What do you do for a living?

[squerly]

How do you make your money? Or in the case of those who are retired, what did you do when you were working?

 

[Big Dog]

I've worked in fossil power generation (yeah the one Obama wants to see gone) for 35 years specializing in operations and unit controls. I'm starting my 4th year working as an independent contractor under the guise of Mallory Resources LLC. The corporate "PC" title is Performance Management Consultant(s). In essence, I consult on employee skills improvement, equipment operation efficiency, write technical documents, develop curriculum, and conduct training both in classroom and on simulators.

 

[Doc]

Tough act to follow Dawg. That's all very impressive.

Guessing no one will be surprised to hear I work in IT. Systems Administration, Performance Tuning and Enterprise Backup Solutions are my specialties.

Your turn Squerly.

 

[mla2ofus]

I'm the retired working stiff. Spent 32 yrs w/ IUOE chasing portable rock crushers.
Mike

 

[jimbo]

Retired real estate appraiser.

 

[squerly]

Your turn Squerly.

The Readers Digest version: I developed a suite of software programs/products that allowed business’s to move money electronically through the ACH network. Our clients were health clubs, grocery and convenience stores, banks, retail, insurance, and basically anyone that needed to convert paper checks into electronic transactions or to process recurring debits to their consumer’s accounts. I sold this technology (and the company that was built around it) and moved to the mountains where I'm now collecting rent on a dozen pieces of rental property.

Yes, I'm a slumlord... (lol, not really.)

 

[pirate_girl]

I've been in nursing for 34 years.
Currently working at a healthcare center which is nursing home, rehab and assisted living- for the last 10 years.

 

[MrLiberty]

I started out as a truck driver, did that for a number of years, then became an auto mechanic for about 20 years, then a friend of mine who owned several service stations bought a restaurant and asked me to help him run it. I ended up staying in the business 15 years before I was forced to retire because of a serious leg and back injury. My arthritis was getting to me by that time also so I retired, living off a small retirement account I have and a few small investments.

 

[Galvatron]

Where do i start...

fire prevention building/calibrating detecting systems for all areas with the biggest contract being BP oil rigs that was back in the 1990's, control panels and electrics was my side of things but worked all aspects of the company.

Retail and warehouse management.

Haulage long distance and local.

Site maintenance for British defense and a European space agency.

Self employed all round builder domestic and commercial.

Lots in between but all in the same areas mentioned above.

 

[waybomb]

Have been making things that are carcinogenic and killing people for years, such as meat products, edible oil products (margarine and mayo), ice cream, bakery goods.

And I got into the food business all because I earned an A&P license in college. Long story. Don't ask.

You are all dying because of what I do. Sorry.

 

[Leni]

I worked for the State of California for 34 years. The first 10 was for unemployment insurance as an eligibility examiner and the rest of it for disability insurance first as an examiner and then in management. If I had a nickle for every time someone told me 'I pay your salary' I'd have millions.

Actually DI is a very good program. Most states do not have it. Very cheap insurance against being out of work due to a disability.

Then just for the fun of it I was a belly dancer. Got to flirt with every cute guy in the place.

 

[NorthernRedneck]

Let's see...went to college straight out of high school. Got a 2 year diploma for working with people with disabilities. Got a job doing that and did that for 7.5years till I got fed up of all the political BS that goes along with being 1 of 3 males working along side 60 women. Went to work at the plywood mill in 2001 and stayed there till 2009. When the mill shut down I was the last one walking out the door before they shut the lights off for good. I sat at home layed off for a few months till a job came up working with foster children. I applied and got the job and was working there till my accident in June. Now, I'm sitting at home indefinately until my back heals enough for me to return to work.

 

[Galvatron]

Let's see...went to college straight out of high school. Got a 2 year diploma for working with people with disabilities. Got a job doing that and did that for 7.5years till I got fed up of all the political BS that goes along with being 1 of 3 males working along side 60 women. Went to work at the plywood mill in 2001 and stayed there till 2009. When the mill shut down I was the last one walking out the door before they shut the lights off for good. I sat at home layed off for a few months till a job came up working with foster children. I applied and got the job and was working there till my accident in June. Now, I'm sitting at home indefinately until my back heals enough for me to return to work.

You are needed back at work working with these kids...thanks for your work with them Brian,full respect.

 

[bczoom]

Skipping the early years of school and military...

Worked for a large IT consulting company and one of the gigs landed me at a large hospital. It was a nice match and I liked the work so they hired me.

Spent the next 18 years either working for hospitals or consulting firms developing computer systems for large healthcare institutions all over the country. Unfortunately, this often required some relatively substantial travel. We now had 2 little kids at home and it was getting difficult for the Mrs. to take care of everything when I'm gone 100+ days/year.

So, 10 years ago I sold my half of the consulting company to my partner and went on my own. Doing the same type of work but I could negotiate little or no travel. Working from home is nice. Get in the office somewhere in the 6AM hour, work until about 4PM then call it a day (most days). No planes, trains or automobiles sucking up extra hours of my life.

