I gotta keep my head in the books or else...

I start thinking...

Ok this may be a long read

the more and more college goes on, the more I question what I'm doing, I haven't even taken an engineering class yet =/ (long story)

Obviously you guys know what one of my hobbies are-motorcycling. I find myself on this site more than homework and studying(dont worry- I still do it and do well on tests-Taking gen ed's). I got to thinking about how I grew up on a farm and find that the office life may not be the life for me, I like being out in the shop turning a wrench, not so much on tractors.

what I was thinking as an alternative was to find a technical school and a university in the same town or the same school, and take business management and a motorcycle mechanic at the same time, because, from what I understand, being just a mechanic is a path to starvation.

but in this day and age, is it feasible or possible to open a new, successful shop anywhere?

If I were to do this, I would like to be a dealership and service dept, but if i were to become well established... then maybe open a custom shop... how does a young punk like roland sands become so established?

I dont know guys, just looking for advice because you're the next best thing to my family, and if i had this talk with them, they would be irate!

 

Ya know, I have gone through a few "jobs" since I started out in life. Always chasing the bigger paycheck. What I have discovered is that money is not the answer. You have to do what you love. I've worked 80hr swinging shifts and brought home some big checks, but I was always tired and unhappy. Usually found myself wasting most of that money on beer to drown out how much I hated what I was doing.

My new motto: Keep food in my belly, gas in the bike, and a smile on my face.

I don't know if that helps any, but it's my 2 cents

 

You looked into machining? many times a small to midsized shop won't mind if you use facilities and scrap material on your own time. that's where all my billet parts have come from. I'd much rather spend an hour or two fabbing some foot peg brackets that the previous owner lost then 15minutes online finding and buying them. It's also a fantastic segway toward mechanical engineering if you're willing to put a few extra years into your overall career path. I know first hand that green engineers tend not to understand how to design parts that are efficiently and effectively deliverable to throughout it's birthing process from concept to end user. Firms that develop small batch products seem to have a good grasp on what their customers want and how a device will function once it's made but don't understand HOW their made so they don't know how a few strokes of a pen (or mouse clicks now-a-days) can cut manufacturing effort (and thereby) costs dramatically.

Maybe it's just me touting the path I'm on. Same reason I encourage people to buy an old Seca if they run across one.

 

I'm going to school for mechanical engineering.... because I'm chasing that big paycheck, and ultimately, this would piss my parents off for saying so, I want a big paycheck towards motorcycling, I already know that I will be a bachelor for quite a long time (good thing or bad, i'm just not that great with the ladies) so where will my money go? im some of my spare time im using autocad to design a flipping house built on top of a garage... i dont know if im chasing a flipping pipe dream or am really obsessed with bikes, because me and my parents know that i go through some phases of obsession, but this one has lasted 3 years, and im technically an "adult" now, where im pretty much done with being impressionable to influences

 

FYI - most of the engineers i know that graduated from tech are miserable and hate their jobs.

although - on the wrenching angle, some good advice was given to me, "don't get too close to the sausage" - what he meant was, yeah you like working on bikes, but once it's your job, it becomes less fun and more worries and headaches. i.e. - you like sausage because you don't make it for a living.

if i could start over, i'd go to trade school to become an industrial electrician or welder or something. they make mad cash and don't seem to have to work very hard.

another angle would be to find work where you're laid off every summer - then you can collect unemployment and go riding all summer long. zamboni driver, maybe?

 

forget autocad if you want a job learn pro-e
remember with your own place you deal with the three worst things there are
the public
employees
the public

skeeter, i'd clean the bathrooms after the games to be the Zamboni driver

 

Not surprising....I have been in tool & die (design) for over 20 years and this last year (of being laid off) has been the least stressful that I can remember. In today's economy everyone wants shortened delivery timelines at reduced cost with fewer errors...and who do you think is at the bottom of the hill that large crap ball is rollin' down...yup..the designer/engineer.... :evil:

I'd agree with skeeter... I think most people dream about getting paid for doing something they love, but after 5,10,15 years of doing the same thing (no matter how much you love it ) it becomes work like everything else...only now you resent the very thing you used to love.

