Varied 'Career', can't settle

[vanordinaire]

Don't get me wrong, I've had a good work history, made plenty of money and enjoyed myself along the way but have never been able to settle at one thing for more than a few years. I've almost always had more than one job or business on the go at any time. I don't know why I can't settle.

Anyone else the same?

My 'career' so far (to age 52):~

Farming
Milkman
Selling veg
Machine operator/hirer
Lorry delivery
Architecture student
Archetectural technician
Ski, snowboard, canoe, boardsailing, surfing instructor (own business and employed)(UK and abroad)
Fisherman (UK and abroad)
Shellfish exporter
Ferryman
Lab technician.
Scientific Officer
Tree climber (arboculturist)
Landscape gardener (UK and abroad)
Groundwork contractor.
Rural skills instructor
Building contractor.
Pond and drainage designer/contractor
Council housing inspector
Housing officer
Housing association management.
Private landlord
Night club and event security (UK and abroad)
House builder
and a few more I can hardly remember, currently taking time off for a 'rest' to build my own home, but have started teaching myself programming , and taking an Open University Degree (my second) and Taxi driving at night just to keep busy.

[Countdown]

Looks like you've had an interesting and rewarding life

[Lewi25]

Sounds good to me, sometimes I wish I had my own succesful business that kept me going until retirement. On the other hand, I wanna do a bit of everything much like yourself.

So far I've done:

Fresh food production (retail)
Fresh food management (retail)
Deputy store manager (retail)
Digital marketing (automotive)
Web design (automotive)
And currently I'm selling plumbing parts to British Gas, Travis, Wolseley and so on....

[rog007]

Are you asking because you wished you had been able to settle or want to settle now? And it would help if you could define 'settle' from your perspective as it may mean different things to different folk.

[jonah35]

vanordinaire said:

Don't get me wrong, I've had a good work history, made plenty of money and enjoyed myself along the way but have never been able to settle at one thing for more than a few years. I've almost always had more than one job or business on the go at any time. I don't know why I can't settle.

Anyone else the same?

My 'career' so far (to age 52):~

Farming
Milkman
Selling veg
Machine operator/hirer
Lorry delivery
Architecture student
Archetectural technician
Ski, snowboard, canoe, boardsailing, surfing instructor (own business and employed)(UK and abroad)
Fisherman (UK and abroad)
Shellfish exporter
Ferryman
Lab technician.
Scientific Officer
Tree climber (arboculturist)
Landscape gardener (UK and abroad)
Groundwork contractor.
Rural skills instructor
Building contractor.
Pond and drainage designer/contractor
Council housing inspector
Housing officer
Housing association management.
Private landlord
Night club and event security (UK and abroad)
House builder
and a few more I can hardly remember, currently taking time off for a 'rest' to build my own home, but have started teaching myself programming , and taking an Open University Degree (my second) and Taxi driving at night just to keep busy.

That is far more interesting than saying 'I've worked in the same shoe shop in the same town from age 16 to 52, man and boy'.

[vanordinaire]

rog007 said:

Are you asking because you wished you had been able to settle or want to settle now? And it would help if you could define 'settle' from your perspective as it may mean different things to different folk.

I'm not really complaining, just wonder sometimes what it would have been like to have been able to stick to one career and build it up to something significant.

[Vaud]

It's only lyrics but...

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life.
The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives
Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't



I'd far rather talk to someone who has done all those things...

[Babber1]

I agree - I think it's far more interesting to have had a more varied career than have stuck to a dull profession and climbed the corporate ladder one little rung every few years.

It can't have been easy moving between very different roles so I think it's something to be proud of

[Greg-]

Sounds like you've lived an interesting life, add Author to that list and write a book about it!

[robemcdonald]

vanordinaire said:

Don't get me wrong, I've had a good work history, made plenty of money and enjoyed myself along the way but have never been able to settle at one thing for more than a few years. I've almost always had more than one job or business on the go at any time. I don't know why I can't settle.

Anyone else the same?

My 'career' so far (to age 52):~

Farming
Milkman
Selling veg
Machine operator/hirer
Lorry delivery
Architecture student
Archetectural technician
Ski, snowboard, canoe, boardsailing, surfing instructor (own business and employed)(UK and abroad)
Fisherman (UK and abroad)
Shellfish exporter
Ferryman
Lab technician.
Scientific Officer
Tree climber (arboculturist)
Landscape gardener (UK and abroad)
Groundwork contractor.
Rural skills instructor
Building contractor.
Pond and drainage designer/contractor
Council housing inspector
Housing officer
Housing association management.
Private landlord
Night club and event security (UK and abroad)
House builder
and a few more I can hardly remember, currently taking time off for a 'rest' to build my own home, but have started teaching myself programming , and taking an Open University Degree (my second) and Taxi driving at night just to keep busy.

You must either be Homer Simpson or miss rabbit from peppa pig.

What's the longest you've done one of things for and the shortest?

[98elise]

vanordinaire said:

rog007 said:

Are you asking because you wished you had been able to settle or want to settle now? And it would help if you could define 'settle' from your perspective as it may mean different things to different folk.

I'm not really complaining, just wonder sometimes what it would have been like to have been able to stick to one career and build it up to something significant.

But you say "I've had a good work history, made plenty of money"

If you've earned well, and enjoyed you've done better than most people. I suspect if you had stuck at one job you would have earned well....and been terminally bored.

