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Do you love your (non woodworking) day job?

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5K views 52 replies 48 participants last post by  lew 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Judging by comments on this website, it looks like most woodworkers are not very happy with their day jobs unless their job is woodworking related, of course. I was wandering, though, how many people love their day job. I'm not talking about tolerating or liking their day job. I'm talking about really liking their job.

As for myself, I love my job and I think it is way more exciting than woodworking. The reason I like woodworking is because it relaxes me way more than anything else. In case you are wondering, I am a Computer Science professor at University of Florida and I spend most of my time doing research in Databases and related areas. While in woodworking I am sure I'm doing things tried many times before, in my research area I sure I'm doing things that nobody ever thought about.

So, do you really, really like your day job. If you do, tell us what it is.

Alin
 
#2 ·
I absolutely LOVE my day/night job.

CONS: I see dead people. I have to take care of drunks. I have to put people in body bags. I have to put kids on helicopters. I have to put up with verbal and physical abuse from people that won't remember in the morning. I have to deal with people on probably the worst day of thier lives. I have to go tell a woman of 80 that her husband of 60 years is dead and watch the tears flow, while she wonders what is going to become of her life. I have to see things that will put most people in to counsling for the rest of thier lives. I have to see the kids that were beat by thier mother because they tried to call thier grandmother to come pick them up when the came home from school and found thier mother strung out.

PROS: I work 24 hours at a time so that I have the next 2 days off. I get paid to take naps at work and not get in trouble. I get to fight fire. I get to save lives. I get to cut cars in to lil' bitty pieces. I get paid to sleep. I get to stick tubes/things in peoples noses, mouths, necks, arms, or legs (I have put them in other bad places). I get to make people feel better when they are sick. I get to make fun of drunks. I get to see LOTS of blood. I get to blow the air horn and run the siren. I get to DRIVE FAST. I get to get a hug and occasional thank you.

But the real reason I am a Paramedic/Firefighter is that I go home at the end of my shift knowing I made a difference in the world.
 
#3 ·
Some days I love my job and some days I tolerate it. If I wasn't getting paid to write software, I would still do it for fun. I wouldn't, however, choose the same projects. It is hard to complain when you get to work from home doing something you really enjoy, but I make the effort sometimes anyway. ;) I guess I love my job the best when I am learning new skills and building interesting systems. I like it the least when I am beating my head against the wall trying to support systems that should just be replaced.

One of the big draws of woodworking, though, is the physicality of it. After spending so many years building things with no real physical existence, it is great to work on something I can hold in my hands.
 
#4 ·
Well, I'm the Army. It pays the bills… kind of. But given the time and resources, I'd rather own a workshop and build (make sawdust) all day. I guess since I've been around it my whole life it's just in my blood, can't shake it!!
 
#5 ·
Now Alin I have the perfect job. I have no job, I am a retired real estate valuer/manager. Every day is a Saturday & woodworking is fun. If I don't do it today there is always tomorrow.
 
#6 ·
Alin, good question and got me thinking about the word"love" before I could answer. Taken from a Google search on Dictionary.com: (there are 21 different definitions)
17. to have a strong liking for; take great pleasure in: to love music.
18. to need or require; benefit greatly from: Plants love sunlight.

So thinking about it that way I have a strong liking for, do get some pleasure from, and I certainly need, require, and benifit greatly from the monthly paycheck. Speaking of which I have 23 more of those before I get to get into Grumpy's current position :)

My job now is to be sure all of the raw and packing materials used in the making of Pringles Potato Chips arrive in good condition and ,meets the specifications for design and quality, arrive on time and in the right quantity, etc. Any upset in the system creates a problem that neeeds to be solved and that is where I get my most pleasure, solving the day to day issues, making a decision, and seeing the results of that decision quickly.
 
#7 · (Edited by Moderator)
I love my day job. It is stressful because it is challenging but I tend to try to overachive so it suits me well. I am a Senior Program Manager for a company that makes x-ray scanning security equipment. So basically we get an order and I am the one that manages the customer, contracts, engineering, manufacturing, quality, shipment, construction, installation, acceptance, training, and oh yeah I have to do it on buget and on time. Couple that with 5 other programs that are each in the 8 figure range, and it is amazing it all goes as smooth as it does.

