Job = money or happiness

[Koa Man]

I love my job... but I can select the ones I want to do and pass on the ones I don't. . The money is pretty good too, but wife tells me I can't retire... . I have to keep working till I die.

 

[apkole]

Hmmm, living below our means, now there is a concept. Many years ago I asked a wise man (my dad) how to succeed financially. His reply, "Always spend less than you earn. "



Like many other kids I know, I did not heed his advise, not right away anyhow. Twenty nine years later the missus and I are just starting to get a handle on this "debt free living" thing.



Jobs - I've worked for corporate America - been there. But owning my own businesses has been a wonderful experience. Been on my own since 1990. Successful small business owners do work longer hours, but we can control those hours. I get alot of satisfaction knowing that I can't be fired or laid off, especially in these uncertain times. Seems the harder I work, the luckier I get.



I would have to be pretty hungry to work at a job or for people I dislike for any amount of money. It's just not worth my mental or physical well being to do otherwise. I've been there - - never again if I can help it.



Andy

 

[R.E. Miller]

This fine line is haunting me.

All I want to do is have a family, but that takes more then just change. Right now, I have my own business, but I am seriously considering getting out of it. LarryB summed up the thing with his 12-1 ratio. And at least where I live, right now low balling in landscaping is driving me nuts..... people are doing jobs for what the materials cost me. I guess that I am on the disgruntled side of things here, but I always like to look ahead and behind... ... I want a family, my parents were there for me, I want to do the same for my family. I just don't see the point in spending my life to make the good money, all the while watching the dream I have blur in the background. I'll figure something out though



Glad to hear happy worker TDR bee's with their B-series ha ha lost my mind.



Russell

 

[Pit Bull]

Mike it looks like you learned some good lessons from watching your Dad. I have found that the older I get the dumber I realize I am. Just remember life is what they call a journey, and I have found that there are no wrong turns just turns. Things can alway be better and they can alway be worse. You normally think you are right but there are too many sides to "right". Hey I guess what I am trying to say is enjoy the moment, that is all you have!

 

[MxerChris]

Sometimes I think there can be a bit of a balance between a job that you don't particularly like and the freedom and benefits that it allows you. I've been working for a small Iron and Steel foundry (about 80 workers and 15 million in yearly sales) since I got out of High School, and have always considered myself to be a hard worker and moved up in the ranks pretty quick, I've been a Supervisor for about 6 years since I was about 30. First with about 5 workers in the shipping and recieving department, now for the last 1. 5 years I have about 20 workers and am over the Grinders, Arc and Welders, Shotblast, Shipping and Rec, and Forklift operators. The pay increase from hourly employee to salary was a big leap, with execellent benefits. This company's owner and exec. s are almost like family and with the move to management 6 years ago meant no more working weekends . Other benefits include being able to go in early around 4 or 5 am and being off by 3 pm, my wife is a school teacher at our elementary school about . 5 mile from work and my 11 year old daughters middle school is about 1 mile away so I'm able to eat lunch with either of them anytime I want. And being off by 3 means that we have the afternoons together. As I read what I have typed so far I think to myself, hey that does'nt sound to bad but now that I'm 36 I'm starting to think that I've sold myself short and will probably never realize my true potential or be able to pursuit a career that I would probably enjoy more. Here at the Foundry and being in supervision and dealing with workers and their personalities is a pain in the *#! most of the time, and thats what seems to be bothering me the most lately, there is no satisfaction or sense of accomplishment for me here. Ive always been a hands on doer and fixer and now to spend all my time trying to get people to just do there job (so many people seem to think their owed a job, but thats another story), its just not me. And there is my dilemma, do I put what I have and my family and our time together in jeopardy just so I can selfishly be happy with what I'm doing or keep plugging along, quite complaining and enjoy what I have? Every afternoon when I go down to the school and meet the wife and wait on my little girl to get there on the bus from the middle school and we plan out the rest of the afternoon, I suppose is the answer to my question. I can sacrifice happiness with my job to keep that, because in typing this and thinking about, all the satisfaction and happiness is right there in my family, right under my nose.

