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What do you do for a living?

424K views 759 replies 321 participants last post by  continentalsey 
#1 ·
Something different to read :)


What do you do when not riding the best bike on earth or reading this forum?

I'm in IT services, sales, been doing it for 7 years but changing in a couple of weeks to become an IT recruiter...(anyone keen to immigrate to NZ certainly see me ;)


 
#27 ·
I'm "Sales and Business Manager/ Northern & Eastern Europe". I work for a Scottish company.

I guess every one knows which products from Scotland are world famous?

"If you drink, don't drive".
 
#29 ·
Wow! This thread is turning out to be quite fascinating! Great job Barance! I guess I'll kick in here:

My name is Rob. I run a forum online which generates tons of money. :D [sure]

More realistically, I am employed by a US Fortune 20 company in the roll of a Project Manager. We install big drug picking, barcode scanning robots (amongst other things) in hospital pharmacies. Very, very busy work. Pretty rewarding as well...
 
#30 ·
Great thread! Am I the first/only civil (most days) servant in the crowd? I work in government here in Canada doing IT project work. This brings me into contact with a lot of interesting public and private sector folks in the IT business, which keeps life interesting. I have a great partner who showed her stuff when she said this spring in response to my renewed passion for motorcycling and my stated desire to fork over wads of cash to the friendly man at BMW for an F800: "If you're happy with the bike, I'll be happy with the bike." Who could ask for more? She's a trooper. We have a dog & a cat. The cat runs the place, dog included. We love travel. Recent trips have included sea kayaking/camping in Desolation Sound on the British Columbia coast last summer (spectacular - see below) and a visit to Poland this past spring. I love photography as much as biking and I'm currently starting to plan a ride from Ontario to BC for next summer, crossing over the great lakes and aiming for Tofino via Vancouver and Victoria.

I get myself into Algonquin Park here in Ontario whenver I can to recharge & relax. Kayaking in the rain gives me equal pleasure to a ride through the country twists on a cool Sunday morning.

Everyone on this forum is amazing - the contributions & advice are the best! I became convinced the F800 was the bike for me after hanging around here a while & reading up. I have not been disappointed.

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#31 ·
Excellent kayaking pic Blue Gecko! [thumb] One of my dreams to get over your side of the world and paddle around abit. Heard of a place over that way somehwere, Johnstones strait? where you can paddle with orcas, sounds scary but what a rush it would be.

I also kayak a fair bit there are some awesome spots here in NZ, Able Tasman Maritime Park, Wanganui river, Lake Waikeremoana,Doubtful sound done them all and highly recommend them if you ever over this side of the world. Must post some pics!

As everyone else had added more info than I did when I started the thread I should give some more details i suppose:D

As mentioned, IT sales for 7 years but going to recruitment for change of scene. Been married and divorced a couple of times but settled down with my partner of 5 years who at 42 has just got her learner license and a GN125 to learn on. No kids (we nearly had a son but he was stillborn) but we have 3 cats a very very bouncy boxer as pictured in 'my garage'.

Other loves are Mountain biking, Road Cycling, Kayaking,Golf,Observed Trials, fishing (surf casting and fly)and of course motorcyling. Been riding since I was 15 which seems like to many years ago now and have to say the F800 is the best bike I have owned, and most expensive!

There I feel better now I have added abit more detail :D
 
#32 ·
Wow Gecko - we are almost twins.

My wife says the same thing about my bike. It also made it easy for her to choose birthday and Father's Days gifts.

I am an uncivil servant tho. I work for the Feds and you really don't want to get a letter or phone call from me, it rarely works out to be in your favour.

Now that half the members of the forum have crossed me off their reply-to list, let's see what others do to funnel cash to their local BMW dealer.
 
#33 ·
I am a Research Fellow at Nottingham University specialising in metal forming for the automotive and aerospace fields.
Started work as a coalman, then presshand in a factory, apprenticeship, drawing office in commercial vehicle firm, special purpose machine design for 12 years, 7 years in Industrial Robotics and the last 16 years back at Nottingham.
 
#35 ·
I'm a senior tech and part time IT guy at an optical engineering firm. Hobbies include bikes, computers and music. I've been riding on and off since 1972 and have always had a bike for the past 15 yrs. Had a 1993 K75, 2000 Triumph Sprint ST and now the F800 ST.
 
#36 ·
Hi all, I've studied electronics engineer, but quited before getting the title. I own a small transportation company (those huge buckets used in constructions sites where you dump all garbage generated by construction), have been working on that for seven years now. Recently father of my first daughter (She's 3 months old) so my life has changed a little, less time to do long travels on my bike. I live in a 30000 people town, so here is quiet as I like it!. I'm an amateur motorcycle mechanic (fix bikes of all my friends), now studying a little of mechanics to improve knowledge. I'm really fond of photography (took a basic course), specially like to photograph birds and friends on their bikes (now also millions of pics of my daughter:D). I do like hunting and shooting (no ducks!!!!!, only deer and wild board), though lately not doing that. I also play tennis (not really well:()

Some sample pics now:

My house and one of my containers
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A Red-backed hawk (Buteo polysoma)

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One of my friends and his Africa Twin
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PS: What is IT services???
 
