Any Ideas???

[tin_soldier]

Not to put anyone one the spot but any ideas or suggestions would be much apperciated.


Here goes:

I have what most would say an ideal job.  out of a 40hr work week I might work 2 real hrs. the rest of the time it sit here bored out of my mind.  Recently my wife quit here job mostly due to heatlh reasons.  I started looking for another job because I am bored and can stand sitting on my but all day doing nothing.  All though I am sure there is some one out there that this is there ideal job.  NOT MINE!!! 

In the way past seeing that I am only 26 it's not that long ago I was taught some capentry skills.  Mainly rough not any finish work.  I LOVE and excel in doing Roofs.  I know very hard work but I LOVE it.  I did mention that already.  I went with doing Network Support for Corps for a couple of reasons.  My teacher when in High School thought I would be good at it which I am.  Plus I saw guys who done that type of work at the age of 40 - 50 and man they didn't look so good.  But they also have been doing it before the time of pnumatc nail guns too.

So what 's the point?? well I have been think @ a few options lately here they are:

1) sit here and shut up for having it so good   
2) Start my own roofing Business or I know some one I may be able to partner up with which may not be a bad thing to do
3) Although I hate FL (that is the heat, plus the wife don't care for it much either) my Dad has a sweet setup down there where the jobs are given to him and the company pays him per job any where from $100 - $2500 the fast u get it done the more ya make.  They have over 2million jobs in Back Order

So I don't know in what to do, simply put I am unhappy in what I am doing.
I know that my heart tells my to leave but is it right?   

[Todd Wilson]

If it was me I would stay where you are at or look for another job in that field.   Roofing sucks. You can handle it at the age you are but as you grow older it will get tougher. There is nothing easy about climbing a ladder and leaning over or kneeling all day on a hot roof and it will get harder to do the older you get. Also more chances of injury that could put you out of the roofing business. This may happen in 15 years and then you are out of touch with the network industry trying to get back in because you can no longer roof.  I always thought working hard was a good thing but the older I get working smart is the way to go.  The roofing companys around here have a rich owner  a white guy foreman that looks like he drinks too much and a crew of wetbacks that actually do the job.


Todd

[bull]

Is your current job a secure one? Does it pay pretty well? Are the benefits good? Is there little turnover? If that is all true I'd be hesitant to leave considering your wife has health issues. If you have kids it's even more risky to leave a secure job for one with so many unknowns. Being trained in carpentry and having lots of recent experience are two different things. I don't think I'd hire a guy to redo the roof on my house who's been trained but has little or no experience. If you really think you would like it try doing it part time with your dad at first to see how you hold up. I know I wouldn't want to be doing that kind of work in the muggy Florida heat. Other than that you could find a hobby to do at work. Do you have access to a computer? If so maybe start selling stuff on Ebay. Take pictures of your stuff, email the pics or take them on a disc to work and then list the stuff online while you're there. Do some writing, read up on US history, learn how to buy and sell stocks, etc. If they're going to pay you to do nothing find something to do on your own to make money or improve yourself while you're there. Read a book.

[derailed]

In this day and age if the money is good and you have benefits there I would stay put for now. Consider doing something you are interested on the side. Roofing is hard work. Might enjoy it now but down the road you may be kickin yourself in the ass for giving up that cushy job.

[tin_soldier]

Yes job pays well, OK bennys, Secure as longas I don't screw up.

Yes I do have experince in roofing I never left it.  I do one evry month or two just to keep in the game. before I did this computer bit I did it 3yrs striaght

I have taken advantage of the reading and done quit a bit lately.  Also sold 2 full chargers on e-bay part by part.  still have some trim left if anyone intressed.  I would like to continue to be a mopar hound and find stuff and turn it oveer if that is all it is good for.  I wouldn't purchase a Mopar just to kill it.

I tried the stock thing I just don't get it plus it seems u need a bit of money for that.  right know that isn't happening.

[PocketThunder]

If it was me I would stay where you are at or look for another job in that field.   Roofing sucks. You can handle it at the age you are but as you grow older it will get tougher. There is nothing easy about climbing a ladder and leaning over or kneeling all day on a hot roof and it will get harder to do the older you get. Also more chances of injury that could put you out of the roofing business. This may happen in 15 years and then you are out of touch with the network industry trying to get back in because you can no longer roof.  I always thought working hard was a good thing but the older I get working smart is the way to go.  The roofing companys around here have a rich owner  a white guy foreman that looks like he drinks too much and a crew of wetbacks that actually do the job.


Todd

Yep, when i was in my early twenties working as a mason tender i was a lean machine tossing 12" concrete blocks up over my head on to scaffold all day long.  Now i'm 31 and my body is going to hell at a rapid pace and i have a cushy desk job.  I do remodeling on the weekends and work on my Charger and i am glad to go to work on Mondays so i have some time to rest up for the next weekend. 

