Career Change

[Pappy]

Yep, at 35 I will be soon looking for a career change. After 15 years with the same company ive decided to move on when the owner retires. I have the option to try and purchase the business but in my heart I know it will kill me with stress. (i know this because i have been running it for the past 7 years)


So, my options are unclear. I could get a schmo job, I could open a business of my own....I just havent decided in what field:p

I want a career that will allow me freedom to persue what ive started with atv's and bikes, and ofcourse my sons racing. I was thinking hard of buying a few dump trucks or even expanding my other business into a more diverse field.

any suggestions? be gentle, i wish i was joking or could take this all lightly:p

[TWISTED]

If I was you, I would try and stay with the quads. I'm pretty sure you can make it. God knows you've got plenty of contacts. If I know this is your fulltime gig I'll definately deal with you!!! I'm all about the little man in business!!!!

[Warnerade]

stress....pfft

[Pappy]

if i did a business in the atv, bike and street bike field it would pertain to local business, which is fine. the internet os my get away and turning it into a business would drive me up teh wall...lol

[JOEX]

Originally posted by Pappy
if i did a business in the atv, bike and street bike field it would pertain to local business, which is fine. the internet os my get away and turning it into a business would drive me up teh wall...lol
Your 'get away' sure seems like a business lol! :p

Sometimes it's nice to have a job that is totally different than what you really like to do. That way you have a relief from both.

[Warnerade]

this is probably totaly off the wall...but you ever consider photography?

you take some pretty good photos, and could easily put that to use as a partime job probably.

[CaptainCanuck]

Do you have alot of money? Please, I dont wanna make this personal but if you have some to invest (which by the looks of it you do), purchase a gravel pit and start a company based out of it. I know alot of guys who have made a fortune doing this.

[TWISTED]

DOES HE HAVE ALOT OF MONEY???? Of course he does.... He's Pappy!!!!

[TRX_450]

open up ur own dealership......like k&k build race quads and have stock ones plus other stuff too...

[Pappy]

lol..i wish i had money. ive turned down my last 6 raises because the business didnt need more taken from it and i was allowed to come and go at my liesure.


i can get financing for almost anything, and as cheap as money is right now it would be better to use the banks instead of my savings.

the area i moved into has no real good atv repair shop except the stealerships. 4x4's and regular sport quads are plentiful, some racing types also, and tons...i mean tons of street bikes that sit all winter just begging to be tweaked.

but again, you put your "fun" into a business and the "fun" disappears.

you turn atv's into your job and you more than likely wont like them like you usually do. but you are around them alot more then everyone prob. anyways so who knows.

[400exrules]

the dump truck idea is a good one, they make pretty good money

my uncle is like 50, and he's retired from workin on oil rigs out in the gulf, and he drives dump trucks now, but he has a 5,000 acre deer camp, and more then 1 house..............ya, he's got money. Might get boring, but drivin these trucks wouldnt be a bad idea

[Pappy]

Originally posted by NacsRacer027
this is probably totaly off the wall...but you ever consider photography?

you take some pretty good photos, and could easily put that to use as a partime job probably.

believe it or not, along time ago i took a break from my day job to get refocused before taking on the responsibility of running the business. i had studied photography for years and gave it a try. i did well, but hate funerals (weddings:o ) and at that time dealing with editors was a total nightmare. nowadays its different with digital and email..lol but id probably just be satisfied doing it as a hobby as i have for the past 20 years

[TWISTED]

How about something like Rausch Creek? Got any land???

[Pappy]

a riding spot would be cool, but im friends with rausch creek and breezewood and wouldnt want to go into competition with them. yes..i have morals..lol


id love to keep the business i have with powdercoating and local parts sales growing, but i think it will take more then that to keep the fridge full. the dumptruck idea has been in my head for sometime as this region is booming with no end in site. ofcourse i can operate anything with wheels, but i have no expierence in day to day operations or the actual processes that go into running the truck itself (ie: ive never dumoed stone 4 inches thick for 300 yards, ive never backed to an asphalt layer etc)

[mrusk]

You won't make money as just a repair shop. The money is in selling used bikes. In my town we have a guys that sells, gear, parts, repairs bikes and sells used. He sells more used bikes in a year then either one of the dealerships in my town sell new. Just repairing bikes will never make you rich. Sell used buddy! Make the shop a late night friday hang out place or something.

