New Career Ideas ??

[moparlvr4406]

Here's the deal...
Been in the auto industry for 32 years...from entry level tech to general manager of an independent
national repair chain. I am a jack of all trades and Master of One :grin:
But the business and people have changed in actions and attitudes and so have I so rather than just sit in the same job and stagnate for the next 17 years I am thinking of a move...out of automotive.
I was at my first job after high school for 14 years and this one in management for the last 13.
I will be 49 years old next month so I still have a good 15 years to offer a company.
My background is all things automotive and can fix anything with an engine, extensive electrical and electronic background, I owned my own antique auto restoration shop and have great business skills and financial sense. Tremendous attention to detail nearing OCD on anything I do...including problem solving.
When I step out of automotive I really want to get totally away from it not to return.
I am not afraid of hard work even though I do have a near 50 year old back.

I guess it comes down to "what do I want to do when I grow up"
Anyone think of anything I could do for a decent living and possibly go back to looking forward to going to work in the morning ??
Suggestions :huh:

 

[JimG]

Move to Lake Norman and get a job in NASCAR!

 

[spikedaddy99]

Jim, why not something in the boating industry? You sure have an eye and hands for the repair/renovate side, and you know motors...

Mike

 

[MExcelsior]

Jim, have you ever thought of taking your knowledge and talents from autos to boats? It's not going to help your 50-year old back, but hey, it will return and change the direction of some of the "Hole in the Water Club". IMPORTANT NOTE: Many boat mechanics that I know who were once passionate about boating at one time no longer own a boat.

Good luck,
Mike

 

[Summer Fun II]

Trucking maybe ?.

I had a blast & made damn good money while doing it. :smt001

 

[moparlvr4406]

Jim, why not something in the boating industry? You sure have an eye and hands for the repair/renovate side, and you know motors...

Mike

I've thought that direction but like with the antique cars...very economy sensitive business.

 

[mwph]

I read your post twice & the biggest thing I take from it is this... I think you must first decide if you want to work for yourself or for another company.

If it is the latter, do you want to be the hands on guy or direct/manage others. Your skill level & overall knowledge base can take you in either direction. If you are going to make a change, choose the direction based on what you WANT to do. A hard look at WHY you want out of the current job is a great place to start.

I was in the food manufacturing industry for about 25 years. I don't know your target salary buy guys with your skill set can make some pretty decent money.

 

[bahamabreisus]

Think long and hard about what you are wanting to do. I too have been working in the car business since I was 16. I sold my Car dealership 8 yrs ago, which I had for 20 yrs. I was 50. (mid life crisis I guess) I made a lot of money, did not work but 3 1/2 days a week. I had a great staff, that let me enjoy my boating. Stock market has since told me I did not have enough to do the things I wanted. I have managed a friends very successful Body Shop for the last 7 yrs, got burned out, left in June. Nothing like working for yourself. I have a friend who is a marine mechanic, works more or less when he wants, and makes a good living. He also is in NC, so our season is pretty much year round. I wish you luck with what ever you decide, but really think about it, before you do anything drastic.

 

[2texoma]

The same advice I offer high school grads apply here. Pick somthing you are passionate about,not what pays your neighbor well. That is a no brainer since the only reason you offer for leaving your present career is because you don't like it. The people,actions and attitudes will be the same anywhere you go. Wherther you view scripture as divine or not,there is no question it was written a loooonng time ago. Read most any and you will see that mankind has always treated oneanother like we do today. No offense intended but I suspect there are other things at the bottom of this that are unrelated to the type work you have been doing. I say that simply because the choices you have related to your training is so diverse that it could be equvilent to a different industry. If you don't have your back to the wall financialy,call yourself semi-retired and work part time at your present job or others that intrest you until you get your legs back under you.

 

[WDCboater]

As someone who used to work for others, but has been his own boss for the past 7 years here are a few thoughts:

1. If you start your own business are you prepared for the first couple of years to be rough? Credit and financial assistance for startup businesses (with some exceptions) is non-existent. Cash flow is a big concern early on. (Not that that issue ever goes away entirely).

2. If you have capital, have you thought of buying a franchise? Many have strict guidelines designed to lead you to success. I know a few people who left other jobs to go this route and now own multiple locations. (Fitness and food related businesses).

3. If you go work for someone else, think of how to set yourself apart from younger applicants.

4. Find a hook and start an online business. Lower overhead and it can scale as you grow.

I think we'd all like to make our hobby our careers (ie boating) but that's not all that practical.