 

[illflem]

racingfan, it seems like with your good relationship with your employer that they would be more than happy to make your job more satisfying. Tell them what you told us, your feelings are far from outlandish. A good employer is almost always willing to bend a little to keep a good employee, they're one of a businesses' most valuable assets. Just a little dissatisfaction now could turn into a major bummer five years down the road

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by Mike Ellis

Big Toy, you are right about seizing the moments, gotta make 'em count while you can. I try to seize 'em, but my grip ain't what it used to be... . !



Racing Fan, sounds like you already have the bull by the horns. Your job lets you spend time with your family daily that most fathers have to miss due to work schedule, that is an important benefit indeed. It doesn't sound like you have any personality conflicts or anything at work that are unresolvable, and are able to balance job frustrations against the benefits you enjoy with the family, so you pretty well have it by the throat.



When we hit the mid-life, we all wonder if we missed the boat on "what we were meant to do". Sometimes there is an obvious answer as to what to do, for most of us though we eventually realize the job doesn't define the man and take up hobbies and other interests to serve as an outlet. The old Cummins Turbo Diesel makes a pretty handy outlet itself for a lot of people it seems!



I know what you mean about the "satisfaction" angle in the supervision bidness. There is nothing like trying to motivate an employee by going to extra lengths to get them a bonus or special training, etc. , only to be greeted with a "so what" response. Arggh. I try hard to forget the negative experiences and focus on those few employees I seem to have been able to help reach their potential, this is the most enjoyable part of the supervision job for me. I guess it is a lot like being a teacher in some ways. Would be nice if you could just send unruly employees to detention like a teacher.....

Mike I retired almost 4 years ago. What I miss the most is working with people like you. It is refreshing to read your comments.

 

[Whitmore]

thanks fellas

This has been a very interesting thread and has been very educational to follow, I originally posted it because I wasnt getting much self satisfaction from my job , the money was great but I was unhappy and found myself thinking of other employment, I read all the posts with enthusiasm and learned that not all people are looking for the same things in life but at the same time we all have wants and needs, I have been the self employed route before and found that to be the most self satisfying but in the enterem my 3 kids grew up before I knew it and I didnt get to help them out or enjoy them near what I would have liked too. and then of course working for big companies leads alot to be desired but I think I got it figgured out , at least to a point to where it will work for me, I applied for a maintenance job and am waiting to get out of operations, I think this will help me alot as I will then be able to get that self satisfaction that I am needing, I love to work on things and like a good challenge , I do think I will get it there. Hopefully they will find a spot for me and slide me straight across the board pay wise . OK the big thing I really think will help me to cope with my disgruntled attitude is to accept the fact that I can not change everything, I get spun up bad when something is not right and the next thing you know there I am right in the middle of it and getting my blood psi up . I am slowly making the transition toward the indepence of only worrying about me . Like a wise man (dad) once told me, " dont sweet the petty things, just pet the sweety things " . I know I will prolly never be able to break away clean because of my nature but I can already tell the dif in just the last week since I made the commitment to myself... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . Kevin

 

[MxerChris]

Mike you are absolutely right about the satisfaction side of supervision, about 2 years ago we completed a new expansion, new buildings and some very hi-tech equipment for the foundry industry, cab operated grinders and such. But you well know what comes with expansion and new equipment. . more overhead and the iron and steel industry has'nt been exactly setting the world on fire lately, we get alot of trickle-down work from all of the big steel mills up north and you know what kind of shape they are in. My point being that we have not had a pay raise in a couple of years, so of course they is alot of grumbling and poor attitudes with the men, so 2 weeks ago the company was able to give the hourly men a . 40 cent raise, pretty good I thought especially since it came right of the blue. But of course that was'nt good enough it just burns me up when I think they should be happy to have a job in the first place! Things always change when there is so much work the men don't have time to complain, maybe that day is coming again soon. When we are that busy thats when things get more hectic for me but the men seem to be easier to deal with when they are getting lots of overtime and the expectation of a raises and bonuses is high. And I'm with you when your right and your absolutely right about things like tinkering with the truck as being an outlet, messing with mine and my Jeep and going to the races is my outlet, fortunetaly for me my wife is as big if not bigger race fan than me, sometimes I think she loves Jeff Gordon more than me I must say that this has been somewhat of a release to put some of my feelings and thoughts into writing, sort of theuraputic.