#37 ·
i have to say that some of these photos are real nice you guys. i like the Kayak and hawk shots. i'll post up some of my garbage when next i get a chance to shoot if you'd be interested

PANCHO - "IT" = information technology, ie. computers

there are so many facets to IT, fixing computers, networking, sales, etc. and it seems to be the most popular profession here. jinkies.

well, we're down to the wire. only 10 hours and 9 minutes left until the Springs and fork oil are installed... i have been wanting to tell someone, so i thought i would make a small post here about it...
 
#39 ·
Originally posted by Barance

Brilliant hawk pic Pancho, very impressed!
I second that! Beautiful shot of the hawk, thanks Pancho. Hope he keeps away from traffic. You get a litle snow over your way I see! I hope you aren't a rugby fan because we will win the World Cup..finally. THose pesty Swiss took the Americas cup off us by 1 second. Sorry, off topic
 
#40 ·
I'm an architect employed by a company that mainly design maintenance buildings for the local transport(buses, subways, commuter trains)companies.
It may sound a bit odd for an architect, away from all the fancy things. But it gets really interesting, solving the problems in large workshops, huge train garages etc. It involves all kinds of problems, ergonomic, logistics, environmental etc.
I like it!

The pic shows a train workshop we work with right now, in the process of being renovated.

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#41 ·
I'm a treasury manager in an export driven corporate company, handling financial exposures, fx- and bond transactions, financial administration and corporate insurance.
(Maybe someone here are ready to offer some golf hours or free lunches?:D)

Used to be a banker. After finishing my bank education I quickly moved on to international trade: the "Arbitrage" - FX trading. Then for many years employed in the odd business of foreign exchange. Worked in the noisy (but always dynamic and energetic) environment of a major bank's dealing room at the large corporate desk - dealing all sorts of foreign currencies against each other for/with large ex- and import companies.
Some 10 years ago (how time flies!) I sort of moved to the other end of the phone cable, becoming a corporate customer in the banks. (Yes, there are lunches:), but as wisdom tells: "there is no such thing as a free lunch!"[deal].
 
#42 ·
I'm the technical manager in a recording studio. Although I'm actually the only one doing the looking after of the equipment, so I'm basically managing myself!:D
Previously worked for Sony Music studios (originally it was CBS studios until Sony bought CBS Records worldwide). And before that worked for Shure Electronics repairing mics and Hi Fi catridges. So, only 3 jobs in about 30 odd years.[eek]
 
#44 ·
I'm a 'senior practitioner' on a community mental health team. My base qualification is social work but I have post-grad training in cognitive therapy (psychological treatment) and take a lead in that, mainly for people suffering from psychotic disorders.

I got into biking (perhaps like many) following a traumatic divorce. My 8 year old son now lives with his mother in France, about 1000 miles away and over the Channel, so one of my biking dreams is touring with him as pillion. He's well aware of this ambition!!

Ray
 
#45 ·
With that said, I'm always looking for a new and exciting career. I've thought about switching to be a helicopter pilot or deep sea diver or mechanical engineer or ... All these require me to go back to school.
Not sure about the exciting part, but I'm a mechanical engineer and also do some diving for work. I'll settle for fun, but diving the day that the below photo was taken sure wasn't fun. [eek2]

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And one more to add to the people who work for the government.

i get paid to pass gas and get on people's nerves.....seriously.
and from another part of my life I want to deduce that you're talking about 135s. Yes?
 
#46 ·
Originally posted by MD1

Originally posted by Mystic

1. Ultimately I see me creating business that have a positive impact on peoples lives.

2. If people get the chance to enjoy life more at a core level by using my products and services, then I would have achieved my primary goal.

3. Mark, bankers are my friends. [booze] Yes, I'm free for lunch, golf etc. No, I don't import and export but shall we just assume I want to. Which I do. Really.
Points 1 & 2 - clearly banking is not for you Mystic! Bankers Handbook pages 1 to the last page read "ka ching, Show me the money $$$" [deal] It's an easy book to read though.
Point 3 - sorry, see my response to points 1 & 2 (where's the money?)
:D:D
Mark, I have no problem making money, that's easy. I expect that all of these business will generate income and good income. I actually have no specific idea how at present (actually that's not true when i think about it). But for the first phase it's primarily my time, the second phase multiplies that.

It seems to me what ever business you run it makes money. So why not do what you're passionate about.
 
