Random thoughts thread

[jawn]

Originally Posted by LOLS2K

Yeah, I could see how the commute would be a substantial part of the equation. Especially when managing more than 2 locations.

Working a lot of hours isn't bad, if you have the energy for it. It's easier if you enjoy the work you're doing. If it's just something you want to clock-in and clock-out of, I don't know if I would recommend it.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by LOLS2K

Yeah, I could see how the commute would be a substantial part of the equation. Especially when managing more than 2 locations.

I have four plants now. An hour from home for two and two hours to the other two. Have to visit each at least once a week. Fourteen hours a week in the car.
But... Paid mileage for 3 of them so make a shitload of extra cash.

[jawn]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I have four plants now. An hour from home for two and two hours to the other two. Have to visit each at least once a week. Fourteen hours a week in the car.
But... Paid mileage for 3 of them so make a shitload of extra cash.

It's so much easier to drive when you're getting paid for it.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by jawn

It's so much easier to drive when you're getting paid for it.

Yes, $1,500 to $2,000 a month (depending on schedule) makes driving very, very easy for me. It also helps that I set my own schedule and hours so pretty much come an go as I please between the plants. As long as I show up and all is good then I can plan around the traffic periods. If all is not good then it can turn into a long day fast.

[LOLS2K]

Originally Posted by jawn

Working a lot of hours isn't bad, if you have the energy for it. It's easier if you enjoy the work you're doing. If it's just something you want to clock-in and clock-out of, I don't know if I would recommend it.

I wonder if I will turn into one of those cracky guys that you can obviously tell hasn't slept, but has so much energy. Or do you already have to have it in you?

[LOLS2K]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I have four plants now. An hour from home for two and two hours to the other two. Have to visit each at least once a week. Fourteen hours a week in the car.
But... Paid mileage for 3 of them so make a shitload of extra cash.

How much does it all factor into what you like to do, family, etc.
I would imagine that it takes a lot of communication and understanding.

[jawn]

Originally Posted by LOLS2K

I wonder if I will turn into one of those cracky guys that you can obviously tell hasn't slept, but has so much energy. Or do you already have to have it in you?

Only one way to find out. I got used to sleeping less (I sleep maybe 5 hours per night, most days).

[Andrew025]

Why are you thinking of having 2 full time jobs?

[LOLS2K]

Originally Posted by Andrew025

Why are you thinking of having 2 full time jobs?

The idea of holding two full time jobs seems like a fun challenge. I wouldn't say that I have a lot of dead time at my current job, but it's not something that consumes my current entire 8 hour day. I don't go home saying "Damn, I'm so beat from my day at work." Currently, the day is very very manageable. I also feel like the extra income will help me get ahead a lot faster. As in continue to save for a home, pay off debt quicker, and enjoy the things I like.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by LOLS2K

How much does it all factor into what you like to do, family, etc.
I would imagine that it takes a lot of communication and understanding.

It is better now because I pretty much just manage others unless there is a big problem. Of course it wasn't always that way. Back when I started in my field (where a lot of you guys are now) 70 or even 80 hour work weeks were not unheard of. I could get calls at any time of the day and would have to attend to the plant right away (back then I was at a different employer) and stay until the situation was resolved. Also the plants were all 3 shift operations so any training or such had to be done at the appropriate time for that shift. The is nothing quite like training on Chemical Safety at 3am to make you wonder if you chose the right career path.
On top of my full time job I also did training on the side (Forklift and Working at Heights mostly) for various other places so there could be whole weeks go by where I would barely see the family. As I moved up the ladder I started having to travel all over the US and Canada to work with other plants so that also took me away a lot.
It has taken me 30 years to get to where I am now so all I can say is do your job well, look for growth opportunities and advance no matter how slow that process can be. There is no free lunch so if anybody ever expects to advance they need to work at it.

[LOLS2K]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

It has taken me 30 years to get to where I am now so all I can say is do your job well, look for growth opportunities and advance no matter how slow that process can be. There is no free lunch so if anybody ever expects to advance they need to work at it.

I appreciate the response @Tcoat. You make a VERY good point about looking for growth opportunities. It does not make much sense to tackle 2 full time jobs, if there is not going to be growth in one or the other, and give the opportunity to break off in the future. I can justify the sacrifice for a much bigger reward.

[Tectoniic]

Ever have those revelations while your laying in bed that you just have to get up and do something about?

I have been trying to find a good mounting point for my OFT for a while and last night when I was laying in bed the design finally hit me. I went to the garage at 11pm and started cutting 1x12s with a handsaw, didn't want to be the guy who uses power tools late at night. Around midnight I was outside spray painting it black cuz hella match the rest of the interior yo. If it works today then I'll crack out the power tools and make a much more refined version.

I kind of want to mock up my own gauge cluster now when I get around to installing the turbo.

[LOLS2K]

@Tectoniic sometimes a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do!

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by LOLS2K

I appreciate the response @Tcoat. You make a VERY good point about looking for growth opportunities. It does not make much sense to tackle 2 full time jobs, if there is not going to be growth in one or the other, and give the opportunity to break off in the future. I can justify the sacrifice for a much bigger reward.

Working two means you may have more in the short term but could lose out in the long run by losing focus on what is important. I know that this is a different age than when I was starting out and things can be a bit tougher now but the basic premise of keep moving forward still applies. As nice as it may seem to stay with one employer or have a good wage it sometimes makes sense to move on even if that means less stability and even a pay cut but helps advance your career plans.
Unlike the majority of this forum I had very poor plans for the future and once I got out of the Army was pretty much screwed for employment since I had no real education (I am probably one of, or possibly even the lowest, formally educated people on this forum) and military service back then was actually frowned upon by employers. I got lucky in a labour job that morphed into a technical job that I managed to build a career on but it was long bloody hard work that got me through.