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| Wisdom is making the decision today; that you can live with for the rest of your life without regrets. | | |
| The Future - part 2Careers you may want to keep in mind... or think about.
Mechanical / Repair / Maintenance careers (guys mainly)- In a few years, most of the baby-boomers will be retiring and there's not a lot of video game playing kids who like to do the dirty work and repair stuff. Any big warehouse, manufacturing plant, office building ,etc has a few people who 'keep things ticking'. Be one of those people. Guaranteed job security. When something breaks.. sure they can wait until the next business day.. or two; when the sub-contractor shows up and charges triple digit labor rates. Or they can pay you a nice salary for you to fix it. Because you may know that widget personally and know the trick of how to get it working. No matter if things are busy or slow, the maintenance people will always have a job.
A local career and technology center currently has a 3 month course called Mechatechtronics. Yea, it is the basics of mechanical power, electronics, and computer controled systems. Talk about a cheap investment for a high paying job. I wish it was available 2 years ago...
Any type of mechanic - auto, heavy construction equipment, lawn and garden tractors,etc. Take pride in your work, do your best, do it right.
Teachers / Professors (guys or girls)- want to make an impact on the next generation? become a teacher. We need teachers who will be good role-models, who are good examples, who challenge the students. AND from a Christian worldview. We have enough left-winged, liberal, 'open minded but intolerant of closed minded' teachers and professors out there. How about let's get some smart, conservative teachers in the education field?!?!?!?!
Financial advisors - After the collapse of the financial markets in September 2008, everyone realized how much greed can ruin people, businesses and lives. And when a big rock hits the water.. the big splash hits a lot of people, and the waves and ripples hit a lot more. Banks wanted to get the perks for writing a bunch of mortgages, so they went against common sense and loaned money they knew would never get repaid. Ponzy schemes, fraud... it was rampant. And you look around, nothing much has changed... prices and rates aren't coming down. Commodity prices are down. Oil is half, Wheat is half. But the gas prices and other food prices haven't dropped as much as they went up. Why? Because, it's a great opportunity for businesses to keep the larger margin and make more money. How many lawn care people raised their rates last year when gas prices went to $4/gal ? (Everyone) How many dropped their rates back down when gas dropped to $2/gal ? Hhmm..
There will be the need for people of integrity, who are honest in financial matters. People who aren't in the business for the quick profit, but for the longterm growth over time.
Nursing/ Home care - I think everyone knows that there is going to be a massive shortage of nurses soon. There's a lot of people in training to be nurses. But there's a lot of people in the future who won't want to go to a nursing home, but will require some assistance, someone to stop by and make sure everything is going well.
Visiting Angels is a business who starts franchises all over the U.S. for in-home-care.
Homemaker's -the greatest calling for any married lady. "The hand who rocks the cradle rules the world". So most of us who have worked with little children know there's a big difference between children raised by a daycare, and children raised by their mom. Especially if the mom has good control of the children. The best thing any mother can do for her children is to be a Mom for them. It'll give them the biggest advantage to start their life.
Random thought... Want to know what people turn out like who don't have father figures? Terrel Owens, Chad Johnson, Ron Artest, Michael Vick, etc. Show me any sports athlete who gets in trouble..and I'll show you a sports athlete who didn't have a father figure growing up. They are still looking for acceptance by a male figure. Go ahead.. do some research.. try to prove me wrong.
Cal Ripken Jr, Ken Griffey Jr, Larry Fitzgerald Jr, etc... sports stars who never got in trouble..look at their names.. there dad's were big role models in their lives.
In almost every career field, we need people of integrity who will stick to their convictions in good times and bad.
People who will do a good job, who will continue to study to try to become better in their field. I think it's a Japanese word "Kai-zon" - that means 'continuing to improve". In the same way the we should be striving to be more like Christ. We continually try to improve.
And I typed all that just as an intro for this.. what I've really wanted to vent about for a couple of years..
We desperately need motivated, Christian individuals in the public work force.I've seen too many guys who have a great amount of ambition, work their hearts out for an employer. In the future, when the opportunity to move up is available.. they never get promoted. The 'barely graduated from high school' student who went to college and got a degree (just barely) will get promoted just because he has a degree. And the hardworker will make the manager look good.
I went to a tech school with a bunch of 'barely graduated from high school' guys in my major. 1/3 of them came to college to learn how to work on cars. 1/3 came to learn that.. but also wanted to have a really good time partying. the last 1/3 of the group was just there for the party. The top 1/3 of the class all had jobs lined up before they even got close to graduation day. (I had a job offer in March. A friend of mine got hired in October 2008, to start June 1,2009. And he graduated in May 2009. That's how bad the company wanted him)
The bottom third dropped out after a semester or 2. (That's why they bring in 48 students each year, but the 2nd year of classes only has openings for 28 students)
What really made me mad was most of the students in my major (and the college in general) were funded by their parents. Because the parents wanted their child to amount to something. So, here, go to college, get a degree and make something of yourself. And when they graduate... they will get better paying jobs than my friends will. Because these guys 'have a degree' and my friend doesn't. Even though my friend is twice as productive at work as this guy is.