 

[illflem]

LONDON (Reuters) - British workers were urged to do nothing Friday to mark the country's second National Slacker Day, although a poll released Thursday suggested that many think they do little enough already.

National Slacker Day was launched last year to remind people that life does not revolve around the office and to persuade Britons to stay in bed and relax on Feb. 22.



However, a survey by MyVoice, a polling company, suggested slacking was an ongoing activity, with two-thirds of respondents saying they would get as much done and would be more effective if the country switched to a four-day working week. Almost one third of the workers polled said they surfed the net for an hour or more every day for non-work related reasons.



Three-quarters of respondents said they used office time for personal e-mail and correspondence and 59 percent used work time to call family and friends.



Among reasons for loafing at work, 13 percent blamed boredom, 10 percent said they did not have enough work, and 3 percent said they hated their job.



The organizer of Slacker Day was not available for comment. A supporter said: "I can't get in touch with him -- he probably can't get out of bed. "

 

[Pit Bull]

Steel Foundry business in the blood

Originally posted by racingfanscjww

Mike you are absolutely right about the satisfaction side of supervision, about 2 years ago we completed a new expansion, new buildings and some very hi-tech equipment for the foundry industry, cab operated grinders and such. But you well know what comes with expansion and new equipment. . more overhead and the iron and steel industry has'nt been exactly setting the world on fire lately, we get alot of trickle-down work from all of the big steel mills up north and you know what kind of shape they are in. My point being that we have not had a pay raise in a couple of years, so of course they is alot of grumbling and poor attitudes with the men, so 2 weeks ago the company was able to give the hourly men a . 40 cent raise, pretty good I thought especially since it came right of the blue. But of course that was'nt good enough it just burns me up when I think they should be happy to have a job in the first place! Things always change when there is so much work the men don't have time to complain, maybe that day is coming again soon. When we are that busy thats when things get more hectic for me but the men seem to be easier to deal with when they are getting lots of overtime and the expectation of a raises and bonuses is high. And I'm with you when your right and your absolutely right about things like tinkering with the truck as being an outlet, messing with mine and my Jeep and going to the races is my outlet, fortunetaly for me my wife is as big if not bigger race fan than me, sometimes I think she loves Jeff Gordon more than me I must say that this has been somewhat of a release to put some of my feelings and thoughts into writing, sort of theuraputic.

RacingFan

I know about the Steel Foundry business. My Uncle has owned a Foundry since the early 40's. Part of the family tradition is to work in the Foundry while you were growing up and going to school. I started when I was 15 unloading trucks in the warehouse area, since I was to young to work in the Foundry. Over the next 4 years I worked every job in the place. You don't know what real work is until you worked in a old fashion Steel Foundry. Can't see through the place after the first heat in the morning. Most guys that were hired never made it through a full day, before they quit. Had to hire 5 people to end up with 1 worker that would last any amount of time. You could tell where the old timers worked in the Foundry based on their build. The Floor molder had this huge back. The Hand molders had big arms and shoulders. The regulars that I worked with were the nicest bunch of guys I ever worked with in my life. Good, honest, hard working people. They deserved every dollar they made and then some. My Uncle is 90 years old and still goes to work everyday. I know he loses money keeping his two Foundries going and only has a small crew working. But it is his love and it is all he has left.

 

[MxerChris]

Big Toy, fortunately for us we are mostly a ductile and cast iron foundry, we have gotten away from steel as much as possible, it is such a labor itensive process from molding all the way to and especially the grinders, the yield is not as high with steel. I will agree it is very hard and hot work, but as foundries go ours is somewhat advanced from our melting furnaces and the sand reclamation system and the sand mixing machines to the new building I'm in for the new 1 million dollar shot blast machine and grinding room which includes an IRONMAN from Telerob (cab operated grinder, also about 1 million) German built and one of only about 2 in the US. As soon as things pick up the owner has plans to install a moldline for alot of the smaller and high quantity pieces that we have to turn down now. We are a jobber foundry and have literally hundreds of different customers, we cast a lot of valves of different styles from 14" to 120" and a lot of counterwieghts for the mobile crane industry, many of castings are one of, we make things as small as 10# and as heavy as 35,000#. Granted its hard work but fortunately for us our foundry is not like those you see on tv all dark and dirty, ours has to be by far the cleanest and worker friendly that I've seen yet.