@alive15, after I was laid off in 1985 went to work for Delta for about 25% less than I was getting at my previous company.
I just saw an opportunity in Delta.
About being adaptable. I didn't know much about hydraulics in 1985. My degree was in electrical and computer engineering. Then I also had lost of training in Adm Rickover's nuclear navy. I think this was more important than my degree since I have done little or no electrical engineering. The computer engineering allowed me to read a spec sheet for a CPU. Life can be weird.
but the question becomes, what is it that you most need and most desire from this life?
To win, be best.
"I consider it a challenge before the whole human race and I aint gonna lose"
This would be difficult in many fields but in hydraulic servo control there was little competition back in the 1980s when it came to technology.
Delta is very small considering the big international companies we compete with. However, our business is 41% export now. All I want is our fair share and a little more.
Our second "opportunity" came when were renting in a business park. The park changed hands so now the new owners raised the rents on everyone significantly. Since we were already busting at the seams we decided to move and build our own building in 2008 during the crash. It was tough getting a loan ( difficult to do when you haven't had a credit rating for over 25 years ) but we qualified just before Christmas so work would continue. The construction workers could continue too and worked until late may 2009. Everyone had a good Christmas. We will have paid off the loan at the end of this year. Delta Computer Systems, rents the building from me and my business partner. That will be one source of our retirement money.
We were urged to build our own building years before but it took raising our rent to really give us the incentive to build our own. We should have done it earlier.
My point is that sometimes new challenges are new opportunities.
Maybe I am way off in my thinking, but that's why I talk with you,
No, as long as you realize the compromises you are making. I know what compromises I have made.
Everyone is naive starting out. The trick is to learn how the game is played as quick as possible. Schools are awful at teaching this.