Or start a construction company. Don't matter what kind of construction, theres money in all of it. I am 19 and sometimes make enough money in 2 weeks to go buy a new 4fiddy.

Matt

[chad502ex]

build race quads!

[JOEX]

Originally posted by Pappy
...
but again, you put your "fun" into a business and the "fun" disappears.
Very true;)

What would be nice is to find a job that has regular yet flexible hours that pays the bills and has benefits (vac, sick time & med. ins for the family) then let the hobbies pay for the extras. I know that's not easy to find but with your talents you shouldn't have a problem:)

[Pappy]

oh most deffinatley, used sales are king in a small shop wether its bikes or lawnmowers.

i have my own legal and legit business in the atv field, but the thought of fully expanding it really didnt set in until i made my decision to part from my current profession when the time comes.

i do have qualified mechanical help and im a pretty good sales man so its very doable.

[mrusk]

Driving a dump truck won't make you rich. You can like ok if your just a owner/operator. If you have 2 trucks and operate 1 yourself you won't make money. Its all or nothing in the trucking biz. You need several trucks to make a good living.

Matt

[Pappy]

if i did a trucking outfit i would start with no less then 6 trucks.


whats making this all harder is the fact that my wife and my brother both work for me. myself and the wife will be seeking employment immediatley when the job ends, and my brother will have the option of staying on with the new owner if he so choses.


the wife plans on finding a proffessional job that will supply income and health insurance etc.

[TWISTED]

Originally posted by mrusk
Driving a dump truck won't make you rich. You can like ok if your just a owner/operator. If you have 2 trucks and operate 1 yourself you won't make money. Its all or nothing in the trucking biz. You need several trucks to make a good living.

Matt

You either have one or twenty!!! I did this for 14 years. The last two years there, I dispatched for the same company. When I went to work there, we had 5 trucks. When I left they had twenty, and are up to 25. TOO many headaches with more than one in my opinion!!!! As far as spreading goes, it just takes practice.

[Pappy]

i can see where a man and a truck could make a living. i have maintained my life style on less then $1000 a week in payroll. that is not hard to replace when you think about it.

[mrusk]

Originally posted by Pappy
i can see where a man and a truck could make a living. i have maintained my life style on less then $1000 a week in payroll. that is not hard to replace when you think about it.

You must make alot of money PCing then!

[TWISTED]

Originally posted by Pappy
[B]i can see where a man and a truck could make a living. i have maintained my life style on less then $1000 a week in payroll. that is not hard to replace when you think about it. [/B

]

WHAT A LIFESTYLE IT IS TOO!!!!! My hero!!!

[brian-250]

hey Ken are there many big famrs around you? whats the AG market like?

[Pappy]

there are not many farms left ...and i grew up on a farm and while i enjoy farming i wouldnt want to spend the next 20 years pull'n t!ts:ermm:


and as far as the pc goes, i have put every dime made back into the business. when im ready ill draw a check from that:p

[tdsongster]

I have been a sofware engineer for almost 20 years now and I am so burned out on it that I am looking for something more enjoyable. I have made a really good living and can make pretty much all the $$$ I like but writing software for corporate has become soooooo boring.

Hence www.DrasticSports.com. It is something that I enjoy doing and has really turned into a fully functional order entry, inventory, etc package. All I have to do now is get it to make money (discovering how difficult that is!).

Anyways, I understand where you are coming from and I sincerely hope you find what you are looking for.

Please keep us posted as things progress, hopefully we can be of some assistance.

[Pappy]

well thankfully im not really burned out on the work, i started in the warehouse, then in a road truck and finally in the office. i surely will not miss the corperate world as thats what my job has become, dealing with the corperate office non stop and thier stupidity.

and i do appreciate the advice, there are lots of different professions on this site and im open to looking at many different venues.

[TWISTED]

How about some competition for VIXXENS???? Just a thought!!!!

[Pappy]

lol..tommy suggested thta, but there is already so many strip clubs around here that seeing chics with no clothes on is an every day thing:p

[JOEX]

If you're looking for money don't get into food service:chinese:

[Tommy 17]

instead of porkys its pappys;)

[Ralph]

you think your decision is hard, youve made it at this point.

