How Many Years Left In You?

ron schenker

Before I got into home improvements, I was in a totally unrelated industry for many years. I lasted about 20 yrs. before I got burned out and hated what I was doing I love what I do now and hope to keep it up for a very long time and never get burned out. How long have you guys been in the construction trades, and how do you feel about "burnout"

Glasshousebltr

Well ...... I hope I get it up for a long time as well......but it's tuff to even jump start the monster anymore.

20+ years and Mr toast here.

Bob

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Bob

IHI

Physically or mentally? LOL. Seems this trade alone accelerates your aging process with the constant abuse on your body doing "unnatural" lifting, bending, etc...feel like I'm 20yrs older than I am, but some is due to injuries growing up.

Mentally, for me that's tough. I have the personality I get bored very easily with things and that is one reason I like this trade since I get to do a variety of jobs to help keep it different...but on the same token after all these years even that turns into a drag, since it's essentially the "same job type/different place" and since I now have bettering understandings of everything I'm getting into I get the mental drain even before the job starts. Only aspect I like is the acutal construction phase, at least we can show up in the morning and at days end have something to show for the labor, so that's a real motivator.

But no matter what it is I do, I'm soon bored of it weather it be "factory jobs" I had when I was younger, hobbies, women I'm with , cars/trucks I drive, toys, etc...guess that's the perfectionist personality with a litle bit of obsessive compulsive since I'm never satisfied.

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pwrpapa

Bob,
You're one crazy dude.
I'm with ya hommie on the toast part.
As far as the monster,it's toast too.



The older I get, life gets more like an illusion.

TimNJ

I agree. Put me in at 30+ years....20 more to go??!! Actually I'll be doing something 'til the day I die. I can't sit still for any lenght of time.

IHI

That's why my grandfather who got me going in this trade is still working full time at now 78 yrs old and I believe that's why he's still if good health for his age...even though I can really start to see him slow down from last year. No matter what you do it costs money, retirement is almost enough to pay your living expenses, tack on medical issues as you age and your out more money/month, and the fact if you retire and do nothing....you wither away and die-period. I'm sure we all know plenty of guys that retired and are in worse shape at 50 from doing nothing or have died dhortly after retiring since they no longer do anything.

Gotta stay busy/do something to keep yourself going mentally/physically or you just wither up and die. blunt but accurate Cant see myself doing all the heavy work like I used to do and which I'm sure lead to some problems today, but that's what younger guys are for

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Nick H

I had 10 years in construction, got sick of it, did 10 years in catering, got sick of that and am now by popular demand am back in construction. The differance this time is that I can afford to be a lot more choosy about what work i'll take on and generally manage to avoid the s**t that got me down before. Also I think age gives you a certain confidence in your abilities and I have no problem charging a premium price for what I see as a premium service, that sure makes it easier to get up and go to work every day. I agree with IHI though, you have gotta keep busy to keep healthy, my dads 74 and i'm always getting him to help me out, its good for me and good for him, he needs to feel useful. Oh and it gets the old boy out of my mums hair for a few hours LOL.

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Grumpy

I got burned out on the labor side of the busines my first day.

IHI

I'm to that point now, but unfortunately was not born with the "salesman" gene so stuck to being a grunt LOL!!

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Bill

25 years, burned out first week, cant quit, too many bills

rino1494

25 yrs old........I got at least 40 more to go or till the day I die.

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Bill

I been dead for the past 25 years, my boys just prop a shovel under my armpits and stand me up in the corner

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