| Author | Message | ||
     Pogue_mahone |
never any security...never any benefits....always work for jerks. am thinking of selling everything and trashing the rest, and off to school for motorcycle repair(headed towards buell of course) and get job in dealer working on the bastard child of the HD marketing group.which incidentally,is the BEST thing they have going. right now,i am SURE i am better than 80% of the buell "techs" that cant fix anything anyways. and then do side work....and work dealer job...then my own place and be an independent buell repair/service shop. just something that seems to have crept into my consciousness. i am buell crazy and would love to put what i can into making buell repairs and service the experience it SHOULD BE.duh it is fixed and that is that enjoy your ride i think i have lost my passion for body repairs......and life with no passion is.....well you know . | ||
| Iamarchangel |
The time to check your lifeboat is when the storm is still far away. Time to check it now since it looks like the storm is coming. Do a "drop dead" moment: figure you lost your job suddenly, right now in fact. What do you have to get by? What do you need? Now, take the time and focus on those two things and anything else that comes to mind when you do that exercise. Figure out where you want to be and what it will take to get there and how much can stay under your control. (It's a good idea to do it every couple of years, force yourself into a dose of reality.) | ||
| Pogue_mahone |
arch...jobless now..... all my stuff is paid for except home and day to day expenses. i just know i am better than the situation i am in right now. | ||
| Sloppy |
The key to finding a good occupation is one that fits all 3 of the following criteria: 1. Do something you enjoy (self satisfaction). 2. Do something that other people are willing to pay a lot for. (high demand) 3. Do something the few other people can do. (low supply) Comes down to economics 101. A professional career in motorcycle mechanics typically does not meet criteria 2 or 3. I'd say continue your search for a career and pursue motorcycling as a passionate hobby. As a career, I doubt if you'll be much better off. You reap what you sow. | ||
| Pogue_mahone |
i am in an industry that is starving for quality techs with skills. i am God like in what i do....just am not worth a crap at office politics. they feed lesser skilled "techs" that hack out crap work.meanwhile the good ones starve and die.is quality work worth anything? or just hack and produce and the hell with anything else? where do i fit? grrrrrr | ||
| Smoke |
what is it exactly that you do for a living? is location an issue? send me a pm. tim | ||
| Aptbldr |
Body-repair serving owners of 'special' vehicles may meet Sloppy's three criteria. Some who restore old Mustangs, build custom motorcycle tanks, repair classic/vintage cars & trucks, etc. have admirable working conditions. Self-employed, flexible hours, low overhead, and craft driven work/product. | ||
| Deanbush |
I know how you feel about work place Politics! I worked at a large manufacturing plant for 10 yrs and the only way you got ahead was to "KISS ASS" which I cannot do. I was harassed for the last 6 years because I would not CONFORM, my work as electronic,electrical,pneumatic,hydraulic,and mechanical tech was some of the best at the plant. I even was approached by the maint. dept. MANAGER and he said " YOU NEED TO GET MARRIED,BUY A HOUSE,BE IN DEBT AND WE WOULD OWN YOU". I politely told him "WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER". After that moment I did not give a shit about the company any more but my "QUALITY OF WORK WHICH REFLECTS DIRECTLY ON ME AND IS WHAT I STRIVE TO ALWAYS GIVE AT 100% NEVER FELL OFF". That said I was not their "BEST" employee and I was approached and accused of doing something and if I did not tell them who did it I would be Fired! I kinda knew who did it but since I did not SEE him do it "I DID NOT TELL ON HIM", I was walked out in front of the whole plant and "I WAS HOLDING MY HEAD UP ALL THE WAY OUT THE DOOR! A month latter they caught the guy and fired him. I look back and that day was one of the best days of my life when I got FIRED! Every interview there after I told the company up front "I can do the job, it will take me a little while to get use to all of your equipment,and I am not perfect. But if you are looking for some one who KISSES ASS then I am not the person who you are looking for"! So keep your HEAD UP,KNOW YOU ALWAYS DID YOUR BEST AND ALWAYS GIVE YOUR BEST, BE COURTEOUS AND FRIENDLY TO ALL,BUT NEVER LET ANYONE WALK ALL OVER! YOU | ||
| Sloppy |
Body repair is a tough industry. The reality is that you are in a "beautification" job - the value of the job is only in the perception. Not too much different than a beautician. Even if you become the BEST body repair person in the world, there really aren't that many customers who are willing to pay you a large sum for your services. If you were to take your body repair knowledge and apply it to say, corrosion protection for, as an example, saving pipeline costs of millions of dollars per year, well, then you can easily gross 100,000+ per year with full benefits. Serving the needs to retail customers isn't a path to financial freedom. What is the first thing that pops out of people's mouths when they take their vehicle in for service? "Why does it cost so much?". Apply your knowledge to the Industrial Sector and instead they'll say, "You saved us millions in Repair & Maintenance costs". Imagine how much money you could make if you developed a paint with better corrosion protection and color fastness than what they use for the Golden Gate Bridge (the story is this bridge is re-painted as soon as it is finished due to the corrosive affects of ocean mist). Take a class in Economics at your local JC or take a WikiU or go to the library. Hopefully that can open your understanding on where to go to achieve your goals. Good luck. | ||
