The "bad" economy
 

So I'm sure you've heard people talking about our bad economy and how hard its been on some people. Myself included.

I took a look at the people around me and saw some thriving while others were losing everything. It lit a fire under me.

I've decided to make a goal to try and progressively increase my income, month by month, no matter what the state of the economy. Currently working 3 jobs and starting 2 other side projects.

Knock on wood, its been working. Work is flooding in left and right for concrete jobs, the detail shop is still keeping me busy and ebay has been good to me all the while.

I just wanted to share this with any of you that are having hard times right now. Sure the economy isn't the greatest atm, but only for those that let it affect them.

Work hard, then a little harder....and eventually it'll come around.

Couldn't agree with that more, good job man.

So...got any job openings, then?

I have my nephew that just turned 17 in mind for helping me on eBay. He's a good kid and I'd like to give him a cool first job, just so long as he gets something done.

With concrete work its harder to find good workers. If these next couple big jobs come in we could probably take on another 3 guys. Not entirely my call though, just yet.

The only thing I can bitch about here is paying $4.25/gal for gas...that in no way actually costs that much. Fuc*ing $.30 price jump when the "storm" came through. I hope oil exec's and the floor traders sloely rot in a swamp of injuries caused by alligators.

Yeah, I think the gas prices have been hurting everyone's bottom dollar.

The last couple jobs we've taken have been roughly 100 mile round trips from the shop, so between the trucks and the envoy we go through more than $100 in fuel a day.

Thankfully the jobs we have lined up are much closer and north of us. I hate driving around in NY traffic on the parkways. :vash:

Vash - Good work on finding motivation and making positive changes in your life.

Mark - I hear several thousand teachers resigned in FL 2 weeks before the school season started (they wait until the last minute to keep their benefits through the summer). You could always attempt to influence and inspire young minds. :)

The main problem, though, is you have to have some specific certifications and they are looking for math, science, special needs and speech pathology teachers. Apparently there is an oversupply of liberal arts grads out there. ;)

There are plenty of jobs and money out there. It is just in different fields than before.

The problem is people are complaining "I can't find a job that pays $125k+ a year in So-cal with my Sociology Degree when I used to work in the banking sector buying bad mortgages" Well no crap douche. Go back to school, get a welding certification and work for a living.

I know, right?! The market for philosophy was so strong when I picked it as my undergraduate major. Bad timing, I guess.

Actually, Mississippi doesn't require certification to teach in private schools (though many private schools have their own certification requirements). I just don't like other people's kids that much.

If I taught history, the world would be a better place.

I believe that you get out what you put in for the most part. In my opinion it takes a number of things to be successful generally (sure some people just fall in to it, but I would say the majority create it). You have to be truly willing to work hard, not content, willing put in the time to create change, make personal sacrifice beyond what you may already do, and not be dumb and make intelligent choices. The situation you describe pretty much checks boxes on most/all of those things and you say things have been turning around, and business has actually been picking up. I'd say I'm not surprised, good work, and I wish more people would do these things and stop making excuses/feeling entitled.

I think there is plenty of opportunity out there for people intelligent and hard working enough to go get it.

The previous-to-previous company (Man, I hate the phrasing on this, I can't get it right) I worked for had something ridiculous, like 50-100 openings for a 200-ish person company even at some of the worst economic points in the recession. There were literally thousands of openings, if not more, in that sector in a very small area. Companies wanted badly to expand, but couldn't find the people. I've actually talked with Vash about this before as I think about it.

There's tons of opportunity out there right now in the right areas - but the jobs market has shifted. Jobs are requiring higher and higher amounts of education/training. That's just how it has become now. Good, bad, I don't know. But the economy is changing, that's for certain. However, as it's always been in the US, jobs and work are there for people willing to look and willing to work.

Anyways, just my :2cents:. Incidentally, my personal experience completely disagrees with "the bad economy" statement. From '08 to '11, my personal (gross? before taxes? Defer-to-Scrappy-here) income doubled.

The problem is that for every dollar you make represents both a dollar and the amount of debt that it carries. Since our government just keeps raising the debt ceiling instead of addressing the problem, you can bet on collapse. When your dollar is worth 100 cents and worth the -.98 cent debt.... You kind of have to work 5 jobs, lol.

that's not how it works.

Tell that to Greece. So how does it all work? It's pretty confusing.
http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/EW5IdwltaAc?rel=0

This is why I came to the previous conclusion.

This probably is better suited for the politics forum, however...

I'm a lot better off than I was 4 years ago. I've gotten several raises, bought my miata, bought a bran new 2010 ranger, and have a lot more money saved up in the bank.

Talk about policies all you want, but hard work pays off a lot more than the influence of Washington.

Always happy just to still have a job

Here's how i judge the economy:

Food Network's $40 a Day ran April 2002 to Dec 2005.

Food Network's $24 in 24 Hours preimeres Sept 23rd 2012.