how do you/did you earn a living?

[Franco]

Broadcast Radio since 1976 except for when I retired in 2001-03, then went back to work for my old company. Retriement is not what it is cranked up to being and I was bored.

Started as an Afternoon Drive jock on the local rock station as Max Havoc. Got into ad sales in the early 1980's and haven't looked back since. In radio, I've worn just about all hats except working in the Traffic or Accounting Offices. Radio has been good to me and our cheese gets moved all the time which keeps the business interesting.

My political views are from life experiences!

My basic philosphy in life is; If you don't have the cash, don't buy it!

[dback]

....drunk exclusion technician at a bar...

Oooooh ya......I KNEW we had met before

[brandywinelabs]

Software Engineer banking industry. Before that co-owner/manager campground - Sturgis, SD. Before that, for many years until 2 months after 9-11, SR. Technical Aanalyst airline industry - primarily designed capture/restore disaster recovery software.

[Bob Gutermuth]

25yrs as a cop

[cotts135]

At eighteen joined the USAF and became an inflight refueling operator on a KC-135. Did most of my stint in the 380th Bombardment Wing at Plattsburgh AFB NY. After release from the Air Force went to school and got an Associates degree in Forestry. As the economy back then (1982) was similar to what it is now with jobs hard to get was unable to find work in my preferred field so a friend of mine talked me into taking the State Corrections officer test. Joined Corrections, with the intention that this was temporary, in the summer of 1983 and worked in Maximum, Medium and Minimum security jails throughout my career but the majority of my time was at Cape Vincent Correctional facility a medium security institutuion. Retired in 2005 as a Sergeant after 22 yrs service.
Today learning about dogs and currently am in the planning stages of building my 2nd home since retirement.

[Steve Amrein]

After I graduated I became a male porn star. That did not pay very well but the benifits were great. After that I hit the lottery and partied hard for a few years until I spent it all. I worked with Bill Gates for a while before he got all rich famous and stuff but had to quit because I thought he was a sell out. The bull fighter gig did not go so well as I dont speak spanish. My doctor told me I had to do something to relieve stress so I started my sign and metal fab company in Oct. of 99 in my garage and has grown into a very small business that employs 10-15 people.

[finkomania]

Very interesting thread and relevant to me in that I will be hitting my 20 yr mark in the Army and retireing in a year. I have been an infantryman welder machinist and recruiter for the Army and don't have a clue as to what I want to do next. I really am looking forward to my next career whatever that might be.

[Cody Covey]

sounds like its time to train dogs to me

[road kill]

I am a Business Development Specialist for a cross media marketing company.
I support 170+ distributers both technically & on sales calls.
We also print forms and imprint them.
We are heavily into Variable Data Printing and do direct mail.
We develope and host "web-to-print" solutions.

As an aside I own and operate a print brokerage business.
We do OK on both venues.

I went to college to play football, got drafted into the military.
Came back and took an abreviated course in electrical engineering.
Did testing and maintenance on hi-voltage distribution systems.
I have done infra-red inspections in 11 Nukes.
Became a "Level-1 Thermographer."
Also pioneered using ultra-sonics for detecting corona tracking on dielectric materials.
As I got bored I accepted a sales position with my best friends printing company.
Did a large amount of sales in the trading card industry.
Topps, Fleer Skybox, Playoff and Racing Champions.
Developed the game used memorabillia cards (jerseys, leather, bats etc).
Also the "leather card."
That business died on 9-11.

I have stayed in the print/graphics arts business now for about 20 years.
It's been very good to me.
I am close to semi-retirement living solely off my brokerage company.

So I can travel around and hunt, fish and play with my dog.

Please accept my apologies for my poor spelling, hopefully youse can find it in your hearts to forgive!!
I'm an engineer by education, not a speller.

All in all, I think I have been fortunate to have had a terrific life.
In the last year I have found out about and frequented RTF, now life is complete!!

stan b

[dnf777]

If I may say...I am truly impressed with all the small business owners and entrepreneurs (sorry, that's French) on this list. Especially with the gov't lopping off chunks of flesh at every turn. I'm proud of what I do, but in these uncertain times (esp in healthcare) I took the corporate path. I will always have respect and awe for those of you who cut your own path, your own way.

Hat's off regards,
dave