Right now i am being told yo pick a carreer and the college i want to go to study it. I have no idea. Im very mechanically inclined, so i was interested in mechanical engineering, but then on the other hand i was thinking about graphical design because i already have some background and good experience. ontop of that there are a ton of other things to do. but then i think of the amount of money a graphic designer can make, cringe, and think more about engineering...

I think you should consider buying the buisness, i know it might seem like a ton of headaches but it could be something that sticks around and could also build some security into your childrens lives...

[JDiablo]

Originally posted by mrusk
You won't make money as just a repair shop. The money is in selling used bikes. In my town we have a guys that sells, gear, parts, repairs bikes and sells used. He sells more used bikes in a year then either one of the dealerships in my town sell new. Just repairing bikes will never make you rich. Sell used buddy! Make the shop a late night friday hang out place or something.

Or start a construction company. Don't matter what kind of construction, theres money in all of it. I am 19 and sometimes make enough money in 2 weeks to go buy a new 4fiddy.

Matt



BINGO,i make more money on one part then some of my friends do in a week or even two :devil: i love the used market :blah:

[JOEX]

Originally posted by Tommy 17
instead of porkys its pappys;)
How about Slap Happy Pappy's:blah:

[TWISTED]

When I close my eyes I can see, "PAPPY'S" in neon!!!

[TWISTED]

Pappy, are you close to 522? If so I'm sure you know about Bambi Lee's don't you????

[Pappy]

the business that i run will sell slightly above the million dollar mark. thats alot of coin to put out for a business that i see has passed its hayday in our area. its a franchise, and not what it used to be but what is:p

i could spend 200k on 3 trucks and be making profit the first week.

the jiggly room...i would get sued for sexual harrasment the first 5 minutes i had the doors open:devil:


ralph, picking a career that interests you now will surely lead you to a career that has nothing to do with where you will end up:p look into something that people always need or want. doctors, lawyers undertaker...all needed today. id say a jiggly room dancer but you dont have the chest to support it nor the legs:D

[Pappy]

Originally posted by TWISTED
Pappy, are you close to 522? If so I'm sure you know about Bambi Lee's don't you????

im sure ive stumled in there at some point in my wilder days:p my bachlor party lasted for 2 months, started in B-More and ended up in some 2 room shack in west virginia:huh

[KH426]

Originally posted by Pappy
im sure ive stumled in there at some point in my wilder days:p my bachlor party lasted for 2 months, started in B-More and ended up in some 2 room shack in west virginia:huh

If you went there some time in the past you would know it, because by now your unit would have turned funny colors and fell off.

[Pappy]

and i bet you can find your way there blindfolded as long as we start you off down wind of it:devil:

[TWISTED]

We used to send trailers up thru there, and those guys would tell me stories about that place. Now when I go to the GNC at Mt. Morris I go past it. The first time I went , we stopped and went in, and then we ran like hell to leave. If I hadn't stopped I would never have believed it!!!! So every year when I go by there, I chuckle!!!

[zephead400ex]

Originally posted by JOEX
How about Slap Happy Pappy's:blah:

B*tched Slaped by Pap :confused: :D

Pappy, have you ever worked with/for a commercial mowing company? Of course I don't know the market in your area, but there is plenty of money to be made mowing yards, trimming trees, bushes, etc. I work for a landscaper here in Oklahoma and he absolutely banks off of his business. He will easily pull in $800-$1500 a day with only four employees! Just a thought anyway...

Plus, you said your wife will be looking for a job in which will offer medical benefits...will your whole family be included on her health care plan? I ask because if so, and that is the main/only reason she is looking for a professional job, you both might reconsider. Employer provided health care is overrated. You would be smart to looking into independant health care providers which will cost less and be more flexible to the health care needs of your family. Most independant insurance companies will "personalize" your plans to fit the risk factors of your family such as tobacco use, maternity care, or any prexisting condition. When insurance companies insure employees they charge a "flat fee" for all employee's, whether or not there is a perfectly healthy person or a person who is considered high risk.

Anyway, just something to "slap" around. :D Good luck with whatever you and your family decide to do.