[bull]

In retrospect I hate to sit here and tell someone that they should stay at a job they hate for the remainder of their life. It's a shame to have to be so pessimistic about the job market but it does seem to chew people up and spit them out. The good thing about being a contractor is that the natural progression of it dictates that once you reach a certain age you will probably have moved into more of a management position. In that case you would still be involved in the business but you won't be tweaking your ankles on a roof in 90-degree, 100+ percent humidity heat. Who are we to shoot your dreams down in flames? If you've got a good business sense and a passion for your job I say go for it. It may not be the most practical endeavor but hey, this is supposed to be the land of opportunity isn't it?

[Steve P.]

Work with your mind, not your back...

[chrisII]

i agree.Im 32  im a diesel mech. a year ago i was working as a industrial maintanance mechanic. the bennys were ok, it was a straight 40hrs and pretty much a gravy gig. as long as i seemed buisy nobody cared what i was doing unless something broke. for the most part i was always doing something constructive, and was known as the guy to talk to if you nead something to actually get done (the rest of the crew (3 other guys) were known to move pretty slowly). asside from my maintanance dutys i was trained in several other areas and there was pretty much no way they wanted to get rid of me....but i was bored, didnt like being inside most all the time, and didnt like 2nd shift.. so i went back to diesels,  im makin about 2.50 an hour more now than i would have ben if i had stayed, and i end up working about 50hrs a week all summer. so i make alot more but i really dont like working over 40hrs.. my bennys now are also much better. BUT im sore all over all the time, im regurlarly gettin worked over by the boss about things i shuldnt have to worry about ect. in general im struggling to keep up with the workload. there are good sides, but unless they get a second mech soon this jobs guna kill me! (something i was promiced 6 mo ago)
    if given the choice i think i might go back to the "cushy" job, for a $ or 2 more an hr than i made when i left i know i would..

[Silver R/T]

the key is to work smarter, not harder

[4402tuff4u]

It's kind hard to give you an opinion not knowing all the details of what's really going on in your life. Like do you have kids and is your wife's health a long time concern regarding medical benefits. All I can say is that you really have to be content with what you do for a living. If you get up in the morning and regret going to work, you are basically not living and eventually that unhappiness will possibly trickle down to your home or self being. Money is important, don't get me wrong, they could be paying you megabucks but what use is it if the two days off a week all you are thinking of and talking about is how much you hate your job or discontent you are at work. You have to be satisfy with your occupation and feel a sense of positive contribution to life itself. If you really have a desire to have your own business, be smart about it. Develop a business plan with goals and targets you would like to achieve and see how reachable those targets are. How much work load do I need to financially survive and can I get work to maintain my benefits and income to meet my requirements. Don't just quit your job and say the next day "I'm in business". Oh....and the "partner" thing, I would personally steer clear, just my two cents.

Just remember that we are here in this life only once, there are no rehearsals so make the best of it for you and your family.

[dodgecharger-fan]

Personally, I'd stick with the job you have but try and make something of the time you have at your disposal.

Is there something you could be doing to better your position in the company? Self-paced training? Would they send you to school for a degree? Even at night, part time... the bigger companies pony up some of the cost sometimes.

Or, if your current employer allows you to have a job on the side as long as it doesn't interfere with your responsibilities, try and figure something out.

Technically, my emplyer lets me hold down a second job as long as it doesn't take "too much company time" and "resources" and I am not competing with them or our partners.
Basically, if it involves someone that I would deal with in my regular job, it's off limits.

That leaves a ton of possibilities though.

Maybe that's an option for you. If your organization has an ethics guidebook, check it out. It's likely all spelled out there.

Maybe some sort of online biz - or even a "hobby with revenue potential" type of affair. Something you like to do that might generate some income for you.

Try and turn your curent situation into an opportunity.

[lookin@my68]

Looks like I'm going to go against the grain here but, I think if you really LOVE carpentry and don't like your current job then change!

In my opinion one of the most important things in life is to be happy and if you're happy at work it makes a HUGE difference...However as outsiders we don't know about your personal circumstances such as a mortgage, other debts, if kids are on the way etc. so you would have to be very carefull making a final decision. What about another job in the same field as your doing now but maybe with a little more work time?

It's a difficult thing to do, but good luck with whatever you choose!

[DanishDude]

Three of my friends have at some point or another given up 'secure and cozy desk jobs' in order to turn their physical hobbies into their dream jobs.

One of them, who switched fairly recently, finds that his hobby isn't all that exiting when doing it every day all year round. After six months it is just another boring day job, just harder than the previous one. He just nearly broke his leg last week.

The second one didn't last through his 30th birthday, then his health started to give way. He had to go back to teaching, and he is only 34.

The third one still loves his job after 10 years, but at 43 he is planning on selling out later this year, as his health, combined with the needs of his family, can no longer keep up with the demands of a physical daytime job in his own business.

I don't know all the details of your situation, but I would keep the secure job for now, then start to plan ahead with a career change down the road in mind. Something you might like better than your present job and perhaps something you can start up on the side without having it compete too much with your regular job.

Roof work seems too hard and insecure for me at least. Keep it as a hobby and something to fall back on, at least for a while, should the need arise.

Frank.