Quote from: Langanobob on October 20, 2013, 07:57:59 AM
Years ago I went through something sort of similar and based on a recommendation I went to the local university and took an aptitude test.

The test results concluded that I should be an attorney.  Well, I didn't become an attorney and went on to continue floundering through life, but the test was very interesting.

Bob

i like this a lot.

thanks for the responses guys - ive been doing some hippy shit, really taking a hard look at myself and trying to come to terms with where my relationships stand - and haven't really started to look for work yet. that job sucked just about all the ambition I had out of me, and I think it's gonna take a little while to get it back. 

I've had similar conversations with myself and my wife over the years.  and I frequently come to the same conclusions some have posted here. 

One thing I've been kicking around, but can't do it now, is motorcycle towing/transport.  There are a couple companies that are relatively successful around here, and plenty that do it poorly and fold up.  The last time my bike was towed the guy said he was so busy he was considering getting another driver.  Even during the 30 minute ride in his rig, he got 2 calls on the mobile scheduling pick ups.  He's hooked up with Road American and AMA and pretty much can work as hard (or not) as he wants.  If he needs a break, or he's 'off hours,' he just declines a call.

When he's not picking up break-downs, he's transporting bikes for dealers, moving them around for sellers/buyers, or even transporting custom/show bikes around. 

I bring it up not because of me, but it is an off-shoot of your joy of riding and I'm sure there's plenty of opportunity to drink beer on off-hours.  I'm sure there are shitty parts of it, and I'm not sure where you live so maybe there's no market for it, but around here it's pretty much a full time/all year job.


I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do when I grow up, as the job I'm doing now I kind of fell into.  I'm good enough at it to have made a name for myself at my company, but I do feel some days I'm just working to make someone else rich.  In your case, do it now while you can suffer a little.  With a house, wife, and 3 kids (12, 10, 4), you don't usually get to make those kind of career jumps.

Best of luck to you!

hmmm  This could be something to do in the off season.... I have all the equipment already.  I modded a motorcycle ramp to fit onto the lift gate on my chase truck.  I can simply push my bike onto the ramp hit the button and put the bike right in the bed of my truck.  I also have a fully enclosed trailer that could hold up to two four bikes......

It does get a bit dull around here when I am not flying....

that is an interesting idea.  I've got a pickup, and ramps from my dirtbikes that i've used a couple of times for the duc as well. here in jersey we have real seasons, so i'm not sure exactly how far it could go as a full time gig, but it'd be an interesting idea to look into.

Quote from: Barney on October 21, 2013, 10:06:58 AM
that is an interesting idea.  I've got a pickup, and ramps from my dirtbikes that i've used a couple of times for the duc as well. here in jersey we have real seasons, so i'm not sure exactly how far it could go as a full time gig, but it'd be an interesting idea to look into.

personally I wouldn't want to be humping bikes up ramps all day. 
I used this guy most recently: http://www.motorcycletransportcompany.com/
the first time I towed they used this: http://www.sportslift.com/cycletoylift2.html

pictures there of his rig.  sled slides out to ground level, roll bike on, strap down, hit a button and sled gets pulled up into the bed.  There are several different types of setups like this that I've seen.
http://www.powerdecks.com/product_display.aspx?product_guid=Motorcycle-Deck

Since my chase truck has a 1500lb. lift gate I decided to play with an idea.  The gate is to short to push the bike straight on and to narrow too put it on sideways.  So I bought some $59.00 steel motorcycle ramps from Harbor Freight and used two heavy duty ratchet straps to attach them to one end of the ramps, under the gate and up to the other end of the ramps.  Now I can pull the bike straight onto the ramp and gate, lift it up and straight into the back of the truck. 

Quite handy and cheap!

My advice (what i did) after 8.5 years in the tech industry...buy a one way ticket to Vietnam. When you get there buy a motorcycle and ride. Expand your mind of how the world is. I like to think of it as my 3rd education. 1st formal school, 2. Work experience. 3, learn from the world.  After almost 4 years traveling, i was a bartender on a tropical island, taught kite surfing, opened a kitesurfing school, and now in the solar power industry with a clear goal and vision for the future. I never looked for these opportunities , when the time was right they presented themselves to me. Just go ...the net will appear! I like that line and the net has appeared for me.

Dont just brake out of your comfort zone...get shot out of a cannon out of it. Seems like a big step, but its really not. Wish i would have done this 10 years ago.

Im excited to see what you do, your in a good position right now, you got the world by the balls. Make us jealous.



If you got some time to waste start here
http://100kilometersandrunnin.wordpress.com/2010/01/

Dan,

Great post, great link and it sounds like you're living a great life.  We should all take the text of your post and tattoo it on our foreheads!  Or at least somewhere we can see it daily.

Bob

Quote from: DanTheMan on October 24, 2013, 12:44:58 AM
My advice (what i did) after 8.5 years in the tech industry...buy a one way ticket to Vietnam. When you get there buy a motorcycle and ride. Expand your mind of how the world is. I like to think of it as my 3rd education. 1st formal school, 2. Work experience. 3, learn from the world.  After almost 4 years traveling, i was a bartender on a tropical island, taught kite surfing, opened a kitesurfing school, and now in the solar power industry with a clear goal and vision for the future. I never looked for these opportunities , when the time was right they presented themselves to me. Just go ...the net will appear! I like that line and the net has appeared for me.

Dont just brake out of your comfort zone...get shot out of a cannon out of it. Seems like a big step, but its really not. Wish i would have done this 10 years ago.

Im excited to see what you do, your in a good position right now, you got the world by the balls. Make us jealous.



If you got some time to waste start here
http://100kilometersandrunnin.wordpress.com/2010/01/

my friend, it sounds like YOUVE got life by the balls right now - I've got a girl and a home here in NJ, so I'm not sure a 1 way ticket to 'nam would keep the peace, but I appreciate the sentiment none the less.  I've had a few "oh shit" moments, but I'm working on it

thanks for the inspiring words, I'll do my best to live up to them!