doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com OT, career change

Jimmy..............if there is a interest, your never too old to start!
Take Care,

Jimmy, every day above ground is a good day. Why waste the ones you have left by not trying to do the things you have always wanted to do? Go down swinging I say!

Small businessmen are wrapped-up in small busniess.
No midnite oil for me!

In the past, I've said don't be an outdoor writer--not much money in it, for the vast majority of us.

However, Jim Zumbo's gig may be up for grabs.

This is an interesting thread. I think about the same thing quite a bit lately.

What I am going through, is I spent 20 years in the Navy, another 4.5 in Federal Law Enforcement, and now the museum trade.

The bottom line is, I have had all of the high stress situations, excitement, and decision making involving other people that I want in a lifetime.

When I first left the Navy, I just wanted to go home and work in a gun shop. Fixing Ithaca 37's and Remington 870's the rest of my life would have been fine with me. Of course, raising 4 kids at the time, I had to think of them.

Wife and I have one more high schooler left at home, and I think when he graduates I'm going to punch out from the gov and see what I can do next.

The only concern I have is, do I want to start over at 50? That will be my age when junior graduates.

Then the other part of me gets reminded that I have done pretty well after the Navy and should be thankful for it.

Either way, I'm probably going to retire at 55 and raise bird dogs, and maybe do some consulting work.

Kind regards,

I love burning the midnight oil - work doesn't interfere with shooting hours, and my days are free for hunting and other pleasures!

Many of my friends are self-employed or have small businesses they started on their own. They're quite a mix - a cabinetmaker, a bookseller, a chimney repairman, two photographers, an artist, a computer programmer, a classical musician, a folk musician. What we have in common is neither education nor privilege, but simply a willingness to take risks to pursue our dreams. We are all free to travel the world, free to live very full lives - and we do.

I was interested in fishing and was good at catching trouts in little streams in the middle of camp grounds around Los Angeles. After being in the Sea Bee's, I got into Arctic research on Ice Bergs, currents, etc. But I was bored working for the Universities and not pleased with their research which often was only to prove their point of interest or political point of view. So I went into teaching in the getto, Indian villages, etc. but did not like the administration. (liked the kids)
A friend talked me into going commercial fishing, and after 25 or so years have to retire I was the one of the oldest in the high seas fisheries. It was wonderful to make your own decisions and make all those mistakes. The hours, being up occasionally for 4 to 5 days straight was enjoyable, however, most of the time it was expected to work on deck and run the boat at least 22 hours a day. Any profits went back into the business and we were always in houck. Probably the only big mistake I made was not going to a larger boat 15 years ago, instead I opted to take my family in the summer salmon fishing on a 58' boat - but then I have a great family. I do not feel that you can do well in a business unless you put over 100% interest and 100% drive into that business.
As a retirement, luckly, I can now afford to play with a business and like you the gun business intriques me. So I am working on those skills - It just trying to figure out which ones I have and would enjoy doing. Oh! Yes! I will not be doing the 100% any more.
I think it is great if you can do your own thing

If you love what you do and do what you love it doesn't get better. It is hard work, requires focus and a plan bit I wouldn't have it any other way. I have a wife, an 11 year old daughter and a 6 year old disabled son. It isn't always easy and having a steady cash flow can be an issue, but if you are focused and have a plan/work the plan it can be very rewarding. I have faced so many people that have said not to dream. I will admit that it doesn't work for all but without the dream, at least for me, I never enjoyed life.

By the grace and blessing of God, I love what I do.
Dreaming is what has made our country what it is. Good and bad.... It's what your dream is that makes the difference.

Yeah? Talk to the tens of thousands of union folks laid off from their 'secure' jobs by GM, Ford and Chrysler lately - or US Steel, for that matter. When you work for someone else, you're only as secure as they want you to be. Some suits in a board room make a decision, and a gazillion guys in their 40s and 50s find themselves out on the street with untransferable skills. You're more than welcome to that kind of 'security.'

I've worked for, and with small business.
...and they'd all pick pennies-off a dead man's eyes.
This is to say nothing of the employees pockets.
Or!
The corners cut without the clients knowning.
No salt of the earth here.