I realize this is a broad question, but my life has changed drastically in the last few months, and I'm looking to experience more before I get too old. I know the usual answers like getting married, having kids, and so on.
I'm more interested in skills, hobbies, fields of education, practices, habits, and experiences that have shaped (for the better) the person you are today.
I respect people that do things themselves, when it might be easier to just pay someone for the convenience. IMO, our first world society is far too obsessed with specializing, and throwing basic skills to the wayside.
Thanks for the reply.
I think I consider myself a jack of all trades, but master of none.
This is me. I can do just about anything given enough time, but not necessarily well--just well enough. I'll figure something out, I'm confident of that.
Yeah, my Dad was like that ... he was a butcher, but built our family home from scratch mostly by himself and would never spend a dime on having someone else do something for him unless he realized it was above his pay grade ... so I kinda picked it up from there. And it never hurts to just listen and learn IMHO ... there's always someone who knows more than you do on any given subject. If you just pay attention and don't think you know everything, you learn a hellva a lot more in the long run.
Like you, I started early. A boomer, I started learning electronics by buying up old radios and TVs as a kid, figuring out what was wrong with them and fixing them. I never made any money at it, but I learned a lot by trial and error. Then I joined the AF and was formally trained in electronics. Moving on, I parlayed that into a forty year career that severed me well in aerospace.
Yeah, my dad as well. He grew up poor, among other titles you could give to his childhood that are negative in nature, and had to make do with what he had. He went on to have a roofing business and a floor cleaning business before getting too injured to work any longer (in my teens). Also wouldn't pay someone to do something unless absolutely necessary--mostly out of need than stinginess. He always had me beside him, for better or for worse--sometimes both, so I picked up what I know from that.
there's always someone who knows more than you do on any given subject. If you just pay attention and don't think you know everything, you learn a hellva a lot more in the long run.
Yeah, there's always something to be learned from someone. Everybody is good at something, even if it's not necessarily a traditional skill. If you're creative enough, you can turn anything into a practical skill. Mouth shut, eyes and ears open.
I'm probably a good bit younger than you, though.
This is a good one. I'm more than happy to eat simple, but I quickly learned that guests and girlfriends usually expect a little more than cheesy rice and broccoli. Got any favorite dishes to recommend a novice chef?
Shrimp alfredo. Saute the shrimp seasoned with salt, pepper and paprika in olive oil until cooked. 2 or 3 minutes a side. Set aside. In the same pan melt 2 tablespoons of butter then saute a small chopped onion until translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute. Pour some dry white wine in the pan and reduce to a third. Pour 2 cups of heavy cream in the pan. Stir constantly and don't let it boil. This breaks the sauce. Store until creamy. Put shredded fresh parmesan cheese in and stir. Remove from heat. Put some parsley and more salt and pepper and paprika and shrimp. Pour over fettuccine noodles. Yum.
Sounds great. I'll give this a try!
I'd say my career path has been fairly rewarding in some way. I am a network/systems administrator by trade and went to school for 2 years for it earning an Associates' Degree. My position is currently "IT Director" which sounds loftier than it is because I have nobody working under me. I do, however, get to call all the shots.
The nice part of having gone through all of this is the knowledge and experience. There are a lot of things I can do out of habit because I have the experience, such that I feel it's worth less than it really is. It would be simple for me to troubleshoot a desktop computer and determine its ills in short order, where your average person would be lost. I could plan and setup an Active Directory network, complete with all necessary services and member servers with relative ease. It seems dead simple to me, but it's not just something anybody off the street can do.
I suppose most fields of work feel like this.
This whole pursuit started when I was really young, so it's been a lifelong thing.
That's awesome that you were able to turn a childhood interest into a career! I'm not sure being a systems admin would be a fit for me, but I've always been interested in learning to code beyond a bit of html and JS.
Given your experience in the tech industry: If you had to pick just one programming language to learn as a starting point, which would it be?
Given your experience in the tech industry: If you had to pick just one programming language to learn as a starting point, which would it be?
Python. Start with python. It's a big language right now and I don't see that changing. It's a good introduction into programming with easily transferrable syntax, unlike something like Visual Basic. It's backed by a lot of big name companies, not the least of which is Google. It's so ubiquitous that you can find endless resources with which you can learn it.
Alternatively, C is a very important language. C will never die. It's a harder and less forgiving language to learn, but it can't be beat performance-wise. C++ would be next in line.
C# is a useful language in the Windows world since it relies on the .NET Framework to function. That said, .NET Core has been moved to Linux now. Even still, many languages use a lot of the same syntax characteristics, like Java and Vala. These languages just aren't universal, though.
Awesome, thanks for the input! I think I'll look into python.
There was this federal program called WIN, Work INcentive. They hired me to help a dozen black rural females acquire literacy skills towards a GED. There were no textbooks or materials, there was no program. Just get in there and do it. So I was forced to be very creative.... (details too complicated)... anyway it was very challenging, absorbing, rewarding. Maybe not useful to you in your search, but at my age (70) and having done a lot of really unusual things, this one really stands out.
Is this you? ;)
In all seriousness, that's really amazing. I have a deep respect for committed teachers. It sounds like some people may have benefited tremendously from your efforts.
Thanks for sharing!
After the Tsunami, I told a girl I had just met that I would go there and help them in some way. She gave me a blowjob, so I felt compelled to at least try. I ended up living in Indonesia for 4 years and working my way into a global disaster response team, working in lots of countries. Almost everything I've done since then seems a bit shallow, although I recently moved to Africa, which is also extremely rewarding in another way.