But that is not the reason I love it…..The equipment we make is security equipment. It goes into Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, US Borders, US cargo ports, and places all over the world. This equipment is different than any other x-ray scanning equipment in that the doses are so low (1 scan = you sitting at your desk for 10 minutes…x-rays from the sun) and the equipment specializes in finding organics. Organics translated means it finds drugs, explosives, people, money, animals, cigarrettes, and other things you want to see. We scan luggage at the airport and give the operators a totally different view than any other company. We scan people at the airport that do not want to be patted down. We scan cars and trucks at border crossings. We scan cars and trucks exiting ports, entering military bases, airports, and parking garages. Normally we do not hear about things that are found due to security concerns, but about once a month or so we do and it makes everything worth while.

I am a mechanical design engineer by trade. I have evolved away from MDE and woodworking is a way for me to get back to my roots. I also find that when your fingers are close to things that could cut them off, you tend to be totally focused on what you are doing and not worrying about the presentation you should be working on.

Tim
 
#8 ·
Hi Alin,

I am retired from my paying job like Grumpy but I get to "work" all day with my three and four year old grandsons. I get to act and play like a 4 year old again and nobody thinks anything strange of it. (But I don't object too strenuously when their mothers take them home in the afternoons).

It does limit my woodworking time as I wouldn't dream of letting these two very active and inquisitive young men around any of my power tools but we do get to do some small projects together. I would try to teach them how to hand cut dovetails but I still need to learn this myself and, knowing them as I do, they probably would end up teaching me.

Do I like my current "job"? The answer is a resounding YES. This is absolutely the most satisfying job I have ever held. I don't recommend it for the money (none, of course) but the hugs I get and seeing their day-to-day developments are priceless.
 
#9 ·
For the majority of my working life I was in corporate sales in the steel industry. Typical accounts were end users like tool and die shops, plastic mold makers, aeronautical parts mfrs. It was interesting work in that I saw how many things were manufactured, I was on the road all the time and got to see lots of different places, and I was able to develop my own plans and activities.

But it was a job, and I was subject to over-riding corporate structure that could be incredibly short-sighted and ignorant at times, and I sometimes had to deal with people I was just as soon set fire to.

Now I'm a full time woodworker, and literally can't wait to get to my shop each day. For the first time in my life I DO actually love what I'm doing for a living, and wish I'd been doing it all my life. After a working career in which my "results" were no more than a monthly print-out, I like the immediate gratification of seeing a physical representation of my work, and I've found I have some inate talents in design and creativity.

I wonder what percentage of people actually love what they do for a living. To me it's made all the difference.
 
#10 ·
I used to work as a paid EMT Paramedic but after ten years of getting "pooped" on I went into Nursing. I do still volunteer as a Firefighter/EMT for a local town though. Today I work at a medium sized hospital where I get to wear my jammies (scrubs) and sneakers. I get to work with pretty girls…a fact that my wife isn't too happy with. And I get to save lives…which is what we did just 5 hours ago. I work 7pm till 7am, 3 nights a week=40hours pay and then get 4 days off to play in the my lab! Nursing is my true calling and I do love the job. And when I retire…It'll be to the woodshop.
 
#13 · (Edited by Moderator)
I'm not sure which is my "Real job". Sometimes I'm a saddle maker and some times I'm a cabinet maker and sometimes I'm an artist. But….I will always be a horseman and a stockman. I've been lucky. I've never made a lot of money and seldom had insurance and retirement but I've spent most of my life doing what I wanted to do. I'm kind of gimpy in the legs now but still would rather be horseback but only on nice days. LOL "It's always about the horses."
 
#14 ·
I definitely love my job! I am a research assistant at a university, meaning I'm getting paid to get my masters degree in Forest Ecosystem Science & Silviculture. I'm working on growing BIG white pine trees with lots of clear wood in mixed conifer forests.

As an amateur woodworker, I'm enjoying getting to know the business of wood production (my thesis will have a fair bit of economic analysis). As a self proclaimed greenie, I love learning how to sustainably manage our most renewable resource, and I like knowing that clear white pine inevitably ends up in long lived wood products, like all the stuff seen on this site.
 
#16 ·
I don't hate my job, but it does keep me out of the country for a bit longer than I prefer every month. Woodworking is what keeps me sane. I work in international trade and spend most of my time far from home.

It requires great concentration and complications involving trans cultural ideas, multi-lingual challenges, and a lot of boredom sitting on long flights and eating airport food. When I get in my shop, my head clears and my hands get used. This is the recharge time my head requires.
 
