Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire If you were 18 again......

One place I worked for many years, the electrical techs could put in as much overtime as they could stand. Time and a half past 40 hours, double time on Sunday.

They didn't need a side job.

First things first.

Work as bloody hard as you can. Several jobs. Save every thing.

Do NOT treat yourself to ANYTHING.

Do not start a family.



Then when he is old and worn out....and alone...he can kick back and enjoy life a little.

The American dream!

Oh and keep the idea of branching out on his own to himself. Regardless of what he wants to do.

His first priority is to learn his trade as best as he can. He needs to decide if he's going to be a residential electrician or a Commercial electrican. Develop a side hustle around that. Every young man needs a side hustle, especially while he's young. That's where he'll really learn the trade. Maybe work commercial and do residential as a side hustle. Take that into being a handy man, add plumbing and other skills. A GOOD handyman is very much in demand. Bring along another guy or two teaching them the trade and grow the business. Treat them fair, pay them well and make them want to stay with him. Grow the business. He will become an entrepreneur before he knows it.

I've got a brother in law that was a lineman. He isn't worth shooting. If he was I'm sure his wife would have shot him long before now. He's so focused on one very small part of the business, he can't change a light in his own house. He isn't capable of doing anything but that one nitch job. How valuable is he??? He isn't!!! He isn't well round or willing to learn anything. Blind spots will get you run over.

I've never seen an apprenticeship that left a young man enough time or energy to run a side gig, if he has time to burn he has time to double done on classes.

Always a good idea for an electrician to be well grounded.

I been in I.T. The past 40+ years while my skill set had to change many times there are 3 areas we have needed the entire time.

First, every data center, computer room, etc. needs cooling and we keep our HVAC vendor busy 365 days a year and that’s not changing any time soon.

Second, electrical and UPS service is also a constant need, cannot run computers with out it.

Last is a newer item but electric related Solar Systems. When you talk solar most think home use but the company I work for has spent well over10 millions dollars on Solar systems at our call centers making enough power to support thousands of desktops and other equipment every day. Even after installation some one needs to maintain these high priced systems.

While programming and other technical duties continue to go to remote over seas outfits these 3 areas will be needed in the USA.

Agree. Get in as many hours as he can doing electrical stuff to get through the electrical program as fast as possible. Take every hour they give you.

Along the way pick as many tools as you can and make connections with those that might need his services someday. Lay the ground work for starting his own business once he is licensed and a journeyman.

He picked a great trade to get into. Sounds like a great kid! Good on you for setting him up right.

Yep, he has many years to go before he can legally take off on his own, moonlighting side jobs prior to being licensed to do so can cost him what ever stage of license he has at the time.

Chase the money, don't get regionally bound. The traveling industrial electrical teams is where the money is at..7/12's are a minimum be prepared for more. Journeyman's, Masters, Administrator's license are based on hours, they come more quickly when you are doing 100 hour plus weeks.

The best way not to get stuck in the rut of drilling holes in 2x4's and roping residential is to never start it...

If I were 18 again, I'd not be married. I would dispel any notion of doing that!

I wouldn't recommend a thing -- you've already got him on the track to figure it out himself. WAY better than waiting on someone else's ideas. 2 cents here.

Thought I posted this earlier. Rodeo harder, make it to the NFR.

I'd start here

Wish I was 18 and knew what I know now.

Pay myself first...

Great minds and all that.

First thing I thought of when I saw the thread title. I'd chase A LOT more wimmins. And probably catch a lot more too.

Geno

PS, I prefer brunettes and redheads, though blondies would work.

What I know now that would be lost on the list.
Good grief, probably have a 95% chance of getting a divorce then here having 50% of everything you ever make the rest of your life.
That don’t sound fun.....oh maybe for the first few years but after that’s over.....nah.

If you want to chase women, learn to dance. He will have to beat the women off with a stick. Wifey has told me I never would have gotten the time of day if it wasn’t for that. She looked as good as the girl in the pic when I met her.


A good woman can help a guy go into business with a good job to help pick up the slack in the lean times, carry health insurance etc.

Nebraska, I wish the boy good luck and a productive career.

Personally, having worked some construction in the early days and having brothers who are still in it, I'd recommend getting the journeyman card and looking for a (sensitive folks cover their ears) government type job.

My next youngest brother want through carpenter's apprenticeship in SoCal many years ago, got married, started having kids, then the whole industry down there went non-union low wage immigrant workers. Now, his only retirement is basically Social Security. The vagaries of the construction industry didn't leave much left over for a guy living in SoCal with two kids, and getting laid off semi regular, to invest in any kind of retirement fund. And of course, he wanted to stay around his kids, even after the divorce.

My youngest brother went a different route. Electrical journeyman, worked for a few larger outfits, saw the writing on the wall about layoffs, got his contractors license so he could do side jobs, then he got a job at the local University. He's pretty well set, has a place across the river in AZ, sold their place to the daughter and son in law, lving in an RV park for year or two more while the wife is over in AZ, goes there on weekends. Has a good retirement and can still do electrical jobs if needed.

My old man did the same sort of thing. Machinist in the ship yards in SoCal, tired of getting laid off every year or two, went to work at the University, good insurance and retirement, was able to leave mom in good financial shape when he passed.

Me, when I got out of the University I considered working for a few private companies, but ended up working for .gov. Glad I did too, even with having to deal with the asshats there and the red tape etc. I had decent insurance (certainly not platinum level) and I ended up with a decent retirement because I put every extra dollar into the .gov version of a 401K (No guaranteed retirement pension where I worked, one had to invest if one wanted a decent balance at the end, just like in the private world)

Again, I wish the kid luck. Don't know where you live, but a good electrician can make a really decent living working at BPA, Fed, or other hydro powerplants, and likely at the non-hydro ones. And the writing is on the wall as old willys put it, solar and wind aren't going anywhere soon. Learn that stuff and likely he'll do alright.

Geno