#2408058 - 06/02/11 04:26 PM
Struggling with career choice
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Reemus Buckshot
8 Point
Registered: 02/13/04
Posts: 1064
Loc: Germantown, TN
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CLIFFS:
-Married. 24. No kids.
-Been personal training for 6 months making barely enough to support a family, but I went from a $100 a week clerk to 30K annually on average in 2 months with good sales ability and people skills
-Recently realized training is almost impossible to make a career out of and lead a comfortable life with a family from it's pay
- A friend is opening his own gym in 3 months and asked me to be second man in charge.
-Do I wait to see how his gym does? Do I begin a patient search for a good job now?
A part of me wants to be a trainer/nutritionist for the rest of my life. A part of me says I need to get "real" and get a "real job" that has benefits to support my family.
Here is my situation. I have been training for 6 months. I went from making $100 a week as a desk clerk in school to making 30K + annually in a matter of 2 months when I became a personal trainer. Apparently, I am a pretty good salesman. I woke up this morning, looking forward to meeting with my 6am client when she bombarded me with her life experiences and made me change my whole view on training. She really messed my whole day up in all honesty. She told me that if I wanted all the "nice things" in life for my kids, if I wanted that lake house for my wife then I would "get real" and get a job that provided benefits and the potential for more pay. She said it was my responsibility to do this for my family. By the way, I am 24, and married with no kids. I thought about this remark for a minute and realized that she was right. I do not want my wife to have to work the rest of her life just because what I do does not provide benefits for my family. That is unfair to her. That is sacrificing my happiness for hers.
Now I find myself searching all over the internet for some business job that pertain to my degree. I don't know what to do. I enjoy training and nutrition, but it is seriously doubtful I will be able to make over 75K with that career and I want to provide my wife and kids with everything the want in life...even if that means sacrificing a "passion" of mine. I feel like my people skills are strong and my sales ability is good as well. I feel like these skills could make my family and I a lot more money in another industry. I have always been told and read don't solely pursue money because it does not lead to happiness, but being broke is hard too.
A buddy of mine is opening his own gym in 3 months and has asked me to come be his #2 in charge at the place. I have faith in him, but I have no idea if the gym/training facility will make a profit or make me a profit for that matter. It's just all uncertainty. I just feel like I am at a cross roads and feel like I am a lost individual. If anyone has been down this road before...I sure would like some advice on what to do. I feel like I can relax with the money I am making now because it is enough to support my wife and I and look for a good, well-payed job. Ideally, I would like a performance-based pay job with a small salary.
Edited by stretch (06/02/11 06:03 PM)
Edit Reason: profanity
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#2408064 - 06/02/11 04:40 PM
Re: Struggling with career choice
[Re: Reemus Buckshot]
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tndrbstr
16 Point
Registered: 10/06/05
Posts: 12157
Loc: knox co tn
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Are you sayin you made 30K in just two months as a personal trainer?....If you did then I'd stick with it.....
and welcome to the cross roads of life friend...I go thru them everyday...... 
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#2408066 - 06/02/11 04:46 PM
Re: Struggling with career choice
[Re: tndrbstr]
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Mossy Oak
8 Point
Registered: 01/03/05
Posts: 2178
Loc: Montgomery Co.
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Your client doesn't think you are doing ok with 30K in two months which equals to $180,000 a year? I know what I would be doing.
_________________________
Mossy Oak ProStaff
Team Release and Catch Bowfishing
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#2408069 - 06/02/11 04:53 PM
Re: Struggling with career choice
[Re: tndrbstr]
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JThuntsalot
Good ol' Boys
10 Point
Registered: 06/19/07
Posts: 3920
Loc: Mckenzie, Carroll County, TN
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If no kids and so forth maybe going back to college would be an option. Or if you have a degree in Something of that sort maybe looking into the college sports world alot of the small colleges hire strength coaches that nutrition and training would come to play. And if so that could lead to better college job offers. I would imagine even in a NAIA school that something like that would pay 50 grand a year. Just guessing. But on another note if you do something that you are not enjoying, then your will be misearable all the time and in turn making it harder on your marriage and life. Don't get me wrong. Like my job, I really enjoy it but it is really hard on my wife as I am hardly ever at home and she has to take on the responsiblity of mom and dad alot of times with 4 kids. But it pays better than just about any job in our area with out a college degree. Luckily she is a great woman and understands that.
