Job Choices...opinions welcome!

[nosmas]

OK MY PROFESSIONAL MUSCLE BROTHERS AND SISTERS. It’s like this….I applied at Powerhouse gym about a month and a half ago. Since then I have been gainfully employed at a job I have had off and on for nine years. Landscaping. It’s a job I do well and the hours and pay are decent. Plus, I have the advantage of the company being a family built owned and operated company and I am in good with the family so I am taken car of in many cool ways, making my job easier.
A few days ago, Powerhouse called and asked if I would be interested in a part time position starting at the very bottom doing metanence and keeping things clean for this rather small gym twenty minutes away from where we live. I asked about night time hours and they said maybe in the future but not in the cards right now. I could tell I had made a good impression with just this first phone call with the GM but we left it at maybe someday. I thought about it more and more and just felt drawn to call them back and leave a message about forgetting my full time day job for the moment and consider me for the position and an interview. I got a call the next day and took the next day off to get a haircut and trim the very LONG beard. I had a good interview, but was not offered the job right then and there which has never been a good sign to me. She said they were interviewing though the week and that was it. It has been one business day and a Saturday. Since then, when I went back to work, I had expected to be punished but was instead greeted with the nicest truck and the nurseries and it was no questions asked. That’s pretty much where it stands right now.
I currently put in between 50 and 80 hours a week at a dollar per hour wage I know Powerhouse can’t match. The job is part time but year round. From December to April it’s pretty hard to get hours doing anything you would wish on your worst enemy. The wife is trusting of whatever I choose if I even get offered a job at powerhouse but She is all to aware of how precious the weekly paychecks have been the last five or six weeks. But this job is hard on my body and the years of doing it has taken a toll I can’t deny anymore.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

 

[thebrick]

If you like landscaping, have you thought about starting your OWN landscaping company? Starting small and building it over time with yourself in a management role? You have to know the ins and outs after this time. Is it a large enough market in your area for more competition? I am a firm believer in people building their own business and doing their own thing. You'll get a lot of deep satisfaction from this.

 

[nosmas]

hey brick

I do enjoy it. I am one of the best in town on any given day. I have actually left and HELPED others start their own company. Many do very well because the nursery I work for does a lot of large commercial projects leaving a lot of homes and smaller jobs for other smaller companies. I have always come back after the business takes off for one reason for another. I suppose I am just spoiled by getting to use some of the finest equipment in my city and that’s the honest truth. Its ridiculous the money that goes into the trucks and equipment. It is the family’s way of keeping their employees. Two thirds of the people I see every morning had at one time had their own companies and for one reason or another they failed. I personally simply don’t have the starting capital for anything except the odd side job with other foreman.

At this point. I would have no trouble putting in my two weeks if I get the other job.

 

[nosmas]

Some picks of a job I did last week. Me and two of my friends from down south.

 

[nosmas]

few more

 

[vitor]

I dunno what you make but, starting at the bottom at powerrhouse cant be more than 8$ and hour. I imagine they are not going to hire you because you are over qualified as in you will get sick of mopping cleaning toilets, picking up weights etc.... Check out some other gyms that might pay a bit better, what do you want from this? Membership Sales, Personal training???

What do you need to make per year?

 

[nosmas]

Thanks for chimin in Vitor, long time no speak!

and you bring up some good questions. Your right about the $ per hour being low at Powerhouse, but I even said that I was not looking for them to compete with my current full time job in that area. Over qualified, well yes. But I WANT the job. At least that is the impression I wanted to get across to the gm in the interview. She asked me many questions about what I do and I did my best to make my point that I really wanted to be part of the environment at Powerhouse. We did talk about future membership sales when I get my degree in the not to distant future. I told her I was looking for something more stable and with a possibility of future advancement.
Of course I am looking for a nice free membership. I would take FULL advantage plus, I would have so much more time to devote to training. I would LOVE to train for a contest or enter as a novice in something localy. I really would be happy cleaning toilets for a while. I clean um here at home now. And I have had entry level jobs before and didnt mind.

 

[oldfella]

Well I guess this brings some questions with it. You enjoy the landscaping yes? It does pay well. Now are you going to like doing some unskilled no thoughts required job day in and day out with crap pay?? Free gym membership and the POSSIBILITY, yes POSSIBILITY, no guarantees of membership sales and commision are not good enough reasons to abandon a job that you enjoy, are obviously good at and get good money from. In my book it does not add up. You will get your degree and this in itself will open new doors for employment. Be patient, keep your job as a landscaper, do some other jobs on the side when hours get lean. You will not be happy doing grunt work at the gym, trust me I know! Just my two cents bro, but I say stay put and save!!

 

[SAWADEEKROB]

Food for though

Hi I am new to the board but wanted to give you my thoughts on the matter.

As men we are faced with many challenges, sometimes those challenges makes us choose between was we WANT to do and what MUST be done. If you have a wife, kids and stability the decision is harder because it is no longer about us, but about the people who depend on you.

What would happen if you all of the sudden change into this new line of business and an unexpected health related event happens in your family? Do you have the financial leverage to come out of it successfully?