#47 ·
Originally posted by Herleman

Hey Mystic. Its good to have someone to share your life with, believe me. My wife of 38 years, and best friend of many more passed away about 18 months ago. It leaves a void that can never be filled. Hold on to her, even when you don't know why you are doing it.

(BTW, that's why I am working at a cancer hospital -- its a promise that I made, to keep trying to help in whatever way I can find)
Hi Herleman. I can understand the void losing someone close leaves. I guess she's left you with so many great memories. I haven't lost a partner but I have lost people that were influential in my life and I'm reminded of how much I appreciated the time I did have with them. I see relationships that aren't working well and I think to myself " Wow, I was so lucky to have had that great relationship". Hopefully I can have the same impact in other peoples lives. It seems to me with the work you're doing that you are having a positive impact in peoples lives. I like to think of that as a fulfilling circle.
 
#48 ·
Barance, what a great thread. Looking back over the posts I'd like to sit and talk with everyone. Life and people are interesting aren't they.

I look back and I've done so many different things from fixing cars in my school holidays at a Ford dealership, through working on electronic and electrical systems on ships to working with people and understanding how people work.

Outside of what I mentioned earlier I also do Chi Kung (Qi Gong) which is kind of like Tai Chi.

Warby when you talk about the universe I've come to understanding the universe through Chi Kung. When I started I thought it was an exercise programme. Over time I discovered that it took me to a blissful place that transcended anything I could comprehend experiencing. I was able to create tremendous amount of heat in my body by pulling in the energy in the universe. With time I came to understand things like how the Chinese discovered acupuncture.

Throughout history it seems wise men from all cultures talk about us being energy and everything being one. I've come to understand and see that.

With the Chi Kung I ended up learning that there is a wealth of knowledge buried within us. The problem for me came when I no longer could control the energy or contain it. So there I was mid winter with all the windows open sitting in shorts trying to cool down. Not a pretty sight.

So I stopped Chi Kung and for about a year and have only recently started up again. I finally found a person that can help me control the energy. Without that I wouldn't go back. A Chinese Acupuncturist from China who has a degree in medicine is helping me. I've come to learn that in his world foods are broken down in to hot and cold. Some foods heat the body up and others cool it. I need to mainly eat and drink cold foods and drinks.

The reason I couldn't contain the energy was that in his terms I need to keep balance between the hot and cold (yin and yang). So I can take in this energy and balance it within.

I told this guy what happened to me and he was blown away. He'd heard many stories of what I was experiencing and was able to confirm and explain what he knew. For him this had all been theory and for me it came from within. I told him something I hadn't told many people and that was when I was at my strongest I could see the acupuncture points in the body and they appeared as blue dots. He then explained to me that the traditional acupuncturists didn't go by a chart and theory to work but could see the energy flow through the body and even now in China there are many practitioner's like this who look at you, see the energy flows, see where the blockage is and then put a needle in to fix it.

Other side effects of Chi Kung were that I only needed to sleep about 4 hours a night, I didn't need to eat much. These two are as a result of the energy from the universe providing the body with energy. I have heard stories of people who don't eat at all and I thought that couldn't be true. I now think its possible.

With all of this comes the understanding that I extend to the end of the universe in all directions. What I'm curious about now is the monks in the east who meditate daily for their entire lives. What do they see and know.

Now this all seems like a huge amount to blurt out. I guess this is now part of my world and part of my knowledge. Before I stopped I could see when someone wasn't well and what part of the body was effected. It appears as a dark area. I also know what I need to do to that area to make it better.

Going forward I expect this is an area that will strengthen. At present my goal is to work on the communication skills and working with people in terms of how their brain functions. I'd like to continue to work more from a science stand point where I can explain the neurological processing and how I change it.

When I started Chi Kung I had no idea I would discover what I've written above. 3 years ago I would have not believed that it was possible. My reality has changed dramatically. I look back and three years ago I could say it was like I was a child covering my eyes and saying to an adult "you can't see me" and believing that this was true. Now I know can see that when I cover my eyes adults can see me.

What I'm curious about is what I will know in a year or two years or ten years from now if I can manage to continue doing Chi Kung and control the energy.

Looking back I was so stunned that I could create so much heat in my body that I played with it and focused on it, when I should have accepted it and moved on.

Right now I don't know what is possible or impossible anymore. I just keep an open mid to all realities.

I accept there is no undoing of understanding. I cannot as an adult suddenly believe that if i cover my eyes that no one around me will see me.

I prefer to now think there are many truths and many realities. I accept that everything I believe now can be untrue as my understanding grows. In years to come as I continue Chi Kung I will probably find new truths and realise that even now I am a child with my hands over my eyes thinking I can't be seen.

People and life are interesting.

