The unofficial online home for fans of the Western Michigan University Broncos. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(07-31-2014 08:59 PM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  I recently took a pretty big risk (professionally) and it has already paid off big time.

Take risks, and have faith and confidence in your decision. Had a lot of people in my life push me to do it when I was teetering, and they all turned out to be right. It was the best decision I've ever made. I look back it now and can't figure out why I didn't do it sooner.

I agree, take some risks.

When I was in college I worked in a large grocery store. There were a lot of guys my age, in their early twenties.

A couple of guys had moved up to department heads and were making what seemed like good money at the time. Both of them had their own houses at 20. They'd often mock us for wasting our time in college when there were great career opportunities right there with the company.

I admit, I was often jealous of them. They were living in what seemed like a nice house at the time, married, and having kids. I often considered taking the easy road and just try to move up through the company with hard work.

Up until a few years ago I still played golf with a few of them. They still lived in the houses they had bought in their 20's. What I thought were great houses and neighborhoods back then, didn't seem so great now. Both of them are still in middle management positions in the food biz. Both had been with companies that went bust and had to start all over again with other companies. Neither have a pot to piss in when they retire, if they ever can retire. Neither were very happy with their lot in life.

I don't think I ever took any major risks in my life, but I was always looking for the next best thing rather than settling for what was there for the taking.

Don't worry about your friends getting married, or having kids. If you don't find your path in life till you're 35 you're still young. Your goal should be to find something you truly enjoy, and that pays well. Don't settle for instant gratification like my buddies who are still bagging groceries when it gets busy.

One of the guys I worked with was an assistant manager. One day he just quit. Sold his house, moved to Florida, and opened up a copier franchise. Last I heard he had several of them. I'm sure we all thought he was nuts at the time. I often wish I had been that nuts.

Disagree, take the safe way out, don't take any risks, be a government employee.

That's what I'm going to do.

(07-31-2014 10:44 PM)BroncoLifer Wrote:  Disagree, take the safe way out, don't take any risks, be a government employee.

That's what I'm going to do.

Don't listen to this guy Nacho. Government work is fine if you love the work. But you should never do it simply because it offers some perceived guarantees. Like any kind of work, if you hate it, it will show up in your performance and they'll make life miserable enough for you to get you to leave. Seen it happens several times.

I wish DB were here. He started out with a degree in accounting and ended up with his own IT business (or something along those lines, wish he were here so he could give you the story). It's a great example of how opportunities can manifest themselves when you don't plan for them, as well as a great example that taking a risk can pay off.

My observation: you shouldn't be having a "quarter" life crisis. Really? Go to a few bars, yuk it up a bit, meet a few hotties, have some fun and enjoy the moment, it goes damn fast. Quarter life crisis my azz.

P.S. Dip is right, stay away from government jobs, which are mind-numbing, if you ignore Dip, you'll be having a midlife crisis in about five years!

Gov't work is not all its cracked up to be. Especially here in DC, prospects are DIM. The gov't is getting smaller, gov't work is (wrongly) vilified by much of the nation, and applying for gov't jobs is a three-ring circus of hoops you have to jump through.

I wouldn't do this again, but I moved to DC without a job and probably less than $5k in the bank to pursue my future. I'm still here, and I have a lot more than $5k, but I'm employed with my own place and a pot to piss in, so it could be worse.

I was working nights and weekends (don't recommend it) in Northern Indiana (also don't recommend it, though it could be way worse), and I was DEPRESSED. My dream of landing in Chicago seemed further and further away. Couldn't get job interviews in Chi-town, couldn't get job interviews anywhere. Dating is difficult when you don't know what your schedule is like from week to week, other than working nights and weekends. Christ I couldn't even get a PT job with the St Joe County (IN) library system or the local hardware store in SB to supplement my income.

But I had a friend from WMU who was already out here, and she convinced me to move out here. Said the job market was much better for our profession than Chicago and that DC was a great place. I came to visit and didn't do the normal touristy stuff, and I fell in love with the place. Decided I would move here (or Bmore) come hell or high water.