I would say find a job/career you can learn to like or that at least holds your interest. Don't worry about the money, that will come in time, especially if you can learn the difference between these two words , "want" and "need" a LOT of people get them confused and end up chasing money all their life for things they think they "need". Don't fall in the trap that has befallen so many of today's youth, they see what mom and dad have and think they should have that too...so they get plastic and get in debt past their eyeballs, and now they HAVE to make the big bucks to pay the big bills!! Gotta remember, it took mommy and daddy YEARS of hard work and sacrifice to get to where they are. Enjoy your work, give %100 when you're there, don't take it home with you. spend your time AWAY from work doing what you love!

 

If you're going to put in the effort to get a 4 year and possibly higher degree and make that career path it better be something you like. It doesn't have to be your favorite thing or your hobby, but you damn sure better like it. It kind of drives me crazy when i hear people say "hey you're good at writing, you should go to J-school!" or "hey you're really good at drawing, you should go to art school!" Why? if they're already good at it, why do they need to spend 4 years over analyzing the piss out of something they already know, just to find out to become big in the industry it'll take years of working crappy low wage jobs and then you only have a hope of being somewhat successful and you end up hating what you used to love.

I'm graduating in 6 weeks with my Bachelors in Management Information Systems. I've always loved computers and networking and other technology of that sort but having computers as my hobby got old after a few years. I've always also really liked motorcycles, i got my first one when i was 18 and between school, working, having the first one stolen, and working on the other 2 i've had in the last year it's been the perfect balance of just enough time invested in the hobby to keep it from getting boring. You have to have a hobby that's different from your career, you'll just end up getting sick of it.

I know too many people in the IS school that just kind of figured hey, i like computer games so i guess i should study computers. The only problem is they find out that they're actually no good with them, have no idea what they're doing, and would rather just sit on their asses and just play video games instead of actually learning their trade. And now because of education the way it is it doesn't matter if you actually know the material or not, you just have to get the grade so now all these imbiciles are going to graduate with me and it makes me sick since i have put in the time and effort to get very good at my craft. but i digress. The main point i'm trying to get at is do something you like, make sure it's a marketable skill, and keep your hobbies as they are. Because you'll find if you let your hobby become your life it won't have the same effect on making you happy anymore.

 

I personly agree with what everyone else is saying shooter.

I was going to school for machining and welding, I was gonna work at my family buisness. Then 2 things happened. I had to go the the doctors for breathing issues. They found a mass in my left lung they said it was noncancerous (i think thats the right word) and they found alot of scar tissue cause i used to have asthma really bad. The docter said if i would make a career out of welding i would be dead by the time i was 30. 0_0

I really really enjoyed welding and i was and still am very very good at it i am certified. I was certified at the age of 17. im now 19.

The second thing was that i started thinking. I would be one of the main owners of that buisness after a period of time. I didnt want the stress of trying to manage a 10.5 million dollar company.

Right now i dont know where im going with my life. I started working at a fast food joint just to make some cash. (the seca gets thirsty you know)

What you need to do is sit down and figure out what YOU want to do with your life. Then when you figure that out you need to figure out if its the best thing for you. If it is you need to figure out how your going to achieve it.

Like everyone else said its not about the money. You can have all the money in the world but if your not happy it doesnt mean diddly squat.

And this is coming from me a 19 year old!

What do you guys think is what i said right or what?

 

I'd recommend you become a bank robber, because, as Jesse James used to say, that's where the money is......

Of course, in the modern world, the best and safest way to rob a bank is to own one.

 

depends on the person. i know people who are totally happy working their asses off 80+ hours a week to make a load of cash. me personally i'd rather make a more meager salary and be able to enjoy it and enjoy my life. there's more to do in this short time we have than work at a job that doesn't make me happy.

 

Interesting topic.

Life has a way of turning out much different than you may expect sometimes.

I was a teenage punkin-head commercial fisherman in the 70s. Managed to graduate H.S. and then started driving trucks for the fish company. thought that was gonna be my life from then on.

Dated (and quit dating) a girl whose dad was the manager of a power plant. A year later, I was working swing shifts at that plant.

Later, I started dating another girl. Her mom was head of the math dept at the local technical college. One Friday night, when I was over there begging for some supper, her mom told me to come over to her desk and sign some papers. That next Tuesday, she had me enrolled in Electrical Engineering Technology (she wanted me to do something with my life).

It was really tough because I had been out of school 4 years, really knew nothing of electricity even though I had been at the power plant for three years and still worked shift work. Scheduling classes was hard for me. But it was the card I was dealt and I did my best.

During my three years o fnight school, I got married (to another girl). Graduating with an Assoc. EET, I went on to get my electrical contractors license a couple years later and have run that (very small) personal business for 25 years. It's been fun.