I wonder if I should have posted this.:)








 
#49 ·
Originally posted by Eddy G

With that said, I'm always looking for a new and exciting career. I've thought about switching to be a helicopter pilot or deep sea diver or mechanical engineer or ... All these require me to go back to school.
Not sure about the exciting part, but I'm a mechanical engineer and also do some diving for work. I'll settle for fun, but diving the day that the below photo was taken sure wasn't fun. [eek2]

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Eddy G - Now that looks like a blast! [ahh] and I'm a cold weather kind of guy. There's a Commercial Diving school down near Philly. I may give them a call soon to see about getting a tour next week. I've put it off long enough. Thanks for the pic! PM me more photo's, advice, stories, thoughts on CD School anytime. It looks like an exciting career to me. If only I could combine my video career and CD'ing then I'd be set.

Mystic - Glad you posted. It's tough to keep an open mind in this world but after reading your post it reminds me that sometimes anything really is possible. Oh and your screen name really suits you. [thumb] To think all this time I thought you were from my favorite state of Connecticut. [:p]
 
#50 ·
Originally posted by Mystic

Warby when you talk about the universe I've come to understanding the universe through Chi Kung. When I started I thought it was an exercise programme. Over time I discovered that it took me to a blissful place that transcended anything I could comprehend experiencing. I was able to create tremendous amount of heat in my body by pulling in the energy in the universe. With time I came to understand things like how the Chinese discovered acupuncture.

Throughout history it seems wise men from all cultures talk about us being energy and everything being one. I've come to understand and see that.

With the Chi Kung I ended up learning that there is a wealth of knowledge buried within us. The problem for me came when I no longer could control the energy or contain it. So there I was mid winter with all the windows open sitting in shorts trying to cool down. Not a pretty sight.

So I stopped Chi Kung and for about a year and have only recently started up again. I finally found a person that can help me control the energy. Without that I wouldn't go back. A Chinese Acupuncturist from China who has a degree in medicine is helping me. I've come to learn that in his world foods are broken down in to hot and cold. Some foods heat the body up and others cool it. I need to mainly eat and drink cold foods and drinks.

The reason I couldn't contain the energy was that in his terms I need to keep balance between the hot and cold (yin and yang). So I can take in this energy and balance it within.

I told this guy what happened to me and he was blown away. He'd heard many stories of what I was experiencing and was able to confirm and explain what he knew. For him this had all been theory and for me it came from within. I told him something I hadn't told many people and that was when I was at my strongest I could see the acupuncture points in the body and they appeared as blue dots. He then explained to me that the traditional acupuncturists didn't go by a chart and theory to work but could see the energy flow through the body and even now in China there are many practitioner's like this who look at you, see the energy flows, see where the blockage is and then put a needle in to fix it.

Other side effects of Chi Kung were that I only needed to sleep about 4 hours a night, I didn't need to eat much. These two are as a result of the energy from the universe providing the body with energy. I have heard stories of people who don't eat at all and I thought that couldn't be true. I now think its possible.

With all of this comes the understanding that I extend to the end of the universe in all directions. What I'm curious about now is the monks in the east who meditate daily for their entire lives. What do they see and know.

Now this all seems like a huge amount to blurt out. I guess this is now part of my world and part of my knowledge. Before I stopped I could see when someone wasn't well and what part of the body was effected. It appears as a dark area. I also know what I need to do to that area to make it better.

Going forward I expect this is an area that will strengthen. At present my goal is to work on the communication skills and working with people in terms of how their brain functions. I'd like to continue to work more from a science stand point where I can explain the neurological processing and how I change it.

When I started Chi Kung I had no idea I would discover what I've written above. 3 years ago I would have not believed that it was possible. My reality has changed dramatically. I look back and three years ago I could say it was like I was a child covering my eyes and saying to an adult "you can't see me" and believing that this was true. Now I know can see that when I cover my eyes adults can see me.

What I'm curious about is what I will know in a year or two years or ten years from now if I can manage to continue doing Chi Kung and control the energy.

Looking back I was so stunned that I could create so much heat in my body that I played with it and focused on it, when I should have accepted it and moved on.

Right now I don't know what is possible or impossible anymore. I just keep an open mid to all realities.

I accept there is no undoing of understanding. I cannot as an adult suddenly believe that if i cover my eyes that no one around me will see me.

I prefer to now think there are many truths and many realities. I accept that everything I believe now can be untrue as my understanding grows. In years to come as I continue Chi Kung I will probably find new truths and realise that even now I am a child with my hands over my eyes thinking I can't be seen.
mmm kay? lol
 
#51 ·
Good post Mystic, we should catch up for a ride somewhere mid country in summer at some stage, love to hear more, I havnt done chi kung but have done Tai Chi, Yoga, meditation and after having had acupunture was most impressed by the abilities of the eastern medicines, philosophies etc.

I did wonder where 'mystic' came from and was going to ask at some stage, makes more sense now.
 
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