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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 ;)


 
#4 ·
Ok, I'm sorry. I'll be serious -- it is a good and interesting thread as Mr. the1sen observed in his now deleted posting (please put it back, your profession as a photographer is very interesting)

I'm retired, but I work part-time in a nearby cancer hospital and I volunteer a lot of time for my church.

(and I never hunted anything -- couldn't shoot anything if I had to)
 
#5 ·
I'm a freelance Broadcast Television Post Producer/Coordinator/Video Editor. I've been in this field for 10 years. The last 3 years have been freelance and trying to find work is extremely difficult. I work for 3 to 5 months then am unemployed, then work a few days here and there, then unemployed. I'm constantly saving for a rainy day and constantly looking for work. I'm barely getting by these days. This F800ST purchase was not a wise monetary purchase but I needed it to make me happy so it's in my life and I'm enjoying it as much as I can. On a positive note: I'm on the brink of 'possibly' landing a 6 month freelance job back down in Philly... [ohno] I'm on pins and needles till I hear in a few days.

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. [puke] Just can't decide. For now, I'm sticking with Video Production till I'm broke and need to seriously switch careers.

Great thread. It's interesting to see what others do out in the real world.

I look forward to learning about all the interesting jobs people have! [lurk]
 
#8 ·
Hi my name is Mark and I confess that I am......a banker.
It's a tough job but someone has to be in the most unliked professions and keep the used car salesman & insurance salesman & politicians company. The wife balances it out by being a nurse - voted most respected career (by an annual NZ poll)
Actually my role is sweet compared to most bank jobs. I deal with our importers and exporters but I'm not responsible for the lending side of things, which is where the headaches are. I'm not office bound or have to punch in a time clock each day and I get out and about all the time. You know, full on hard labour like; golf with these clients; lunch with those clients [booze]; take those ones to the rugby [booze].
Banks pay OK I guess but no matter what money I earned (wishful thinking [cry]) I would always be broke??? Then again it is a secure job. You don't have to freeze you butt off in winter outside. Having to wear a suit'n tie though cramps my desire to ride the 800 to work and beat the rush hour traffic jams. Fridays are becoming dress down days so I try and not schedule any customer meetings, so I can ride to work. You can guarantee if I have a clear Friday to ride that it will be raining - remember, my bike is not allowed to get wet or dirty.
And the best perk. What is the best car ever made? Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Lambo, Bugatti. Nope, - - - -answer: the company car.
It fills itself, registers itself, insures itself, replaces tyres and services itself at no cost.

Good to see comments about members buying the bike simply because they owe it to themselves to be happy. So many people go through life wishing for a special toy that they know will fulfill their lives and bring pleasure, often when they aren't too happy with life in general and don't realise how important it is to be happy NOW, rather than suffer an empty life waiting. Often it's a case of, when I can afford this or that treat I will do it, but the reward is always just out of reach until they are too old to enjoy it. Then they suffer regrets for the rest of their lives. Live life now, for tomorrow may never come. Or when it does it's too late to enjoy what you lusted after.
I love this saying which perfectly sums up what I'm trying to say and I sometimes need to remind myself of it when things don't go to plan, or you are just in a bad mood.
Happiness is a means of travel; not a destination.

Edit- forgot to mention. Familiar story, balancing life between work, my lovely wife and two young daughters and the dog (Sheltie) and most importantly...riding!
 
#9 ·
Well this is an interesting question.... how do I define work. I enjoy everything I do, so if it's not enjoyable it gets sidelined.

- Primary income source = Property Investor (and where I spend least time) I'm currently reducing my time on this even further.

- Secondary Income source = B2B supplier of business envelopes (employing more staff and my time commitment is dwindling - I hope to have a hands off management role here in the next 6 months)

- Third Income Source (and a poor source at present) - Teacher and trainer working in the area of communication skills with kids and parents. The objective is to help families resolve their own conflicts. I've never met a troubled teenager, just people who couldn't communicate. I expect this business to provide a regular ongoing income within 12 months. This business is about helping people find a way to improve their lives and grew out of work with my kids.

