Ok, need help here folks

B

BlackIceLSC

Registered
it's time. I am 36, and have decided on setting a goal. But I cant seem to figure out what it is.


I need a job. No, I need a career. I am looking for suggestions from you all(my peers).

no sob story here...just fed up with going no where...they call it 'spinning my wheels"...while I love burnouts, this kind suck.


So I turn to you for suggestions. I dont know much. I only have a H.S. education. My hobby is cars. I am well-educated in the automotive field, and can learn anything quickly. every job I have had, I have advanced to the top very quickly, so I have the confidence...but quite frankly, that doesnt mean squat considering the fields I have worked in.

I have been a store manager at a retail tire/repair shop(Mark Morris Tires/Bridgestone-Firestone) in the in the 3rd highest volume store in North America. Assistant manager(would have been manager, except the manager was a partner/franchise owner, so I reached the highest level possible).

I have quite a bit of experience in the auto restoration field-welding/collision repair, frame work, chassis research, body repair, upholstery, restoration hard-facts/critical knowledge, I even have 2 Bloomington Golds under my belt.

Transportation company-I am currently the operations/fleet manager at a 15 car Limousine company. We do an average of 40 "runs" per day. Customer service/communication/dispatching is my strong point, while permits, insurance, registration, and vehicle maintenance are my other responsibilities.

Internet automotive repair consultant(sounds fancy) which consists of hours upon hours of message board bouncing, reading, and assisting hundreds of car owners with their problems. I try to communicate to the best of my knowledge, "how to" scenarios, tricks, shortcuts, advice, and sources to help, for as many people as I can. THIS is my passion-if I could earn a living doing this, without charging my peers money, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

While some message boards see more of me than others, I think the fact that I have logged over 10,000 posts in 2 years, on a combined 3-message boards, says something about my interest in such a thing.

But Living in california means it is tough to save money(paying $2.84/gallon for gas) when I have to tank up every 4 days, pay $1300 for a 20br apartment, $85/month car insurance(spotless driving record, never an accident/ticket, 20+ years driving experience), no paid vacation, no sick days/paid days off, no over-time, and no raise in 2+ years...I've had it.

I want to move out of this God-forsaken state that is over-rated, over-priced, saturayed with "job-seekers", and getting way too crowded for the space.

The only think that keeps me here is :climate(which I could live without) and lack of savings. if I had $10k in the bank, I'd pack up, and move...

So, now that I've set myself up for ridicule, I am asking anyone here for suggestions...I have run out of ideas...Its time to choose a career...I know what I want to do, but unfortunately, the things I like to do, dont pay squat. In all honesty, the funnest job I ever had, was busting tires for a living, when I first started at the tire shop. I loved the work. Find someone who will pay me $50k+/yr to bust tires, and I'll buy you dinner!

Ok, done playing the pity-pot....thanks for your eyes.


[a
Club 16 President/Founder
94 Black/Black M8
97 Toreador red/Lt. graphite LSC M8
V.P. GGM8​
 
RE: Ok, need help here folks

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
...I know what I want to do, but unfortunately, the things I like to do, dont pay squat.
[/div]

I think that's a universal statement. :)

All I can say, relatively, that $50K in WV would be pretty good, even with gas @ $2.49. $1300 a month for a 2BR apartment here would put you in a condo on the fairway at the lakefront resort. But we damn sure aren't paying Bubba $50K at TireLand. In my years of traveling, it has amazed me the differences you see in local economies. Cut through it all and Mr. Smith in LA is not doing better than Mr. Johnson in Podunk, AL.

Some call it a job, some say it's their career, but it's really how you go through daily life sustaining yourself. My career advice to my sons was you must find something you enjoy. You'll be getting up every morning anyways, but having something to look forward to the majority of the time is much better than dreading the eight hours that lie ahead, regardless of pay. The average joe with the six-figure income has no more disposable income than one with half his pay. He just disposes it in bigger chunks. A bigger house/apartment, a newer/fancier car, steaks instead of burgers, Dockers instead of Wranglers, you get the idea.

I used to jokingly say, 'See the world, be a driller'. :7 Now I find myself 'We're always lookin' for a few good men'. All jokes aside, just about everyone I know in my industry(drilling and mining/construction) is swamped with work. The entry levels are hard, dirty work(nothing like it used to be), but advancement nsirtually unlimited.
 
RE: Ok, need help here folks

San Antonio the cost of living is cheap. $2.29 for super gas. Houses go for $62.50 a sq ft.
Lots of automotive industry options here. Race track up the street. World Champion Spurs. Three Hooters, etc....;)
 
RE: Ok, need help here folks

It sounds like you should start your own business in the auto repair/performance field.

