Change in profession

[NeoMatrix]

Re: Change in profession

Somehow I got this crazy idea in my head that most people are logical, intelligent, thinking individuals.

It's so disappointing to be proved wrong multiple times each day. =^..^=

and you missed the important one "caring"...

I seriously call the above morals --"THE GIVE A SH!T FACTOR".
The GASF is seriously lacking in todays Y-Z-generation.

I've had the G.A.S.F explained in opposite fashion by one of my younger associates.

Y-gen Associate (verbatim) :
I started out my day with a 100 F#$! .
An I haven't given one F#$! about anything.
That leaves me with every F#$!ing thing I started with.

Which no doubt makes the poor-bugger material rich, but spirit/emotionally poor...

Big ssssssssigggggh!.... I'm right there with you BC.

[allan]

Re: Change in profession

I didn't start in this profession until I was 40, been doing it 14 years now. I worked in retail until then and now appreciate having customers who are actually glad to see me, maybe that's the reason I'm not as angry as some on here.

Sounding angry there BC.

Not getting that people don't get it is frustrating at best.
But i am getting it at the shop and in the field. And don't try to correct them especially the customers.

Running out of patience here.

Guess i am one of the more angry ones, its enough to make me want to quit.
Worked on a job shop floor and in a drafting office for some time. Enjoyed doing something that did not need to fit in a 45min window.
Did 40 calls in 4 days this week Friday i needed to do an installation with 28 users with a log list of demands, at least some relief and a nice environment.
Got gear leaver elbow and my car's locks and handles find new ways of coming undone.
Don't think i am the kind to travel like this.

Got myself a HP Z1 to run any CAD CAM that gets thrown at it.
Met up with my organ builder friend and it seems that he needs someone to run a workshop for his parts.
These organs needs to be modernized meaning to get it to operate by its self due to the fact that less and less people can play these things properly.
And part of that makes up for electronic and mechanical design even the programing of the music.
There will be some traveling around to mix things up, more like 1 to 2 week trips.

I think its time to move on...

[NeoMatrix]

Re: Change in profession

Re. Time to move on.

I know where most Techs are all coming from with regards to frustration...

I'm being call back into the family engineering world again. Such be the case, I would definitely class myself as a masochist.
I've got know idea why I would want go backwards in my career life, except for the money side of things. (I'm not really a money chaser...)
Work hasn't been that busy of late, and the missus thinks I'm to young to retire just yet.
The missus has threatened to turn off the female tap, unless the bills get paid on time. ...NOW THAT HURTS!
With that!,I figure I finally found the motivation to go backwards in my career.

Truth be known, she feels I'm putting to much time into my charity work.... Can't please everyone.

My days are looking numbered on copytechnet...

Its all good...

[allan]

Re: Change in profession

You'll do fine, I'm sure.

I think that you'll find most copier techs can't seem to escape the profession. =^..^=

Think the truth there could be that its easy to get employment.
Don't know how its elsewhere but here you can move around form place to place with the same mediocre pay with no problem.
Changed shops 4 times over 3 provinces in something like less than 2 years.
Not a good habit but the small incremental increases in pay helped.
Now i am just a point where its pointless to move because no one understands or can justify paying me any more.

Last conversation with the guy i work for went something like this.
Me: "boss i am a bit overworked at times and i can't see my self keeping up at this pace, please hire another tech"
Boss: "the computer tells me your doing fine and there is still gaps in your time lines"
Me: "Is there some wiggle room in the pay, give me some intensive. Don't think i am willing to continue like this"
Boss: "No, but don't leave we are happy with your work"

Always loose when it comes to these negotiations.

[allan]

Re: Change in profession

Well that ended as expected.

Could not handle it there anymore. Needed time off.
Took about 2 months for the physical aliments of over working yourself to dissipate.
If you hate the job you do just stop. Had to leave a long time ago.

What a dead place, every body there has this fear of the boogeyman called the boss.
Everybody warns you that he never forgets a thing and will remind you of your past transgressions.
Paranoid that every body takes from him. Treated me like in Afrikaans a "dom doos".

So finding another job in this industry is easy but this one was what i needed.
Still fixing copiers but this job is a better arrangement.
No shop no boss around and only a couple of customers to service, never had it like this before.
Sometimes do 3 calls a week.

Took a pay drop, but the time off i get is over whelming so need to change that into the difference.
Thinking about getting into some other industry like fabrication or something like that.
Or should i go out and put down a couple of machines for myself?

Huge relief.

[Hansoon]

Re: Change in profession

Or should i go out and put down a couple of machines for myself?