[Ikemi]

Lewi25 said:

Web design (automotive)
And currently I'm selling plumbing parts to British Gas, Travis, Wolseley and so on....

The real question is, how do you get into a job/position do to that?! How do you go from web design to selling plumbing parts? Is it your own business? How did you find the parts cheap, to then sell on at a profit?

I'm pretty smart and I'd love to create my own business, but I just cannot get my head around how to make it work ...

[Lee540]

Right now I have been in the same career for 10 years but I am, as one of the posts above 'terminally bored'.

I make a reasonable salary but I just want to be doing something, anything different, regardless of the money.

You are an inspiration!

[vanordinaire]

Lee540 said:

Right now I have been in the same career for 10 years but I am, as one of the posts above 'terminally bored'.

I make a reasonable salary but I just want to be doing something, anything different, regardless of the money.

A few of my jobs have started as a hobby and expanded and with most there have been overlaps.

While I was a student, I found I was spending too much money on clubbing so one day asked one of my favourite clubs for a job, I went from spending £100 per week in clubs to making about the same for 3 shifts as security, not a lot of money, but I was getting the same nights out as before and was £200 better off and it eventually led to event security all at amazing gigs all over Europe. I got a normal job but kept doing the security on an occasional basis for around 20 years after.

I got into fishing after a chat in the pub while I was on holiday and feeling a bit bored with touristy stuff. I joined a boat for a three day trip and ended up staying on as crew for two years, I only left as I had seen an opportunity to sell on some of the by-catch to local restaurants, and that expanded into an international operation.

We always had machinery on the family farm when I was a kid and hiring yourself out with a digger or similar is quite often a source of income for farm kids. With me it happened that some of the work I did just led to more and more till I had to do it full time, then buy another machine , then another.... and so on.

I'd advise you to look into making money (don't expect too much at first) on a part time basis from something you enjoy
and see where that takes you. If it takes off, you've got a new career that you'll enjoy, if it doesn't then at least your hobby hasn't cost you much.

[Lee540]

vanordinaire said:

I'd advise you to look into making money (don't expect too much at first) on a part time basis from something you enjoy
and see where that takes you. If it takes off, you've got a new career that you'll enjoy, if it doesn't then at least your hobby hasn't cost you much.

Cheers, I'm in a different position right now to do this..

Previously I was living in the countryside with a nice big garage where I have restored/built numerous motorcycles but now living in the centre of London, it is a little more difficult!

I do have something in mind and a meeting arranged for Friday.. a complete career change and along something I enjoy.

[xjay1337]

OP I envy you!

I can't see myself getting out of working in IT and I bloody hate it sometimes
You come across such enormous cocks from time to time and peoples egos get in the way of a good idea. Some customers are great but some are also less than enjoyable to deal with.

The only other thing I am good as is detailing cars and I have already spoken with people about investing me in a start up of my own which I feel could be very successful however there is an established and very good detailer in my area (whom I also used to work for) who is a friend and as such even if I could compete, which I'm confident in my abilities that I could, would not want to out of respect.

I'd love to have such a varied career and come across as many different jobs and walks of life as you have.
Instead I'm stuck behind a laptop as the faceless consultant that people speak to when they want to keep customers on the line in their call center longer to make more money.

[Lewi25]

Ikemi said:

The real question is, how do you get into a job/position do to that?! How do you go from web design to selling plumbing parts? Is it your own business? How did you find the parts cheap, to then sell on at a profit?

I'm pretty smart and I'd love to create my own business, but I just cannot get my head around how to make it work ...

The web design work was a bit of a lucky break, it's helped massively for me to have a sales background and be confident speaking face to face/over phone. There's always sales work around. It's not my own business, the plumbing parts aren't very cheap at all! I'd love to have my own business but you need a good bit of money to start anything really.

[Matt UK]

Vaud said:

It's only lyrics but...

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life.
The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives
Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't



I'd far rather talk to someone who has done all those things...

Bang on!

Funny how the sun screan lyrics are only a pop song, but I find so many of them so very relevant and insight.

[Matt UK]

Vaud said:

It's only lyrics but...

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life.
The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives
Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't



I'd far rather talk to someone who has done all those things...

Bang on!

Funny how the sun screan lyrics are only a pop song, but I find so many of them so very relevant and insight.

[veevee]

vanordinaire said:

Don't get me wrong, I've had a good work history, made plenty of money and enjoyed myself along the way but have never been able to settle at one thing for more than a few years. I've almost always had more than one job or business on the go at any time. I don't know why I can't settle.

Anyone else the same?

My 'career' so far (to age 52):~

Farming
Milkman
Selling veg
Machine operator/hirer
Lorry delivery
Architecture student
Archetectural technician
Ski, snowboard, canoe, boardsailing, surfing instructor (own business and employed)(UK and abroad)
Fisherman (UK and abroad)
Shellfish exporter
Ferryman
Lab technician.
Scientific Officer
Tree climber (arboculturist)
Landscape gardener (UK and abroad)
Groundwork contractor.
Rural skills instructor
Building contractor.
Pond and drainage designer/contractor
Council housing inspector
Housing officer
Housing association management.
Private landlord
Night club and event security (UK and abroad)
House builder
and a few more I can hardly remember, currently taking time off for a 'rest' to build my own home, but have started teaching myself programming , and taking an Open University Degree (my second) and Taxi driving at night just to keep busy.

Can't help thinking there are probably a good few 52 year old millionaires out there who wish they'd done all of that instead.