Hmmmm BB, what would YOU do???

I have very recently quit what I've done for the past 12 years (working in the engineering field) to pursue a new line of work that I'm hoping will be more fullfilling. I've never seen myself as a 'career' type person, there are just too many FUN things out there to try. Can't imagine in the free world willingly pigeon-holing ones self into a single career. Maybe I just have a low tolerence level. LOL... I'm told we only get one shot at life, why not explore & make the most of it! Anyway, that's my philosophy.

Blah, blah, blah... so to answer the question, I am currently working on starting my own business where I hope to be successful creating dimensional signage, allowing me to carve, hammer, mould, paint and muck about to my hearts content! It's something I've always wanted to do, and the time seemed right to make the leap.

Boy, it's hard to type with my fingers crossed...!

-GardenChicken

Dimensional Signage, huh? Like 3-D signs??? Have you done any? would be interested to see. What would I do? That is just what I am thinking. I have done what I am doing for a lifetime, and now I am thinking maybe time to make a move and do something fun. But I am, yes, a chicken. I don't want to lose my a_ _ hem butt on an adventure. But I don't know what that adventure would be. When I grow up...... I have always had an interest in art and making things, but not over and over and over in a craft production. I like making ONE of a kind of things. Maybe I should create some HUGE sculpture, put a ridiculous price on it, and see what happens??? That is what I dream of doing. So far, I just get up, do my work, do my household chores, go to bed, get up and do it again next day. But I can't just quit my job. Quiting my job would mean selling my home. BIG adjustment. I don't know if I am ready. But at my age, if I don't do it soon, it will be too late. Arthur Itis is crowding in. :) BB

You can keep Arthur at your house, BB! He isn't coming here. No way!
My ideal job??? I guess I am like GC. I have many and I am always changing. I have ADD so move constantly from one thing to another but I like it that way. I would like to design high end jewelry and create it, I would like to learn to weld and do fabulous sculpture installations out of old tools and antique parts, I would like to go into phycology. I would like to be a chemist. How about a chemist phycologist that sculpts in iron, (big) then sculpts in gold and gems (tiny) on weekends. Of coarse, this would be only temporary till I saw something else interesting. Lately I've been fantasizing about owning a factory.
Jo

A factory? What kind of factory? What would fantasize producing??? BB

Sometimes what we think would be a dream job is not. Don't think i've ever had one. Everyone is right, life is too short, many things to do and learn. After 9 years of owning a business i needed a change. When you get to know the irs on a first name basis its time to go. Anyways, sold the business and took a job that meant nothing, figured i'd stay awhile then move on. Money isn't as great, but its fun and different and the irs problems are someone elses. The moved really changed me, i do NOT regret the move even though the new job is not a career.

Selling art and craft pieces is also fun. Did that too. Only 2 drawbacks i found.. first was i needed to get out of the house a bit, all that time at home didn't break up the days. Second problem, if someone wants a large quantity of something it robs your creative side, not being able to move on to something else you want to try. If i wanted to sell now, i'd do it on ebay.

If you think a move will make your life better then go for it. I know too many people who absolutely hate what they are doing. I may not know at this point what i want, but i am definite on what i don't want. hope this makes sense. good luck, angie

If I could start all over, I would go to school and study landscape engineering and then be a garden designer, with a special interest in childrens' play spaces.

There is an incredible difference between the 12' X 12' chain-linked, plastic-climber play yards that you see at the back of so many childcare centers and enriched and well-designed outdoor learning environments with many different surfaces, textures, smells and things to experience. I also think that children today don't have the opportunities for free-ranging outdoor play that I had as a child. I'd like to design spaces that give them a chance to explore.

Deb

So Deb... why don't you?

Good question, GC. I guess because of age, lack of education/experience in that field and mostly because of security.

