Another Fine Friday - Page 105 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Dee8go · #**1561** 09-12-2008, 11:16 AM

Sage advice, Dave. I've tried to instill in my kids the concept that one should follow their dreams, do everything they can to learn and improve what the love doing, and then one day people will pay them to do it.

What could be better than that? Concentrating on what you think is the highest paying career just for the sake of money will not lead to real happiness.

SwampYankee · #**1562** 09-12-2008, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davestlouis

You have to find something you do well and enjoy, because you're staring at 40-50 years of it.

Bingo! That gets overlooked far too often.

TheDon · #**1563** 09-12-2008, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee8go

Sage advice, Dave. I've tried to instill in my kids the concept that one should follow their dreams, do everything they can to learn and improve what the love doing, and then one day people will pay them to do it.

What could be better than that? Concentrating on what you think is the highest paying career just for the sake of money will not lead to real happiness.

I would be happy, day in and day out digging holes if it meant I got paid $40 an hour( and health lol.. gotta count that.. ohh and a 401k)

SwampYankee · #**1564** 09-12-2008, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

I would be happy, day in and day out digging holes if it meant I got paid $40 an hour( and health lol.. gotta count that.. ohh and a 401k)

State of FL Department of Transportation Highway Division.

TheDon · #**1565** 09-12-2008, 11:32 AM

haaa.. I'd rather be the guy in the truck watching them all work. I don't think those guys get paid $40 to shovel dirt...

davestlouis · #**1566** 09-12-2008, 11:42 AM

Unfortunately, we have about 3500 Chrysler assembly workers who are used to getting big money in the plants in Fenton MO, who as of Oct 30, will need to find other employment. They all thought they had lifetime employment with a stable employer, and are now in their 40s and 50s, uneducated, and all they know how to do is assembly line work. Smaller companies pay under $10/hr around here for assemblers, and are likely not going to hire anyone who is used to the UAW environment in the Chrysler plant. My point is this...these guys made good $$ and benefits, but the market changed and they are dinosaurs.

The days of doing the same job for the same company for your whole career are long gone, be flexible, be ready for career path changes periodically, and don't be afraid to shop for other jobs, even when your job seems to be going well.

TheDon · #**1567** 09-12-2008, 11:51 AM

yea, those factory days are over... I wouldn't just skip out of school and go straight to work..

I would rather go get a certification in a trade.. ASE master mechanic or what not which is like a degree of the sorts for a mechanic... I could always finish up my AA with liberal arts and be a smokey.... FL highway patrol just got in 12 new chargers painted the black and brown.. man they look mean

davestlouis · #**1568** 09-12-2008, 11:59 AM

Don't ever forget the danger police officers are in every day...our funeral home is serving the family of a canine officer who died 2 nights ago, he and the dog got thrown from the car, the dog is OK, he died at the scene. State troopers are even scarier, no backup, in the middle of nowhere, just you vs. the badguys.

75Sv1 · #**1569** 09-12-2008, 12:06 PM

Might look into HVAC. Good market, especially, the industrial type, instead of residential. Another side to the trades, is starting your own business or side work.
I guy at works son, is doing HVAC, went to college though for it. I think $25-30/hr, plus benifits. Supposively, he can switch jobs and not lose vacation time etc. Trades can be good or bad. Depends what rung on the ladder your at. I've been a machinist and I am a drafter presently. I went through apprenticship for both of them. Both trades, pay scrub wages and then some pay very well. Depends on the company, region and economy.
For my weekend, it a ballroom dance. Hope to do some trout fishing in PA, next week too.
Good luck with the test. I think I enjoyed college more than highschool. I did well on the first class of calculus, but skimmed by on the 2nd one. After so many years, I finally got my BS in Manufacturing Engineering. Haven't used it yet.
Tom

G-Benz · #**1570** 09-12-2008, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davestlouis

...The days of doing the same job for the same company for your whole career are long gone...

What is interesting to me is that the handwriting was on the wall as early as the mid-80's, when the Japanese car manufacturers began to eclipse USA in quality and sales volume. Detroit's manufacturing base began to erode from then on, and other manufacuting sectors followed suit.

To think in this day and age, anyone would assume that they could maintain a comfortable lifestyle forever in the same pursuit without academic or trade skills is beyond me.

davestlouis · #**1571** 09-12-2008, 12:32 PM

G-Benz, let's look at the educational level of some of these people...my BIL has worked there for 25+ years, only got a job there because his dad had been there for years. My BIL never even got his GED, couldn't pass the math part, has never held another full time job.

The dumb part is that they watched the Ford plant in Hazelwood MO close, the GM plant in Wentzville is open for the moment, but has been idled for years at a time since it was built in the early 80's, and Chrysler is on the ropes again. It's the old "won't happen to me" thought process.

Dee8go · #**1572** 09-15-2008, 08:28 AM

We've become a consumer nation. Our "producer nation" days seem to be behind us. Hopefully, that's NOT the case, but it appears to be.

Speaking of producing, my weekend was very productive. We began getting my mother's house cleaned out this weekend. That woman rarely through ANYting out. I bet she has kept every letter I ever wrote her. It's quite flattering, but it's not easy throwing someone else's life away bit by bit. Some of those letters are very funny. I can't believe some of the things I thought, said, and wrote as a kid.

Those of you who have gone through this process probably know what a bittersweet process it can be. I guess it's all a part of grieving, though. I'm thankful to have a terrific sister and SO to go through this with.

SwampYankee · #**1573** 09-15-2008, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee8go

Speaking of producing, my weekend was very productive. We began getting my mother's house cleaned out this weekend. That woman rarely through ANYting out. I bet she has kept every letter I ever wrote her. It's quite flattering, but it's not easy throwing someone else's life away bit by bit. Some of those letters are very funny. I can't believe some of the things I thought, said, and wrote as a kid.

Those of you who have gone through this process probably know what a bittersweet process it can be. I guess it's all a part of grieving, though. I'm thankful to have a terrific sister and SO to go through this with.

Your a lucky man, Dee.

My mother is a packrat, a trait I have have partially inherited, much to my father's chagrin. Hopefully it will be a long while before I have to go through all of that stuff, it will be a daunting task!

Dee8go · #**1574** 09-15-2008, 09:22 AM

Fortunately, Mom moved out of the huge old house we grew up in about ten years ago. A lot of stuff was gotten rid of then. Unfortunately, she managed to accumulate a lot MORE stuff in the last ten years.

At least my sister and I have the luxury of going through this at whatever pace we want to go. There's not a big rush to sell this house and we'll hang on to the other house she had. For now it's a nice place to get away for the weekend every month or so.

Dee8go · #**1575** 09-19-2008, 08:13 AM

Going to replace the Dee8gonator's flex disc tomorrow and do a few other things to get it ready for going to PA next week to the GTG at Chad's house. It's sunny outside and looks like it will be a great weekend. I hope everyone else has a good one, too.