_________________________
There is nothing better in life than enjoying the outdoors with your Kids.
I love to kill big bucks and a ton of ducks with a monster Thunder Chicken in the spring
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#2408070 - 06/02/11 04:54 PM
Re: Struggling with career choice
[Re: Mossy Oak]
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Reemus Buckshot
8 Point
Registered: 02/13/04
Posts: 1064
Loc: Germantown, TN
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Your client doesn't think you are doing ok with 30K in two months which equals to $180,000 a year? I know what I would be doing.
No I meant to making 30K annually on average in two months. For example, I made about 5K in two months which is about 30K annually. Any advice?
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#2408071 - 06/02/11 04:55 PM
Re: Struggling with career choice
[Re: Reemus Buckshot]
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Baxter83
Good ol' Boys
12 Point
Registered: 09/03/08
Posts: 7243
Loc: Winchester, TN
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A marriage demands sacrifice from BOTH husband and wife. Don't take this the wrong way, but it sounds to me like you're thinking about sacrificing yourself for a fancy lifestyle.
"Lake house", "nice things" in life for my kids, "seriously doubtful I will be able to make over 75K with that career and I want to provide my wife and kids with everything they want in life".
I'm not bashing you so please don't take offense. There's nothing wrong with wanting to better your financial position, and to work hard for nicer things, but don't sacrifice happiness for it. Besides, you're not doing anything for your wife or kids by GIVING them "all the nice things in life". Each member of the family should earn the "things" they want for themselves. The only thing you NEED to do is provide for their needs and love them like there's no tomorrow.
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#2408072 - 06/02/11 04:56 PM
Re: Struggling with career choice
[Re: Reemus Buckshot]
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TAFKAP
12 Point
Registered: 11/06/09
Posts: 6996
Loc: Memphis
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Quit listening to the life advice of stuck up ladies that can afford a trainer at the gym, for one.
_________________________
Everything important in life was learned from Mary Jo Kopechne.
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#2408075 - 06/02/11 04:59 PM
Re: Struggling with career choice
[Re: Reemus Buckshot]
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Swamphunter
12 Point
Registered: 12/27/07
Posts: 6452
Loc: Munford, TN
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One thought that might be useless, but: Research FedEx. We have some employee fitness centers around Memphis and I know a guy whose daughter just got hired as a personal trainer at one. No idea what she makes but FedEx benefits are pretty dang good. Good luck.
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#2408076 - 06/02/11 04:59 PM
Re: Struggling with career choice
[Re: TAFKAP]
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TAFKAP
12 Point
Registered: 11/06/09
Posts: 6996
Loc: Memphis
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If you like the work, perhaps a career in physical therapy might be a more steady line of work for you. It may require some college time for a piece of paper, but all aspects of the health care industry are going straight up.
If nothing works beyond that, I'd be a little concerned about hitching my wagon to what is honestly a fly-by-night line of work. Anyone can open a shop in a strip mall and lease some workout equipment. But the overhead is high, and the income can vary greatly. I would continue the personal training as a side gig, while pursuing something more steady.
What area of TN?
_________________________
Everything important in life was learned from Mary Jo Kopechne.
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#2408077 - 06/02/11 05:00 PM
Re: Struggling with career choice
[Re: TAFKAP]
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TAFKAP
12 Point
Registered: 11/06/09
Posts: 6996
Loc: Memphis
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What's your degree?
_________________________
Everything important in life was learned from Mary Jo Kopechne.
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