Livin' the dream

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ramenth

ramenth

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This past week has made me realize how much I hate working on cars. I'm not talking about building cars, like the antiques, I'm talking about the day to day bull****. Bustin' tires, changing oil, brakes, etc. There's a reason I wanted to get out of it. Almost twenty five years of it, it's time for a change.

Before anyone checks in on me for not being thankful for having a job, I am. I'm also thankful for what the future holds and the present as I sit here.

Right now I'm doin' what I gotta do.

But that doesn't mean I'm not keepin' my eye on future options.

Anyone else gotten sick and tired of doing what you're doing after so long?
 
ramenth said:
This past week has made me realize how much I hate working on cars. I'm not talking about building cars, like the antiques, I'm talking about the day to day bull****. Bustin' tires, changing oil, brakes, etc. There's a reason I wanted to get out of it. Almost twenty five years of it, it's time for a change.

Before anyone checks in on me for not being thankful for having a job, I am. I'm also thankful for what the future holds and the present as I sit here.

Right now I'm doin' what I gotta do.

But that doesn't mean I'm not keepin' my eye on future options.

Anyone else gotten sick and tired of doing what you're doing after so long?
Click to expand...
try plumbing for 43 yrs!
 
I'm thinkin bout goin to work in a shop like the one you got out of. I'm sick of being in construction, haven't done it that long I just really wanna do something OTHER than construction!!
 
I just kinda fell into it. I hated it. Had I not gotten hurt on the job, I would have made a change myself. I did try auto parts once or twice and liked it, but the big box stores suck to work for. If I thought a small mom and pop auto parts store could do something, I might would have tried that, but it's a little late now.
 
I have changed careers quite a few times in my life time. It has ran a pattern of 7 years most of the time. I would get a random thought about I would like a business doing something and all of a sudden I opened one. Kept it for about 7 years sold it and started a new one. Probably the dumbest thing I ever did was sell the mattress manufacturing company but I was so sick of dealing with employees and just not everyone can manufacture mattresses.

Never did leave the same town. I am way overdo for this business but have owned several others while having this one.

A big part of "Livin' the dream" for me was not having to train and deal with employees.
 
I have changed careers just because I could not stand it any more. even as much as a couple years ago. probably not the smartest choice starting in a new field from the bottom in my old age, but I am enjoying what I am doing.
 
Been a locksmith for 41 years, still enjoy doing it. Met a lot of nice people over the years. I like the mechanical aspect of any job I do. If you are that sick of it then I think you should look for a change instead of being miserable every days for the rest of your work life. JMO.
 
Try crawling in attics in the summer heat. Or crawling under houses, spending all day on a silver coated roof in 105' heat, or under a mobile home with a sewer leak. And yeah, employees suck. I enjoyed some aspects of running a heat and air shop, but climbing ladders with two blown out shoulders put me out.
 
I enjoy working for myself. Upholstery shop.
Haven't been able to find a good employee in 30 years.
 
Robert, been working on big trucks for 36 years. It's been nice rebuilding a lot of diesel engines at some of the places I have worked, been with my present employer since 1990. It's a job, pays the bills for the most part and has benefits. (like I have 190 hours of vacation) though it does beat me up and wears out my body. I kind of loose interest in coming home and working in the garage these day however.

Keep the eyes open and hopefully something better and different will come along!!!

Kim
 
I was a conductor for BNSF railway for 8.5yrs. Union job, great retirement, good benefits. Downfall is Reagan took all the bite out of our unions. everytime we said it couldn't get any worse, it did. Our away from home time nearly doubled, our rest at home time got shorter. Brass made days off nearly impossible. I got to the point that I hated going to work, and that spilled over into my personal life. I told myself I either had to suck it up for another 30 yrs or get a new career before it was too late.
 
..................Robert, I have did mechanic's for almost 40 years............I don't even want to see my cars when I get home........my race car hasn't raced since 06...........my street car has only made 700 miles in 5 years........in 98-99 I did parts for napa......I still build a few trannys a year for camping cash......good luck in ur search for a new career...........kim...........
 
Been doing construction for 41 years and I am sick and tired of it. Outside in the summer and in the winter. Last winter was more than I could handle. My body is used up and I was planning to retire in June of 2015. Of course the rules are changed now that I'm getting close and I have to work for 5 more years for a smaller monthly benefit.
 
im a tow truck driver for 6 months now and im already sick of it...i actually really enjoy it, and im good at it, but the long hours of being on call are gonna be the end of me
 
I actually enjoy being in excavating business for myself. I am supposed to be retired but I am always helping neighbors. I like to look back at the end of the day and see the results of my hard work. I can go to sleep at night and know that I have helped someone and not over charged them. I don't do it for the money but have to cover my expenses. I enjoy being outside especially in the summer. I hate the cold weather so I don't do much outside then. Finding something you enjoy makes all the difference. I was in Operating Engineers and was stuck running cranes at the last company I worked for but was not happy because job was too boring. So after I lost wife in auto accident and I got the kids grown I started my own business the first of 2000.I enjoy working with dirt. Good luck Robert finding something you like, Joe
 
Yes. Been a waiter since 1978 with only a couple tries at other jobs. I've reached the high end as far as fancy places so this is my last restaurant job. Tired of running back and forth non-stop for 8 hours, trying to keep spoiled people happy. For the last year I've been studying something new so before long I can make money in the comfort and quiet of my home. Looking forward to that day when I turn in my uniform for good!
 