I have worked closely with engineers all of my career. I have pretty much made more money than any of them at any given time and didn't have the heavy student loans they were saddled with after graduation. But...I have had to do swing shift for 32 years. That's the drawback to my choices. I'm retired now, so it ain't so bad.

I've spent about a hundred grand sending children to college. I made them pay some of it too so they'd have a vested interest in what they chose as a major.

One of my daughters earned a B.S. in Biology. Did not become the doctor she had planned and works for a foot doctor. Another daughter is getting a bachelor of Business. She is going to be a missionary (i.e., very little income). My son cut out of tech school and joined the USAF. He is currently hating his life in Afghanistan (because he has a wife and newborn back here). My last daughter (after blowing her first chance at college at my expense) is on her second trip throuogh tech school (on her dime this time) and wants to be a nurse.

Overall, they all turned out o.k.

So, you see, life has a way of changing and changing you. You have to adapt.

Perspectives are different if you are paying for your own college.

I understand that Jimmy Johnson (NASCAR 4 time Champ) is a mechanical engineer and he doesn't work in that field. But I'm sure his discipline he had to learn taking those tioough courses helps him be better at what he does.

Sometimes, when you are young, it's hard to choose a career in something you love. Sometimes, your career chooses you, in a manner of speaking, and you may learn to love it.

Here's my suggestion if you don't know what you want to go to school for and really want to do the motorcycle industry thing: Move to the South where we folks ride bikes year 'round. If you only end up being a mechanic for someone else, at least, most days you can go for a ride or fish a while after work to relax. Life's a bit slower down here.

Adaptation can be a lifelong process. We all have to do it in one manner or another. Keep your eyes open so that you don't miss an opportunity when the right one comes along.

Good luck in what you decide.

 

I am 38 years old and STILL have no idea what I want to be when I grow up. I have considered going to college before but every time I start thinking about it I can't decide on what I want to do when I get done. So for now I work in a manufacturing plant/ machine shop as a production welder making a modicum of money and have access to any scrap I can make useful.

 

My advice would be to stick it out thru school to get the degree and then decide if you want to pursue something else. You're going to need that degree in order to compete in the job market if you decide you don't want to wrench the rest of your life.

 

Having a daddy with an already established top-line aftermarket motorcycle parts business (Performance Machine) doesn't hurt; might want to move to California, too.

 

Schooter, if you're like me (and seems many of the others here) you'll change your career path several times.

I started out in Engineering school in a very theoretical discipline you've never heard of. Pretty much got kicked out because of my lack of math skills, but learned a lot along the way.

Switched my major to mathematics because that's what Computer Science was in those days. Not as silly as it sounds because all the advanced mathematics I took in Engineering got me waived from the math requirements :wink: .

Six weeks before graduation they started offering a Computer Science degree. So I switched my major to Comp. Sci. and am the proud owner of a first edition B.S. Computer Science diploma from The University of Cincinnati.

Upon graduation I went to work in the Detroit CAD/CAM division of a computer company. I was the computer support guy for sales and installation, which those earlier Engineering classes helped me be prepared for. Somehow I also became the resident mathematician (How's that for a weird twist of fate? Turns out that the ability to pull down solid D's in N-dimension Calculus is still a high skill level in the real world).

Boy, the sales people were making all the money, and in my opinion they weren't to bright. So I went into sales and ended up managing our CAD/CAM business with Ford. Oh boy, did I make the money. I hated every minute of it so eventually I quit.

Sold cars for awhile.

Managed RadioShack stores for 3 years. That was a fun job, but lots of hours and essentially being on call 24/7 for meager pay.

Then a neighbor made a comment that kind of grew with me. He said "Your thing is fixing things. You love it and you're good at it". That led down the path to opening the motorcycle repair shop. It won't provide a living unless I can grow it to where I have several starving wrench turners working for me.

I love doing it, but would not have been able to if it hadn't been for the $$ I earned selling software and consultants to Ford.

The point to this long ramble is that the education opened important doors for me, even though I didn't make a career out of it for 40 years. In fact, I really only worked in my "major" for 2 or 3 years. Almost everything I've done was made possible by that piece of paper from good old U. C. The other point is that you'll likely change paths more times than you can imagine.

If you like to put your hands on things Mechanical Engineering may not be the best There are other disciplines (Civil is one that comes to mind) where you are not as tied to a desk. Manufacturing Engineering comes to mind too - maybe you'd like designing, installing and tweaking production systems.