- Fourth Income Source (if I can call it that now) - I work with people in changing things in their lives that are not working for them. Things like breaking down the barriers to reading, dealing with fears and limiting beliefs, remove internally generated medical problems, dealing with past negative life changing experiences etc. This is a hobby for me and will become a business around late September early October this year. I'm looking for a premises at present.

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

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.

My life is balanced between my kids, my partner, my work to produce an income and assets (the small amount of work), creating the new businesses, working with people individually and myself (bikes, cars, nature etc). People wonder how come our kids don't seem to be such a problem. (My oldest is what many parents would call a challenge and the catalyst for me teaching communication skills. I needed to learn how to communicate with her and the skills I needed to learn to work with her are primarily what I now teach.) She's an absolute joy to be around. 5 years ago she took 85% of my "kids time" with us having three kids. She had the ability to be a seriously troubled teenager primarily because I didn't know how to talk with her.

You know how sometimes you see a couple and you know they're deeply in love and it just permeates everything around them. Well that's what my partner and I are like. Often people comment on how in love we seem. Actually we are. I expect us to feel and look this way when we're well past 60. We're mid to late 40's now and apparently we act like love struck 18 year olds. We both feel like a pair of love struck 18 year olds. My partner is overseas and arriving back in two days. We've both been given clear and specific instructions by our daughter not to make a scene at the airport. If you've ever had a dog and seen how it responds when you return from being away for a patch. Well, that's us. So I'll be giving a passionate embrace and receiving one. Does that constitute a scene? Of course there will be the passionate kiss as well and ... I guess if she wraps her legs around me and we end up in that pose for a while that might constitute a scene. What my daughter forgot is a scene for one person may not be a scene for another.

I think my partner and I are the perfect fit. It's unbelievable how well we fit together. Sorry, I'm a little lost in the thought of her.

Lastly to the electronics person above, I'm an electronics engineer by trade.

I'm am so in love.[WV][:p];)

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.
 
#10 ·
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)
 
#11 ·
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
 
#12 ·
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)
What an interesting thread, very moving too.

I'm a physics professor (experimental high-energy subatomic physics), trying to figure out how this place (i.e., our universe) works and helping to educate tomorrow's physicists. I love my work, and am constantly seeking the healthy balance of passions: wife and family, work, and Motorcyling!

Ride safely, but ride hard!
Andreas
 
#13 ·
I am an Elekterikal Enjienear :D

I own two business (main one is called - Jointmaster www.jointmaster.co.za) that specialises in the supply and distribution of High Voltage Cable Joints (splices) and terminations up to 245KV
 
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#15 ·
I'm a Search and Rescue winchman in the Royal Air Force. I get winched from a helicopter to rescue people from any environment, be it the water, mountains, boat or an urban area. I am medically trained to treat casualties until getting them into a hospital. Its a fantastic fun job with loads of job satisfaction.

Kempy
 
#16 ·
I am retired and have been for almost 2 years. I carried mail for over 34 years and retired as soon as I could (age 55). The nice weather was fun to carry in but the Winters were tough. Some of the supervisors made the job unpleasant at times. My wife still works which helps and we live where living is a lot cheaper than some places. It doesn't take a lot to keep me busy so I am having a lot of fun. It is interesting to read what some people do.
 
#17 ·
Great tread Barance, and indeed some very moving stories. Thanks all for sharing.

I've never been this involved in a online community before and a big part of the reason I spend so much time here is the knowledge I can gather here on how other people with the same kind of interests and love (the F800 that is, not the spouses [^]) live their lives.

I myself started in IT working as a contractor although I was supposed to take over the family business which I refused. The IT did not fulfill my needs because I really had an ambition to help people so I went to school again (social studies) and during that study I worked as an advisor for the unemployed.

After finishing this study I switched to the Human Relations side. Have been an Personnel worker (HR manager) for 10 years and ended up managing an outplacement center for my downsizing employer and outplacing myself as the last step [deal].

Decided to combine all of my experience and went back to the IT world implementing SAP HR for a 35.000 employees big government agency. Got a chance to change to a new field 3 years ago, so now I'm an ICT manager for a document processing service (ICR/OCR and work flow management). It's the best job I ever had so I'll probably stay there for a longer period unless something better comes along [8D].
 