 

[deand1]

As a teenager I worked as a bakers helper before and after school, then as a wholesale grocery salesman while volunteering as a firefighter. I decided that fighting fires and saving lives was my calling, so I hired on with an all risk fire department in southern California. For the next 34 years I worked as a firefighter, fire engineer and fire captain. My final 13 years in the fire service I was a hazardous materials response specialist. I had a very rewarding career and it gave me a comfortable retirement, which I am enjoying now.

 

[Rjohnson]

I originally bought a franchise printing company and after a few years decided I wanted to grow past what their model could offer. I then sold that and started a commercial printing company that offered not only the small quick print format but also the larger commercial print options. In the last couple of years we have expanded in the corporate apparel industry, which has turned out to be our biggest growth area for the company. Now 25 years later I trying to figure out how to get out and play in the snow more…. Open to suggestions

 

[Danang Sailor]

During high school worked as a special events janitorial assistant and summers as a firearms instructor at a Scout
camp. College work was as a member of a folk music group, an assistant at a DCM rifle range, and a cave guide. Then
into the service for 22 years, a two year interlude as a support group coordinator for a children/adolescent mental health
non-profit, and then back to the old stand working for the military as a Pay Specialist and (undocumented) systems
analyst for another 18 years.

Retired again and am spending my leisure time running a small agency supplying residential and day services for
developmentally delayed adults; got into that line as a result of having a son with special needs.

Believe it or not, that is the short version. Much of the longer version is either classified or characterized by those not in
a position to know as 'gold plated BS".

 

[MrLiberty]

Ya know, I feel very privileged having been told about this forum. We have a bunch of wonderful people on here, and I am proud to be a part of the community.

 

[tiredretired]

Electrical business. Master Electrician. High Voltage work both aerial and underground. High Voltage power distribution in the private sector, the FAA and nuclear power plants around the northeast such as Vermont Yankee and Seabrook Station. Also installed high end fire protection systems in large industrial buildings.

Life long member of the IBEW because that was where the good money is and great pension plans.

 

[EastTexFrank]

Retired petroleum (drilling) engineer.

Did all kinds of things during my early years in order to make a living, sometimes two or three at a time.

I wandered in to the oilfield when I was 28 and stayed in it the rest of my life. I came to the States in 1985 and went to work for an international oil company where I stayed for the next 15 years, the last ten years I worked internationally. Everything came together at the beginning of 2000 and I retired. I got bored (missed the oilfield) so I formed my own little company and went back to work as a consultant for about 4 months a year. Did that for several years until I finally got it out of my system. Actually, there was a lot of stuff happening at home with family that my wife was killing herself trying to handle on her own and she needed help. Been a happy homebody ever since, about 10 years or so.

 

[tiredretired]

Well, I am not the least bit surprised. Some hardworking sucessful guys & gals here that know what it means to get up early, do a day's work and come home late.

Now, how in hell are we going to pass this work ethic onto the fast growing entitlement society we now have in America? They expect the check to be sitting in the mailbox for them without getting off their asses to earn it.

 

[FrancSevin]

I'm an "ANYTHING FOR A BUCK!" Guy.

I thought this was a thread about what we became. But it appears a resume' is in order to explain how we "became" what we have become.

As a 12 year old, I found the paper route just didn't cut it for me and selling greeting cards, though very successful, I hated every encounter. Not being a particularly good looking kid it was hard work. I hate work.
Mom gave me some good advice, " well son, if you can't be handsome,, best learn to be handy."

So at 12 years old I borrowed $50 bucks from Dad and bought a lawnmower.

One of my, not needing it anymore, clients gave me a broken one, so I learned to fix them. By end of summer I had three mowers, contracts with some apartment managers, and kids working for me.

At 16 Mom told me I couldn't possibly earn a living doing that lawn care stuff, so I took a cut in pay and went to work as a carhop. Later a bagboy at the local super market.

Water ski Instructor (along with swimming, canoeing, sailing) for three years every summer and a Bag boy /Pizza maker thru college in winter. Later I was promoted to Co-manager position at the rapidly expanding grocer chain.

Married a lovely girl and went to Chicago where her dad introduced me to printing and packaging. Became a volunteer firefighter paramedic for 5 years and then moved back to St Louis where,,,,, nobody wanted any of my skill sets.

So I made pasta at R&F macaroni until some fool at Enterprise Leasing CO decided they would go into the packaging business and needed somebody who couldn't sell cars. I was interviewed right on the packaging floor where they asked me if I could operate, fix and repair the machines. I had never seen them before so,,,, I lied, and said yes.

7 years and six startup successes later I decided I was a superman entrepreneur and would step out of big Corporate life and build a company of my own. It was absolute hell with failure after failure but we kept the lights on for some time. Mostly because we were either too stubborn or too stupid to realize we were not succeeding. This despite bank after bank explaining the cold hard facts in their rejection notices.

30 years, a bankruptcy and five permutations of the business plan later we hit the formula for success.

Today we no longer wrap trinkets, coupons and toys but instead do promotion sampling and a very narrow niche of packaging in a field which has mostly left the USA and gone to China and Mexico.

And when the bankers come it to tell us how much the can help us grow, we show them the door.