It would take more capital than it sounds like you have to get started, and you would probably be better off starting in a different area, which would add another hurdle. But it sounds like something you could do and that you would enjoy doing no matter how much it paid.
 
RE: Ok, need help here folks

I'm gonna suggest going to community college. Take some classes which you think might interest you, and then the really important thing - take advantage of any career placement, career interest stuff they have available to students. And talk to the teachers, many of whom will be doing this on a part-time basis and will hold down full-time jobs.

It's harder the older you get cause if you switch careers you tend to have to start at the bottom and work your way up again, but if it's going to make you happy, IMO it's well worth it.
 
RE: Ok, need help here folks

If it's money and clean work go hit up Frito lay. I used to work for them
untill I was hurt. You have to start early in the Am but you off early too. Next time you see a frito truck at a store ask the driver where the Depo is . If I hadn't goten hurt I'd still be thier , 75-85% you are your
own boss.
PS at the time of me getting hurt and leaving I was making 50-67k a year
 
RE: Ok, need help here folks

Well, I can tell you don't move NJ, you will pay more to live, your rent and insurance will be higher. Also if it way too crowed for you there, NJ is the most densely populated state in the country. Gas is a bit cheeper, but if you sat down and did the math you will see that paying a bit more for gas in CA due to the environment formation you guys have out there is not that much of you budget.

Sounds like you missed the boat when you were doing tires. You should laid off the cannabis and did your homework and got a small business loan and opened your own tire shop/repair shop franchise. http://www.sba.gov/financing/ Still not to late.
 
RE: Ok, need help here folks

If you can find a curriculum that is attractive to you, Sharon's suggestion of a community college is excellent. Much cheaper than a typical four year college. And in some cases you can tranfer all your credits to a four year college, and only have to pay two years of higher tuition.

The SBA link is excellent, also. I can take that direction a step further. I'm a board member of our local Community Developement Corporation. I would recommend seeking out the nearest one to you and talk with their director. CDC's are basicly the "middle man" between the people who have money and those who need it. They are non-profit corporations that assist their community with housing (community block grants, HUD, Fannie Mae, Freddy Mac, and other federal\state entities; private foundations giving grants; local banks)and with business developement. They specialize in farming out loan requests, and "packaging" multible providers into one loan. They can provide very low interest loans to first time home buyers, all the way to building multi-million dollar business parks. They probaly can help you secure a better loan in conjunction with the SBA and others, when you are ready to go there.

As for where to live, the cost of living in the south is much cheaper than the west coast or northeast; the figures given for San Antonio are typical throughout. The winters are mild, spring and fall are heaven-sent, but the summers can be brutal at times. If you had a notion to try this side of the country, and wanted to keep a similar type weather to what you are used to, I would recommend the foothills of the Appalachia Mountains. Either Alabama,Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia, or West Virginia. The higher altitude helps with the high temperature and humidity. The lower cost of living effectively makes a $40,000 salary roughly equal to a $50,000 elsewhere. This is why industry have been moving to the south, they pay lower wages, and still give their employees equal quality of life.

Edit: Add my name

Jeff
'94 Blk MarkVIII
 
RE: Ok, need help here folks

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
My advice? Write a book. I always look forward to your insightful and entertaining posts.Maybe a job at one of the Auto magazines
[/div]


Now you're talkin!

My 'dream job' is to test-drive, and report on used/new vehicles. However, they hire writers that can drive, not driver's that can write.

I want to thank you all for the time you have taken to read my post, and respond with truthful, and insightful answers. I am digging the suggestions...

Thank you all.

Steve...for the record, drug-free, here. shocking, I know, but true!


[a
Club 16 President/Founder
94 Black/Black M8
97 Toreador red/Lt. graphite LSC M8
V.P. GGM8​
 
RE: Ok, need help here folks

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]My advice? Write a book. I always look forward to your insightful and entertaining posts.Maybe a job at one of the Auto magazines[/div]Now you're talkin!My 'dream job' is to test-drive, and report on used/new vehicles. However, they hire writers that can drive, not driver's that can write.I want to thank you all for the time you have taken to read my post, and respond with truthful, and insightful answers. I am digging the suggestions...Thank you all.Steve...for the record, drug-free, here. shocking, I know, but true![/CENTER][a Club 16 President/Founder94 Black/Black M897 Toreador red/Lt. graphite LSC M8V.P. GGM8
[/div]

Interesting, how come you didn't sign up for this then?
http://www.lincolnsclub.org/forum/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=16&topic_id=4536&mode=full&page=

PS. can you close the CENTER tag in you sig, better yet can you make your signature not-editable for each post.
 