#17 · (Edited by Moderator)
I love my job! My vocation is my advocation.
Not to parrot the Lazyfireman too much but its hard not to - I am a fire captain.
I am scheduled to work 121 days a year on paper. I get 15 of those days off. I average another 2-4 off sick days. I am off another 3-5 days for out of town travel/training. Realistically I work about 100+/- days a year. I do work 24 hour shifts. USUALLY I get at least 4-6 hours of sleep each night. Not always. I go to bed early and get up early at work or home.
I've seen things most people can't imagine - good and bad. I've helped with child births and held more than one person as they draw their last breath. I've seen disaster averted literally by seconds - and seen people lose every tangible thing they ever owned. I've been party to miracles and tragedy. I've seen divine intervention and the 'wrath of the almighty'. How can you describe 34 years in the emergency medical and fire fields? God works in mysterious ways - I tell you that seems like an understatement to me.
I've trained firefighters for over 30 years. I still take every training opportunity that I can.
One thing I've learned is that my job is never over. There is no end. There is always something else to do. Another inspection to make, another call to respond to. Another class to take.
I can't imagine doing anything else. There are days we don't do much except clean the station and check the truck. And there are days we can't find time to catch our breath.
I've been asked/expected to perform miracles and I've been asked/expected to chase a bird away from a bedroom window so someone working 3rd shift could get a few hours sleep without nature's noise interfering. You name it I'll almost bet you money I or someone I know has been asked to do it (and probably did) in the name of 'public service'.
At my job I get a check every two weeks and certainly 'reminded' much more often that the taxpayers 'pay my salary'. When I'm off I volunteer at the local department. Doing the same things for no pay - gladly. Still amazes me when the 'taxpayers' tell me as a volunteer they pay my salary. I usually tell them they can't pay me to do what I do - I volunteer for it. I've heard at both places "I COULD HAVE YOUR JOB". I've slipped at both and invited them to come by and fill out an application….
Don't ask my wife is SHE loves my job though. She didn't love it when I got hit by a car while working a wreck. She didn't love it when I had a heart attack at work. (I recovered!!) She didn't love it when I got smoke inhalation at a brush fire. She doesn't love it when a chief officer calls or pulls in the driveway…
Still all in all - yes, I love my job. And every now and then - someone slips up and says thank you.
 
#18 ·
I am in the software development line, just like ErsatzTom. Somedays I enjoy it, others I tolerate it. My company is working towards outsourced development. As a Solution Architect I get to do very little programming any more. Now my job consists of working with the business representatives turning requirements into software specifications. I never thought I'd end up with a job where most of my time is spent writing documents. I want to sling code, not just write about it.

The other side of the coin is that I am involved in many interesting project. I'm currently working on a project using business analytical tools. Think of Amazon and how they examine your viewing and buying trends to recommend new products to you, that's the type of stuff I'm involved with.

Also like ErsatzTom at the end of the day it's hard to feel like you've really built something as it is all intangible. That is why I enjoy woodworking so much. By just looking at the chunks of wood as they progress through the process you can see what you have accomplished. At the end you have something that you can see in actual use. Also, if you made something really good it might still be in use by someone a hundred years from now. In software what you build might not last even two years.
 
#19 · (Edited by Moderator)
Alin, I am the product of your profession.

I must say that I really love my day job. I am a Clinical Systems Analyst at a Hospital. I am involved in specifying, purchasing and implementing systems that deliver information to clinicians. I also do workflow analysis to decide when it is (or is not) appropriate to use technology to solve problems with processes. Once the decision is made to move ahead with some technology, I am involved in coordinating a team through a vendor selection process and do all of the specifications (writing RFP's etc) for the system. Once I get buy in for a particular system I assist with the aquisition phase. I identify all of the integration points with our existing systems and make sure that we have all the pieces and parts to make it work. I also make decisions about which vendor is using the best fit technology for my environment. I spec out all the infrastructure needs and come up with a cost estimate. Then I manage the implementation of the project through it's completion.

This year I put in a PACS (Picture Archive Computer System) so we could stop using film in our Radiology department. Digitizing the studies has saved a lot of money in film cost and workflow efficiencies. It also makes the images available to clinicians whenever and wherever they need them benefting both patients and Physicians. That makes me feel good.

All of this feeds my creative nature at work. When I get home, I can feed it in the shop.
 