| Iamarchangel |
1. Take any job that allows you enough to time to look for a better job. 2. Don't tell a prospective employer you are a God. 3. Don't tell a prospective employer you are not an Ass Kisser. 4. If you can't work with people, work for/by yourself. If you can't work for/by yourself, work for others. 5. Specialize: find the one thing you can do better than anybody else, and keep getting better at it. I'm jaded. Welcome to the real world. | ||
| Zatco81 |
5. Specialize: find the one thing you can do better than anybody else, and keep getting better at it. Charging money for that is illegal in this state.  | ||
| Biggie |
Pogue I was in body repair and had the same exact problem.I did what you are thinking 1 year ago and have never looked back...except when I needed a paint booth but now I am going to school for physical rehabilitation.I can tell you whatever you do if medical is something you may like DO IT I will be making some serious money soon and should never have to worry about work drying up with people riding those dangerous motorcycle things.  I was A.S.E. and I-CAR platinum certified and always got screwed because they had some hungarian hacks they hired that would under quote and do half assed fast work....that usually needed done twice much to the distain of the painters.Nothing against hungarians I got along great with them other then when one tried to wrestle me he quickly found out jits beats size as he turned blue... | ||
| Jos51700 |
As a guy that was a PRO Buell tech for ten years (the one that DIDN'T fug your bike up), let me assure you... never any security...never any benefits....always work for jerks. At first I was thinking that you already DID work in this industry. You just described exactly what this industry is, and you ain't gonna change it doing the same thing everyone else is doing. There are occasional exceptions as far as the nice guys to work for, but the rest....Nope. (think about that if you're thinking about starting your own shop) Find something else. The first 2 or 3 years, it's the best job ever. Then you hate bikes for the rest of it, because of all the BS. Please please please trust me on this one. You'll end up never riding, and bitter. Every time you see a bike, even if it's your own, you think: "Work" I mean that, 100%. Do this job very long, and you'll wish you'd never done it. Besides, MMI/AMI/Wyotech/Frontenac/etc. aren't going to teach you anything you don't already know (If you're any good, that is), and you'll be $20K in the hole to boot. I never did the MMI thing, and consistantly made more money than anyone that did do that. THAT is one decision I DON'T regret. Now I have a 4-year-plus battle with WorkComp insurance, and can't wrench (can barely even wipe) thanks to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Does that sound like security, and benefits to you? Do you think that nice guys get ahead in this business? Nope. Jerks. Email me if you want the grisly details. | ||
| Teeps |
Pogue_mahone, Sounds like you would have made a good Marine Sniper. I did 15 years motorcycle repair, 3 years auto repair. AT 34 I realized that auto repair is a young mans' game... I had reached my expiration date. Do not get into motorcycle repair, unless you open your own shop. The end game is to own a business and not just a job. | ||
| Rhinely |
Interesting comments! I'm 53, have worked in sales, management, insurance, safety, the list goes on. I cut grass on weekends for spare money and because I really do enjoy it. Instant gratification, and I'm needed again in 2 weeks to do it again! If I could start over, I'd be cutting grass. My recommendation: Find out what you love doing, and do that as your job. Forget the money, benefits, etc. Life is a short gift, that we all loose. If your calling is motorcycle repair, go for it. Find people that love what they do, and seek their advice. By the way, my son is at MMI in Orlando and loves it so far! And some folks at Seminole Harley/Buell speak your language. I live out of state, so am not too biased, I hope. Best of luck. It's never too late. | ||
| Iamarchangel |
Funny thing, that lawn cutting. Kid here started doing some neighbours and local businesses at around 14. He was dependable so he was hired for the next year. After that, he was doing the auto golden mile on a riding mower. By 18, he bought a corvette, and by now he's doing quite well for himself. There's a lesson there. | ||
| Teeps |
Rhinely Posted on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 By the way, my son is at MMI in Orlando and loves it so far! My M/C repair years were more fun than a human being should be allowed to have! I was live'n the life. Worked on bikes all day... Got paid well enough to support my motocross habit... What could be better? I wish your son well in his endeavor to reach motorcycle repair excellence. | ||
| Bumblebee |
You can make a decent living mowing lawns. If you buy the service it 'aint cheap. About your job, they are very hard to come by right now, so if you are employed don't throw it away-I would suggest hanging on to what you have and stashing $$$ away to go to school and come up to speed on motorcycle repair. As for benefits - at most dealerships there aren't any-although never say never, I do know of one that has a very comprehensive package they offer their employees - but they only hire the best of the best - and this is a tool to help them recruit the same. On motorcycle wrenching, I have done this, and it's the fastest way to loose your passion about motorcycles. If you work in a large dealer the work is rather repetitive, doing 5/6 and 10/12K services on all sorts of bikes (Buells?). Replacing brakes, belts (chains), batteries, cables and tires. Once in a while you get to really troubleshoot a problem, or