Working for a living

[Nolatoolguy]

What is it with people these days.

Whenever someone asks what I wana do and I relply with "keep working were i am now and save up enough moeny to start up a welding/machine shop after I get certified in welding" they all look at me like I am crazy. "bro there aint no office chair in that job", "is that dangerous", "you gotta get a collage degree to be anything in life", "your worthless without at least a 4 year degree" those are just a few of the replies I have got. I just have no desire to be in a office. Whats so wrong with working for a living? Whats so wrong with just technical school? Whats so wrong with long hours an a little hard work? Some people are so lazy these days.

[fliffy42]

Amen! Your plan sounds good to me! Go for it!!!

[rusty]

>"you gotta get a collage degree to be anything in life",

All the unemployed college graduates will be glad to hear that ; P

From the point if view if teaching you usefull things, degrees are rather overrated, from the point of view of 'they won't read my resume at all if it doesn't have a degree on it, they are invaluable.

But...If you are the fellow running the business, you get to choose whose resume's you read ....

There aren't all that many trades left where you can make a decent livinng, but welding is one of them, if you specialize in something in demand that takes above average skill, you can do fairly well...

[Papaw]

I say many people are not cut out for college, and you can waste 4-6 years chasing a degree that may not ever get you a job.
I graduated from college in 1965, and after spending 4 years in East Africa in the Peace Corps, I went to teaching school, but didn't last. I went into something that gave me purpose and enjoyment rather than the regimented life of teaching.
Having a degree made little to no difference for me, though that will not be true for many others. It all depends on what you want to accomplish.

[Dustin21]

i fell into the bandwagon of wanting to go to college earlier this  year  but as i was researching i learned by going to college i would be putting myself severly into debt with slim chance of getting a job straight out of college. i personally dont see the point of spending XXXX amount on college to make X yearlly   and it taking you X amount of years to really see any profit from your degree..

then again there are people like my uncle who  went to college for interior design and  something else and ended up working for sears,kmart,lowes,home depot as the head honcho who designed the stores from the building  to the displays..

he currently works for  a national retailer as there vice president of  something i forget what its  called and makes  more a week then most do in 3 months..

[Branson]

There's not a thing wrong with "just technical school."   And as for "you gotta get a college degree to be anything in life"...  Nuts!  My college friends who went into the trades are all retired now, with good incomes.  One did belong in college, and is just about to get a masters degree in literature.  He certainly wasn't worthless without a four year degree.  Retired at 55, then built a $450,000 custom house, covered the costs of going to some of the best universities...  I'm still working and don't ever expect to retire.  Can't afford to.

For the most part, a college degree means you have demonstrated you have enough discipline to go through a four year program and finish it (as far as the job market is concerned).  Masters degrees are what really get you somewhere, and sometimes aren't enough.

Mind you, I loved college, and wouldn't trade that experience and learning for anything.  I have a degree in anthropology, and another in English literature, with over 60 post graduate units.  College has enriched my life immeasurably.   

But I also love working with my hands and having something finished, tangible at the end of the day.   Most of what I know in this I learned on the job or through my own research.  I wouldn't trade that for anything either.

No office chair?  GREAT! 

I was an employment counselor for a while, and one of the important things we taught was this:  You sleep 8 hours, so you have 16 hours a day awake.  You're going to work for eight of those hours.  Don't waste half your waking life doing something you don't like.

I'd just say, "Don't put all your eggs in one basket."  Keep learning new things and new ways of doing things.  The world changes, and the world of work changes. 

Wasn't it Aunt Phil who said that he learned it was better to do what people *need* than what people want.   Wise words.  Keep them in mind.

[Neals]

I'm retired now because of a heart attack but if I had it to do all over again I'd try to go with the following ideas.
Do something you enjoy if it pays a decent living. Probably the most important thing
Be prepared to change careers in the future.
Be prepared to change with the times.
As far as trade versus university goes I can't recomend one over the other. Some trades pay poorly or are about to be obsolete. University degrees in advanced finger painting don't do much for you either.  In many degrees only the top few out of the class have a hope of a job in the field.

Probably as important as what you make is what you do with it. Most people I know live payday to payday and still will when they get their social security. Having your own business is good but try to diversify your investments. Most of the welders I know seem to make good money but spend it as fast as they make it or a little faster.

Best of Luck

[Nolatoolguy]

Thanks guys

Its just really irtating hering stuff like that and people cutting down your plans.

I just feel so many people are lazy.

[Stoney]

I think that it is some part lazy and the other part herd instinct.  I made my boys work landscaping with me when they were teenagers.  Their response was Daddy we don't like this.  I explained that they needed to get an education or find something that they liked doing or they would be stuck doing this kind of work.  They said something like "that I had a college Horticulture degree and your doing this."  I explained that I was doing this , working outside in the heat, working 14/16 hour days because I love my work.  If you only get paid at the end of the week and not every day, if you don't look forward to going to work then you are doing the wrong job.  Both found jobs that they liked and became successful in their fields because they love what they do.  This is not a cookie cutter world.