So I started stuffing papers 3rd shift to make extra money. After about six months of that and getting my Bush tax cut (Thanks, W), I called my parents and told them I'm quitting my job and moving. Moved out here, lived in College Park in some UMD student dump that made the Student Ghetto look upscale for a few months. Got a job with the Skins when I was on my last dollar. Though that only lasted a few months as the economy collapsed in 2008 (hated the job as well), I hustled and made it to where I am now. While not my "dream job," I've always wanted to do what I am doing and I have been doing it long enough and have the connections where I feel very confident in my future, even in a shaky industry.

Other suggestions, along CD's lines: Don't get anyone pregnant, don't marry anyone until at least your mid 30s and certainly no earlier.

Just had a friend decide to spontaneously pick up and move to Las Vegas a couple weeks ago. He's staying on a friend's couch for now, but already has a job out there and loves it... granted it's only been two weeks, but I think it will work out for him well in the long-run. He needed a change, and this was the perfect opportunity. Do it while you're young.

(08-01-2014 11:25 AM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  Just had a friend decide to spontaneously pick up and move to Las Vegas a couple weeks ago. He's staying on a friend's couch for now, but already has a job out there and loves it... granted it's only been two weeks, but I think it will work out for him well in the long-run. He needed a change, and this was the perfect opportunity. Do it while you're young.

Yeah, but don't move to Vegas.

(08-01-2014 10:55 AM)Nacho Wrote:  Thanks CCB. that really hit home. - I'm in a similar position you were a few years ago it sounds like. I work long hours, weekends, most days I wake up about two hours before the sun rises, get home at 6 or 7pm and still have work to do. (I'm in the insurance fraud/workers comp fraud investigations industry currently) My goal has always been to live in a big city and Chicago seemed to be leading the race since a lot of my friends live there. I told my self this spring if I could save up 7500 dollars by the fall I would quit my current job and move to a larger city with no plans and see what happens. Its just a big risk and I'm not sure if I have the balls to do it.

I'm not a fan of working more than 40 hours per week. Unless you're getting $100k and maybe working 50, it's not worth it.

$7500 goes a lot further in Chicago than it does the east coast. Just be prepared to live with roommates (maybe ones you don't know) and hustle hard.

(07-31-2014 08:59 PM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  I recently took a pretty big risk (professionally) and it has already paid off big time.

Take risks, and have faith and confidence in your decision. Had a lot of people in my life push me to do it when I was teetering, and they all turned out to be right. It was the best decision I've ever made. I look back it now and can't figure out why I didn't do it sooner.

Yeah. Same.

I started out on my own doing WMS Software Consulting about 5 years ago. I had been quite burned out at my job doing similar work, but for a large company that didn't really have as much interest in its customer relationships as I felt was necessary to build long term success... I was scared $h1tless at the idea of not having a steady paycheck and basically signing contracts that were on a month to month basis...

BEST DECISION I EVER MADE! It still freaks me out, but the freedom and flexibility is something I never had the fortune of enjoying while working for another company. I always say the best thing about working for yourself is you know when you're going to get laid off!

Last year I decided I wanted to grow my business a bit... I was again getting stagnant and not feeling like I was moving forward anymore. I picked up a book titled "The ONE thing - The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results". Its written by Garry Keller, co-founder of Keller Williams Realty... Its a quick and easy read and really does touch on how simple results based thinking can be if you limit the width of your focus... You may have a number of ONE things you want... but you need to constantly figure out which ONE thing is the most important thing to you at any moment.

It is also important to surround yourself with those people who you deem successful (be it family, career, life..etc...)... and don't be afraid to ask them to help you with your vision. I have surrounded myself with those individuals I deem to be successful and am always surprised at how open and forthcoming they are if you just ask them basic road map to success questions... Sometimes the most importation parts of our lives happen when we are uncomfortable, and when change becomes necessary.