At 47 I'm not sure I'm willing to retrain and start a new career. I have a two-year early childhood degree but stopped teaching govt. preschool for low-income families because there was absolutely no money in it. I couldn't make a living wage. Instead, I went into clerical work for the school district I was working for. The health insurance, retirement and paid vacation days take on more and more importance as time goes on. Now I'm close to moving into an administrative position and I guess the allure of going out on a limb with something I'd really love is overshadowed by safety and security.

Enjoying my grandkids and giving them places to explore while working in my own yard and at hobbies is a good enough outlet for me. It's fun to dream, though!

Deb

Deb, that sounded like a really nice thing to do. Maybe you could start out on weekends doing play yards for people you know. I do understand the security and insurance thing though. My DH just early retired and we now have no health insurance. He says, "If you get sick, your gonna die." Well, if ya gotta go, ya gotta go. I will just have to visit the nieghborhood witch doctor.

Deb, I think Jo has a good idea. Start by doing yards of people you know. Do it in a safe, low risk fashion. Also, maybe you could approach it as a community project in the same fashion as "Extreme Home Makeover" (but much smaller scale, of course); see if there's a community resource (or create the community resource) for helping out lower income playgrounds or hospitals, ask the city to provide the insurance, liability and the civil engineer to oversee the project and scout for some local business(es) that would be interested in donating the landscaping, materials and maybe some of the labor for the tax deduction and the publicity, then make sure it becomes a news article and that your name, along with the other contributors are posted in the park. You could also get experience by becoming a weekend intern for some landscaping company that does that sort of thing. Just because someone goes to college for a skill doesn't mean that they'll have the talent for it. I've worked with engineers and it's not always what it's cracked up to be. They usually have to rely on somebody with artistic/creative talent.

Jo, I'm self-employed and provide my own insurance and right now I think the whole situation sucks. I think putting the money into a boat--you know, the hole in the water that you throw money into--would be a better investment. Insurance premiums: the 6 foot hole in the ground you throw money into. You pay outrageous premiums only to have them find excuses of why they won't pay the bills. I think I'm going back to a cash basis with the doctor and praying...seems more reasonable.

Deb,

Are you close in proximity to Dena? I think if you two talented women got together, y'all could tear up the town with this idea. I know Dena did a really cool project for a school--things like that lead to a great portfolio, written and "word of mouth" references.

'Dedicating' a community project in memory of someone or in honour of someone is also a good way to get government and community support. Years ago a friend passed away suddenly and as a tribute to his love of kids we took it upon ourselves to make over a local playground that was in desperate need of help.

The transformation was amazing, and appreciated by the community. And we did hire a playground designer to make sure everything was to code, but it lacked what I'd call creativity (ahem, that's where you'd come in Deb!).

Oh, and yes BB, that would be 3D signage, complete with gold leaf and all the goodies. I have done some signmaking in the past, but nothing this challenging.

As fot the insurance, I guess we (Canucks) take our health care system for granted sometimes, having basic health care coverage is not an issue (although I'm sure some would argue). I can certainly see how that would limit opportunities and make change difficult. Talk about added stress!

My brother did signmaking most of his life, mostly painted by hand. Did some beautiful herons and cattle and such. Another friend did sandblasted wooden signs. He would cover what was to be the raised part, sand blast away the rest so it has hollows with the harder grain of the wood raised. Those were neat. They were left to naturally age to soft grey. How would you make yours 3-D? BB

Dena and I are not too far apart, as the crow flies. Driving would take about two hours because we are at opposite ends of Puget Sound. She is north of Seattle (I think) and I am west of Tacoma, close to the Olympic Peninsula. It would probably be easier to take the ferry but the travel time wouldn't be shorter.

Even given the travel time, I would love to team up with Dena on something--she's my idol!

Deb

BB, I will be hand carving the incised lettering, and if I can team up with someone who has a sandblaster I'd like to give that a try too. As for the raised stuff, it will be (again) hand carved from foam and/or built up using epoxy. I'm still pretty new at this aspect of it, and will learn as required.

