Originally posted by Matt Garcia
I, at one time, did pursue the prestige, money, and positions of moving up the corporate ladder. The higher I got the less I liked what I was doing. Managing budgets, people, conflicting resources, tight schedules, vendors, etc. was becoming a hassle. It was killing me and destroying my family. Weekends were never mine and evenings were a crap shoot.
After the CEO and I had a, shall we say lively discussion, I was offered a buyout. I took it and it was the best decision I made. I now do work I enjoy, deadlines are not mine, and most importantly I was able to spend time with my family and friends.
I took a drop in pay. But I make enough to keep a roof, buy groceries, buy gas for the boat, and have a little left over. I discovered that having a high paying job is not worth the other losses. Happiness, and the ability to enjoy life, are more important than the status and money. If die and have not enjoyed your life, done something that you personally enjoy, and that is personally rewarding, then what have you done?
I would like to go back 30+ years and change some decisions. I think I would have tried more adventurous things, explored more of the world. I probably would have liked to spent a couple of years in the peace corp. Slogging through mud in Viet Nam and shooting at people I did not know, that have never harmed me, was not my idea of a good time. Of course these people would have harmed me if given the chance, but I could have found another venue to spend my younger years.
I listened to too many adults that went through WWII and the depression to mold my decisions. That was a mistake as their life experiences markedly warped their perception of the world. Stability and longevity with a company was tops on their minds. You had to climb the corporate ladder to be a success. Bull puckey. Success is measured by a persons own metrics, nothing else. Find something you like to do and don't worry about the other bloke that just bought a 52" TV that you cannot afford. At least I have no debt and worrying about which bills to pay is not on my agenda.
I love it!
. I have done some pretty fun projects over the years, 21 now. Mostly residential custom homes. It's aways fun when someone wants something different, indoor/outdoor pools, sports courts under garages, waterfalls inside the house, we once built a grand circular stairway to no where. Really, it was off the entry and went up to a bridge that went no where. We figured it cost some where in the $150,000 range and was absolutely useless. People and ideas? We also have built some restaurants. My family owns some Original Wingers Restaurant in Spanish Fork, Lehi and Park City, great franchise. So when not working with me the rest of the family works in the restaurants. My wife of 20 years, son 17 and daughter 16 actually don't work at any of our restaurants, to much stress, they work for a local Bountiful Wingers ten minutes from home , ours are all an hour or more away. Everyone thinks it's weird, but it works for us.
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