The previous post on "Burnt out" made me realize there are probably as many different definitions of "success" in our profession as there surveyors. It must be a personal thing. My journey to "here" goes something like this:
Once I thought for me to be successful I had to be smarter than any other surveyor. I wound up learning the more you learn, the more you realize how much you don't know.
Once I thought for me to be successful I had to supervise more crews than anybody else. I wound up divorced with ulcers.
Then I thought for me to be successful I had to make more money than anybody else. I wound up miserable. I also learned the more you earn, the more you spend. Wealth is not a measure of income.
Then I thought for me to be successful I had to own the whole outfit. I wound up yoked to (potentially lethal) unnecessary debt. I hate sleepless nights and the taste of Rolaids.
Then I realized the reason I had stuck with surveying so many years was that I liked the work but I hated where I had put myself. I had to understand that some of the work was not only enjoyable, but down right fun.
Eliminating surveying that didn't interest me made more time to work on things I liked. The more I liked my workload, the easier it became. The more relaxed I became about my workload, the more clients gravitated my way. Nobody wants to hire a stressed out fella that doesn't like what he's doing. People want to hire happy people with a positive outlook.
So for me, letting go of miles of highways and bridges and developments and airports was the key to my success. I didn't want to do that kind of surveying. I know some surveyors that DO like that kind of work. They're doing well AND happy with it.
After all these years of "research" I've found being a successful surveyor is an internal achievement, not an external. If you're happy with what you do, the "wealth" will materialize. Really.
Well said!
To me it would be to get to the end of my career (close now) and have very few regrets. I certainly haven't made as much money as a lot of folks, but I enjoyed what I did. I never owned my own company but I wasn't "married" to work either. I never missed my children's ball games, coached and ran concession stands and generally had a life after work. That IS NOT to say anything disparaging about those who own their own businesses, it just wasn't for me. I love the challenges of surveying, assembling the 3D jigsaw puzzles with pieces that don't necessarily fit. I've always enjoyed research, digging through old dusty books was never a chore, it was fun. I hope that in the future, if another surveyor follows my work, that he can say "He did well".
Andy
"If you're happy with what you do, the "wealth" will materialize. Really."
Depending on how you define "wealth" that statement is applicable to all walks of life!
B-)
regrets?
> To me it would be to get to the end of my career (close now) and have very few regrets.
I actually have lots of 'regrets' in my career. But I wouldn't be me if I hadn't experienced all that I have to get here at this point in time. So would I actually do anything different given the chance? Probably not.
Regrettable doesn't necessarily mean bad, imho.
Kinda like Morgan Freeman (Shawshank Redemption) as Red when they asked him if he was "rehabilitated"..."I want to find that young boy and talk some sense into him, but I can't."
Getting out Alive! However, more importantly is getting out without a crew member being seriously hurt or killed.
joe
Be safe out there!
Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country. Typing class 9th grade!
regrets?
> > To me it would be to get to the end of my career (close now) and have very few regrets.
>
> I actually have lots of 'regrets' in my career. But I wouldn't be me if I hadn't experienced all that I have to get here at this point in time. So would I actually do anything different given the chance? Probably not.
>
> Regrettable doesn't necessarily mean bad, imho.
I just added that whole post to my quotable quotes. Credited to Paden Cash.
Thank you, nice post paden, you have given me some direction to start the year, as it is only 3 weeks in and I was already yearning for year end again.
regrets?
Hmmmm. Flipped that pic over and it's the same on the other side!
regrets?
Reminds me of another famous reply to the doing life over question. .
"Do it over? He 11 no. It almost killed me the first time around and I was much younger then...
:good:
regrets?
That's funny.
N10,000, E7,000, Z100.00
PLS - IL, MO, AR, KS, MN, KY
Excellent guidance for the puppies to apply to their futures.
Life is what you make it.