 

[spikedaddy99]

Open a Chik-fil-a.

 

[moparlvr4406]

I read your post twice & the biggest thing I take from it is this... I think you must first decide if you want to work for yourself or for another company.

If it is the latter, do you want to be the hands on guy or direct/manage others. Your skill level & overall knowledge base can take you in either direction. If you are going to make a change, choose the direction based on what you WANT to do. A hard look at WHY you want out of the current job is a great place to start.

I was in the food manufacturing industry for about 25 years. I don't know your target salary buy guys with your skill set can make some pretty decent money.

I am a very hands on manager and would expect to be until I fall over dead
the main reason I want out is the changes in the mentality of customers who expect everything to happen instantly due to thier lack of planning and busy schedules and employees who think you should come do their job for them rather than learn how to do it themselves
I call it the Walmart mentality..5 people on staff 24/7 365 just to serve the needs of 1 customer and 1 customer only.
I still remember when the auto repair field was a service industry...it is now purely retail. People seem to have no appreciation for this craft anymore.

Think long and hard about what you are wanting to do. I too have been working in the car business since I was 16. I sold my Car dealership 8 yrs ago, which I had for 20 yrs. I was 50. (mid life crisis I guess) I made a lot of money, did not work but 3 1/2 days a week. I had a great staff, that let me enjoy my boating. Stock market has since told me I did not have enough to do the things I wanted. I have managed a friends very successful Body Shop for the last 7 yrs, got burned out, left in June. Nothing like working for yourself. I have a friend who is a marine mechanic, works more or less when he wants, and makes a good living. He also is in NC, so our season is pretty much year round. I wish you luck with what ever you decide, but really think about it, before you do anything drastic.

I am not prone to rash moves...NO WORRIES THERE

The same advice I offer high school grads apply here. Pick somthing you are passionate about,not what pays your neighbor well. That is a no brainer since the only reason you offer for leaving your present career is because you don't like it. The people,actions and attitudes will be the same anywhere you go. Wherther you view scripture as divine or not,there is no question it was written a loooonng time ago. Read most any and you will see that mankind has always treated oneanother like we do today. No offense intended but I suspect there are other things at the bottom of this that are unrelated to the type work you have been doing. I say that simply because the choices you have related to your training is so diverse that it could be equvilent to a different industry. If you don't have your back to the wall financialy,call yourself semi-retired and work part time at your present job or others that intrest you until you get your legs back under you.

I wish I could semi retire and part time is not an option..my workweek is MINIMUM 11 hours a day(and add an hour on each end for commute) at least 5 sometimes 6 a week with Saturdays manditory and never 2 days in a row unless I am on vacation. With the changing economy bottom line GP has become top priority rather than quality of goods and services...I don't agree with using substandard materials with unqualified technicians...aka I do ALOT of work fixing what gets screwed up.

 

[moparlvr4406]

Open a Chik-fil-a.

I already get Sundays off and would be fat as a hog in 6 months..eating the profit margins( NO OFFENSE INTENDED TOWARDS KOJAC) :grin:

 

[1956olds]

That reminds me ,i saw a t shirt sunday with a picture of a pig on it that said "I,d smoke that" underneath.I also wish i could get away from autos after 43 years,i started at age 14 in a body shop and its begining to wear me out .I understand the customer thing too every one of them thinks they should get paid in some way for wrecking their car IE pay deductible ,fix unrelated damage free,free car to drive etc.With the cost of materials and space rising its hard to break even.And yes there is a shortage of highly skilled techs in mech or body,most mechs think they just plug in a computer and swap out parts ,any more than that and they get baffled.Same with body guys but that is kinda forced by insurance companies that are interested in fixing it cheap which does make the job harded and more frusterating.i spend a lot more time in the office getting estimates corrected to do proper repairs and get paid for them than i did 5-10 years ago.

 

[IanBat]

Pologise if I ramble a bit, I will try not to......I'm not suggesting the open your own business bit here, thats a whole other thread.

I am a very similar background to yourself. Joined the ARmy at 15 to do an Apprenticeship, ended up on Earthmoving equipment, a Foreman in the Civillian world at 27, then Service manager in 2 places for 10 years total. Both of those were very large workshops, in one I had 45 on the floor, plus another 30 in outlying workshops. Not only the has to be done yesterday, but the fun relations of Unions etc etc. When my daughter was a year old and I was 36, I was forced to make a decision.