[Pappy]

haha my brother (KH426) and his buddy Joey swung into madam something or anothers in PA on the way back from Motorama....LMAO, i laughed so hard listening to him talk about the 2 minutes he spent there:D

[TWISTED]

I can only imagine. I'll ask him at the dyno run on the 5th. Hope he won't be shy!!!

[K_Fulk]

Have you thought about the excavating business. Theres plenty of money in that.

Not to mention you have the side benefit of being able to build any type of track you want.

[Chino]

Pappy da Porn Star, starring in Hillbilly's gone wild and Trailer park Floozies. :blah:

[QuadJunkies]

Originally posted by Pappy
lol..tommy suggested thta, but there is already so many strip clubs around here that seeing chics with no clothes on is an every day thing:p


I say go big and become a PIMP :bandit: :devil:

[Pappy]

pimp uh.....

i reckon they offer classes in that:o

How to smack a Ho 101

Get on stage you wench or get beat down

The basics of applying tassles and the art of not letting them fall off until you want them too. (janet kackson will teach)

Kung Fu for throwing drunks out




lol...it would be a fun deal but not realistic i dont think:D

[Pappy]

Originally posted by Chino
Pappy da Porn Star, starring in Hillbilly's gone wild and Trailer park Floozies. :blah:


I dont believe anyone wants to see me in a porn film for christs sakes:p


although i could sure find help with creative names for them:huh

[Mxjunkie]

Originally posted by K_Fulk
Have you thought about the excavating business. Theres plenty of money in that.

Not to mention you have the side benefit of being able to build any type of track you want.

Very good money in this, my dads friend has been at my dads work for about a year now and the time hes been there making almost 400-600 dollars a day he has bought two 90,000 dollar machines and a 80,000 dollar dumptruck that he has downpayments on allready!

[KsE450]

Hey, I got a job idea, become a State Employee!

Decent pay (depending on where you start) good benefits, all kinds of leave, paid holidays etc. Plus if you get an office job, you won't do much in the way of physical labor. It's a cakewalk. (I would know) where do you think I'm posting from? :devil:

[Rico]

Open a bar and grill at mile marker 15 at rockhouse trail in WV.


Garaunteed gold mine.....:D Couple cots out back might be a good investment.


Good luck in any adventure you take Kenny, be sure it is a stess free invironment, we don't need you sick again...:mad:

[QuadJunkies]

Originally posted by Pappy
pimp uh.....

i reckon they offer classes in that:o

How to smack a Ho 101

Get on stage you wench or get beat down

The basics of applying tassles and the art of not letting them fall off until you want them too. (janet kackson will teach)

Kung Fu for throwing drunks out




lol...it would be a fun deal but not realistic i dont think:D

LMAO!!! :p

[jcv400ex]

If I remember correctly, you have military experience. State Prison guard would be good for you. You get extra bonus points on the test, and excellent benifits/retirement plan.

[Pappy]

Originally posted by jcv400ex
If I remember correctly, you have military experience. State Prison guard would be good for you. You get extra bonus points on the test, and excellent benifits/retirement plan.

no way:D voluntarily throwing myself in prison and surrounding myself with societys scurge is way low on my list of things id like to do. id be in a cell within a week for doing justice:devil:


still mulling over things, i have some time and will continue doing my thing for now. im foryunate enough to have time, unlike others that get a pink slip and poof...no job.

the rockhouse bar and grill would be killer:cool: and thanks, i learned the hardway what stress will do to you and i have learned to say "Screw It " alot easier now:D

[Quad18star]

Pappy ... if I were you , I don't think I'd get into business for myself as a career . I've seen my aunt and uncle get into the forestry/road building business and they are trying to get out now . They thought that it would be set hours , weekends off , no hassle ... but they were WAY off . Between the BS of government laws , people ALWAYS complaining and calling at all hours of the day and night , they've just had enough. My uncle has his business up for sale and is trying to get on with another company , so that he has his 9-5 monday to friday weekends off and doesn't have to deal with the headaches .

My parents started up their own business back in the early 90's ... did it for a few years , then sold it ... it was too much work . They never had time for themselves , and finding good honest workers was very hard ... once again their hopes of 9-5 monday to friday turned into 4am-10pm 7days a week . I'd never get into business for myself ... but that's just me . Bets of luck with whatever you choose.