However after re-reading your post I get a sense that you have not said everything about the situation. You slightly mention the wear and tear of your body in your current job. Is that the main issue here? or is it the monotony in doing the same job over and over again?

Family is the most important thing a man has in his life. Perhaps your wife says that she is behind you 100% on this, but perhaps she is telling you what you want to hear and if deep down inside she may feel a little worried about the future. Maybe not and I am completely wrong.

Without going off-topic there are many qualities that make a man truly "manly" physical as well as psychological. I thing that stability is the one quality we take for granted that women look deeply for us in both respects (they physical and psychological stability). Will this change affect your family's stability in the long-term?

Hope this helped you clear some thoughts on this issue.

 

[vitor]

Most Marriages end because of Money and Money Related Issues. Why would working at the gym give you more time to train. I imagine you work an 8 hour shift then you can go and workout etc.

My .02 cents, Get that degree get paid as much as you can to save and live comfortably. At the powerhouse i used to work at the morning team where deffintely not the best people, or people moving up trying to improve yourself. Where is this gym located.


Personal Training would be cool for you

 

[nosmas]

Hi I am new to the board but wanted to give you my thoughts on the matter.

As men we are faced with many challenges, sometimes those challenges makes us choose between was we WANT to do and what MUST be done. If you have a wife, kids and stability the decision is harder because it is no longer about us, but about the people who depend on you.

What would happen if you all of the sudden change into this new line of business and an unexpected health related event happens in your family? Do you have the financial leverage to come out of it successfully?

However after re-reading your post I get a sense that you have not said everything about the situation. You slightly mention the wear and tear of your body in your current job. Is that the main issue here? or is it the monotony in doing the same job over and over again?

Family is the most important thing a man has in his life. Perhaps your wife says that she is behind you 100% on this, but perhaps she is telling you what you want to hear and if deep down inside she may feel a little worried about the future. Maybe not and I am completely wrong.

Without going off-topic there are many qualities that make a man truly "manly" physical as well as psychological. I thing that stability is the one quality we take for granted that women look deeply for us in both respects (they physical and psychological stability). Will this change affect your family's stability in the long-term?

Hope this helped you clear some thoughts on this issue.

THANK YOU SAW. GOOD POST. I SEE WHAT YOU MEAN. GOOD POINTS ABOUT THE WIFE. I DO BELIEVE SHE IS TELLING ME WHAT I WANT TO HEAR. BUT I DO BELIEVE SHE WILL STAND BY MY DECISION.
THE JOB IS DIFFERENT DAY BY DAY. NEVER THE SAME TWO DAYS IN A ROW. IT REALLY IS THE PHISICAL DAMAGE ITS DONE TO ME OVER NINE YEARS OFF AND ON. I GIVE IT MY ALL EVERY DAY AND LAST YEAR WHEN I TOOK THE SEASON OFF, I COULD HARDLY GET UP IN THE MORNING AND WAS IN ALMOST CONSTANT PAIN. STILL AM. ITS TAKING ITS TOLL, TWO MAJOR ER VISITS WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH BACK.
YOUR SENSE ABOUT THE POST IS PARTLY CORRECT THOUGH. I AM POINTING IT TOWARD ME TAKING THE OTHER JOB. BUT THOSE "OLD" MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ARE SEEING THROUGH ME AT THE MOMENT AND NOT ACCEPTING MY BULL SHIT.
NO KIDS YET. JUST ME AND THE WIFE, A FEW SNAKES AND A LOT OF COLLEGE LOANS!
WHAT I TAKE AWAY THE MOST FROM YOUR POST IS THE PART ABOUT CHOOSING BETWEEN WHAT WE WANT AND MUST! ON THAT....I AM REFLECTING MORE!

 

[DiverT]

Just a thought

Hey bro I just read ur post and well as I am not sure the kind of work u are looking for, but if ur not opposed to traveling nd u like the water how bout commercial diving? I have been doin it for about 2 years and make more bank now than I have in the past three to five put together! There are several training schools out there, I went to Divers Academy Int. In Atlantic City, NJ, well at the time it was in Camden, NJ but that is besides the point. I guess u are from Nebraska? If so there is also a very good training school in Seattle. For more info just do a google search and you will find a wealth of info. I know it is kinda out there compared to landscaping (which I did for two years) but it is a great way to make a living and the chicas dig it so...BEST OF LUCK with whatever decision u make, and stick to something that u want to wake up for everyday, not something u have to.

 

[nosmas]

the choice has been made..........

..........and Im goin to POWERHOUSE.

 

[oldfella]

..........and Im goin to POWERHOUSE.

First, Good for you Nos. As long as it makes you happy bro, that is all that really matters. Now You and hngry still comin down or what??? or does the career change put a hold on your travel plans?? Let me know either way. PM me if you want! Thanks bro.

 

[nosmas]

well, if I an get there or not remains to be seen, but dont count me out. I need it now more than ever. After all, I have no more excusses. I have a gym. I have a will, so I will do my best to find a way.

PMs on the way.