[Closed] What do you do as a living?

Air Traffic Controller.

Absolutely love it.

It's taken long enough to get it, so I'd be stupid to give it up.

6 on 4 off so plenty of time for the bike.

Chief Instructor at an outdoor centre. 😀
About to start a new job training teachers in taking kids out of the classroom on a daily/weekly/local basis. 😀

carpenter, fell into it by accident, wanted to join cops, did the 4 years then decided on whistler, met a woman spent money on hol and moving in with her, split up went london , saved 10 k in 8 weeks to go whistler for 6 month, met another female, stayed here, had kid and bought house, was gona go whistler this year, now goin nyc and vegas, moral of the story, chase your dreams and dont let females get in the way, maybe only way il get whistler is to get my ashes spread there, some days i never think about a change, other days it eats me up,especially in winter,money now is garb but in the past takin home 1k for a 40 hr week was crazy.. am i happy ? sure just when not at work

How do you make your living? Since January I run and part own a genetics laboratory group with 7 labs around the world.

Are you happy doing it? Absolutely!

Would you considering a change of career? No way. Each day is interesting.

Does it pay enough for you to mtb comfortably? I own n=10 MTB and roadbikes.....what can I say!

How do you make your living? tech op in a TV studio

Are you happy doing it? yeah pretty happy. I don't hate going into work and never have a "case of the mondays". It can be pretty dull and monotonous at times but I'm lucky to have such a comfortable job with good benefits.

Would you considering a change of career? Possibly but not sure what I'd go into. Really the only thing I dislike is that it's shifts and not "normal" hours. I always enjoyed science/biology stuff at school but apparently wasn't good enough at it to get into the A-Level group, so that sort of career never happened!

Does it pay enough for you to mtb comfortably? Yeah but I buy almost everything 2nd hand because new stuff is a rip off. It's more the petrol costs than bike costs though. And getting the same time off as mates to ride with them.

Retired journalist - I now work for the other side, advising large companies and writing stuff for them.

Do I like it? Yes, at the moment, I love it.

Would I consider a change of career? After training for a career in journalism and working in the trade for 15 years, the last five years has been all about career change. So never say never. But I've found a smashing niche, thanks.

Does it pay for mountain biking? Absolutely - but the young family and house come first, and they're both expensive at the mo.

How do you make your living? - Chocolatier 2/3 days a week & Bike Mechanic & shop 2/3 days a week, work on a mates farm/shooting estate 2/3 days a week.

Are you happy doing it? - Hell yeah!.

Would you considering a change of career? - Hmmmm?, I'd like to move to Spain and just ride my bike 7 days a week in the sun and dry weather - does that count?.

Does it pay enough for you to mtb comfortably? - No, basically minimum wage in two jobs just about pays the ever increasing bills/living costs but cash from mate's farm/shooting estate work helps pay for small treats.

How do you make your living? - Value Engineer for a small aerospace management company

Are you happy doing it? - Yes & No - used to love it, but recent changes have made it less enjoyable

Would you considering a change of career? - Change of job yes, change of career - probably not

Does it pay enough for you to mtb comfortably? - Yes, but I've never bought a house and i have no dependents and I'm a master of 'banganomics' when it comes to cars. However, I need to get myself a house bought soon, so need to calm down my bike spend

How do you make your living?
Bikemonger

Are you happy doing it?
Yes, tough at times, lots of faff, but the location and flexibility are very good. I like the autonomy, and the way reward for effort is almost instant, (unlike my old job where I once got a £60 annual bonus... I must of done 300 extra hours for that 60 quid. ) and conversely punishment for mistakes is also instant. Keeps me sharp. O

Would you considering a change of career?
Yes, I wish I had chopped and changed jobs more in the past, but you have to stick at one thing to get on. However if you start your own business you can be anything you want to be. I think a change would be geographic, maybe not a change of job. Fancy going somewhere more remote.

Does it pay enough for you to mtb comfortably?
Yes, but I shoplift all my parts.

NOT interested to what you actually earn!
I get paid in fat bikes and inner tubes.

How do you make your living?
Infrastructure Project Manager

Are you happy doing it?
Have been happier but probably happiest I have been in work for quite a few years

Would you consider a change of career?
Yes although not for a few years yet

Does it pay enough for you to mtb comfortably?
Yes although have cut my spending on bike stuff quite a bit over the last few months

IT manager for small travel company. Also a retained firefighter.

