How'd You Arrive At Your Present Career?

Comments in the Costco/Sam'sClub thread got me wondering ...

How did you end up in your current occupation?  Chance?  Parental pressure?  Role model?  Trying to get laid?  Or is it essentially what you wanted to do?

You mean they don't have positions for professional forum-posting bots?

Math and Science came relatively easy to me through high school. We essentially had guidance counselors that would toss college pamphlets at the "good" students so they weren't much help. Dad didn't go to college and Mom was a teacher and I almost went that route.

Quite honestly, starting salaries of engineering students caught my eye. Everyone said since I was good at math and science it would be a good fit and it made sense when I thought about it. So that was that. Interestingly enough I did much better in chemistry classes in college. And I enjoyed the computer classes I took but I was too far down the engineering road to change directions. Or so I thought. Plus money for school was an issue.

Once I was out in the real world for a few years I realized that a technical background was really good for other careers. I also realized I had no interest in spending 40 years sitting at a desk designing stuff. So I moved into an Applications Engineering role 12 years ago and then into Product Management. So I've been on the business side of the company for about 7 years now.

My wife's story is better. Double major, Chemical Engineering and Education. Minored in Art History. Today she manages the fitness center at our local community center.

started out as an apprentice pipefitter and just kept getting pushed upward by my employer. tuition reimbursement helps  it's alot better than edumacation on your own dime.

Early on I suppose I wanted to be a professional sports person: golf, basketball and track and field where high on the agenda. Back in the late 80's early 90's I was in  :airquotes:discussions  :airquotes:with a number of colleges over there in the US.

A susbsequent sporting injury that sideline me for about 6 months so I ended up doing a degree here. Through the mid 90's I started a Record Label with some friends, and finally after an altercation with the Head of a Major Label I quit the music industry.

I dabbled in some other Business Ventures and also worked for many differenet organisations, getting into modelling and acting along the way before falling into the Insurance Industry about 10 years ago, and hence here I am.

I can still play some ok golf, I can still dunk it off a drop step, and track and field highlights are a fading memory, but at least life is good and I probably wouldn't change a thing....

Probably not, it was mostly Rap, RnB, Dance and some experimental stuff.

There are two things that have single handly *fudge*ed the Australian Music industry, one of them is a well known Music Industry (the same one I got into a dust up with), and Idol.....

In the fetal position, whimpering and crying.

Mine actually began with a lack of motivation in high school. By the time I woke up and smelled the coffee, it was cold. I took a job as an entry level machine operator, worked my butt off to learn every job in the shop, and worked my way into a nice middle management position wit a side job as the Safety Director. I held the management and safety director jobs for ~25 years. In July 2003, I reached 35 years with the company, and received a nice appreciation plaque. A month later I was told I was no longer needed. At 53 years old, I was out of the only job I ever held, (outside of two jobs in high school).
As I tested the market, I found that nobody was willing to hire me in the positions I was most qualified for. Nobody wanted to hire me for a lesser position, either, as they felt I wouldn't be happy in that job, or I would be a threat to the boss.
In September 2004, I decided to test the retail sales market, figuring that I might as well make a total career change, since my original one was in the *feces*hole. Being the last quarter, and with holiday time coming up, Sears offered me a sales position in the hardware dept. I found that I really liked helping people with their needs and did rather well. A promotion came rather quickly, and my skills working with people grew.
Thinking that the Insurance business was the next step, I took the plunge. I loved the interaciton with clients and prospective clients very much, but found I was spending way too much time away from home. I have since returned to Sears, and I'm happy with the job and the fulfillment I experience. The pay is quite a bit less than I received in my job of 35 years, but I am working, on average, less than 30 hours a week. This leaves much time for family, exercise, and golf. how much better could it be.
I hope I haven't bored anyone.