[Pappy]

im sure i could handle alot of things at once..lol

now i run a business that tops 4 million annually in sales, i manage my own powdercoating business, moderate this site, and still find time to poke fun at gimpy canadians:devil: :blah:

i hear what your saying....and i may take a job for someone else, but ill exhaust all other efforts forst. my schedule has to be so flexible its scary:chinese:

[Quad18star]

Originally posted by Pappy
im sure i could handle alot of things at once..lol

now i run a business that tops 4 million annually in sales, i manage my own powdercoating business, moderate this site, and still find time to poke fun at gimpy canadians:devil: :blah:

i hear what your saying....and i may take a job for someone else, but ill exhaust all other efforts forst. my schedule has to be so flexible its scary:chinese:

Pappy ... you've been slacking on poking fun at the gimpy canadians lately ... whats up with that ?? ;)

If you got a couple hundred thousand to spend ... open up a Hooters . Your job would revolve around beer, chicken wings and women ....... that would be my dream job . :devil: Just imagine what the interviews would be like !!!!!

If you decide to go with that trucking business ... and need help ... you can always adopt me . I got my Civil Engineering papers also ... I'd be a great asset to your company . :blah:

On a side note ... it's time for a career change for me also . Doesn't look like I'll be going back to my old job , so it's either I go back to school , or try and find another job . Decisions Decisions !!!!

[Guy400]

Good luck in whatever you choose to do. I was in a similar situation as yourself twice now. Once when I was in college I had to decide if I wanted to continue working for my uncle's one man landscaping company that made good money but offered little else or persue my degree. I decided to stay in college and start at the company I've now been at nearly 9 years. About 3 months ago my brother presented me with an offer that really sounded tempting. He's a CPA and owns his own accounting firm in Mooresville, NC. He offered me a job that would pay considerably more than I make now but it had drawbacks. I would have to give up my 401k for a simple IRA, I would have to pay about 4 times the amount I do now for health insurance, I'd totally give up my pension, turn in my company paid for cell phone, computer, cable modem and many other perks. In the end I'd be breaking even in terms of cash in-hand and would be pissing my retirement away. Once again I decided to stay at my current job. A lot of people bash big business but my company has always treated me fairly and paid me competitively.

It's certainly a tough spot you're in. There's money to be made all over this country but how much time do you want to invest to make it?

[mrusk]

Running your own business will always be a 24/7 thing if you want to be a success. Every waking moment i am thinking about my business. Its all i think about and its all i talk about. It is my life. There is no better feeling than running your own business.

Somedays it sucks but i the end i would not give it up for the world.

Matt

[TheFontMaster]

Well I don't really have any advise, but I wish ya luck on whatever your decision is. You've been sucsessfull with the bussnies you've been in and with your P/C opperation, so I'm shure you'll do great in what you decide on doing.

[AtvMxRider]

Originally posted by Pappy
I was thinking hard of buying a few dump trucks or even expanding my other business into a more diverse field.



Well Ken I have been in the trucking business for along time and trust me when I say this you want no part of it.

[AtvMxRider]

Originally posted by Pappy
if i did a trucking outfit i would start with no less then 6 trucks.


whats making this all harder is the fact that my wife and my brother both work for me. myself and the wife will be seeking employment immediatley when the job ends, and my brother will have the option of staying on with the new owner if he so choses.


the wife plans on finding a proffessional job that will supply income and health insurance etc.


The price of fuel alone will break you:ermm:

[wvspeedfreak]

Well,first off good luck with whatever you decide to do.You are very business minded and honest which has put you where you are today and I have no doubt you will be succesful in whatever you choose to do.
I was in a similar situation about a year ago at my job.I work at a family owned auto repair shop that employs 2 parts counter persons and 3 auto mechanics(one of which is myself).I have been there 13 years and I was the guy that got all the major engine/transmission work,electrical diagnosis and repair work,scanner work,all a/c work and any other piece of new equipment that was purchased,I was assigned to it.On top of that I am a licensed WV state inspector and had those to deal with.Now,some of this I brought upon myself due to the fact that one of the other 2 mechanics is considerably older than me and we are very good friends so I took all of the bigger stuff on so he wouldn't have to do it.However,after 13 years of it(and I am a perfectionist which is not always good for stress levels) I was getting pretty burnt out on mechanic work and after alot of thinking I put in my 2 weeks notice and had full intentions of getting into an entirely different field.Long story short,my employer talked me in to staying and decided to hire another mechanic to reduce the work load that had been on me for 13 years,gave me a raise and alot of flexibility in my schedule.So basically,I am still doing what I am decent at with less stress and more money and flexibility which made me realize that sometimes alot of hard work does pay off :)