Funny enough, I wouldn't know. I've been married since I got here.
That must have been one hell of a blowjob! But really, that sounds like an incredible experience. I've done some disaster relief work in short week long mission trips, and I can imagine losing myself in that sort of thing.
Thanks for sharing!
Yeah, I stayed in for about 4 years in total, but it leaves its mark on you.
Getting my second college degree. My first was computer programming. My second was Fine Art.
It was therapy for me after losing everything I had worked for within the span of three weeks.
It helped my design skills in development.
It helped me regain self confidence.
It was an avenue for traveling abroad. Ireland, England, France.
I fulfilled a secret passion for being an artist that I never acknowledged to myself.
I gained skills in photography and now have a back-up field behind the backup field of graphic design. I can also take fantastic photos for myself just because. It's always great having an image that you created that is good enough to be your desktop background and look like you got it somewhere else.
Preserved dying skills in black and white film photography as I can shoot, develop, and print all of my own photos myself. I have a darkroom at home. Here's what my darkroom looks like
Some examples of my work:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/metalphoenixrising/16993970230/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/metalphoenixrising/16850340426/in/album-72157651052859950/
http://www.gigspotting.net/assets_c/2014/08/Sleeping%20Beauty-1572.html
http://www.gigspotting.net/assets_c/2014/08/Wall-1581.html
http://www.gigspotting.net/assets_c/2014/08/But%20a%20Kiss-1539.html
http://www.gigspotting.net/assets_c/2014/08/Game%20Changer-1548.html
http://www.gigspotting.net/assets_c/2014/08/Jerpoint%20Abbey-1554.html
http://www.gigspotting.net/assets_c/2014/08/Kara%20Chambers%202-1557.html
http://www.gigspotting.net/assets_c/2014/08/Moon-1563.html
http://www.gigspotting.net/assets_c/2014/08/Perigee-1566.html
Not too often you hear about people getting the fine arts degree after the programming one ;)
When I was in school I considered going into graphic design. I won a few local contests for logo design before college, and even landed a small scholarship, but I decided against the major in favor of a more "marketable" degree. Your story makes me think that I should look into art again. It would definitely balance out my highly "left brain" career, even if just as a hobby.
Thanks for the reply, and for sharing your art!
You're welcome!
Fine Art can include web and graphic design. They are marketable skills. After all, every commercial, movie, magazine uses principles of art and design. Think of graphic design like this:
Graphic design is to art as statistics is to math.
Statistics is not math but it uses math. Graphic design is not art but it uses art.
From there, you can go in to web design (which is high paying), graphic design, not quite as high paying but still cushy. You could do print, electronic media, advertising. With a little more, you could go into design and principle photography of film as film uses the same principles of art in each shot. If you combine Art History and Chemistry majors, you could restore art pieces (such as the Mona Lisa) - imagine how few people do this and how much it could pay to restore world famous pieces of art!
Everything you see, use, touch in some way uses elements of design. Even architecture (though sometimes not quite as much).
Probably the most important thing I could say on this, however, is that art, especially meaningful art, requires that you be aware of and in touch with your emotions.
Becoming an EMT (emergency medical tech) and driving an ambulance as a volunteer. The EMT badge was not hard at all, just one semester, one or two nights a week, plus a little hospital time. You get to see a slice of life you'd never otherwise see, you get to drive fast and be a good guy. Totally worthwhile.
Skydiving, scuba, rockclimbing, caving, motorcycling - all of these things are more accessible that you might think. They all demand calm and care, qualities that serve you well anywhere.
Weed. Seriously. There are very few things that you can experience as an adult that are safe, pleasant, and totally unlike anything that you have experienced before. It won't make you lazy unless you're already that way.
Basic carpentry. Nothing fancy, just the ability to put together useful things in a sensible way. You can get fancy if you want, but don't let the complicated stuff hold you away from the easier things.
Shooting. It's fun, and it can be taken seriously as a defensive skill too.
EMT
I'm a bit of a prepper so I've always been interested in first aid skills, but I had no idea that an EMT cert could be obtained so quickly!
Skydiving, scuba, rockclimbing, caving, motorcycling
It's funny, I've gone sky and scuba diving, but you couldn't pay me to get on a motorcycle. I just know I'd wrap myself around a lamp post within the first week. I like going fast a little too much.
Weed
I spent a couple decades as a daily smoker, and I'm definitely one of the lazy ones. Even so, I attribute much of my lasting outlook on the world to marijuana and the friends I made while smoking. A positive experience overall.
Basic carpentry.
+1. I love to make things, even though I'm a notoriously bad craftsman.
Shooting.
Couldn't agree more. Little in life provides as much peace of mind as having confidence in your ability to operate a firearm and defend your home.
I think I consider myself a jack of all trades, but master of none. I guess I mean I pursue knowledge in whatever endeavor I'm interested in at any given time, rather than devoting all my energies to master a single skill set. So now as an old guy, I know a little bit about many things. I don't pretend to be an expert in most, but it's great when you have a well rounded knowledge in a variety of areas.
Example: I'm basically an electronics guy ... so when computers were new and novel, I built my own from components. Then I had to figure out the software, which was anything but user friendly back when. In the process I learned the functions of most things electronically, and though I'm not a software guy, I grasp the basics. For me it's the same with cars, guns, you name it ... when I got the bug to do something, I put the effort into learning as much as I needed to learn to be proficient. So me ... I think that's the key ... you need something done or wanna do something, educate yourself on the subject. Eventually you know a little bit about everything from plumbing to physics ... and people think you're smarter than you really are - LOL.