That was a great layout of how some people differ in the way they live their life and work their way up the food chain. I to had the opportunity to spend my time in school, but I just wanted to work with my hands. I hated wasting my time sitting in classes with teachers who had no ambition to live their own lives the way that they wished they had. I can learn how to do just about anything, and that has served me very well. I left school at 16 and worked odd jobs until I joined the US Navy at 18. I was thrown into a leadership position going onboard my first commmand running a shipboard power/propulsion plant, and wow did I learn fast. I was scared to death, but I refused to fail. I moved up through the ranks quickly and had a blast doing what I wanted to do. Working with my hands and then eventually teaching young men and women basic engineering skill on their way to the naval fleet. I retired in 1997 at the age of 38. I work now just to keep busy while my wife works on her retirement.
I have to say the most fun that I had was as a boot camp drill instructor for 5 years at the Orlando Naval training center before it closed in 1995. I put in over 20 years and as an engineer did less than 45 days at sea. That is just unheard of, but that is the way I guided my career. I wanted to work, but going to sea was the last thing that I wanted to do. I have always been at home taking care of business. I was very fortunate and now I have an impressive resume that lets me take any job that I want in my field. Don't get me wrong I had schools to attend, but they were practical on hands type classes with lab training except for the senior leadership training stuff. I hated going to school so college was not my cup of tea either Hickoryhead.
There is definitely more than just one way to skin a cat as they say. You don't have to love your job, but you need to love what it is that you do on that job. Too many people go to work every day and they hate their job, and their lives. The one thing that I am sure of is that if you commit your efforts to doing a great job you will succeed and enjoy the fruits of your labors.
