[quote]Dr. Pangloss wrote:
[quote]Edgy wrote:
Have you considered Porn?
i think that would be a good alternative, if you have the goods, that is~
My $ 0.02~[/quote]
good to see it’s worked out for you, Edgy.
[/quote]
eh~ its a living…
Two random thoughts you might consider:
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Any chance your current employer will give you a sabbatical?
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Have you considered buying an existing business? You could even find an existing gym for sale. There’s still plenty of risk, but with a sizeable nest egg you may be able to do your own thing and replace your current salary that way without worrying about what hiring managers think about your qualifications. Check bizquest.com and bizbuysell.com
Other than that I agree with sucking it up until the boys are through school. How old are they anyways?
Save your time and money.
Get a hobby
[quote]Dr. Pangloss wrote:
My advice: stay where you’re at and start focusing on building your network. If you don’t have a LinkedIn page, build one. Start contacting via LinkedIn people you know but haven’t talking to in years. See who in your network works in fields you find interesting and ask them out for coffee. Get their impressions of their industry and where they think it’s headed in the next 5-7 years. Do you have gaps in your education or resume? If so, start filling those. Then, when you see the light at the end of the financial tunnel, look to make your move.
[/quote]
^This to the nth power. I’ve been contacted by so many recruiters through my LinkedIn, Indeed, InternMatch, Interships, and Dice accounts. I update everything including my resume obsessively. Make yourself visible.
Just got off the phone with a recruiter. Make a LinkedIn, OP.
Find a hobby or alternate business that you can get into on a small scale. Use a 'What color is your parachute" type resource.
Then start on as small a scale as you need to in order to still devote your time to your kids - no pass given on this - it is your duty.
As your new gig grows to a point where you can no longer afford to allot time/effort to the ad job, make your full transition.
Only you know when this tipping point is, based on mental sanity, financial consideration, etc.
Good Luck.
don’t listen to these naysayers!
go out, find your dreams, chase your rainbows!
you only have one shot at life, take it while you still have breath in your lungs!
the kids will survive, they always do -
go for it, find your dreams, live your life - do it naow!!!
srsly - go for it.
[quote]tedro wrote:
- Have you considered buying an existing business? You could even find an existing gym for sale. There’s still plenty of risk, but with a sizeable nest egg you may be able to do your own thing and replace your current salary that way without worrying about what hiring managers think about your qualifications. Check bizquest.com and bizbuysell.com
[/quote]
This.
Not sure of your background/strengths outside of what you’ve mentioned, but there are opportunities to buy existing businesses that don’t necessarily require full time involvement (more passive income vs “buying a job”).
Businesses typically sell for a multiple of net profit. Generally speaking, a business bringing in under $100k will sell for a 1x multiple or so (that’s without inventory, real estate, FFE, etc.). Brokers will usually ask for more than that, but that doesn’t mean they’ll get it. Of course, the more “passive” type businesses will be online/websites like drop-shippers, software providers, affiliate marketing, etc. (I imagine you would have some exposure to the latter considering you’ve been in advertising).
The wife & I have been trying to find something for over a year. I’m looking to hold on to my job and work the business in my off hours. We might look at buying something smaller initially, run it for awhile to feel things out, then pick up another. I don’t want to do the corporate thing for the rest of my life. The thought turns my stomach.
Love these responses. Thank you. Yes, I have hobbys and passions. I coach my boys in basketball and football, and I still play flag football and lift. It’s basically after 10 years in TV I want to look at alternatives.
My Linkedin page is solid…400+ connections, and well updated. My resume is up to date. I may try some of those other sites to see what they bring to the table.
Next week i’m also contacting a business broker to see what is for sale locally in my area.
Keep the advice coming, I appreciate it and I think it makes good reading on this forum.
Good deal. You probably know this, but don’t sign with the broker; it’s not like real estate…the seller only pays their own broker, not the buyer’s.
[quote]Damici wrote:
Two quick points:
1.) If you explore your opportunities, go through some interview processes and get offered a position in a different field, one that you feel will be more enjoyable to you, and they offer the kind of money you’d be comfortable with, then question answered. No need to continue “sucking anything up.” You’re off in a bright new direction, money is fine, and it can be just what any thinking/feeling human needs at times: a change. So go out and interview for some things.
2.) Take it from someone who knows a SHITLOAD about the financial services fields: If you are looking for a change for the better in terms of interest in what you’re doing, passion for your work, lifestyle, and new fire in the belly, Do. NOT. go into financial services. Everyone who’s been in it until your age or a little older is trying to make a switch just like you right now, only in the opposite direction, unless they’re making money that they’re just not willing to give up. (Yes, the money can be fantastic, no doubt. But no, you will not refresh your soul in finance – you will crush it.)[/quote]
What is so awful about this industry?
[quote]tedro wrote:
Two random thoughts you might consider:
-
Any chance your current employer will give you a sabbatical?
-
Have you considered buying an existing business? You could even find an existing gym for sale. There’s still plenty of risk, but with a sizeable nest egg you may be able to do your own thing and replace your current salary that way without worrying about what hiring managers think about your qualifications. Check bizquest.com and bizbuysell.com
Other than that I agree with sucking it up until the boys are through school. How old are they anyways?[/quote]
OP, if you’re looking at running a gym, you need to understand a lot about personal/customer service, managing people (after advertising shouldn’t
't be too hard) and probably issues of personal liability/injury insurance as well as maintaining equipment.
I once wanted to try kettlebell training to get fitter and the gym owner wanted me to sign a waiver in case of injury, not only for own fault but for malfunctioning equipment!
This happened in another gym too, but I don’t know how common this is. Just know that I didn’t join for that reason.
There’s a lot of hands on business/customer/regulatory stuff you’ll need to do as a small or medium business that you don’t do in advertising.
Just my two cents, I’m not pretending to be an authority.
But dealing with people’s health can be tricky, even if you get gym junkies who know everything.
Further to this, have you a particular demographic in mind, or open to all?
If you really want to manage a gym, are you able to do a dry run somewhere for awhile or help out so you can get a good idea of it?
Maybe being a dad is good training for this 
but being a creative in a big company (if I read it right) and running a small/med business is very time-consuming. You’ll be there a lot, might have to wangle your kids’ help.
[quote]'nuffsaid wrote:
[quote]Damici wrote:
Two quick points:
1.) If you explore your opportunities, go through some interview processes and get offered a position in a different field, one that you feel will be more enjoyable to you, and they offer the kind of money you’d be comfortable with, then question answered. No need to continue “sucking anything up.” You’re off in a bright new direction, money is fine, and it can be just what any thinking/feeling human needs at times: a change. So go out and interview for some things.
2.) Take it from someone who knows a SHITLOAD about the financial services fields: If you are looking for a change for the better in terms of interest in what you’re doing, passion for your work, lifestyle, and new fire in the belly, Do. NOT. go into financial services. Everyone who’s been in it until your age or a little older is trying to make a switch just like you right now, only in the opposite direction, unless they’re making money that they’re just not willing to give up. (Yes, the money can be fantastic, no doubt. But no, you will not refresh your soul in finance – you will crush it.)[/quote]
What is so awful about this industry? [/quote]
Nothing. It just isn’t for everyone.