[ABQ325i]

Originally Posted by SS32

What do all of you do?

I own a couple of businesses. One is an asset liquidation company, we work with recyclers and other local businesses and sell their excess inventory online (eBay) for them.

My other business supplies the New Mexico film industry with expendables (batteries, tape, lens cleaning products, office supplies) There is a rebate program here in NM where the film-makers get back a percentage of whatever they spend locally in the form of a tax break.

[E90SoFlo]

I sell real estate in South Florida

[ScotyH]

Dream jobs do exist. I really enjoy what I do. Most people that I know who are fortunate enough to find their passion get really good at their job, then become self employed.

Nothing can stand in the way of an entrepreneur with knowledge, business sense, passion & experience.

[SS32]

Originally Posted by ScotyH

Dream jobs do exist. I really enjoy what I do. Most people that I know who are fortunate enough to find their passion get really good at their job, then become self employed.

Nothing can stand in the way of an entrepreneur with knowledge, business sense, passion & experience.

That's my biggest reason for jumping ship. I really don't enjoy it and I know my productivity and drive to do better is completely shot. When I focus on something I enjoy, I can't wait to learn/work even more and push myself at whatever it is I'm doing.

[dtwyim]

Originally Posted by ScotyH

Nothing can stand in the way of an entrepreneur with knowledge, business sense, passion & experience.

You need a bit of luck also IMO.

[RonP187]

Originally Posted by dtwyim

You need a bit of luck also IMO.

I would agree with this. If Bill Gates wasn't born at the boom time of computers...same thing with Steve Jobs.

Plus some entrepreneurs have the benefit of having a spouse as a fall back cushion if things don't work out so there's that.

I think there's a big myth about the entrepreneur who does it all himself. Everybody has some support of some sort that can be had due to luck as well.

[Billup]

I love what I do here at Eaton. My schedule is forgiving, pays well, and in a beautiful state.

I am however, saving up to start my own venture, in a similar line of work.

[kevinbahnz]

6 posts in and checked the date.. never again.

[ASAP]

Lol, not a chance... i've been trying to figure out a way to get out for a while. No other job will allow me to live comfortably as I do now... i am too far down the line. I don't think I can make a business out of what I do now... my only real option is to start something on my own that is completely unrelated to what I do. It sucks but I am sure that many are in this position.

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by RonP187

I would agree with this. If Bill Gates wasn't born at the boom time of computers...same thing with Steve Jobs.

Plus some entrepreneurs have the benefit of having a spouse as a fall back cushion if things don't work out so there's that.

I think there's a big myth about the entrepreneur who does it all himself. Everybody has some support of some sort that can be had due to luck as well.

Correct, most people either have an in through someone they know, are in a very demanded field and can take advantage of it or some random blind luck took place... It happens every once in a while that someone builds something very profitable from nothing... but that is so rare that you can count it on fingers. If anyone has done this here, then I would like to know how you did it.

[upstatedoc]

awesome 3 year bump

[TXSTYLE]

Originally Posted by ABQ325i

I love what I do. I think most self employed people do.

All of this.

[PSUSMU]

I love both my jobs and can't see myself doing anything else. I have a passion for IT and cars. I'll work 7-12 hour days and still work on my Linux server/Android app development at home, or do car jobs in the evenings/weekends.
Full-time: Systems Engineer for a 3-letter agency
Part-time: Self-employed mechanic out of my home garage

[bkM3]

Originally Posted by PSUSMU

I love both my jobs and can't see myself doing anything else. I have a passion for IT and cars. I'll work 7-12 hour days and still work on my Linux server/Android app development at home, or do car jobs in the evenings/weekends.
Full-time: Systems Engineer for a 3-letter agency
Part-time: Self-employed mechanic out of my home garage

assuming that would be CIA as falls church is less than 10 miles from langley?

[upstatedoc]

Originally Posted by bkM3

assuming that would be CIA as falls church is less than 10 miles from langley?

He could tell you but then he would have to kill you. Do you really want to risk it?

[MrPrena]

I am also self employed as well.

However, I am very diversified in terms of what I do.
I also work part time at night (easy job) to supplement my savings. It is very low paying job, but I really like it.

Let me tell you this. Self-employed gives you time off when you want. You have flexible hours. You can play with your kid while you work.

One think I would remind everyone this. It is probably 10x stressful than 70hr/wk high paying job. I gotta work 3-4x harder to just make dollar per dollar base. It sounds easy, but it is not easy to make a buck by just sitting down drinking coffee. I gotta research the market for newer products, and finding a wholesale/bulk sales is extremely difficult. If that niche goes away, I need to diversify more (find another market) to compensate that.

[bkM3]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

He could tell you but then he would have to kill you. Do you really want to risk it?

[deeLow]

Nope, but that's why I'm heading back to college at the age of 26 so I can hopefully enjoy my future career.

[jlstyle]

Since I've started on my own, I've been loving it since.
I'm on a same career path but being on own made my job much more attractive and my salary tripled.
I do work a lot though, averaging 70~80hrs a week, because I can't say "no" to the work. But then it all comes back to me in money form so I and my wife don't complain. And somehow even with long hours, I still find extra time to develop paths lead into my ultimate job that I'm planning - this was just impossible when I was being hired.
I guess all you need is a courage to become happy.

[NEFARIOUS]

Personally, I've been a huge fan of technology since I was a kid, I'm considered very good at what I do, but all people want to see are credentials. What university you went to (sorry, only an Associates), what certifications you have (I never had the time or money to get them), so usually I either wind up getting some job totally different from my major since it's either that or fall behind on my bills, or get a tech job but work for schmucks who don't want to pay me what I deserve.

[davis449]

Originally Posted by NEFARIOUS

Personally, I've been a huge fan of technology since I was a kid, I'm considered very good at what I do, but all people want to see are credentials. What university you went to (sorry, only an Associates), what certifications you have (I never had the time or money to get them), so usually I either wind up getting some job totally different from my major since it's either that or fall behind on my bills, or get a tech job but work for schmucks who don't want to pay me what I deserve.

Yep, you're fucked. Welcome to IT. I have two degrees, 15 yrs. experience in a variety of industries, and I don't get paid what I deserve either. Certification fucks are the most useless people on the planet and that's all companies look at because they're all stupid. It makes being in IT so hard, too, because you have to deal with these certified no-nothings all the time and clean up after they fuck up everything.

So, that said, after all those years I find my current position that pays half way decent that is 8-5 a nice change. There's definitely something to be said for working those hours and then leaving the office with no company cell phone or email.

[dreamingat30fps]

I dunno. I have basically been in the same industry since I graduated college, however I only had one job that I would say could come close to me "loving".

I would say it had little to do with the actual job/task itself as they were pretty much the same in all my jobs. The difference that made me not hate going back to work was the environment and the people. It was like going to work with a bunch of my buddies every day. Although we got a lot of shit done it really felt like I was hanging out all day with my friends. Another thing that helped was that it was a very fast growing company (which is also what ultimately killed it for me) but at the start it was great to see the growth and you really got a sense of accomplishment.

So basically just saying I think the workplace environment matter more than the actual job itself.