It will all work out for you.:macho

[Pappy]

i chatted with afew industry folks today, and the concensus is i need to keep chipping away at the atv/street bike crowd. i never have seen myself as anything more then a guy having fun and trying not to go broke :p but hearing encouragement gets one to thinking.

maybe ill stay small and grow into what ever its going to grow into. when the time comes i may have a clearer picture of what i need to do.

[QuadJunkies]

Originally posted by AtvMxRider
The price of fuel alone will break you:ermm:

My parents have a Road building business and I agree, its hard for them right nowwith the gas prices, plus they are a small out fit and the big dogs tend to come in a bid them out alot :grr: They have good months and bad, I know they would like to get out but too much invested now to give it all up .

[Jersey450R]

A liquor liscense will be a great investment. "Pappy's Wings n' Things". Have like sports bar/restuarant/outside pullup and eat type of deal but have your main focus on bikers. heck, quads can park in the back and eat too! Insurance is high though. All you really need is a few servers, 1-2 cooks, 2-3 bartenders, and maybe a maintnence/cleaning person. The servers/bartenders work for tips so that wont cost you. Cater to everyone, but wouldnt it be cool to look out of the window and see Harleys and crotchrockets all in a fine line as far as you can see...knowing their all inside enjoying all your services and great food i hear you come up with? ;)

[Tommy 17]

Originally posted by AtvMxRider
The price of fuel alone will break you:ermm:

my cousin has a logging truck business... he said their gas bill alone for just 2 of the trucks was something like 110,000$

[Tommy 17]

Originally posted by Jersey450R
A liquor liscense will be a great investment. "Pappy's Wings n' Things". Have like sports bar/restuarant/outside pullup and eat type of deal but have your main focus on bikers. heck, quads can park in the back and eat too! Insurance is high though. All you really need is a few servers, 1-2 cooks, 2-3 bartenders, and maybe a maintnence/cleaning person. The servers/bartenders work for tips so that wont cost you. Cater to everyone, but wouldnt it be cool to look out of the window and see Harleys and crotchrockets all in a fine line as far as you can see...knowing their all inside enjoying all your services and great food i hear you come up with? ;)


pappy that is a good idea... i mean go man u have that HUGE resort by ur house... your area is booming and your one of the best cooks i've ever met...


pappys pub:blah:

[Jersey450R]

Originally posted by Tommy 17
pappy that is a good idea... i mean go man u have that HUGE resort by ur house... your area is booming and your one of the best cooks i've ever met...


pappys pub:blah:

:muscle:

[Guy400]

Originally posted by Tommy 17
my cousin has a logging truck business... he said their gas bill alone for just 2 of the trucks was something like 110,000$ The company I work for goes through 6 times that amount per month:eek2: :eek:

[MR.BIG]

Become a pornostar! Just kidding!

[Tommy 17]

Originally posted by Guy400
The company I work for goes through 6 times that amount per month:eek2: :eek:


haha yeah well this is just 2 log trucks... kinda crazy... i bet thier bill this year is 200,000+!

[MOFO]

Originally posted by Guy400
The company I work for goes through 6 times that amount per month:eek2: :eek:


Is that it? I figured it would be more than that - considering todays gas prices. Do we get some type of fleet discount on fuel?

We have alot of people working from home in our office Tuesday-Thursday.

[Guy400]

Originally posted by MOFO
Is that it? I figured it would be more than that - considering todays gas prices. Do we get some type of fleet discount on fuel?

We have alot of people working from home in our office Tuesday-Thursday. LMAO...I f'ed up. That was 600,000 gallons a month, not cost:D

[MOFO]

Originally posted by Guy400
LMAO...I f'ed up. That was 600,000 gallons a month, not cost:D


Wow...now I did not think it would be that high!!! :eek2: