Following in Dad's Footsteps

Aussie Thoughts

Aussie Thoughts

Just my 2 cents
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Did you follow in your dad's footsteps? That is, do you make your living in the same way he did?

Much to my dad's disappointment, I did not. He was a 3rd generation farmer and quite proud of his heritage. He long awaited for me his 1st born to follow in his footsteps, but it was not to be.

Early on, even though I tried my best, it was quite clear I was no farmer. To this day I can do most jobs, albeit poorly and even teach others the how and why, but my heart just isn't in it. I had other dreams and dad gave me the freedom to pursue them. Esentially, he busted his arse so I wouldn't have to bust mine.

I set out to become a teacher, but shifted gears half way through college and became a freelance writer photographer. This has served me well over the years, allowing me to travel the world and experience things others only dream of.

I've received quite a few accolades in my time, but my most cheerished is the time my dad picked up one of my photos and said to my mom, "He's good."

So after all these years here I am back on the farm. I help out from time to time, but I'm still no farmer. My younger brother, 2 uncles and their sons run the show these days. Oddly enough, my son took to farming like a duck to water and will be joining the team full time in a few years. His Grand Dad would be so very proud.

What's your story mate?
 
my dad...a gov't statistical analyst... told me if I didn't go to college I'd end up digging ditches for a living... curse him everytime I've had a shovel in my hand...

Construction has done me fine.... hard knocks working your way up works...till your over 50 and no degree... experience? Not in the days of high insurance and kids with masters willing to work for longer for less...
 
My father was a corporate account and was thrilled when I decided to go into finance. Then, after hating my job and deciding to go into teaching, he said he was disappointed that I had left a practical field for one that will allow me no financial security or personal satisfaction. Despite my best attempts to actually engage with him on this topic and to explain that I am satisfied with the experience, it remains a sore point. Perhaps, someday, I'll have a moment similar to Aussie's "He's good" experience.
 
Aussie Thoughts said:
Did you follow in your dad's footsteps? That is, do you make your living in the same way he did?
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My father was a raging alcoholic. Being relatively uneducated, he only ever had menial jobs and only worked them long enough to get his next drink. So no, thankfully I did not follow in my father's footsteps.

My career path has taken many twists and turns. I started out as a musician, but ended up perusing a college level Automotive degree. Somehow or the other, I ended up in retail management after graduating however. Later that turned into commissioned sales for a large tire dealer.

I chucked it all when I was 40 and started a mail order business. That blossomed into video production, film making and graphic arts. I never made much money, but working for myself has been much more satisfying than working for others.

These days I just do consulting work due to nagging health issues, but I have no real complaints. It's been a good ride.
 
StevePame said:
teaching, he said he was disappointed that I had left a practical field for one that will allow me no financial security or personal satisfaction.
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No personal satisfaction? I honor all teachers....a trade, a job in which the goal is that the people you work with do better than you....learn more than you, do more than you, become smarter than you.... How can anything be more satisfying? Tis my son's chosen profession (over my wife's similar dismay to your fathers). My father in law became satisfied with my job when I built a garage on his house (hmmm the kid might be worth something)...My father became appreciative when I negotiated a parking place close to his work for a song....when he saw one of my check stubs one day he muttered under his breath "hmmmm....you earn more than me..."
 
wil said:
I honor all teachers....a trade, a job in which the goal is that the people you work with do better than you....learn more than you, do more than you, become smarter than you.... How can anything be more satisfying?
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Everyone has their own perspective on career paths, but I agree with your assessment. I feel like I'm making a difference and want students who come through my classroom to make meaningful contributions to their generation and beyond. They need to learn and be smart to make such contributions.

wil said:
when he saw one of my check stubs one day he muttered under his breath "hmmmm....you earn more than me..."
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Haha. I don't think that situation will ever happen with my father. My school pays well compared to its rivals but it is a relative scale for teachers, at least until you get a master's degree or move into administrative duties.
 
StevePame said:
Haha. I don't think that situation will ever happen with my father. My school pays well compared to its rivals but it is a relative scale for teachers, at least until you get a master's degree or move into administrative duties.
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Depends a lot on how you measure wealth. I learned the hard way that wealth doesn't always equate to dollars and cents.
 