Happy with both. Second is a good contrast to the first.

Not sure of the question about being paid enough to MTB comfortably. Lucky enough to have great trails on my doorstep and ride a fully rigid bike which requires very little in the way of maintenance or upgrades. Consequently spend remarkably little on the sport but still really enjoy it.

How do you make your living?
Mental health nurse hanging around A&E's trying to gues how serious folk were when they hurt or tried to off themselves. Been lucky to only have to be part time for the last decade doing 2/3 long shifts a week. Got involved in developing/ renting property with my brother and another friend and this will most likely be what i retire on. We also own a bar/ club type thing, and I'm a partner in a small micro brewery.

Are you happy doing it?
I Could have walked away from the nursing a couple of years ago, but just can't seem to walk away from it. But at the moment the brewery is doing great and we are looking at getting our first pub and this is proving great fun.

Would you consider a change of career?
I guess I already have and I'm a bit of a chancer really.

Does it pay enough for you to mtb comfortably?
Yeah, all's good, I consider myself pretty fortunate really.

Police sergeant on pro active unit.
Only got 134 days before I retire and can't wait
Pay is ok
Still enjoy the job when executing warrants, it all the other political bullshit and backbiting hat gets me down

[i]How do you make your living?[/i]
I'm called Systems Analyst specializing (ha!) in MS System Centre (yawn)

[i]Are you happy doing it?[/i]
Not really, but as long as I'm getting away with it, it's ok.

[i]Would you consider a change of career?[/i]
Too old. Although there may be a window of opportunity for this in the near future, the secret is knowing what you want to do. And I never have.

[i]Does it pay enough for you to mtb comfortably?[/i]
Money is pretty good. Unlike most in this kind of job though, I hardly ever do overtime or out of hours work, so work/life balance is good.

How do you make your living? - Logistician.

Is that a posh term for truck driver?

[b]How do you make your living?[/b] I am a RAF Movements Controller. Basicly i load and unload all millitary transport aitcraft and charter aircraft (inc Antonov 124 :D) with passengers, cargo, mail and weapons. The unit i am on now travels with each aircraft in small teams to wherever they go in the world ( Las Vegas, Canada, Malasia, Afgan, Iraq etc)to facillitate the load/unloading. I also have been taught to do the weight and ballance of the aircraft. I can run a Passenger terminal from passenger walking in the door to getting on the plane.

[b]Are you happy doing it?[/b]Yes.

[b]Would you considering a change of career?[/b]I have just entered my last 2 years of service 697 days left. If i dont get promoted i will be forced out but want to stay at the moment.

[b]Does it pay enough for you to mtb comfortably?[/b] Used to, not now we have a baby on the way, due in 3 months!

How?
Portfolio Manager for an insurance company.

Happy?
Hmmmmm.......I do hate my commute though.

Change?
One day (see below).

Pay for mtb?
Yes. I had to almost start again financially owing to hellish ex-wife, but am now back on track, just ten years older and wiser than my peers.

Would you consider a change of career?
Too old. Although there may be a window of opportunity for this in the near future, the secret is knowing what you want to do. And I never have.

Google "dream maps" ignore anything the references fairies or religion. And basically draw a picture of your ideal set up.
Where you live
Who with
What you do
Add some details like a dog, or a fat bike. What car. Stuff you like
Time to go and ....... Ride, fish, collect kids from school and take them to the park... Etc

The simple act of drawing this, allows you to consider the gaps in your life, and what you want. Is going pointlessly shopping for shopping sake on your map? No, then don't do it. Is cycling to Berlin to visit an old friend on the map.. Yes then do that. Is being stuck in traffic driving to a job where your boss is a dick on the map?

I made one ten years ago, and have now got almost everything ticked off. I went from tied office job, living in a flat in town... To self employed, working with bikes, small house in the country, dog, motorbike, time to go for a surf when I want. People tell me I'm lucky, and there was certainly some luck (who would have thought fixed wheel would be so big) , but it really was having this one A3 paper plan that made it happen.

