Members Daily Grind

[dam130af]

Just thought it would be cool to see what everyone does for their careers. It could help with some members businesses or just be fun to see.

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I am military. Been for about 10 years now.

 

[Hemi Rebel]

Mechanic for 20 years. Currently at Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealer

 

[wannadrag]

Crane Opperator for one of the largest bridge builders here in WI.25 years in the seat

 

[Cranky]

I'm retarded I mean retired! Started out building houses with my dad when I was 14...the gooberment got me (drafted) when I was just about to turn 20, then hired on at the steel mill when I got out. Was an overhead crane op for 3 years before quitting (dumb move but it worked out) and bumming around for two years working odd maintenance jobs then got on at Exxon as a machinist. 26 years later, I retired. Started to dabble in the stock market in 84 and have been doing that pretty much full time since 06. Had lots of great years but this last downturn spanked my butt and I kinda shied away from it for awhile. Had to lick my wounds lol. In 6 months I can start collecting my SS money that the gooberment stole from me....

 

[Classy67]

Sold my business 10 years ago. Got into hotel maintenance after 9 months of doing nothing and will hang up the punchclock in 2 more years unless I'm not having fun anymore.

 

[MoparMitch]

Im retarded also. Used to be in the Auto Parts Business. Owned 3 stores. Started out as delivery boy in 74 for 1.75 hr at age 17. Worked my way up to counterman and then manager. When the old guy owners split up , one of them offered me a piece of one store. Long story short ,Over 10 yrs ended up buying him out completely . He retired. I went on to open two more stores. In 2000 I sold my complete operation to Carquest. Inventory , fixtures , equipment, recievables, etc. The old guys, years ago advised me to buy the commercial property I was in. I still lease all the buildings to Carquest Today.Been out of the business now for 11yrs. So Obama dont tell me I didnt build that. I'm really just a blessed redneck that took advise and did well. LOL

 

[red 69 runner]

Been in the heating and cooling business for 30 years now,started off as a sheet metal mechanic,went thru 4 years of layout school and worked in the feild installing and also in the shop fabricating.I was working for small mom and pop shop about 19 years ago when I learned the electrical and refrigeration side of the business.Now I am a crew leader with the biggest company in the state and just do service work in residential homes,I gotta say its a great job you get to meet all kinds of people and work in a different place everyday,My company was once part of the local utility until they started selling and serviceing centrl A/C and heatpumps,then politics took over and we had to split off into a seperate company.Anyway its still a good co to work for.Still got about 14 years to go before I am 62 but social security says my full retirement age is 67.

 

[Sonny Black]

Worked in my Families' business first. Started my own business number of years ago. I probably will never fully retire. (A MAN IS ONLY AS GOOD AS HIS STAFF.)Self employment almost my whole life. I also love to invest in the market. My grandfather said "man cannot live by job alone" he must have investments. Merry Christmas my BBO friends. The wealth of knowledge here is so great. Thank you all for contributing.

 

[MikeyT]

Well I'm going to be the odd one here. (in many ways) I am a mental health social worker who does therapy! I have been doing in it for about fifteen years. I like helping people and working with them.

mike

 

[YY1]

Started out in the auto mechanics (vo-tech high school) field at two places, goodyear (terrible experience) and a mom and pop 76 station (mediocre experience). Left that for better pay doing night stock at a mom and pop grocery store chain.

Moved from OH to FL in 88 and was an electrician apprentice for about 1.5 years (can't do that in OH without the union dues and them telling you if you can). Got tired of the egos in that trade and slid over to hotel/resort maint. Worked at a 1000 room property for 4 years then followed the chief to a chain, and got my own property. After a year, got a new property manager who didn't like me and canned me afer using all my work to document needed repairs against me (asshole).
Moved back closer to home and worked for a canadian ex-flight attendant and her millionaire husband maintaning thier appartment complex (which was an F'n MONEY MILL).

I've always been a dabbler in electronics and music gear, and started fixing and building computers in the 386 era. Went to vo-tech school (again) to get a piece of paper that said someone else thought I knew what I was doing, and then got hired by TSS (An IBM subsid, and a really good lesson in how NOT to manage tech support), then left for more stability at the county gov't. After about 6 months (and during the installation of campus networks and then "the internet" I figured out I could pretty much run the place by saving them money and organizing and documenting things (which no one before me EVER did). Now I'm the IT project manager with 8 subordinate network specialists. (...and my department doesn't do the gov't waste thing- it's been called a model for other departments and even divisions!)

This past year I also bought a small 23 unit mom and pop mini-warehouse/self storage complex. I bought it because I couldn't build another garage for what I put down, and I know renting living or storage space could be profitable with a smalll ammount of labor involved. So far it's been cash flow positive (only a couple hundred per month, but hey, I'll take it) and I have a 5 car garage to boot. Should get the down payment back in profit about the same time the loan is paid off.