Namaste Jesus said:
Depends a lot on how you measure wealth. I learned the hard way that wealth doesn't always equate to dollars and cents.
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That is very true. I wake up and I look forward to going to work now. My dad hated his job and was always complaining about it, both before and after he went to work, which made life for the seven of us in the house rather difficult. It always struck me as strange that he wanted me to go into the corporate finance world when he hated his job, but he has always been focused solely on financial wealth. The best part of my day is when I see the 'light bulb' go on for a student who has been struggling with a concept and suddenly everything makes sense. No dollar amount trumps that feeling, in my eyes.
 
My father was a food technologist (yeah, one of the guys who makes your food look, smell and taste so fooking good from the grocery stores and/or restaurants.) I'm more of the "professional student" with a bit of "information matchmaker".

Oh, and his father was a farmer when he came to the United States (before that, he was in the Czarist army serving under Nicholai II.) He deserted the army after winning a marksmanship contest when he received a nine month furlough (three months to travel from Siberia to his village, three months to be with his family and three months to return to his post.) He got that instead of the actual award of a promotion due to the fact that he was Jewish.

Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine
 
StevePame said:
That is very true. I wake up and I look forward to going to work now. My dad hated his job and was always complaining about it, both before and after he went to work, which made life for the seven of us in the house rather difficult. It always struck me as strange that he wanted me to go into the corporate finance world when he hated his job, but he has always been focused solely on financial wealth. The best part of my day is when I see the 'light bulb' go on for a student who has been struggling with a concept and suddenly everything makes sense. No dollar amount trumps that feeling, in my eyes.
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One of my online friends is an investment banker in Greece (I met him through a site about the etymology of names at least twenty years ago) and I have been pestering him to keep me updated about what's going on there, especially since his (now) 15-year-old daughter has type 1 diabetes and her insulin is imported. He seems to enjoy his job to a point...

Needless to say, several of my grey hairs are named after everyone in his family, especially now with the Greek economic crisis.

Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine
 
My father was a WW2 Vet, and returned to farm where his father had farmed. I considered it but he discouraged it. The risks of drought and hail were hard on him, and he worried too much, as did my mother. He was happy when I finally decided to pursue higher education and become a teacher. The Hinduism didn't go over well, but what can one expect? He was an agnostic leaning to atheism from a young age and one event. The sermon had been about being kind to one's neighbour, and he and his sisters endured pouring rain on the 2 mile walk home from church while 10 odd cars with room for some kids passed them. He saw the hypocrisy and never went back.

I learned a ton, as I think he overworked on his ethics just to prove a point to 'those hypocrites!" as he declared them. We went fishing Sunday mornings to learn about life from him.
 
I remember my dad working a number of different jobs when I was growing up, everything from service station attendant to truck driver to sales manager. He had quit high school before graduating, I never knew why exactly. He did his best to provide for the family in whatever capacity he could. Things were tight sometimes. I don't think he was in love with any of the jobs he had. I know he loved reading and also gave his hand to writing from time to time. He was also very good at engaging people in conversation. I once asked him how he did that and he said it just came naturally, but that he didn't really like to do it. He just did it when he had to.

Me, I run a small time construction company. My dad never did construction that I'm aware of. What we do have in common is that neither of us completed our formal education. Mine was cut way short by social phobia (aka psychology's "social anxiety disorder").

It was a part of me, the social phobia -- still is although it has burned out somewhat over the years. It got to a point back then where I could no longer sit through a classroom situation. I didn't understand what was happening to me. Neither did my small circle of friends. I was alone with it. It came to a crisis point and could have gone either way, but I lived through it. However, my ties to the formal education system were severed forever.

I sort of fell into the work I do now, I didn't choose it. It's okay, it pays the bills and I haven't missed any meals lately. You don't save money, you just make ends meet. I take the work seriously. I'm sort of a perfectionist when it comes to things I do, so I like to do a good job. But do I love what I do... no, not really. Like my dad, I loved books and literature. Might have become a man of letters if things had fallen out differently. There's no way to know for sure. These things don't mean as much to me as they used to. I don't worry too much about it.
 
Aussie Thoughts said:
How the hell do you go from mail order to film production?
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I needed a video for whatever product I was hawking at the time and couldn't afford to hire a professional. So, I bought a full size VHS camcorder, (remember those), hoisted the 20 pound lug up on my shoulder and taught myself how to use it. One thing led to another and I ended up learning how to edit, do special FX and graphics. Next thing you know, I'm making short films and doing post production work for those professionals I couldn't afford to hire.
 
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