I want to thank MJ for writing TMF and Unscripted (my Favorite) and everyone here for creating such a supportive, open community. MJ's books, this forum and its members' advice and posts were stumbled upon after my 'FTE,' when I was frantically searching for answers/guidance in my life/career when I was literally saying, 'What the F*ck! How did I get here at this age?!!'
Ive never spoken so freely on a public forum. But I believe this forum is 'Good People.' Cue up a beer
Basically I had realized at 36 y/o, late Feb 2018 (FTE occurred): the time I've spent (3 yrs currently) and money ($25k for training) for 'Career No. 2-surgical sales rep turned out to be a major disappointment, and I'll tell you why. This was supposed to 'fix' my life by bringing in great income (replenishing lost savings, I started over financially at 33 y/o-more on that later) and get me on the path to provide a (very) nice lifestyle and income to invest for the future. And guess what? I was chasing money. Plain-and-simple. Money, stability, riches to be handed out freely from a corporation. I would finally be happy. Imagine the disappointment when I found out that the field I thought I was going in to..for money..started ending 15-20 yrs ago due to the ever-evolving economics of healthcare. And then there's corporate America ... I've only been in this 'special sphere' of politics and other weird shit for a little over two years-but I could speak volumes. Never will you find a more wretched hive of scum and villany.
A little background: My family went through very hard financial times starting at 13 for me. In school I worked my a$$ off. Top grades. My first degree was in a medical specialty (non-MD), and I also went to a 'Top 20 Business Undergrad program.' After college and within two years I was promoted to Supervisor.. then to Management.Then in 2009, the economy crashed. The company I worked for filed Chapter 11 proceedings. At that time I was in my mid-to-late twenties, unchallenged, unfullfilled, depressed, and BURNED OUT. So I sold everything and moved to Hawaii in 2010 (have had family there since the late 60s). Palm trees, good vibes and WAVES. Plenty of savings, worked a little bit. Hiked to waterfalls, surfed. Lived my life on my terms. Things were good for awhile. Even then I struggled with 'what I wanted to do with my life (career, life-long stigma of what success APPEARS to be),' and 'what type of JOB will MAKE ME HAPPY.' But complacency kills, as I always say. So, I moved islands and took a fairly lucrative gig as an Army Civilian Contractor in healthcare and there things were 'OK' for awhile. Didn't love the job, routine, confinement, limit on income no matter how hard I worked. Contract was year-to-year, so no long-term stability. Met a girl, fell in love, all of that natural progression-and then we had our son in 2014.
I spent alot. We fought. She left with him for her home state on the west coast. We separated early. Amidst my job contract expiring. Heartbreaking process. And very expensive. That's when I formed the 'exit strategy' of a new career in medical sales back on the mainland where they were. That kind of income would fix everything! New career! Stability! Then she moved back to Hawaii six weeks before I left.
After six years in Hawaii, I scraped enough together for the 'sales rep segway' training, and headed for the east coast in Fall 2015. After eight months of training, I was excitedly flown to the west coast to interview for two separate positions in Hawaii...I interviewed with managers from the mainland. I didn't get an offer from either company. June 2016 brought my first gig as a Sales Consultant trainee for 10 months in my home state-before my employer was bought in a major acquisition in Feb 2017. Hiring freeze for 22 months. So in Feb 2017, I accepted an offer in a major city with a new company, in a state I had never even visited before the interview. Oh..the things we'll do and say for a JOB, BENEFITS, STABILITY, SECURITY=HAPPINESS, right?
So at the age of 35, I moved to a new state. Where I knew no one. Alone. For a job.
Six weeks after I started April 2017, the person who hired me quit, and took all business with him to a competitor. Management doesn't 'know what to do.' Silence/indecision for months. This is the strategy from very well-paid corporate sales executives. Revenue plummets.
My son is growing. He's even old enough to form memories and remember me now. I get to fly out and see him twice a year. May 2018. His 4th birthday in Honolulu. We meet on a playground and he's on the top level of the playground. I see the brightest smile as we make eye contact. He makes his way down to me. I feel little arms wrap around my legs as he looks up and says, 'Hi Dad! I Love You.' F.T.E. After spending time with him and seeing the sadness and disappointment on his face when explaining that Dad has to leave again: F.T.E.
I've read that you have to discover your driving force/passion in combination with situations in life when you just know 'shit isn't right' and search to create new opportunity and it can't just 'be all about the money.' Well? Here's mine!
Please feel free to comment or reach out in PM, as I'm currently working on forming a rental business in Hawaii. So I paused today and asked myself, "Am I REALLY about to do THIS??" I'm sure it violates CENTS, but its a start, and I welcome all experienced advice regarding financing/loans and I'm currently researching how to create a professional website and tie-in SEO at the moment.