Get your education now though. It's really tough after you meet some cute thing and have a couple kids to go back to it. Not many pull it off.

 

Run a large volume transmission repair shop.

Boring work- - but HUGE money.

You hire a Salesman, Technicians, and Bean-counters, leaving you free to do whatever you want the rest of your life (the American Dream).

 

I started school as a mechanical engineering. I didn't start school untill i was almost 30. I too was doing it for the 'big bucks' found that I didn't have the time to study (Working fulltime going to school fulltime tring to spend time with my family - 5 kids at the time) and the partial-diferential equations just were not making any scence to me. (Understud it in class gust not at home doing home work) So after three years of schooling I swiched to computer science(still took a total of ten years to complete)

Mecanichal engineering can open a lot of doors ( encluding designing and building your own bikes from ground up and not just modifying someone elses design)

Now would be the time to deside what you want to do. You need t decide what is going to be best for you AND your future family. My brother-in-law decided he loves being a janitor - hes happy doing what he does but he cant provide for his family on what he makes (He and his family lives in my basement)

The trick is to fine something that you enjoy doing and will put food on the table and NOW is the time to make that desission. (Not after 20 years of drugery and unhappyness. If you are not happy at work it tends to spill over in home life)

Remember most of the time you have to pay your dues before sucsess comes allong (schooling is one of those dues)

Good luck (I know no real direction here. Thats realy got to come from you)

 

by the way I also graduated with a Computer Science degree and still work as a programmer.

 

i was an apprentice mechanic for about a year then i realized if you like it as a hobby DON'T do it as a job lol

i went to school for mechanical engineering, i was good at shop class drafting, welding, machining....... math not so much lol dropped out

took Computer systems technician, im good at it and i dont hate it.

I've been graduated in the field for 2 years, working as a System Administrator for roughly 300 employees. I make good coin and I dont hate coming to work everyday (number 1 thing to look for).

I'm currently out hunting for my first house and i'm getting married in august. Life is good to me so far and i have no idea where i will be in 5 years, i like it that way.

Life plans suck
dont think to much
don't work to hard
don't take your work home
enjoy the little things

Don't worry about tomorrow, after all today's the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.

 

Everyone has given excellent counsel Schooter, I'll back them up.
I think you ought to finish what you started as it will give you an excellent background in working on bikes, who knows, you might start designing aftermarket parts and make a fortune.
I've chased the check too, put myself through night school to get an AS and BS in electronics engineering hoping to make more income but found it isn't what I enjoy early on. I've just started school for another degree in CAD so I can use those skills to make parts and help my company along. It hasn't brought me happiness but sure makes my resume pop with all the experience I have. My happiness is when I can look at any vehicle and have a clue on how to fix it. Independent capability is a wonderful thing. The advice I was given is "take the two things you love the most and make one your hobby". You will chase your career and get sick of some things pretty fast so don't spoil your "escape" by making it your daily grind.
Finish school and take the time to talk to Mom and Dad. They have years of experience at taking on life and facing challenges (they had you right?). They might be pleasantly surprised to hear you asking them for advice and admire your maturity in taking the time to seek them out. You could start it off with "Mom, Dad, you've done so well with your lives and have years of experience in thoughtful decision making. I've got a concern and would value your thoughts." It gets easier when you show some respect.

 

I'm with you - I am 'gulp' over 40, and just starting back to school to finish my BA. I wanted to go to law school, but you need a BA for that. Ever since I can remember, I wanted my own motorcycle shop. I started working there when I was 18 - the owner asked me if I wanted a job, because I was always in there for parts. I just got back into bikes, and would still like to OWN, not work at a shop. Right now, I do bookkeeping, taxes and sell real estate. Not much money, but the hours are flexible. I have learned that it's not what you do in college it's that little slip of paper they give you at the end that gives you the options.

 

Just my two cents. I'm 50, just got my associates of applied science through graphic design. I'm now disabled and can not stand or sit for very long. I love wrenching on my bike. Which my dad can not believe because I'm mechanically inept. But I love it, I love painting it, I love changing the fricken oil in it. I'll never be able to make a living at it but I don't really want to. I can not do anything but freelance with my graphic design job because I am un hireable. I do tatoo art for my wife, and she then tatoos ME!!! lol thats ok cuz I love making her happy, and she's good at it. Moral of the story is that things happen make the most of it and be happy with what ever you do. Don't do it for your parents do it for you. Your the one that has to look in the mirror to shave everyday.