Good luck... Nothing is ever as bad as it seems and usually never as good as it seems...

Side note... I took a trip to Europe a year ago... Spent two weeks in southern Germany... Talk about a rejuvenating experience... came back totally re-charged and ready for whatever was next!!!!

Nothing is ever as bad as it seems or as good as it seems.

Sage advice Flush.

I spent six months as a male stripper prior to going into special forces. Gotta tell you it is a GREAT way to meet ladies!

Sure way to beat the quarter life crisis syndrom.

Human Beings need:

Something to believe in

Something to do (a purpose - overlaps with above)

Someone to love


Money is good, and it can help - but there have been a lot of people with money and fame who died young, including last few months.

People that don't have those things have problems.

(08-04-2014 03:59 PM)Chipdip2 Wrote:  Nothing is ever as bad as it seems or as good as it seems.

Sage advice Flush.

That's my line.

(08-01-2014 10:55 AM)Nacho Wrote:  I told my self this spring if I could save up 7500 dollars by the fall I would quit my current job and move to a larger city with no plans and see what happens. Its just a big risk and I'm not sure if I have the balls to do it.

Nacho, the best time to make a "risky" move is when you have the freedom to do it. Get out before you become trapped with a mortgage, kids, wife, etc. Once the bills come rolling in you will never escape. Don't put limits on yourself (IF I save $7,500) just go for it.

Also, don't worry so much about getting interviewed for jobs. Make requests for "informational interviews" to find out more about the kind of job you think you would like. Informational interviews are much easier to snag, and people generally want to help others. Just DO NOT try to manipulate the opportunity into a real interview because that pisses people off. Focus on learning some inside info about the career and know that you are building a network that will pay off down the line. You might even be able to shadow someone on the job for a day or partial day.

(08-04-2014 04:21 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Human Beings need:

Something to believe in

Something to do (a purpose - overlaps with above)

Someone to love


Money is good, and it can help - but there have been a lot of people with money and fame who died young, including last few months.

People that don't have those things have problems.

Hopple this advice is right on the money...It has been proven through many research studies. There is a weekly blog out there called Barking up the Wrong Tree it is run by a guy named Eric Barker. The information he puts out there deals with success and happiness in life no mather what you do for a living or want to do its all research based and he provides some great insights and reminders we all need from time to time about living life...Good Stuff

If none of the good suggestions seem plausible you might try these.

Think of an invention, and go on Shark Tank to get it funded.

Panhandling. John Stossel did it for a day in NYC and averaged $9 an hour. No federal or state tax either.

Join a commune. On paper communal living is a bunch of people working together in harmony for the common good. In reality it's a bunch of lazy people trying to do as little as possible. Good work if you can get it.

Be a man whore/gigolo. Prey on older divorces and MILFs. They'll appreciate what you can do for them, and they'll ask for little in return.

Join the Navy. I think the Village People said it best. "In the navy, you can sail the 7 seas...." My dad loved the Navy.

Join the Peace Corps.- My niece taught in Kiev, and lived with a guy who was in the Russian Mafia. She never felt safer, and Russian/Ukraine kids really mind.

Work at a ski resort. My mother in laws nephew works at a resort in Utah and draws unemployment in the part of the off season. He's like 33 and has never held a real job in his life. He seems to like it.

Become a hobo. Box Car Willie wrote some of his best songs while riding the railroads.

Hope this helps.

Go back to college and bang ever single freshman you can find with no protection!!!! You want risky and life changing that will do it.

(08-06-2014 06:08 PM)Kimbosucks Wrote:  Go back to college and bang ever single freshman you can find with no protection!!!! You want risky and life changing that will do it.

All Nacho will get from that is restraining orders, mug shots on MLive, callouses, and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Maybe resultant weekend in Kalamazoo County Jail will be "risky and life changing" enough for him.

Or, best three days of his life-exactly what he's looking for - new "friends"!