done, but it's clear that they just aren't pulling their weight.

It's sad, and I actually feel embarrassed for them. I've always had a good work ethic, and I would be ashamed to be openly slacking off like this.

I've only been there a year, but I'm thinking that it's time to update my resume and maybe start looking at what else is out there job-wise.

anonymous1 2 Dec 2012 01:10

Awesome thread.

I love my job for numerous reasons, the most significant is I get loads of time off. I work and work hard just like everyone else to pay the mortgage, take holidays and keep a few toys here and there. I am extremely fortunate to have found a job that I actually enjoy. I work in aviation logistics on a 2 on 2 off roster and like most here the position is often thankless and very long hours although I enjoy it bar a handful of absolute dipsticks.

In every job I’ve held in my 50+ years I found the percentage of dropkicks has not diminished. Not being one to mince my words has often paid off and has at times put me in it too. I once told my boss that I was here for me not you, went down real well……. In that particular position the proportion of oxygen thieving, ladder climbing, backstabbing, brown nosed, lying, bludgers was astounding, I still to this day cringe at the thought. Still I stayed in the position for 10 years because it suited me, and I got 90% off airfares ;-)

I managed to build my dream home on acreage with my own two hands, a horde of Makita’s and a few very good mates. Being single without children (not for want of trying) and being inflicted with a plague of travel bugs, finding this site earlier this year has fuelled my desire to burning point, (Bewdy Grant) “I have seen the light”

The end result is there will always be the bludgers and A-holes to put up with but just think of the perks and the end result. I have worked like a dog, put up with an inordinate amount of crap over the years. I am extremely fortunate to have got to a point where I can just sell up and ride, perpetually.

Everything I own bar the guitars & tools is on the market :mchappy:

Quest 6 Dec 2012 09:39

Doing something about it !!!!!!
 
Well ! After hating my job for the last few years and watching it affect my life, I will be leaving it at the end of March 2013 (careful, as the don't know yet), shipping my bike to the US east coast and spending 7 months travelling through the States, Canada, Alaska then the Pan Am to Argentina. I have to be home for Christmas or (she tells me) I will be single and homeless !!
Am I excited ? ........Oh yes:clap:
Am I scared ? .........Oh doulble yes !!!:confused1:

Dont have a clue what I will do when I get back but.. Carpe Diem !!

lightcycle 8 Dec 2012 02:42

You think your job sucks? Let me tell you about the people I work with.

First, there's this supermodel wanna-be chick. Ok, I'll admit, she's pretty hot, but damn she is completely useless. The girl is constantly fixing her hair or putting on her makeup. She is extremely self centered and never considers the needs of anyone other than herself. She is dumber than a box of rocks and I find it surprising that she has enough brain power to breathe.

The next chick is exactly the opposite- she might even be one of the smartest girls on the planet. She has endless career opportunities but she's still here with us. She is a zero on a scale of 1 to 10. I doubt she even showers, much less shaves her "womanly" parts. I think she might be a lesbian, because every time we drive past the hardware store she moans like a cat in heat.

But the jewel of the crowd has got to be the f***ing stoner. And this guy is more than just your average pothead. The guy is baked before he comes to work, after work, and even during work. He probably hasn't been sober any time in the last 10 years, and he's only 22. He dresses like a beatnik throwback from the 1960's, and, to make things worse, brings his f***ing giant dog to work. Every f***ing day I have to look at this huge Great Dane walking around half stoned from the second-hand smoke. Hell, sometimes I even think it's trying to talk with its constant bellowing. Also, both of them are constantly hungry, requiring multiple stops to McDonald's and Burger King every single f***ing day.

Anyways, I drive these f***tards around in my van and we solve mysteries and s***.

docsherlock 8 Dec 2012 04:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by lightcycle (Post 403311)
You think your job sucks? Let me tell you about the people I work with.

Anyways, I drive these f***tards around in my van and we solve mysteries and s***.

You're a ghost buster?:D

*Touring Ted* 8 Dec 2012 09:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by lightcycle (Post 403311)

Anyways, I drive these f***tards around in my van and we solve mysteries and s***.


hahaha That made me smie :rofl:

jkrijt 10 Dec 2012 12:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by lightcycle (Post 403311)
Anyways, I drive these f***tards around in my van and we solve mysteries and s***.

He Lightcycle, or should I say Fred Jones, be a little more friendly about my favourite dog Scooby Doo.:clap::rofl::thumbup1:

ozranger 18 Dec 2012 07:57

I'm a Park Ranger looking to move into more of a wildlife focus possible biologist.
i LOVE my job a spend the majority of my time out doors in the most beautiful parts of the world, making the world a better place. i work with passionate dedicated people and no matter where i am in the world if i meet a ranger its like meeting a long lost friend!
i feel incredibly lucky that when i have a day off i want to spend it in a park :D

xfiltrate 20 Jan 2013 14:46

4 hour Work Week - NY Times Best Seller
 
This tread seems to be the right place to offer possibilities to those who
are sick and tired of working 40 hour or more each week, but need the money so
continue and continue and contine.

I met Tim Ferriss, who was preparing for the World Tango Competition, here in Buenos Aires years ago. His partner and dance instructor was the world class Alicia Monte who I also knew.

Tim and Alicia went on to win the "Mundial" with Tim being the only North American in history to win. He had only been dancing tango 6 months!!!

Naturally, I was curious so I followed up and discovered Tim also won martial arts competitions in China, created sports supplements and much much more. He is a world traveler and motorcycle rider too...

But, perhaps his contribution that is spot on for this thread is his book

"4 Hour Work Week" -

The 4-Hour Workweek and Timothy Ferriss

Check it out and discover the possibilities. I have with great success,

xfiltrate

Hellboy 22 Jan 2013 08:10

I´m happy with the work I do most of the time. Sure it gets boring at times but most of the times it´s good fun. Ups and downs as with everything else. If it wasn´t boring at times then one would not appreciate the good times as much.

PPCLI Jim 26 Jan 2013 01:36

I have a job yes , finishing up a 27 year military career, now to study some spanish and go riding:funmeteryes:

holodragon 27 Jan 2013 16:55

My job is ok but it is basically just a means to an end, paying for the things I need & paying for the things I would rather be doing. However they are letting me take 4 months off next year so I can go exploring some of Russia & the Stan's, the last employer that I asked for some 'extended leave' said no so I quit, I can no longer afford to do that!
I do not hate my job but given the right incentives I could happily walk away.

JustMe 28 Jan 2013 10:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austin (Post 392608)
Do I like my job? On the whole yes, but I dont get out of bed going woohoo its work again. There's moments when I despair of the bureaucracy, indecision and Politics, and others when I feel completely deflated and fed up with it all. But most of the time the challenges of the job, intellectual stimulation, working with others, achieving results against all the odds and so on make it very satisfying. I am a civil servant doing a job I couldn't explain to you (not secret, just hard to convey the complexities of IT commercial strategies in government to an outsider). My work is very flexible, I dont have set hours and am mostly left to my own devices. I am measured by results, not time spent at the desk, although I do far more than the set hours - because I want to, not because I have to. I have been a civil servant 30 years and had many roles but most of that time has been like this.

Could have written this myself and would not know how to add to this great description of my own situation, other than that I am not a civil servant but since 18 years an in-house attorney formerly working in the automotive and now in the chemicals industry.
Cheers
Chris

motoreiter 28 Jan 2013 11:20

My current job is OK I guess, but another thread on this forum has got me thinking that there could be some opportunities in banking, seems like a good gig. What do you guys think?
:oops2:


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