I had only 12 months prviously had a disc in my lower back done, so manual work was out. (7 years later my 2 discs in my neck went, so manual work now is totally out)

I went down the path of buying a business as it had always been a dream. I looked at many businesses, I didnt have much cash backing, so was restricted in what I bought. I would hate to think how many I looked at, but in the end I bought a Mobile Spare Parts Van, supplying parts to Auto Electricians. What hit my emotional button with it was that I saw the opportunity to supply into the types of workshops I was used to.

The business now is totally different, the van has gone, the 1-2 man workshop customer bas has gone. The product range we carry is totally different, and we have staff. Another point I wanted to mention.

The first sales guy I employed was a customer. Very similar background to mine and yours. Mechanic, ended up running workshops building Ambulances. Came over to me in his mid to high mid 40's. Had never sold before and I put him on the road. My 2nd sales rep is now in his mid/late 30's, I had known him as an apprentice and tradesperson at a customers, he is an auto electrician. The selling we do is probably different, I dont push the selling, I push building the relationship, service the customer, help them, te sales will follow from there.

We do a lot of products now in the traffic control industry, we manufacture (overseas) one product, and we also do a lot in vehicle emergency lighting. We work with several of our customers on a regular basis in helping them specify products on a build, we have helped them do wiring diagrams. We have also set up kits and build products. We have ended up with a small workshop in the warehouse.

I visit customers such as Caterpillar, and that feeling of walking into a workshop, (for me earthmoving) the smell the sounds I feel at home.

With both sales guys, I had to spend a bit of time counselling them in the first 6 months, as they were concerned they weren't achieving, as I said my focus is not necessarily on immediatte sales. I have not turned staff over, presently have 8, everyone enjoys what they do, we have no politics and no hierachy.

I have always been a believer that a good manager can manage anything.
However that said, you have a lot of years and experience in what you have done. Break that down, work out what it is that you do that gives you a passion, that puts a smile on your face. Then see what is around in that field, if there is something in technical support, training, sales etc..............if your true passion is mechanics etc, see if you can stay in sort of role where you are still involved.

 

[Quint4]

Here is a good book regarding career changing:

http://www.amazon.com/What-Color-Your-Parachute-2014/dp/1607743620

 

[moparlvr4406]

All great input...thank you all so much
and Quint.. book is ordered
I think alot of my problem is I really don't feel appreciated in my workplace anymore
there is absolutely no chance of advancement beyond where I am.I have a loyalty to my employer as they have had one to me.I know this is rare on both ends but part of my loyalty to them includes my recognition that I may not be as effective for them as I have been and should continue to be.
keep the inputs coming... it is helping

 

[Lucky's]

Although I wasn't quite 50, I did make a complete career change that required years of education after I already had years of education in the first career. It was and is a very tuff decision, but it can certainly be done. Age is just a number. Don't just look for an opportunity. If you're gonna make a decision like this, take your time and decide exactly what it is that YOU want to do until you retire. Then do whatever it takes to make it happen and never look back. Period.

 

[BritLady]

My husband and I had a really complete career change at 50! We moved countries, he gave up a tenured job with the UK government to become self-employed in FL and we love it. In fact, I can't get him to stop going to the office so much as he really doesn't need to as much as he did. Decide what your goals are, what you want from the rest of your life and go for it. Don't know if you have the opportunity where you live, but if you don't want to venture into self-employment (which is not always easy by any means) have you ever considered teaching what you do now at a Voc. Tech perhaps? Young people need experienced people in the types of areas you mention to teach them. Unless you really are truly tired of it and want a complete change....Chick-fil-A truly is one of the better franchise suggestions around today We know the feeling of mid-life crisis and it's not that nice Good luck!

 

[moparlvr4406]

I passed on the opportunity as a voc/tec instructor many years ago and really regretted that decision
many years laters...at the time the paycut was unthinkable since I was young and still chasing the $$$
This is far from a midlife crisis..just tired of working myself to death and having no time for life
My priorities have changed over the past decade (hence the boat name) and maybe have shifted a little more since the death of my Dad a couple of months ago. I think I just want a career where I don't dread getting up to go to work... and spend 60% of the day there. Another thing is this place has cost me 2 marriages from the time I invested in it rather than being home to have a life...that won't happen again.