Mid-life delima (long post)

[Falls]

Ok,need some advice. I've been working in the printing industry for about 25 year's full time and the last 12 in sale's. I also had a stint of being a cop for 8 year's too. My edu. is in Police Science & Printing & Publishing . I'm 44 y/o and burned out at my job. Thinking of looking for something else , but I make good money and have alot of perk's (car allowance & free gas to mention 2 of them ), but the job is just not fullfilling to me anymore. I also work 1 day a week at the hospital and 4 night's a month at the mental health crisis center doing crisis line support/phone's and crisis mental health for the police department's. I like it but not sure how I could make a living at it.

The business I'm in now ( printing ) sale's has become just fricken nut's,stressful , customer's that are ass's and no loyality at all no matter how many time's you pull them out of a jam,pricing has become so cut throat they just buy on price ( except my regular's). Just not having fun anymore at my job.

Is it worth making a switch to something that I really enjoy or would be fullfilling to me. I know only I can really answer these question's myself,but really would love to do something fullfilling.

I can't really make a living at my passion's which are car detailing and drumming mostly.Nobody want's a 44 y/o rock drummer anymore....lol

Sorry for rambling , this stuff is weighing heavy on my mind lately.

 

[alpha]

that's a tough one. it's between getting a paycheck and doing what you really want to do.

i'd say do something that makes you happy, yet be realistic. Start looking, but don't quit right away. But you're the one that has to decide.

good luck with the decision!

 

[Thai]

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence....

I would stick to your current job and do something on the side to make you happy. I see that you are going in all sorts of different directions on the side. Stick to the one that you enjoy the most and dedicate your free time to it. Remember, a job is a job. It gives you $$ and benefits so that you (and your family) can enjoy. It allows you to have your 4runner and the other cars in your garage. It allows you to have $$ for your hobby. It gives you (and your family) health benefits. So, indirectly, your job allows you to enjoy life.

There are many people in this country that would die for your job and it's benefits. YOUR job is valuable. Don't give it up...you may not have a second chance.

Now, go out and buy something that you enjoy...some people like to buy a Corvette at your age....

Make your decision in good health.

 

[Neil]

I am in sales and I can understand where you are coming from in regards to pricing and loyalty. Maybe instead of getting out of a job that is paying well you should just switch industries. I previously worked for Hewlett Packard and I felt more like a # than a valued part of the organization. There is so much competition in the technology sector that most customer decisions were based on price and the sales rep is seen as someone you only talk with when you need a favor. About 18 months ago, I switched industries and now sell vaccines to doctors offices. This is still a competitive industry but because the company treats the employees better, I feel more fulfilled. It may be possible that you could work for a company that supplies the police dept with equipment like Kevlar vests or batons or mace or whatever else the police dept needs. Hopefully, you will figure it out. Good luck.

 

[Falls]

All the thing's I have going are just hobbies, like the drumming . I love it and it's a great stress reliever and a great workout. I also have other thing's going , but they fullfill me and I enjoy those thing's. I don't feel I'm stretched to thin ( well maybe sometime's).

I don't plan on quitting my job at this point just keeping my option's open from now on. I think that you create your own destiny and happiness and the grass is greener on the other side but you have to create it or take a chance on it sometime's. People that are sucessfull in life & business don't get there by being stagnent and settling in life. You have to take thought out logical chances . I feel very fortunate to have the job/career that I do, I'm very lucky and yes there are alot of people that would kill to be in my position. Just doing a little mid-life thinking that's all,I'm in a perfect position to do what ever I want to try if I feel I want to , that's why I'm thinking about different thing's.

IMO life is to short just to have a job and not a passion for what you do. People spend a 1/3 - 1/2 of there life at work. I'm in a very good financial position with no debt , except my 4R lease. I have double health ins. coverage from the wife and my company .

Thank's for giving me input and some stuff to think about . You guy's rock ! I've been on alot of truck site's over the year's with the many truck's I've had , but no group of people as good as this.

Thai, maybe I'll go Corvette shopping tomorrow...lol , you know with my age and all. Trust me the time goes so fast and I'm not even an old coot yet. I was thinking of trading my Cobra in for a Vette ( seriously ) but have not had time to do it or even look around. Matter of fact it's mid June and my Cobra is still in storage ....lol. Just been enjoying some other thing's this summer. thank's bud.

Fallz

 

[Thai]

Well, i am a low risk-taker. So, for me, a job is a job. It is not considered a "hobby" for a reason. Fortunately, i do enjoy my job...most of the time. In addition, I had to give up a lot of enjoyment early on to get where i am at today. However, even if my job was less enjoyable, i would still do it because it gives me (and my family) life. Another example is my Fiance. She is a pharmacist...she doesn't particularly like doing it...but she does it because it pays quite well and the benefits are good. The extra money allows her to pursue other things in life that keeps her happy (like shoes!).

As for risk taking, there are many losers in life...only few winners. My colleagues often comment that they should have gone into business/real estate/etc. where you can make a ton of money without going through over ten years post-high school education. However, for every Bill Gate, there are thousands of failed individuals. It's like playing the lottery...one winner, millions lose. The odds are stacked against you.

This is just my view on the matter...and yes, i am a very cautious person. *cough*...chickenshit...*cough*

P.S.: And yes, i took a real big risk in buying a Mercedes! I really did not know what i was thinking!!:biggrin2: I made it up though with my other two Toyotas in my garage.

 

[loner]

Shoot, I'm only 34, but I'm already settling into my own mid-life crisis too. It's got me doing a lot of thinking about my life lately. I have started making a "things to do before I die" list and am struggling with a somewhat similar situation about the job. Lots and lots of money and perks, but I hate the job itself.

Here is what I have learned so far:
If you don't like your job - quit. Or start liking your job.

I have decided to stick with my job, but I'm going to start liking it. I'm going to get better at my job. I'm going to work harder, be a leader, and make the job something I can be proud of. I'm going to change the things I hate about the job (as much as possible) and focus more on the things I like.

But I'm also going to do my best to make other opportunities...

As a fellow mid-lifer in crisis, let me share with you a quote I heard about 3 weeks ago that hit me really hard (in a good way). I was listening to the Prairie Home Companion, and Garrison Keillor said something to the effect of:

"I've made a lot of mistakes in my life, but the things I regret are the things I didn't do."

 

[Falls]

Loner, that is pretty wise thinking on all aspect's and I too have made the decision to change the way I do thing's at my job , work harder , and lighten up on myself and let thing's roll as much as possible.

Thai, people that are looser's are or considered loosers are that way because they want to be and choose not to learn from thing's that happen in life and educate themselves from the mistake's. I don't consider a winner or looser by how much money they make. Sucessfull people are one's who have passion for what they do . It's funny how people judge how sucessfull they are by how much money they make or what they drive or how big of a house they live in ect....these thing's are so insignificant in life but we all want to have them and don't get me wrong I'm just as guilty as some too. Just because you are not a risk taker does'nt mean it's a bad thing. Everyone is different and I'm sure you would not have got where you are from making bad choices.

I was not planning on doing anything risky or foolish just looking at different career's and making logical decision's. I'm not saying I'm anything special , just a regular country boy to be honest,sometime's I just contimplate thing's to much maybe.

Ya know , with what we all have & drive and being able to be on this board and do what we do we are all pretty blessed I guess.