Thank You All
Ive never spoken so freely on a public forum. But I believe this forum is 'Good People.' Cue up a beer
Basically I had realized at 36 y/o, late Feb 2018 (FTE occurred): the time I've spent (3 yrs currently) and money ($25k for training) for 'Career No. 2-surgical sales rep turned out to be a major disappointment, and I'll tell you why. This was supposed to 'fix' my life by bringing in great income (replenishing lost savings, I started over financially at 33 y/o-more on that later) and get me on the path to provide a (very) nice lifestyle and income to invest for the future. And guess what? I was chasing money. Plain-and-simple. Money, stability, riches to be handed out freely from a corporation. I would finally be happy. Imagine the disappointment when I found out that the field I thought I was going in to..for money..started ending 15-20 yrs ago due to the ever-evolving economics of healthcare. And then there's corporate America ... I've only been in this 'special sphere' of politics and other weird shit for a little over two years-but I could speak volumes. Never will you find a more wretched hive of scum and villany.
A little background: My family went through very hard financial times starting at 13 for me. In school I worked my a$$ off. Top grades. My first degree was in a medical specialty (non-MD), and I also went to a 'Top 20 Business Undergrad program.' After college and within two years I was promoted to Supervisor.. then to Management.Then in 2009, the economy crashed. The company I worked for filed Chapter 11 proceedings. At that time I was in my mid-to-late twenties, unchallenged, unfullfilled, depressed, and BURNED OUT. So I sold everything and moved to Hawaii in 2010 (have had family there since the late 60s). Palm trees, good vibes and WAVES. Plenty of savings, worked a little bit. Hiked to waterfalls, surfed. Lived my life on my terms. Things were good for awhile. Even then I struggled with 'what I wanted to do with my life (career, life-long stigma of what success APPEARS to be),' and 'what type of JOB will MAKE ME HAPPY.' But complacency kills, as I always say. So, I moved islands and took a fairly lucrative gig as an Army Civilian Contractor in healthcare and there things were 'OK' for awhile. Didn't love the job, routine, confinement, limit on income no matter how hard I worked. Contract was year-to-year, so no long-term stability. Met a girl, fell in love, all of that natural progression-and then we had our son in 2014.
I spent alot. We fought. She left with him for her home state on the west coast. We separated early. Amidst my job contract expiring. Heartbreaking process. And very expensive. That's when I formed the 'exit strategy' of a new career in medical sales back on the mainland where they were. That kind of income would fix everything! New career! Stability! Then she moved back to Hawaii six weeks before I left.
After six years in Hawaii, I scraped enough together for the 'sales rep segway' training, and headed for the east coast in Fall 2015. After eight months of training, I was excitedly flown to the west coast to interview for two separate positions in Hawaii...I interviewed with managers from the mainland. I didn't get an offer from either company. June 2016 brought my first gig as a Sales Consultant trainee for 10 months in my home state-before my employer was bought in a major acquisition in Feb 2017. Hiring freeze for 22 months. So in Feb 2017, I accepted an offer in a major city with a new company, in a state I had never even visited before the interview. Oh..the things we'll do and say for a JOB, BENEFITS, STABILITY, SECURITY=HAPPINESS, right?
So at the age of 35, I moved to a new state. Where I knew no one. Alone. For a job.
Six weeks after I started April 2017, the person who hired me quit, and took all business with him to a competitor. Management doesn't 'know what to do.' Silence/indecision for months. This is the strategy from very well-paid corporate sales executives. Revenue plummets.
My son is growing. He's even old enough to form memories and remember me now. I get to fly out and see him twice a year. May 2018. His 4th birthday in Honolulu. We meet on a playground and he's on the top level of the playground. I see the brightest smile as we make eye contact. He makes his way down to me. I feel little arms wrap around my legs as he looks up and says, 'Hi Dad! I Love You.' F.T.E. After spending time with him and seeing the sadness and disappointment on his face when explaining that Dad has to leave again: F.T.E.
I've read that you have to discover your driving force/passion in combination with situations in life when you just know 'shit isn't right' and search to create new opportunity and it can't just 'be all about the money.' Well? Here's mine!
Please feel free to comment or reach out in PM, as I'm currently working on forming a rental business in Hawaii. So I paused today and asked myself, "Am I REALLY about to do THIS??" I'm sure it violates CENTS, but its a start, and I welcome all experienced advice regarding financing/loans and I'm currently researching how to create a professional website and tie-in SEO at the moment.
Thank You All
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