Hi Steve,
I hear you! I also work for the local government and it does get hopeless sometimes. It's usually fairly hard to get a promotion of any kind. Employees have to submit a request and job review to be considered for promotion, and the process sometimes takes 2+ years. I submitted my application for a promotion in November 06, and up until now, my boss still hasn't had time to read it. It's not even that long.
I have been in my job for about 8 years. A lot of highly qualified people have left our agency during this period, and they all seem much happier now. Perhaps you're risk-averse like me. I have a hard time giving up a stable income and going for something totally on my own.
One thing you may want to consider is to have a side job. I know people who have a real estate license on the side, and it seemed to have worked for them. Ideally, though, that would be a jumping board to go full-time into that new career.
I agree with the other posters that it is a huge risk to buy another business. You're probably better off as a sole proprietor to start with, minimizing your overhead. Many businesses, such as real estate, mortgage, insurance, and other sales, don't require a large upfront expense if you're willing to work hard and socialize. Good luck!
Hi goodsense,
Yes at the end of the year I look in the mirror and say geez is this really all I can do? I learn so many things and like to be challenge. Also when your rolling into middle age and still making the same you look around and the other ones are just cruising along. Its really hard for me to do this but I really have to cut my losses. I have big dreams and aspirations. Why did I stay for that long? Well the first 5 years I was in the building phase and wanted to provide security for my kids. The other 2 years I was on the waiting phase. Th 1.5 years my wife got laid off and the last years was seriously looking into other avenues.
One more thing about the local govt. If you start seeing them addressing the media more and more... addressing the public about the dangers of anything. Basically crying wolf (IMO)! That means their dept want more fundings from the public in the way of raising taxes or they want a cut of the federal budget. In our dept the illegals are one of their revenues or job security. They look the other way so we could provide service for these people and charge the feds for these. Its amazing and no wonder why our deficit is through the roof. Many unproductive pat in the back meetings and when everything is idle they try to fix things that are not broken.
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