RE: Ok, need help here folks

Craig,

Not sure about places out there, but have you looked into automotive tech schools. I know that Lincoln Tech wwhich is in New Jeresy has programs that run for appox. 1 year and you get certified. I mention them only becuase I know that a certain number of the top people in each grad program get a chance to work for BMW North America. I also know that after a few years with BMW the pay for techs can reach close to 100 grand a year (of course that is if you move up). Lincoln tech offers both day and night classes.

I'd also look at opening a small shop in your area, take alook at the link a few posts above for grants/loans. I would stay in the area your in if you went with opening a place, only becuase you know people there and people know your work as well. word of mouth is a great way to bring in business.

Just thought I'd throw somethings out to you. Best of luck in which ever path you take.
 
RE: Ok, need help here folks

Here in Florida real estate is very profitable. Many people buy distressed property, fix it up then resell it or rent it out. The RE market is so hot here that some people are buying condos before the building is built. Developers try to sell units preconstruction and some offer discounts. These buyers put a small payment down and sign a contract for the unit then they offer the contract for thousands more than they paid. There are many ways to make money in real estate.
 
RE: Ok, need help here folks

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
Here in Florida real estate is very profitable. Many people buy distressed property, fix it up then resell it or rent it out. The RE market is so hot here that some people are buying condos before the building is built. Developers try to sell units preconstruction and some offer discounts. These buyers put a small payment down and sign a contract for the unit then they offer the contract for thousands more than they paid. There are many ways to make money in real estate.
[/div]

For now. Just because it's booming now doesn't mean you can't or won't lose money in it. Housing has gone down in the past and it will in the future. The very near future. Be wary.
 
RE: Ok, need help here folks

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]Here in Florida real estate is very profitable. Many people buy distressed property, fix it up then resell it or rent it out. The RE market is so hot here that some people are buying condos before the building is built. Developers try to sell units preconstruction and some offer discounts. These buyers put a small payment down and sign a contract for the unit then they offer the contract for thousands more than they paid. There are many ways to make money in real estate. [/div]For now. Just because it's booming now doesn't mean you can't or won't lose money in it. Housing has gone down in the past and it will in the future. The very near future. Be wary.
[/div]

Of course that's true but as long as people keep having children and expect those kids to have their own houses when they grow up there will be a market for houses. Some states are loosing population while others are growing. Florida is growing like crazy and house values are going up here. The local tax assessor says my house's value increased by 64% last year. Fortunately Florida passed a law that only allows them to increase your real estate tax by 3% per year.
 
RE: Ok, need help here folks

Craig, if you're interested in writing, check this out. ;)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050729...gTtiBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

Carburetor breast fantasy wins bad writing contest Fri Jul 29,11:27 AM ET



LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A Microsoft analyst has won an annual contest celebrating bad writing by comparing fixing carburetors to fondling a woman's breasts.


"As he stared at her ample bosom, he daydreamed of the dual Stromberg carburetors in his vintage Triumph Spitfire, highly functional yet pleasingly formed, perched prominently on top of the intake manifold, aching for experienced hands, the small knurled caps of the oil dampeners begging to be inspected and adjusted as described in chapter seven of the shop manual," went Dan McKay's winning entry in the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest.

McKay, 43, of North Dakota was said by organizers on Thursday to be visiting China "perhaps to escape notoriety for his dubious literary achievement." He wins $250.

The California San Jose State University contest challenges entrants to submit bad opening sentences to imaginary novels and has attracted entries from around the world for 23 years.

It was inspired by 19th century novelist Edward George Earl Bulwer-Lytton, who opened his 1830 novel "Paul Clifford" with the now immortal words, "It was a dark and stormy night."

San Jose State English Professor Scott Rice said that judging the contest "is a hoot."

"By and large the entries are submitted by serious readers who have a notion about what is good and bad writing. That is what is heartening," Rice said.

In a contest that now has several sub categories, the winner in the children's literature section was sent in by Shelby Leung of New South Wales, Australia.

"The woods were all a-twitter with rumors that the Seven Dwarves were planning a live reunion after their attempted solo careers had dismally sputtered into Z-list oblivion and it was all just a matter of meeting a ten-page list of outlandish demands (including 700-threadcount Egyptian cotton bedsheets, lots of white lilies and a separate trailer for the magic talking mirror) to get the Princess Formerly Known As Snow White on board."
 
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