I know that most of my friends (who don't go to college or tech school because it is looked down upon to spend money on higher education) that have no desire to be auto mechanics... could go to the college get trained and be better mechanics than half the students in the program. Why? sheer work ethic and 'stick-to-it-iveness'.
Do you know the real reason why labor rates are so high? Because insurance premiums are high priced. Why are they high priced? Because a lot of people don't do a good job at what they do. ( and lawsuits result ). There's a lot of workers who aren't very productive on Mondays due to hangovers, and they can't focus on Friday's because they can't wait for the weekend. I could list many examples from the local area. But I'll limit it to 1.
2 years ago, the gas gauge quit working on my parents van. It's an electronic gauge and it needed special tools to do the job. The first time at the garage, the fuel guage sensing unit was replaced. But the gas tank wouldn't seal afterwards, and you could smell gas in the garage. So it went back. "The gas cap is no good"- so they replaced that. My mom picked it up the 2nd time and didn't think to question what they did to repair the problem. My dad took it back the 3rd time and said "Sir, the gas cap was fine before hand. When you opened the gas tank to put in gas, the tank had vacuum (like it should). After the guage was replaced, you didn't seal the gasket at the top of the gas tank correctly and now it won't create a vacuum. So, you must've damaged the gas cap when you dropped down the gas tank the first time.. because it worked fine before hand. So, can you please drop the gas tank, correctly install the gasket and seal it so it works?" And the shop did that. And it worked correctly. And they did it for free and gave us money back for the work they did the 2nd time we had the vehicle at the shop. That's why labor rates for mechanical labor is $75/hr. That way they can pay the technician to do the job 3 times to get it done right.
A good technician (even one in training) would've made sure to seal the gasket correctly before putting the gas tank back up in the vehicle. And then pressure check it. It takes 20 seconds to pressure check it for leaks.
Our 'normal' mechanic who works on our cars. Charges $35/ hr and gets most jobs done in half the time as the dealership. But if you want him to work on your car, schedule it now for next month. That's how far booked out he is.
Growing up, my Sunday School teacher told me that he'll hire any Christian farmboy. Or one or the other. He said almost all farmboy's know how to work hard and do a good job. And all Christian boys SHOULD know how to work hard and do their best. So if a guy qualified as both, my teacher would hire them without even interviewing them.
Prepare yourself. If you have the aptitude (brains) and the work ethic. Don't be afraid to pursue higher education. Yes, it's tough. Study the book of Daniel a few times. You will have your beliefs challenged. But it's all part of the preparation for the future. The more you are willing to take on the challenge, the more God can use you. There are many companies out there wanting hardworking employees who take pride in their work. Who will do their honest best at a job.
We have enough crooked CEO's. Is it too much to ask to have a few Christian men prepare themselves to be CEO's in the future?
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs, Ask yourself what makes you come alive,
and then go do that; because what the world needs is people who have come alive!"
~ John Eldridge - "Wild at Heart"
~ * The Countryboy * ~ | | |
| The Future - every graduate's worry (Part 1)Recently I was asked by a mid-40's dad what he should encourage his son to pursue as a career/vocation in the future. Last week a young dad nearing his 30's asked me the same thing, except for him.. not his boy.
With so much volatility in the economy it's hard to say what will be good and will be a bad decision.
But if you'd ask me....
Start with something easy. http://www.crown.org/Tools/ - go take Career Direct, or the Personality I.D. test which is FREE! If you are a student in high school. Take Career Direct. It takes your interests, talents and personality and adjusts it to give you an idea of what you may enjoy doing for a career. The idea is that you will live a fulfilled life if you use your God-given talents to serve God in whatever way He wants you to in His kingdom on earth.
I took the test 6 years ago, it told me I should work with people, with my hands, and that my greatest interests were in the automotive and agriculture field. Well, I'd have to say it was right. I do enjoy doing my job every day. I know most of the body shop managers by name now... they know what I want..and I know what they want. or atleast we can compromise on those two.
Next do something a little bit harder. Do a budget of how much it costs you to live. Find what the average rent / mortgage is in your area, utilities, taxes, entertainment, vehicles,etc. Whatever it takes to be able to 'live'. Most people find this out when they go to college and they start being ultra-cheap because all their money is going towards college tuition. Well, do yourself a favor and find out before you graduate from high school. (Or now.. there's never a better chance to start.) If you plan on living in a large house (larger heating bills,taxes) and driving nice vehicles ( higher insurance, higher cost) you might need a higher income job in this materialistic society.