 

[alleyoopmgv]

Body/Paint tech at a Chrysler dealership by day/ Muscle Car Restorations for fun. Both for 26 years now

 

[YY1]

...and I've been in the stock market since 1998 (starting with $25 a month!). My best years have been "down market" years.
I've hit a few home runs and a few doubles and tripples. Right now my portfolio is paying over 5%. My biggest winners so far have been HP, Sandisk, CSX, Shell, Schlumberger, Ford (all sold), and currently Ford preffered, Citibank preffered, and BP.

 

[Cranky]

Been in the heating and cooling business for 30 years now,started off as a sheet metal mechanic,went thru 4 years of layout school and worked in the feild installing and also in the shop fabricating.I was working for small mom and pop shop about 19 years ago when I learned the electrical and refrigeration side of the business.Now I am a crew leader with the biggest company in the state and just do service work in residential homes,I gotta say its a great job you get to meet all kinds of people and work in a different place everyday,My company was once part of the local utility until they started selling and serviceing centrl A/C and heatpumps,then politics took over and we had to split off into a seperate company.Anyway its still a good co to work for.Still got about 14 years to go before I am 62 but social security says my full retirement age is 67.

SS says I'm fully in by age 66 too but I'm not going to wait on that. I can make a good deal more by taking the money now than waiting an extra 4 years. Heck, I'm making 13-15% on some of my investments!

 

[snakeoil24]

I work as a Sales Representative in the Chemical Manufacturing business for 30 years selling Chemistry for Oil Refineries, Food processing plants breweries, dairies, Pharmaceutics Industry. I currently work for Univar USA. I am currently 55 years old and would like to work 5 more years then sell my house in New jersey and Retire in South Florida near my family and spend my free time on my cars and helping others work on their cars. Since I am a 2 time cancer survivor I help others through the pain, which gives a great deal of comfort..

 

[67 B-body]

Worked through college in auto-parts as store asst Manager, After college worked in the automotive industry for a while "starting in 91" at a few different companies then 9-11 came along and killed the auto industry so a change was needed.... Decided to focus strictly on the robotics side of my education, been programming robots and designing electrical controls ever since. Official job tittle is (Electrical Engineer - Robotics). Continue to keep myself educated by obtaining additional certifications every couple years on average....

 

[Moparsmitty]

Worked for the local phone company in Seattle for 33 yrs. Started in the 60s installing black rotary dial telephones on 4 party lines. Worked as a repairman, cable splicer, lineman, data tech, etc. Last job there was installing T-1 circuits for cell towers. Seen it all, and man did the technology change in those 33 yrs. Retired there and worked 8 more years at the local NAPA parts store. Re-retired last May. Good pension from the phone co. and did good with the 401k. Don't see too many people working at the same place for 30+ years anymore. Companies used to train there own employees and treat them fairly and there was a lot of loyalty in both directions. Kinda sad that has mostly disappeared.

 

[Cranky]

I work as a Sales Representative in the Chemical Manufacturing business for 30 years selling Chemistry for Oil Refineries, Food processing plants breweries, dairies, Pharmaceutics Industry. I currently work for Univar USA. I am currently 55 years old and would like to work 5 more years then sell my house in New jersey and Retire in South Florida near my family and spend my free time on my cars and helping others work on their cars. Since I am a 2 time cancer survivor I help others through the pain, which gives a great deal of comfort..

Is there any possible way you can retire at 55? I've had some health issues (not cancer) and well, was just tired of working. Started at 14 (actually 12 if you want to count mowing yards all over the place!) and was pretty fed up with the direction things were going in the refinery and it was the best decision I ever made! Also, your body seems to give up once you cross that 55 barrier. At least mine has been. I can still do things but my back really lets me know that I did em and the best thing that's happened since retiring is my mental state is better which probably isn't saying much lol

 

[GITEX]

Service and install machine tools in ohio

 

[Darius]

I started a remodeling business in 1981 as a way to trade rent for a month and never looked back. During that time I also managed to complete 29 years as an active reservist in the USAF.
I am going to retire in 2015 when I am 62. Maybe someone buys my business, maybe not but I will be done with it by then.
Having to fight to survive after everything I had been working for was yanked out from under my feet because of NOTHING I did wrong just took any fun or excitement out of the business for me.
I will do just fine for the remaining time, but I think the toughest thing about it will be to keep my heart in it.
Other than that, I am a happy and blessed man.

 

[Budnicks]

a bunch of sh-t

I went to school to be an Architect/Engineer & play football mostly, never really worked as an Architect, I've been self employed most my adult life, owned several businesses, over the years, employed 100's if not thousands of people over the years, I've been a Truck Driver for Ice Co., I worked for PG&E, I was a member of 3 different worthless Unions, I've been also a Draftsman, Carpenter, Plumber, Contractor/Facility Management 20+ years, Mechanic, Automotive Engineering/Aerials & Cranes/Utility Trucks etc., Golf Professional, Golf Pro-shop Owner, Long time Drag Racer 30+ years, Currently I'm a Construction Consultant & unemployed Golf Pro "he he he" & poor boy, 1968 RM23 Road Runner owner, taking care of my elderly Pops, living in the NorCal Sierra Foothills & bored as hell...

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dam130af thank you for your military service...