Still have to get my first 'real job'... I'm not much of a salesman... and that might be my failing.

I truly admire the signmakers who can hand letter with a brush. What a talent! I take it your brother is no longer making signs?

My brother still does the occasional handpainted sign when a friend or old customer asks, but he had to take a real job with benfits to make money. He works for the State, teaches art and drafting at the prison. He would rather be doing signs, but...... oh well. BB

Hey all,

Deb, I'm sort of in the same situation as you.

"At 47 I'm not sure I'm willing to retrain and start a new career...The health insurance, retirement and paid vacation days take on more and more importance as time goes on....I guess the allure of going out on a limb with something I'd really love is overshadowed by safety and security."

I am also 47 and have worked at a university for 12 yrs, which has a pension plan I've been paying into all along. It would be really hard to justify walking away from that kind of security, especially since the news seems to always have something about the demise of Social Security in the near future. Plus, I just bought a house with my best friend that will be paid off when I'm 77, if we continue with the basic payment plan (hopefully, not.)

Since I will probably be working the same type of job for the forseeable future, I have been taking every opportunity to expand my knowledge in the direction I hope to one day move in, i.e., I take every construction, landscaping, gardening class I can find, I've joined several garden clubs, etc. I plan to take a Master Gardening course in the near future. Through the university I work for, I will be able to take an Artificial Rock Contruction course this spring on their dime.

I hope to find a niche in hypertufa/concrete sculpture that will bring in much needed extra income that can be put toward the house or investing for that rainy day (which, in New Mexico, rarely comes except in a metaphorical sense. ;D)

So, even though I'm not able to work at my dream job right now, I'm happy with my plans and actions with an eye toward the future.

Tah!

I have to put my 2 cents in too- my dream job would be as either an educational toy designer (my inner child is still alive & well) or a photographer- would fit in nicely with your landscaping / signage / etc business hehe! too bad I live way down here in NV. I would want to do Children's portraits & nature photography. If only I had that super duper expensive camera & studio setup I drool over....

I love photography too. Friend of mine takes closeups of flowers on her digital and photoshops in a black background. They come out sooo pretty! They make you think that is is some beautiful airbrushed painting.

Here's a little something for you...

{{gwi:65454}}

OOOOOOhhh.. That's nice! I just discovered I have photoshop 7 on my computer. I bought my ibook on ebay used and had no idea! It's like I have a new toy! Macro is my thing, and especially with flowers. I have been using 35mm cause I love having nice glossys. Now it looks like it is digital time.

Sooo...if you could turn back time, what would you all do differently??
I'm 26 and I'm working at a Credit Union and I'm starting to realize that this is NOT what I want to do for the rest of my life. I really want to open my own business, and I am looking at making hypertufa planters and garden ornaments (part time so that I can have kids somewhere in there). I'm not sure if this is a wise move or not...and what my husband will think of it...and whether or not it will make me any money! I would love to be a stay-at-home-mom that could see my kids on a daily basis, while still making money!
If you had to do it all over again, would you follow your dreams (or follow the paycheck?)
Seriously confused in the corporate world

charcoal

What would I do differently? That is easy. I would've done what I wanted to do instead of buying into the 'one life - one career' BS the high school councellors insisted on. It has taken me a long time to realize (duh!) that to really be happy and content I need to do what is right for me. This is a topic near and dear to my heart... I could go on and on, but I'll spare you! LOL

You are fortunate that at 26 you realize what WON'T work for you. If you are lucky enough not to HAVE to stay at a job that's not working for you, then take advantage of it and chase your dream.

-GC

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel both... Guess what Robert! You can!

Growing up I heard "Make a decision and stick with it".
23 years ago a mentor told me that "I could change my mind, decisions are made based on info we have when we made the decision". Info changes so why shouldn't our decision"?