I believe that could be a way Allan. There can be good money made with rebuilds. Easy to get good cheap used machines. I especially like the rental business. Guaranteed income for the whole contract period and most of the time the customer forgets when the contract expires, so here in Germany it continuous than automatically for another year, another year, another year......

The modern KonicaMinolta machines are so good that maintenance is much, much less than in the old days. I use generic parts where possible without cutting reliability. Only some models need strictly OEM toner, others not. It needs some IT understanding hooking up the machines but that's easy as you already know. What however bugs me though is the dragging around of heavy equipment cause I'm an old fart.

Good luck friend, "en sterkte"

Hans

[blackcat4866]

Re: Change in profession

Or should i go out and put down a couple of machines for myself?

Huge relief.

That's a nice gradual way of increasing your work to the level you like. Just be sure you keep a couple of loaners around for those emergency situations. And limit your machine base to just a few models, for simplicity sake. =^..^=

[allan]

Re: Change in profession

Danke, Hans

This place is another jungle with the diversity, politics, corruption and lawlessness. They are killing farmers stealing land and just generally spreading terror.
Could still do business here and yes the rebuilt market is good currently.
Not sure if sticking around here is the best idea, may need to jump the pond or at least a border or two but love this place too much.

C360's are freely available and now the C364e's too even more and cheaper than the B423's.
Would it be wise to change them to B/W printers. This way i will deal only with 2 models for now.
For small machines i could use used brother.

If you fool the TCR sensors, disable the drives and remove the bits the transfer belt does not need it should work.
Just a bunch of p-codes and 3 spare sets of drums and dev tanks.

Need to sell my car and get a "bakkie" to move machines around seeing that that is the only other tool i need.
Know how this works so would be stupid not to try.
For now its just real fun to have the time free. Sure i will be bored by the new year.

[blackcat4866]

Re: Change in profession

For now its just real fun to have the time free. Sure i will be bored by the new year.

After 30 years in the business, I would like to investigate this "boredom". Sounds nice. =^..^=

[allan]

Re: Change in profession

After 30 years in the business, I would like to investigate this "boredom". Sounds nice. =^..^=

I am telling you its weird never had it like this before.
Best yet there was room for improvement on that small base fixed them up real good.
Got 18 calls the first month and worked like 30 hours doing that. Time spent well on those pigs.
Did not work this past week this comfort makes me paranoid.

[Phil B.]

Re: Change in profession

I am telling you its weird never had it like this before.
Best yet there was room for improvement on that small base fixed them up real good.
Got 18 calls the first month and worked like 30 hours doing that. Time spent well on those pigs.
Did not work this past week this comfort makes me paranoid.

left the field on own accord 3 ms ago.. not sure what i will pursue next.. still burnt/pissed about last 'boss'

good luck to you.

[allan]

Re: Change in profession

left the field on own accord 3 ms ago.. not sure what i will pursue next.. still burnt/pissed about last 'boss'

good luck to you.

I know what leads up to that decision and its not easy to make it.
Was still unsure about my decision two months or so ago, but when you need to go you need to go.
When you drive like an ass and run out of patience with everyone because you are running a million miles an hour and your body is sore.
Then its time for something to give, the final straw for me was almost killing myself driving angry.
You know life goes on. You will soon forget about that c&$#.

Not all employers are all bad. Enjoyed working for some companies, and regret leaving there.

[NeoMatrix]

Re: Change in profession

I know what leads up to that decision and its not easy to make it.
Was still unsure about my decision two months or so ago, but when you need to go you need to go.
When you drive like an ass and run out of patience with everyone because you are running a million miles an hour and your body is sore.
Then its time for something to give, the final straw for me was almost killing myself driving angry.
You know life goes on. You will soon forget about that c&$#.

Not all employers are all bad. Enjoyed working for some companies, and regret leaving there.

When times swing from good to bad always focus on the horizon, it's always in the same place ,it never moves, it never waivers; if you keep moving you will some how get closer to your desired destination. Just don't set your first destination to far over the horizon you could get weiry with the journey.

Remember to stop at the stop signs, and wait at the crossroads to choose your direction;one of those paths could help you with bus load of friends, or you could be hit by a lonely truck driver.

A bus load of friends can always help you to carry the heavy load when the journey becomes too wet and boggy.

[Bix]

Re: Change in profession

Allan, there are us users of copytechnet that we take away the boredom with our technical problems.

I'm joking, obviously!

Thanks again and good luck.

[allan]

Re: Change in profession

Hehe funny. Don't know why i try...