Radical Career change!

Orionaut

Orionaut

Orionaut

Soldato
Joined
2 Aug 2012
Posts
7,809
I am looking for suggestions.

(Sillier the better in some ways, this is brainstorming after all)

I am...

1) Early 50's

2) Reasonably educated (Electrical engineering degree, though I have never really used it professionally)

3) Have been self employed for the last 30 odd years as a vehicle mechanic!

(Yes, despite my "Smarts" I actually really enjoy manual work and I am really good at it! (EWTP was my favourite subject at school in the 70's I was so good at it that the teachers were happy for me to use the workshop facilities for my own purposes (!! ;)) unsupervised during lunch hour etc (as indeed did my chemistry teachers, I spent a lot of time on my own unsupervised in the chem labs too now I think about it :eek:). I doubt if that would happen today))

4) Yeah, OK I am also a bit of a loose cannon :D

Trouble is, I am now developing osteoarthritis in my thumbs!

This is a bit of a killer for manual work! and is really ****ing me off :( :( :(

What the hell do I do now?? :(

(Oh and I have already considered and dismissed the options of jumping off the local flyover or taking a one way swim in the local canal! :D )

5) Added complexity... Am dyslexic which means that my general literacy is poor. (It is also why I am Really good with machines! Dyslexics are good with machines/3d visualisation)

So, I open it to the floor! Let the trolling begin!:D
 
Orionaut said:
I am looking for suggestions.


5) Added complexity... Am dyslexic which means that my general literacy is poor. (It is also why I am Really good with machines! Dyslexics are good with machines/3d visualisation)

So, I open it to the floor! Let the trolling begin!:D
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No it doesn't. Dont use it as an excuse for your own laziness.

I am dyslexic along with having ADHD, I got close to perfect marks on all written work when at uni. I hate people using it as an excuse.
 
BusError said:
Become a teacher. Those who can't, teach!
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I love it when people use this phrase, have you actually thought it through? The guy has been in his field for 30 years, now unless he's won the lottery during that time I am guessing he is fairly good at what he does and contrary to the saying; actually "can".
 
Andelusion said:
I love it when people use this phrase, have you actually thought it through? The guy has been in his field for 30 years, now unless he's won the lottery during that time I am guessing he is fairly good at what he does and contrary to the saying; actually "can".
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But he can't any more due to his bad thumbs, which I think was the point.
 
Invent something?

Invent something that allows people with gangly thumbs to carry on working with their hands! Like a thumb splint or something
 
If I were to get made redundant I think I'd use the cash to do an ROV pilot/technician course and go work in the O&G or some other interesting industry.
 
Sounds like you'd be an ideal teacher/lecturer etc, don't let dyslexia hold you back - your skills and experience far outweigh any impedance due to that.
 
Disappointed at only 1 breaking bad mention so far :p

But in all seriousness, as a couple of people have said, why not look at how you might alter the business so that you aren't needed on the manual side (Hiring people to do your job for less money), and focus your time on meeting with potential bigger clients, advertising, just in general growing the business. You might just create a nice little retirement for yourself if you put in enough effort.

I realize this doesn't appeal to your interests / skills, but that shouldn't really matter. I imagine that continuing to run your presumably by now well established 30 year old business (Sorry for the assumption, hopefully you get my point!) is a better alternative than abandoning your business to do something else you find moderately more interesting, but will most likely only do for the next 10-15 years at the most?
 
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