I needed to drop the phrase "Starting Over", it was too negative, I felt like a failure by societal standards. I chose to reevaluate my past decisions and "Change Direction".

I realized that all my past mistakes, failures and belief that decisions were forever were the very things that put me in a position to "Change Direction". This along with listening to people that knew more than I do/did put me in a position to own my business.

When I was deciding to buy the business I remember not thinking "How Much Money Will I Make" I was thinking "I will get to do something I am good at the way I beleive it needs to be done."
I am glad I do not work for anyone else.
I do not like all the things that go along with owning a business. 2 weeks ago I spent the night on the floor because someone tried to break in. BUT I am glad it is my floor I was sleeping on. I am Glad I took the plunge.
Tomorrow you might be able to buy me out for a quarter.

Michael

I agree, Past mistakes and unproductive experiances are only learning tools. Using them as rungs on a ladder is more productive then thinking of them as failures. Growth comes only with change and taking risks can't kill you, so if you have a dream, go for it! Take this from someone who is constantly reinventing herself and not rich but still surviving. Entrepreneur and loving it! Â

Michael, what kind of business do you have?
Jo

Charcoal, just a suggestion that might work for you in your situation. I take it that you don't have kids at this time. Since you have a day time job that has the "steady" income, benefits and security, why don't you do the hypertufa as an evening and weekend job initially. This way you can get the feel of what you're in for and you'll still have business contacts which might come in handy for your "other" business--those contacts can be a necessity. Luckily the hypertufa could conform more to these odd hours than some other businesses that you might choose plus you'll still have the income to "support" your new founded business. Get a taste what it's like dealing with the new clientele, marketing and TAXES (and all the extra forms that comes with that) and see if it suits you. Some people "dream" of starting their own business all of their lives and never do it. Some do it and realize that they don't really want it after all and some do it and love it so much that they'll do whatever it takes to keep it that way. Just think of it as "working into your dream."

I guess we'll have to form a Hypertufa Community and give each other jobs. We'll have the Experimentals, who work to develop new and exciting types of 'tufa ingredients and applications; the Sales force who network around the world to sell our works; Webmasters and graphic artists to publicize our community on the Internet; an Outreach program to involve the community and get newbies involved; tons of part-timers who come on day passes to play in the mudhole; Child 'Tufa Educators; a city constructed entirely of 'tufa...

Oops. Sorry, daydreaming for a bit.

Good timing with this post, though, BB. Guess I too will need to do some serious career introspection soon. I know what I don't want: Dilbert.com souless mindless minion buzzword bingo-ism. Yuk.

I'm a quick ferry ride from Vermont so maybe I'll look in the Burlington classifieds under "Granola Cruncher."

LOL I'm really helping you with this post, aren't I, BB? :-) IAG.

peak

Peak, what is IAG???? In a Groove??? Since you are temporarily out of work, maybe you could do what you said above??? We could submit our works to you, Oh Tufa One, and you could advertise and sell them all over the world. I still need to find something BIG to make. To sell for LOTS of money. That way, I only need to make a few a year to make a living. That way, I could sell my farm, and have a way to make a living. As it is, I am scared to sell up and lose my security. Ah, well, I can still dream. BB

It's All Good!

Your idea of big works immediately triggered the thought that you'd have to make the work in place, so that would also give you the opportunity to travel!

I ain't much of a salesman, prolly better as the Mad 'Tufa Scientist or working developing the text for the web page.

Somehow I think that the inexact art/science of hypertufa is conducive to dreaming :-)

peak

I am thinking of producing giant tufa legos for building sheds, walls, lawn mower hiders, outhouses, etc. How many blocks you need? Want to build a one holer, two holer?
Peak, nice to see your return! Now inspire us!

Jo, you are funny. But legos is not a bad concept. Hmmm. Make it a three holer, the more the merrier!!!