is it the owner fixating in a certain aspect of the motorcycle that ought not be fixated on (I hear this noise)...work could be a lot worse then wrenching on bikes. Most dealers will want you to have gone through some sort of a formal training program, I did the AMI thing, (now WyoTech) they have schools all over, no more going to Florida for months to cram. The school is expensive, you'll need to save up to do this, but if you do and get on with a dealer you can make a pretty good living if you are in an affluent area. One thing is to try and find a place where they ride all year long, (San Francisco and Los Angeles come to mind) to avoid the dreaded off season lay off (although they do slow way down in the winter months and you will be on 50/50 or 60/40 split on billable hours - and no work = no greenbacks)-although some dealers will switch from Motorcycles to sleds during the winter months. There are highlights and lowlights to working at a motorcycle shop. Hopefully you are not so insulated from the customers they don't get to know you. At that time I knew what I wanted to do, so I wrenched on bikes and went to school, upon graduation I continued on as a motorcycle owner, but not mechanic (although I do work on my own machines)and continued on in a non motorcycle career. Maybe it'll be different for you. My .02 worth. | ||
| Sv650tony |
Jos hit the nail on the head working in the motorcycle industry. i worked for a dealership for two and a half years. at the end of my short dealership employment, my marriage was on the rocks from the hours i worked (about 85/week), i owned five motorcycles that i never rode and didn't give a crap about and i didn't make half the money i should have. honestly, when i quit working there i was 100% done with motorcycles. it was one last ride on my monster after i started my current job that changed everything for me. anyway, the economy is a tough, tough place. if you like working on things, i'd try to get an entry level service position in a car dealer. good luck. | ||
| Iamarchangel |
Me, too. I had a great time working as a bike mechanic until the police raided the shop and busted the owners and half the staff. Seems they had started to import hot parts and drugs stashed in the new helmets. After that, well it's hard enough to find full time bike in 6 month Canada without that rep on the resume... Became a welder and never looked back until now. | ||
| Fast1075 |
How much money you can make working on bikes is directly related to how much work is available and how good you are at doing it. I spent my childhood and early years working towards the goal of being a professional mechanic...my whole life revolved around bikes...I finally got that dream job and did very well thank you until a major recession (sound familiar?) came along. I found that bikes were a luxury item...so I moved my career path over to something that is indespensable... Do I miss it?? Every Day....I could flat smoke the flatrate books...and I enjoyed the hell out of it... Would I do it again??? If I was still young ...most likely so... The bottom line about work is really simple...you gotta work like Rossi rides..intensly focused, relentless in the pursuit, and determined to win at any cost. | ||
| Jramsey |
Bradley, I have a friend here in S/E Kansas who does muscle car restorations and is looking for a couple of high quality body men. Shoot me a pm if interested. | ||
| Odie |
I know you will think this sounds 180 degrees out from where you are aiming but if you want to make good money without a lot of overhead or initial output, and don't laugh, pet boarding. There are two dedicated pet boarding facilities in our small town. One is a free run type and the other has kennels. This does not include the 5 Vets in the city limits. They are booked up constantly. The owners of the free run place told us to start doing it. We currently lease the building we have our pet supply/grooming business in. We are thinking of buying and building a boarding only facility in the back portion of the lot. If you can find a building that has a lot of free space and some outside area for the dogs to run free you are set. You can make some kennels out of chain link for folks that want their pets a little more confined. A decent fence around the place and you're in business. The customer brings their own food. I know it sounds crazy but I am telling you- there is a ton of money in it. We researched for about 3 years before we opened up our pet business. The pet industry is absolutely huge. We have not seen a slow down at all, and we don't even board. Toys, clothes, high-end food and treats and grooming is all we do. People will always take care of their pets. They have become more family member-like these days. Do some research on the industry and you'll see I'm not crazy. I don't "need" a motorcycle but folks can't live without Muffy being taken care of. | ||
| Hogs |
YEah your right Odie, Couple of years ago these people bought a house just over the hill from me...and they fixed it, was to be a Bed And Breakfast where you could also bring your pet... Guess what they never rented a space out for people yet, but are too busy for pet owners to drop their pets off on the way to work and pick em up after work on the way home up to 150.00 a week for Pet Day care..Unreal but its true lol.. check em out http://www.pamperedpawsinn.com/testimonials.php (Message edited by hogs on September 25, 2009) | ||
| Iamarchangel |
You do know that Buell lists available jobs on their website, don't you? | ||
| Pogue_mahone |
thanks all for the contributions. i think i have a job...at a new shop...not far from home.so with a bit of hard work time to make the best of this moment and do what i can to get squared away and get on with life. i think maybe motorcycles will be for my own passions, and i am going to look into computer schooling. scott |