In a business management class at college, the prof made us do a personal budget. It was amusing, 5 students in the class quit smoking. Why? because they saw how expensive it was. The one guy even told me he only drinks once a month now... compared to every weekend. What most of us would consider common sense, or living the simple life.... these guys were starting to see it also. You should know where your money goes, and how much it takes to live.
If you are young and have a few years yet before you have to make any decisions on 'What are your future plans?' Do yourself a favor. During the summer, work odd jobs anywhere you can. Get some experience, find out what you enjoy doing, and don't enjoy doing. Anything from painting sheds for neighbors, mowing lawns, building fences ,etc. If you know of some business owners from your community or church. Ask them if they could use a helper over the summer. If you get paid.. even better. Either way you'll learn a lot, get experience. Become more marketable (think helpful handy-man) and be able to do more for yourself in the future.
A friend of mine worked for a commercial painter one summer (paint buildings, barns, fences, silo's,etc).. worked for a construction/remodeling crew the following summer, worked at a greenhouse the following summer. The guy is an all around genius now. He knows more about construction and plants now than I'll ever know. He told me he should've worked for a car mechanic one summer so he'd know more about cars.
He now knows that he doesn't want to paint in the hot sun, hammer nails, or dig in dirt for the rest of his life. But the guy can do anything construction related or related to growing plants.
If you graduate from high school and aren't sure what you want to do...2 options.
1 Missions - go and give to others. You'll learn a lot about yourself. You'll get your priorities in line. And you will 'find yourself'. It makes you think for yourself, and you find if you believe it, or were just trying to copy your parents. Missions will help you to make it 'your own'.
2. Get a job, where-ever you can get your foot in the door. All the while thinking "what do I like about this job? and What do I dis-like about this job?"
Save money; with the goal that you will be either be going to college or putting it towards your future house.
If you get a 'brilliant lightbulb flash' moment and you know what you want to do in life.. pursue it.
DO NOT go to college with no idea what you want to do in life, spend a lot of money on a degree you won't use.. or worse yet, because you aren't focused... you get into the wrong crowd and mess up your life. (please ask for examples..I can give many)
If you know that you need to get started doing something... but aren't sure what. Start a 2 year business degree. It will either stimulate your brain to start a business/niche market, know how to operate a business of your own, or it will make you a better employee because you will know what it takes to run the business. and just about every community college has a business degree of some sort.
I'm a fan of trade schools / technical colleges. If you have a specific career that you are interested in and feel that you can serve God using your talents. Go for it. And stick with it. Especially at a trade school/ tech school. Half of a technical certificate or degree is nothing. The degree is more about you perservering and how much effort you put into it ( Grade Point Average) than what the actual degree major was.
If your field of interest is a 4 year degree. I'm a fan of splitting it. 2 years at a local (cheap,economical) community college. (live at home, work part time) then 2 years at the college or university of your choice. As long as the credits transfer, your Bachelor degree will have the name of the prestigous college of your choice.. not the local community college. And nobody will know that you took the cheap way to your goal. A lot of colleges are now working together and making this easier.
to be continued... | | |
| In MemoriamWith all the sadness and trauma going on in the world at the moment, it is worth reflecting on the death of a very important person, which almost went unnoticed last week. Larry LaPrise, the man who wrote "The Hokey Pokey", died peacefully at age 93. The most traumatic part for his family was getting him into the coffin. They put his left leg in. And then the trouble started……
You thought it was going to be something about Michael Jackson didn't you? | | |
| Why must a beautiful week of sunshine be met with so many obligations? It has been 30+ days since the 1st cutting of alfalfa, and it was time to cut it again. The week also had obligations including, barley harvest, peas - for all you gardeners out there, and Vacation Bible School. I was asked to help out in some way.. and so I decided to do a craft project for the 9 - 10 year olds. The well-pump lamps I hope all work.. they turned out ok as far as looks go.
The alfalfa, we had 6 fields to do, due to the excellent rain we've been getting in the last 3 weeks, we averaged about 70 bales to the acre. Normal is about 50 bales per acre. I'm about to head back out and mow another field of alfalfa, to bale Monday. The custom combine operator arrived last evening and he finished combining the barley this morning. I just finished unloading a few wagonloads of straw.
So, that's what I've been up to lately. Work by day..Bible school in the evening.
Oh, did I mention I got conned into teaching Sunday School tomorrow? I guess I'll study for that tonight.
In other news, has everyone heard of Creationfest ? http://www.creationfest.com/ne/
It is probably the most advertised, publicized and 'looked forward to' event of the summer for most youth within a days drive of Mount Union, PA. Unless you live too close to it..(like me)..and hear the stories about it. Or maye I just don't feel like paying $50 for a day pass. I find it amusing, people travel for a day to get to the event. And most of the 'local' youth.. don't go. hhmm... I'll try to get back to a regular posting schedule once life slows down. | | |
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