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.

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.

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.