If You Were 18 Again, But Know What You Know Now...

L. B. Condulet

What would you do? Would you go into construction? Would you go to college? What would you do differently? Would you get married? Would you stay in good physical shape?

I'd be an Airline Pilot.

How 'bout you?

Patrick

I would have waited until I graduated College, to go into biz full time on my own, its nearly impossible to juggle both

eagleandbaby

Not goof off as much and saved at least 10% of my money.

As far as college and working. It is hard but if you keep plugging away and not give up the classes add up and then your done.

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homemasters

neolitic

Thought about it lots, but if anything had been different, I wouldn't have been with that woman (my ex) on that night at that moment, and I wouldn't have the son I wound up with.
I wouldn't trade him for anything.
So that makes all the rest worth it.

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Teetorbilt

I'd never consider construction. At 18, I'd considered a solo circumnavigation record. I still have the design for the boat that I would do it with and it could still do it! I might survive.

I passed on so many opportunities and made millions for others. Trickle down
really doesn't work in business.

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RobertCDF

IF I stayed the construction route I would have started then. Otherwise I would pursue audio engineering.

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Robert Shaw
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Heritage

I wouldn't do a darn thing differently.

I'm not big on "motivational quotes" but in my office, beside my computer I scribbled one on a sticky-note and stuck it up eye-level to the desk backing and the note says simply enough..."Success is a journey, not a destination".

I've had nights where it's 2,3,4 a.m. and I'm going nuts trying to organize for the following day...trying to make as much money on every project, save in any logical way, grind my teeth over losses...so on and so forth and as I'm grinding my teeth I've actually looked up a few times, read the note and every single time it has calmed me down and relax me right the eff out.


18 was 9 years ago for me...trust me I'm only looking forward.

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JumboJack

I woulda' been a Pirate!!!
I got into constructon later in life than most.I would have started at 18 and
you'd be seeing me on TV with Norm and Tom by now..

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in texas with framing and cornish people will do it for 3.00 a foot. What do yall think about that? Just laber

joasis

The word "if" is a broad definition...."of" we knew then, what we know now....I would still be in the oil field game like one of my closest friends....ulcers and all.

My Grandfather had a saying, not original, I am sure, but he often said he wouldn't take a million dollars for the experiences of living through the Great Depression, and he wouldn't take a million to do it again. The life experiences we all have is what makes us today. I wasn't ready for college out of high school....when I thought I knew it all at 18, I didn't know anything. I bounced in and out of construction a few times, but I get restless easy, and always look for change.....looking back, it has been a trip.......

BTW L. B. Condulet, all I lack to be an airline pilot is the ATP endorsement on my license.....looking back, I made the right decision...if you take something you enjoy with a passion and make a job out of it, it will ruin it. I used to get a charge out of driving by homes I have built or GC'd....the pride and satisfaction.....now projects are just squares on the calender.

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Susan Betz

Yeah.

I moved in with my ex at 18, got married at 19, had our first kid 6 years later, the twins 5 years after that...divorced after 23 years of marriage.

I can barely stand to be in the same room with him but we have three great kids and share custody, so I see him several times a week still.

But those three kids make it all worth it.

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dougchips

I don't think I would change anything at all. I can't think of any other line of work where I would have the freedom that I have now. If I want to hop on a boat or plane and get away for a few days without much notice I can.

I spent years going to college for Criminal Justice which doesn't do anything for me now, maybe a business degree would of helped a little more?

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Putty Truck

Nope. No regrets. My life rocks.

LB, I been around the world and Los Angeles, too, and I've never seen anything as depressing as California.

JamesNLA

For me, because of the kids...of course I wouold want it the same.
However in the world of pretend (internet) I would say that my 16-19 age was probably the most important, and that is when I had the least support from family. I smoked alot of weed....A LOT of weed. I was still in school - and working (plumbing - pizza delivery) and thought I was doing good. I had no idea that my hahmless pot smoking would have many subtle effects on me.

I would have stayed clean(er) and went for pro ball. My back up catcher in HS went on to play for Utah State. He was a back up catcher for the 2004 World Champion Red Sox. He was a fat boy too, still is...

If Pro Ball didn't pan out, I would have wanted to join the Navy as an officer and fly jets. I'm not sure if I would have had the dicipline for jet aircraft but that has always been a dream for me. So in between bong loads and repipes I got with this woman who I barley knew...well she woke up pregnant and I of course slept in. The rest is history.

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"....And then we all switch places when I ring the bell"
-Adrock

JamesNLA

Places to see in L.A.

Vencie Beach
West Hollywood at Halloween time
Rodeo Drive at Christmas time (used to live about 5 minutes from there)
South Central (make sure you are behind a cop car)

That's just 4 utterly depressing landmarks of this great toilet bowl of a state.

I was thinking about taking the wife and kids down to the boarder, see if we can catch some illegals. I'm a hell of a shot with a Bee Bee gun
I think my kids could get a few, may take them fishing afterwards!

But L.B. lives in a nice area. He's got Lake Piru (did they re-open that) Lake Castaik (sp) 6 Flags Magic Mountain (the rest of you will remember it from the movie Vacation, Wally World)

And everything is new. Have you heard of a cell phone store called Vision Wireless...I forget what it's off of....Bouquet Cyn I think. My friends own those stores!!

Well....now that I think about it, Palmdale / Lancaster is pretty depressing too. That's North of L.B.

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"....And then we all switch places when I ring the bell"
-Adrock

Floordude

And know what I know now....



Wow. I'd be real dangerous!

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PrecisionFloors

Lets see, that woulda been around 1991 for me. Knowing what I know now.....instead of going into debt buying a new car, I would have gone into much more debt and bought up as many residential building lots in western Port Saint Lucie, FL that I could have gotten my hands on and sat on them until about 2002. A hundred grand or so of debt back then would have made me well over a million just 10 years later. They were giving lots away back then for under $3000. When the building boom peaked just a couple of years ago lots were going for 30-60K or more, depending on the location. Of course now they are back to not being able to give em away but I would have known that and already cashed out

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ModernStyle

I would have cut my damn mullet.

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Tom F.

I WAS an airline pilot! And now I am struggling as a GC. Goes to show that timing is everything. You work hard and hope for good luck. That's about all you can do. Plus play the damn powerball.

Tom