 

Schooter: Motorcyces are great, but for a LIVING;;I don't know[probably get some angry dissenters]. Follow your heart and your MATURITY LEVEL---- always hard to judge [as in me to this day]. The girls and women can wait, they will ALWAYS be there. For your life you will need MONEY; to live and fun. ALWAYS trust your parents as they only have your best interests at heart! Friends are great-you need them,but they come and go[life]. I did school, [high school, college -4 years, university -1 year] then did "The Steel Co. thing]----- no thanks. Then worked in the "Nickel mines" as an Engineer--- Passsss,,,,,great coin just not for me, Then went to the "Police Dept." and good gov't job,,,,,but not for me.Then applied for "Fire Dept" and after 31years still there[retire soon]. Good job security, benefits, good pension, days off, help others[kinda like XJ Bikes site]. Best job in whole world--hell NO ,,don't know what is , but pays the bills and raised a family no worries----NEVER ONE MENTION OF LAYOFF OR SHUTDOWN in 35 years of Police or Fire dept. work. P.S. But it's not for everyone. I hope just "my opinion" doesn't get me kicked off the site, because I think your're all great and I was 20 years old yesterday.[metaphorically speaking].

 

Schoot' mon, first thing you have to get a trade, skill, or profession under your belt, so however you diversify in the future, you always have a standby, so you don't starve.
I don't care what others say, the buck in your pocket is your best friend, money gives you freedom of choice, where you work, where you live, in the bad times you have a cash buffer.
I took an apprenticeship as a carpenter & joiner & expanded those skills into contract management & property development, I put in the hard yards, which now gives me the time to 'play' motorbikes.
Whatever you do, give it 100% & always be prepared to listen to old farts, you'll be suprised what you can learn. Good luck, Wiz...........

 

I'd agree with Wiz...and engineering is a good profession. I'm about 7 years ahead of you. I got my bachelors in Aerospace Engineering from a prestigious Institute, then got an entry level engineering job right out of college for a defense contractor. I make a decent salary, work normal hours, get good benefits, and can support both my wife and I while she is continues school. My starting salary was probably close to what BOTH my parents made (hard working people)...and there is a lot of room for growth. While I don't care much for the final product that I work on (it isn't airplanes), I find joy in the little tasks, and learn to accept the dull ones to make the money I need for my projects. I don't kill myself for my career, but I also try to find ways to "tinker," and those skills can apply to both a hobby and a job. From my experience engineering is actually involves a lot of communication, working with people, negotiations, and documentation. So prepare for that...it's not like it is in the movies ;-)

My plan is to keep working on bikes as a hobby, and in a few decades, when the kids are grown up, retirement is looming, and money is good, I can take the risks and trying to open up a shop. Barring any health issues, I can't see myself ever not working, and working on bikes or small engines would be my dream.

Remember, all the TIME that you enjoy working on the bike is FREE. Once it's a career, that same TIME is MONEY. MONEY someone else has to pay, which is a pressure you don't have with a hobby. I'd say if you are capable of doing engineering, find ways to keep it interesting and always long for those hours at home with your hobby.

 

you have to make the decision at some point. You either make the big money to live the life you want, or you settle for less money doing something you enjoy.

My advise is to never make your avocation your vocation. After a certain point, you will enjoy neither of them.

Get an education. Go live the college scene, its a life experience. It pays off in more ways than just a degree.

I have a degree in Finance and drive truck for a race production company. I live in a town filled with mountain bike mechanics that have masters degrees. The Girl who takes my order at the local burger joint graduated from Harvard. My girlfriend went to Stanford and now she works for $50 a day, room, and board for outward bound. My fabricator was an aerospace engineer, now he owns several Unimogs and runs a guide service. We never know where we will end up.

Its always nice to have more than a few bucks in your pocket, but its also nice to leave work every day and not have to think about it until you show up the next day. There is no magic answer to your dilemma. Hindsight is always 20/20 and you won't really know if you have made a good decision until you have made a few bad ones.
Get an education, always give yourself the opportunity succeed. Do everything to the best of your ability. And remember, you are young, you have plenty of time.
BTW my sister is a Mech Eng, she doesn't work in an office. Her work outfit consists of steel toes and cover alls. She also makes at least 4 times as much as I do.

 

And young Rollie was a hell of a racer in his day too. that also makes you many connections and many friends.