Mid life crisis/change of jobs/inspiration thread

Cargobike

surrey_commuter said:

Congratulations Max, not many retire in their ‘50s any more.

I quit the rat race and retired for the first time at 42 having never had a career path or qualifications to call upon.

Had a logistics business that I built up from being just me to employing a couple of hundred staff specialising in moving medical equipment for blue chip companies, with a sideline in transporting motor racing equipment. A hell of a lot of hard work, blood, sweat and tears, but hugely rewarding both financially and mentally.

Bar weddings and funerals I've never worn a suit in my life, unless you count a uniform for 10 years in the Navy many years ago. Without trying to sound like a ****, I feel sorry for people who haven't got the gumption to strike out on their own, worrying too much about mortgage payments, what car they are going to drive, or whether they can afford a holiday in Spain, or Skegness next year.

Life is too short, as the pandemic has proven sadly at some cost.

To the OP, if financial reward is the aim, then stick with what you have got. If however, you think you can do the job better than your peers, it's time to jump ship, not to someone else, but for yourself, the financial rewards will come, if you are as good, or better than the competition.

As ever, the important decision is "what to do". I'll always advocate something niche, do one thing, but do it well, rather than trying to have several income streams. So far I've had a cleaning business working for the financial institutions on the Isle of Man, until the Liverpool gangsters wanted to muscle in on the action. Followed that up with making ignition systems for 2-stroke racing motorbikes and being part of the Grand Prix circuit until they changed all the capacities and two-strokes were binned from 2002, at which time I set up the logistics business and worked with the contacts I'd made from the previous work to build my niche in an ever increasing sector, eventually selling up, lock, stock and barrel when one of the corporates came calling with more money than I knew what to do with.

Paid the mortgage off, got divorced, paid her off, bought another house and partied like it was 1999 all over again. Five years disappeared in the blink of an eye, one long continuous **** up! However, money and having fun isn't everything and I was heading for an early grave so 4 years ago I once more set forth into the breach and set up another logistics company, something small, something to get up for in the morning, a dozen staff, mainly sub-contracting work to the big boys and it's just grown and grown ever since. Medical samples, local authority work and the mundanity of delivering internet shopping, but it all pays and rather handsomely too, certainly once you start to scale it up. Build relationships, be reliable, turn up on time, go the extra ten yards when it matters. None of it is rocket science.

If you want to do something enough, you'll do it. Pretty pointless getting to your last breath and having regrets.

If you've got a good idea, an eye for the detail and a willingness to roll up your sleeves and lead from the front there's never been a better time to set up a business. A lot of the competition across all sectors will be falling by the wayside and opportunities are there to be grabbed by the scruff of the neck.

Hope that is inspiring enough?

mpatts

Cargobike said:

surrey_commuter said:

Congratulations Max, not many retire in their ‘50s any more.

I quit the rat race and retired for the first time at 42 having never had a career path or qualifications to call upon.



Hope that is inspiring enough?

it is indeed.

Enjoying this thread a lot so far. Keep 'em coming.

Munsford0

I was considering chucking it all in when my employers kindly made me redundant at 62. Wodge of cash, and an enhanced pension. Briefly contemplated retiring but my son who's a DT teacher said they were having trouble recruiting a technician. So now I have a term-time job, 12 weeks paid holiday, a workshop the size of Belgium, and access to a laser cutter, 3D printer, lathes, drills and a plethora of other stuff. I freely admitted to the Head of the school that I was like a pig in sh1t and would probably do it for nothing

Stevo_666

Munsford0 said:

I was considering chucking it all in when my employers kindly made me redundant at 62. Wodge of cash, and an enhanced pension. Briefly contemplated retiring but my son who's a DT teacher said they were having trouble recruiting a technician. So now I have a term-time job, 12 weeks paid holiday, a workshop the size of Belgium, and access to a laser cutter, 3D printer, lathes, drills and a plethora of other stuff. I freely admitted to the Head of the school that I was like a pig in censored and would probably do it for nothing

That's a very good point - enjoying what you do is very important. Getting paid well for something you like doing is the holy grail.

shirley_basso

Well yesterday I got the call that I landed my dream job.

Harder work, longer hours, more competitive environment (but with awesome people) but better paid and extremely interesting.

I'm on gardening leave from my old employer so finally I can enjoy it, then start in 2021.

rick_chasey

Nice one

johnnyfartpants

aye, congrats that man!

surrey_commuter

congratulations

veronese68

Well done SB

Ben6899

Smashed it.

shirley_basso

Thanks all. To celebrate, my son got chickenpox so I am full time parenting...hopefully he goes back in on Monday so I can focus on getting into the best shape of my life before I start the new job...

bondurant

It's nice to hear a bit of good news, well done!