Next time you at at a Sam's Club, use the FREEOSK vending machine. We make a majority of the sample packages it dispenses. Or when you buy a rotisserie chicken at the Wal-Mart, we are involved in the package.

We also package Pet treats for several of the big guys and for fun we participate in startups for the little guys trying to have the American Dream.

I am retired in terms of Social Security but still work every day. I collect no salary now but can take draws if I need or want something. But really, I retired back in 1984 when I stepped away from the comfort of big Corporate and did MY OWN THING.

My only regret is that I had to give up volunteer Firefighting a few years ago and miss it. But then nobody has had to pull this decrepit old man out of danger for a while.

At 68 years, I still hate sales but seem to be good at selling BS. It just took me a while to figure a way to profit from that skill set.

 

[FrancSevin]

Well, I am not the least bit surprised. Some hardworking sucessful guys & gals here that know what it means to get up early, do a day's work and come home late.

Now, how in hell are we going to pass this work ethic onto the fast growing entitlement society we now have in America? They expect the check to be sitting in the mailbox for them without getting off their asses to earn it.

Now that is pure BS Butch.
Every damn one of them likely earned a participation degree in our public school system. Many endured this strenuous challenge for as much as 13 years of their childhood. All at no cost to them.

What do you expect them to achieve from there?

 

[tiredretired]

Now that is pure BS Butch.
Every damn one of them likely earned a participation degree in our public school system. Many endured this strenuous challenge for as much as 13 years of their childhood. All at no cost to them.

What do you expect them to achieve from there?

Yeah, my bad. I guess I must have lofty expectations out of people.

 

[waybomb]

Well, I am not the least bit surprised. Some hardworking sucessful guys & gals here that know what it means to get up early, do a day's work and come home late.

Now, how in hell are we going to pass this work ethic onto the fast growing entitlement society we now have in America? They expect the check to be sitting in the mailbox for them without getting off their asses to earn it.

I gotta tell y'all, and it's not just because he's my kid, but he and each one of his friends have started their own businesses, and each one of them are growing and looking for more. I am not talking one or two, I am talking the 50'ish people he hangs with. They all found a niche. When they come over, it is a joy speaking with these young entrepreneurs. A couple of them would scare the hell outa ya if you saw them coming toward you on the street, but these guys are super intelligent, and have plenty of money and smarts to always have plenty of money and smarts.

They are out there.

I look at the kids I grew up with in school, especially to the ones I looked up to. Every single one of them is a douchebag now.

I think we are seeing the same thing - we are seeing all the douchebags. The good ones are hard at work, make something of themselves.

 

[Snowtrac Nome]

I work as a hd diesel mechanic for a while now. I found equipment owners bitched less and paid their bills faster than auto owners. I work as a hd mechanic for a fuel company and also as an on site equipment mechanic in some of the crappiest weather in the world . I have been to job sites that required me to boat out to them or a 30 mile jeep ride overland usually I try to get their with my service truck sometimes it just dosent work out that way. this is my second summer of working from 7am to 2 am the following morning. at 50 I don't know how much more of this I can take, but some one is always sitting around with a fricken hand out wanting my money. so far this year it looks like I will be working into winter and maybe through it.

 

[Dmorency]

From 10 years old til I finished high school I went cod fishing with my father on my summer holidays.
After I finished school I drove a dump truck for a year.
Then I got a job as a fishing guide at a salmon lodge for 2 years.
Went to work as assistant manager with the Hudson Bay Company, started up in northern Ontario then back to Quebec. Met and married my wife while at that job.Worked there for 3 years.
Moved back home to operate a general store my father bought. I bought the store from him and then I started a heavy equipment contracting company. Sold the store after 15 years and have been working doing contracting ever since. Hoping to do this til I retire, best job yet.

 

[Big Dog]

I thought this was a thread about what we became. But it appears a resume' is in order to explain how we "became" what we have become.

Ok, if you really want to know .......

My first job was at 13yo bailing hay and cleaning stalls.

My father was a mechanic and did a local equipment companies maintenance on the side. At 15 during the Summers, I started running equipment on Mr. Glen's farm doing all the miscellaneous dirt work besides the farm chores. Best Summer of my life, I spent 2 months on a JD 420C.

Just before I turned 16, I was walking home one day after school, the local grocer run out of his store and said "hey Greg, what are you doing Saturday". Long story short, I cut meat until I was 18.

Went to a vo-tech my junior and senior year in high school and took drafting & design. Ended up getting a job before I graduated through the vo-tech making carbide rod mill rolls and slitter knives for the steel industry for 4 years.

Young, dumb (not really) and ready for change I moved to Loozyana and went to work as the only quality control person at a small mechanical seal manufacturer. Did that for a year until I got a job in a power plant ........ the rest is history.

 

[rugerman]

Retired pharmacist.

 

[road squawker]

Now that is pure BS Butch.
Every damn one of them likely earned a participation degree in our public school system. Many endured this strenuous challenge for as much as 13 years of their childhood. All at no cost to them.

What do you expect them to achieve from there?

well, then they can start Jr High school