How can one compete in today's society?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I was recently laid off from a fairly good job with a large multinational firm. Victim of the drop in the oil price recently.
I got some severance, not bad, but not enough to retire on permanently so eventually I will have to go back to work
I am 47 years old and live in the DFW area.

Just going around to the local Wal Marts and McDonalds/ etc and talking to the people there, there are a number of them working at this local Wal Mart or similar store who have been there for years as I recognize them
I have asked more than a few of them why they work there and generally the answer is that they are in debt or have bills to pay/ mouths to feed, etc and they wind up trapped in these positions. I would prefer to stay away from that.
And even if they do leave, there seems to be no end of other people in the area available to replace them so they end up being trapped there.
And yes, I know that Wal Mart workers work very hard but to me that would only be a semi-mindless temporary position at best for myself.

The other thing that I see around here a lot is multiple lawn care businesses. More often than not, they are run by Hispanic crews who speak little English and. Again, a very hard and somewhat seasonal job especially in the Texas heat. And these people running these lawn businesses seem to be very competitive with each other and I suspect only have limited benefits

The other thing that is common around here is the truck driving or long haul business.
Lots of job opening for these positions but driving a semi-trailer is not something that I would be the best skilled at as the best I did before was about the size of a Garbage truck and not a tractor trailer unit.

The other thing is a trade ie plumbing or electrical work but somehow I don’t think I would be good at that based on any home improvements I have tried
There is becoming a mechanic but I like to work on my own cars for my own leisure , not other people’s vehicles

Again, all of those positions are ones where someone is working with their hands, not an office/ research facility that I was at before.
There is always going back to school but I was an internal within the company trainer before and I am currently out of the student mode right now. I don’t have the physical energy for that currently.

So where does that leave myself or other people in the same circumstances?
I have been offered numerous volunteer offering but I would prefer some that is paid and with some benefits.

The one thing that stuck me as I have been causally looking around is the number of people that absolutely have to work every day including weekends and are living from pay period to pay period or have a massive debt to pay off.
Right now, I am recovering from nasal surgery so I am currently sitting at home having fun posting here and I have been very impressed with the collective knowledge here.

Thanks for any suggestions

2

Sometimes life sucks, and then you lose your job. Been there, done that.

Now to your problem. You’ve been offered some volunteer positions, so why don’t you take them up on an offer. It just may lead to a job, and it will keep you occupied.

Do you enjoy driving? It sounds like you don’t look down on it at least. i have a couple of older, retired friends that drive part time. One moves cars or a number of car dealerships, from one city to another. He’s kept busy enough that he has to turn down calls. The other one drives for a car rental agency. Sometimes he’s moving cars from one city to another as the guy he drives for owns several franchises. Other times he sits in the office and picks up and delivers customers.
They aren’t high paying jobs, but they do pay the bills and he meets other people. Which is a source for a new job. And they are always inside, heated or air conditioned. If you have a clean driving record, these are worth considering.

These are the type of jobs one can take on until something better shows up.

Btw, this topic sure isn’t “mundane and pointless”.

3

Thanks for the suggestion.

Yes, I have seen more that a few people who do this driving of vehicles around. Again, that seems somewhat of a simple job just driving vehicles compared to what I have done in the past… Good suggestion

I am not hurting for money by any means. I could go for 5 - 10 years easily or more as long as I don’t make any silly purchases.

Thanks

4

It is kind of nice sitting at home most of the day but it is also easy to get into a rut with that as well and I know that eventually I will have to be busy with something.

I will have to break out of this rut once I recover from the surgery and I am looking at suggestions.

Thanks

5

And if it wasn’t for this surgery recovery which has literally knocked me on my back,

I would be doing some volunteer work this weekend. Right now, it is somewhat difficult to breathe as I can only breathe through my mouth with this nasal surgery

6

Oil prices are going to come back in the not too distant future.

What kind of a job were you laid off from? What skills do you have?

Since you have enough to last 5 to 10 years that means you have enough capital to start a small business.

7

Yeah! Like a bike shop!

How do you make a small fortune in the bicycle industry?
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Start with a large one.

8

The thought has occurred to me but as some said, you need to start a small business in something that you like to do. and I see what you mean about a bicycle shop. Not sure if I have the drive and energy for a small business right now. The 5 to 10 years in only because my expenses are low as I have zero debt and my house is paid for. I know how starting a small business can soak up more capital than you think and you have to go into it 100%.

I have extensive experience in the formation evaluation division of the oil and gas business and some programming experience with emphasis on “some”

9

The thought of starting a bike shop occurred to me but there are already quite a few in the area and these is no way I could compete with the ones around here. Yes, I like biking but not enough to make it a full time business.

That is the way to ruin a hobby by making it your main business and livelihood

Nice quote by the way

10

Cheat.

11

In the long run, Malthus was right all along.

12

Work for H&R Block for a season or two, then become a self-employed tax preparer. If you can establish a client-base, you could make an adequate income during tax season and vacation the rest of the year or do some other job during the off-season.

13

The fun part is building up the client base.

Basic taxes would be not a problem for a individual if it was just that and nothing else.

It is when there is the usual complications with businesses, families, and property that generates the complications.

I spend enough time on my taxes so I can see how time consuming it is,

Thanks for the suggestion.