Hi all,

This is an old post, and I am a "new" member, that has followed the forum for several years. But this subject is close to my heart, and I HAD to post....

I am a HUGE muppets fan... and at the end of "The Muppet Movie" they sing a song, and the one line, has ALWAYS stuck with me...

"Life is like a movie, make your own ending; keep believing and pretending..."

Now if I could only figure out how to apply that to MY own life...

I just finished working for a "fair-trade organic coffee roasters co-op". My last day was in July, and I'm still traumatized. That was the worst place I ever worked - because I never expected it to be bad, and the owners (not a real co-op) kept telling us that it was the best place in the province to be employed.

Now what? I am 47 too! I'm singing lots, loving the "bell register" - think Maria Carey. It's hard to sing with the dust respirator on, but I do what I can. I am developing a hypertufa planter, birdbath, column, and so on business. DH is going back to working 5 days per week (boo), so my plan is to be able to spring him, soon.
My dream job allows me to work 2 afternoons per week at my son's democratic school, and grow a business based in our 1970's attached greenhouse for now. The shed outside will receive me by the fall, I hope.

I want to do physical work (balances out the bookkeeping at the school), in a very sunny spot (lots of windows), where I can balance R&D with production. Will my spot selling at the farm market allow me to fund this project before my employment insurance and settlement run out? Oh, I'm aiming for that.
Mercedes

I originally posted on Dec 6th and as I re-read my post I found that I still want what I listed then...but there has been a subtle shift in how I plan to go about freeing up time to tufa at will.

My housemate is currently on track to become a medical transcriptionist/coder and I'm right behind her, using my educational benefits from work to cover the tuition. Transcribing and coding for hospitals/doctors offices can be done at home and each job pays pretty well to boot. Coding starts at $16.00/hr.

I hope to be working at least part-time (I know, it eats into the tufa-time, but it's working towards the goal of working at home) in transcribing within a year while I continue to work and take classes. I hope to be certified in coding within 2 years. At that point I can potentially work for the University Hospital, which will allow me to continue to work towards my retirement from home.

A local, established medical transciptionist is looking to retire from her home-based business by sponsoring other transcriptionists. She will coordinate and schedule the jobs for others, taking a cut of the take, so that she still has income without the work of transcribing. It saves the work of building up a client list and there will be a built-in support system as well.

BTW, this lady made $76K with her transcribing business last year, working on her own. I think I could live on that...;D

Anyhoo, I'm still taking the Artificial Rockwork classes this June and July. In fact, I'll be taking one of the classes on my 48th birthday. Can't think of a better way to spend it.

I'll continue working at the University until I can afford to leave or until I can laterally move to the hospital. Gotta pay the mortgage.

NM Jo

My dream job would be running a plant nursery and raising and training dogs. I'd much rather be outside with my dogs all day than dealing with people. My suggestions for you youngsters out there, would be to always keep your options open. My mistake was buying a house. Nothing will nail you down like a house and car payment.
I'm with you Peak, no more cube farms!

My dream job would be no job and lots of money coming in, kinda like winning the lottery.

I like olddutchman's "changing directions". At the time I needed to do that, I found it very hard to accept. My husband and I found ourselves starting over after 9 years of putting all our efforts into a business. We did commercial airplane gears and after the 9/11 attacks, the industry dried up. Over night practically.

So, one day my husband comes home and shows me this mold he made for a fishing lure. He said he was going to put it up for sale on the Internet. I told him noone was going to buy that kind of crap.

Fast forward two years, and it's all I do: trying to keep up with our Internet store. It's not my dream job, but I never dreamed I would be doing any thing close to it. Sometimes you just have to give those ideas a chance.

And now I think anything my husband wants to sell on the internet is a good idea :)

I would love to have a nursery specializing in aquatic plants, antique roses and unusual tropicals, and garden junk and things for the garden. I've thought about doing it but I have so much work to do trying to keep up with all I have and do, I don't suppose I ever will.