Put in my notice yesterday at the shop I'm working at.

I'll be starting at the local Advance as assistant manager in a week.

The biggest benefit will be less wear and tear on the body. Means I'll be able to throw the ball with Cyrus when he gets old enough.

Looking forward to this change. Well lit, clean store, climate controlled. No more working in dark holes wear the owner fills the shop with all his junk. (And I'm not talking about a project car, I'm talking literal junk in the place where I'm working.)
 
famous bob said:
try plumbing for 43 yrs!
Click to expand...

You beat me to it. 33 years here. The commode in my house rocks and bathroom sink has a drip. And I dont care. Sad thing is I cant find anything else that will pay me like being a proffessional plumber.
 
Good luck Robert. Hope that works out well for you. Just so you know, Advance Auto bought out Corporate Carquest last year. You would probably be a better fit in one of those Pro Jobber Stores with your experience. As for myself, I have been retired from the Auto Parts business as a small chain owner for 15 yrs now. Started in the business at age 17 as a delivery boy for $1.75 an hour. Sold all of my stores to Carquest. The old guys who mentored me through the years advised me to try and buy the commercial buildings I was doing business in, so I did\. To this day Carquest sends $$$ to my bank acct on the first of every month. Built the shop at my home the year I sold to Carquest, so I could have a place to hide out. Now I do a couple of jobs a week, mostly for people from our Church. Of course, I have time for my Hot Rods also. Sue and I have been very Blessed. I do believe we are living the dream.
 
MOPARMITCH said:
Good luck Robert. Hope that works out well for you. Just so you know, Advance Auto bought out Corporate Carquest last year. You would probably be a better fit in one of those Pro Jobber Stores with your experience. As for myself, I have been retired from the Auto Parts business as a small chain owner for 15 yrs now. Started in the business at age 17 as a delivery boy for $1.75 an hour. Sold all of my stores to Carquest. The old guys who mentored me through the years advised me to try and buy the commercial buildings I was doing business in, so I did\. To this day Carquest sends $$$ to my bank acct on the first of every month. Built the shop at my home the year I sold to Carquest, so I could have a place to hide out. Now I do a couple of jobs a week, mostly for people from our Church. Of course, I have time for my Hot Rods also. Sue and I have been very Blessed. I do believe we are living the dream.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Mitch.

That's actually one of the reasons Advance bought out Carquest is to make in roads into the commercial side. One of the reasons for the acquisition of AutoParts International several years ago. They're working to distance themselves from Auto Zone in the idea that the counter help is just nothing more than underpaid wage slaves and that the front end is just full of cheap parts.

I'm being asked to bring the automotive experience to the counter and to the retail side as well as working on bringing back some lost commercial accounts. Since I can speak the language on the commercial accounts it's a good fit.

Selling the parts they sell is easy. I did it for years in my own shop. Moog, KYB, etc, and with the partnership with Carquest the commercial side opens up easily in that Advance now stocks a lot of Carquest parts as well as the other way around.

The biggest thing to overcome in the store I'll be working is that there are no national accounts. No Firestones, mo Midases, no Goodyear stores with 30 minutes. We have one regional account and the rest are independent shop owners used to dealing with Carquest and NAPA.

On the plus side is the idea that I'll be gaining retail management experience. For all my experience in management in shops I've owned and shops I haven't, brick and mortar retailers are looking for retail experience. So if things head south at Advance I'll have that experience under my belt.

Kind of always looking forward.
 
Good luck, Robert! So very glad to hear that you got the job.
C
 
ramenth said:
Put in my notice yesterday at the shop I'm working at. I'll be starting at the local Advance as assistant manager in a week. The biggest benefit will be less wear and tear on the body. Means I'll be able to throw the ball with Cyrus when he gets old enough. Looking forward to this change. Well lit, clean store, climate controlled. No more working in dark holes wear the owner fills the shop with all his junk. (And I'm not talking about a project car, I'm talking literal junk in the place where I'm working.)
Click to expand...

Best of luck in the new position, Robert. You're going to bring a lot of first hand knowledge and expertise to that store. The franchise and the area will be very lucky to have you.
 
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