#18 ·
I am a mechanical engineer. For 30 years I designed and built power plants (both nuclear and fossil) here in the US, in Europe, and in Central America. I now work for the US government, regulating nuclear power plants. I took the job with the government mainly for the retirement benefits!

Bob
 
#19 ·
I am an architect. I run my own firm http://www.allen-bell.com I am currently involved in conservation of historic buildings in the UK and have recently restored an 18C John Nash Terrace in Regent's Park for the Crown Estate.
I was also resposible for the first wave of Borders bookstores in the UK back about ten years ago until we got tired of each other!
Its fun most of the time.
 
#21 ·
What a great thread:

I'm Director of a TV post production company in London UK.
We make TV programmes.
I do the IT development and support, Encoding of media files, DVD authoring and teaching.
I trained as a broadcast engineer and many years ago used to be a motor mechanic.
So Lot's of practical experience.

In my spare time I'm a Scout Leader. Used to be 2 X School Governor.
I'm a keen photographer and am involved in various community projects.

Married 20 odd years (some very odd!) 3 kids who are growing very fast!

 
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#22 ·
I work as an IT Manager in the Programme Management Division of a Bank. My team writes and supports a bespoke Project and Programme Management System for the organisation that interfaces with other bespoke and off the shelf project management and other financial systems.

I trained in Psychology and enjoy working at the interface between business and IT - my first foray into the world of project management was when I was lured away from a teaching position at the University of Cape Town to work on the 2004 Olympic Bid.

Married for 13 stunning years - known my wife for 16 - we started out friends and continue to be friends - that's our strength I believe - we have two beautiful children (4 year old boy and 7 year old girl).

I used to be a Lifeline and AIDS Counselor and then just sort of ran out of time...

I really enjoy the world of IT - it's my job and my hobby...

Getting back on a bike is the first step back to balancing my life i.e. not just concentrating on work....
 
#23 ·
After a stint as a journalist and a cameraman and assistant-director for TV and feature (film) I went in the theatre business, and stayed there for more than 40 years, as a stage manager first, then as a director, then as an artistic director for a big repertory and classical subsidized theatre company. I directed plays, operas, musicals... I also translated many plays from English and Italian to French. Except for my 10 years as artistic director, I've been a free-lancer all my life, and never lacked work. Lucky me.

I am still very active, but I work mostly in feature film dubbing in French these days, doing the translation of dialogues, casting the actors and directing them in the studio. I am single now, but I have two grown-up children, plus a grand-son. I've worked very hard, and still do, but I'm very fortunate in that I always loved what I did, and had a lot of fun along the way.

I've always had passions in my life. I went from flying airplanes (private license) to golf (!) to motorcycles to sailboats (I had a 30 footer and a 35 footer) to golf again to photography (I am still an avid photographer), and finally back to motorcycling. You could say I am a sort of «compulsive-obsessive hobbyist».
 
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#24 ·
I work for the local Caterpillar dealer here in Wisconsin. I am a Rental Specialist for The Cat Rental Store Division. I have been with this company for 6 years. There has been allot of large power plant and federal highway work here as of late and fortunately I have been blessed with a very large portion of the work. Wisconsin currently has one of the largest construction projects in north America in the Oak Creek Power Plant http://www.powerthefuture.net/projects/ocpp_constructphotos.htm
Doodads I would assume you either worked for Bechtel or Washington Group as an engineer?
I also have a lovely wife of 6 years, a 3 year old daughter and a boy due in September. My spare time is consumed with excercise, Bible study and family time.

Nice to get to know all of you on a more personal level.
 
#25 ·
Interesting Thread.

I had a commercial photography/digital imaging business for over 13 years doing lots of work for companies like Heineken, Miller Beer, Pfizer, Pepsi, ATT, etc. Even did work for BMW creating all their images for their national (USA) advertising when they were sponsoring the Olympics. I now work with my wife running a fragrance filling business in NY. We're looking for a new business venture.
 
#26 ·
Originally posted by pixguy
I had a commercial photography/digital imaging business for over 13 years
wish i had some of your contacts! [nod]

i did some work for AMEX, but the person i was dealing with internally was so flaky, i never got paid. lost quite a bit of money and time to them.
 
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