#20 ·
I love my job. I am the Controller at a brewery. I started this job as a part-time bookkeeper 14 years ago, my first day the owner of the company brought me a paper bag full of receipts and said "maybe you can start with this". I almost cried. That first year our gross sales were about $200,000, this last year….$10,000,000.00. We have grown fast and furious, I have watched the company grow from two people (the owner and myself) to 35 employees. The fact that I happened upon this job at all changed my life in many ways. The owner and his wife have become my family. I have thought about leaving this job a few times over the years, the business struggled for many years and I was fearful that I would need to find another job, but it seems pretty darn stable now and it is so nice to see how it has all come together.

I'm not due to retire for quite some time, so I will be enjoying this for many years to come. Woodworking is my hobby, and I don't think I will ever be as good at it as accounting, I have been doing accounting my entire life, from my very first job in high school. But I really love the smell of wood passing through a saw.
 
#21 · (Edited by Moderator)
I must say that I love my job. As Pastor of Multi Media Ministries I get to work with people, in an attempt to make a profound difference in their lives. I also get to work with a lot of money, purchasing state of the art sound, lighting and video systems. If I am not working with people, I am being creative producing videos, mixes, and other such technical things. Everyday is like Christmas. If I'm not waiting on a new piece of equipment for church, I am waiting on a new tool for the shop. (BTW - The new 5 hp Sawstop and 20" Powermatic Planer should be in on Monday )

I also get to use my shop for church. As I also am the set designer for each sermon series. We do elaborate sets, which often involve lots of woodworking. So every six to eight weeks, I spend a week in the shop for work. Can't complain about that! <g>

Woodworking is my other creative outlet, and like most of you, passion!
 
#22 ·
I love my Job(s). I currently work full time at a locally owned used tool store. I've blogged about it several times. Can you tell how much I love it?! Access to great old tools and cool people in the trades, hobbyists, artists, and DIYers.

I also work part-time as well as volunteer as a firefighter. I am working toward becoming full time. There's a lot of competition to wade through but I'm putting in my time. No need to describe the benefits of that job, already eloquently done twice in this thread.
 
#23 ·
I guess I'm a product of my environment. I started in one aspect of my industry (architecture & engineering) 15 years ago, and I've risen to the top of the ranks in the IT area (CIO). I didn't mean to, but each life event (getting married, having several kids, buying a house, relocation, relocation, having more kids) propelled me to make a greater sum of money to support the family. We live within our means and one of my biggest core beliefs was to have my wife able to do what she wanted, meaning stay home and take care of the kids. I don't particularly like technology, I don't like being under pressure, but I'm good at both. So I'm the breadwinner in a job that I really don't like.

But I'm also a firm believer in that God only gives you what you can handle and then provides the tools for you to handle it. And we're doing just that with the tools God gave me. I take solace in the fact that I work in an industry that builds needed structures for people (hospitals, museums, stores, etc.) so I'm not making money out of something such as suing people (don't take that as a poke you lawyers - we have several in the family and they all do good work, just not ambulance chasing).

Will my situation change some day? Sure, and I look forward to that day. Until then, woodworking offers me a get away from the daily chore that is work. When I'm building something, I'm not a slave to the quarterly reports, the demanding CEO, the masses who may or may not agree with my decisions, and I don't answer to anyone but myself and God.

So I'd say no, I don't enjoy what I do for a living. But someday I will. I truly enjoy being a father. I live to provide a good life for my family and do the best job I can raising my kids.
 
#24 ·
Count me as one who mostly loves what I do in my day job. I'm a computer geek, mostly a software developer, I've been known to draw up a few circuits and solder them together occasionally, and, just like woodworking, it's all about making stuff.

I've had to learn to set limits about how much I'll work for people, and what I do for relaxation in the evenings, but it treats me well and I enjoy it!
 
#25 ·
I'm a teacher, K-6th grade. I have to say, I love the job. Somedays it's a pain (momentarily the kids, usually the adults around me), but mostly, it's about giving the kids the confidence and competence to do the things I wish I did as a kid. I teach them about woodworking, we wire up motors and such and make small robots, we build gigantic structures and then dress up as Godzilla and knock those structures down. Last week, the kids and I built a log mallet and ala Gallagher smashed a ton of old fruit. Their smiles were all the thanks I needed that day.

Then there's the kids that don't have anything - parents or money, sisters or brothers, or anyone to care for them; and my job is to make their time with me as beautiful as possible. Somedays I do it well, somedays I don't.

Those days, you can find me in the workshop - the wood tools, the bike, the minis, and my laptop, putting something together.
 
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