Give it a go. See what happens.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Manifest-Your-Dreams-With-a-Dream-Map&id=1494814

How do you make your living? Install and maintain telephone systems

Are you happy doing it? Not as much as I used to. I enjoy the work, just not everything that gets in the way of actually doing the work.

Would you considering a change of career? I have, but I've spent the last 7 years getting to where I am, so changing direction in the next 6 months to use my existing skills in a different environment

Does it pay enough for you to mtb comfortably? Yes, but all of my possessions including bikes are in a storage container. Looking forward to getting them back before the nicer weather.

How do you make your living? Spin doctor in the events industry.

Are you happy doing it? Hell yes, beats working.

Would you considering a change of career? Too old, ugly and out of shape for a gigolo. So no!

Does it pay enough for you to mtb comfortably? Not until I realised that riding a rigid single speed was perfect (ok just built a full suss SS but that was an experiment, honest!)

How do you make your living?: Technical sales engineer - automation products. In my 12th year now.

Are you happy doing it?: About 25% of the time at the moment.

Would you consider a change of career?: Yes

Does it pay enough for you to MTB comfortably?: Just about. I can race, keep up the maintenance, and get the odd weekend trip in.

Soon to be unemployed

Not at the moment as I am still at work

I am doing though no specific work lined up

The job I'm leaving does; the unemployed staus of my new life does not

How do you make your living? - Project Manager for Large Multi-national Engineering Company - We design/build/install and maintain/repair refrigeration/process cooling and HVAC equipment on Navy Ships & Submarines all around the world, but primarily in the UK.
I'm currently looking after our kit on the Navys new T45 Destroyers.

Are you happy doing it? - Yes - 90% of the time.

Would you considering a change of career? - I did a few years back - packed in construction/carpentry and went back to Uni at 31 years old.

Does it pay enough for you to mtb comfortably? - It should do, however our overheads are huge at the moment (2 little kids/big mortgage/big childcare bill) in a couple of years time It sould all start coming together and it (along with my wifes teaching job) will sort us out nicely.

[i]Give it a go. See what happens.[/i]

Nice one Charlie. Thanks for the tip.

How do you make your living? Bike guide and run basqueMTB
Are you happy doing it?Yes. I have never worked so hard for so little but never been happier.
Would you considering a change of career? I guess I will have to lay off the guiding in ten or fifteen years.
Does it pay enough for you to mtb comfortably? If I had to pay full price, given how quickly stuff gets broken, then it wouldn't but as it is and since everything like that is a legitimate business expense then I get by. Stuff gets used and fixed beyond what I would have done before.

It's nice to see how many people are happy at work. I almost didn't open this because I thought it would be doom and gloom!

[b]How do you make your living?[/b] I buy plants and pets products for a chain of Garden centres in the north of England / Scotland. It's a mix of travelling to suppliers and growers throughout the country, visits to the stores and days in the office. On the plus side I can plan my own time to an extent, get to spend days outside and the job changes through the season. On the negative the travel affects bike and home time.

[b]Are you happy doing it?[/b] Generally yes. There are busy times and quiet times. I struggle most when work is quiet, I prefer a bit of pressure and keeping busy.

[b]Would you consider a change of career?[/b] Yes, but am in no hurry. Not sure that it would be good for me or the company if I'm still here in 20 years!

[b]Does it pay for you to MTB comfortably?[/b] It used to, before I moved into a bigger house and gained two part time kids 😉 It covers the costs, given the time I have to ride... would always be nice to have more time and money...

How do you make your living? I design and fit Kitchens, Bathrooms and do quite a bit of tiling and home maintenance on a sole trader basis.

Are you happy doing it? Most of the time very much but the odd problem customer and or job going wrong at the wrong time seems to bash my enthusiasm. I always seem to be working/looking for work or planning jobs.

Would you consider a change of career? Maybe, but can't think of anything else to do at the moment.

Does it pay for you to MTB comfortably? Times are tight at the mo and having to price cheapish to stay in regular work due to people working for next to nothing and everyone driving a hard bargain. Luckily I race to a fairly reasonable level and have a VERY generous sponsor that helps me to be able to afford it. I pick up a bit of prize money and can sell off some of my kit to help pay the way.

[b]How do you make your living?:[/b] Oil Industry: Completion Design and Well Intervention Enginner.

[b]Are you happy doing it?:[/b] Yes. When I was younger I was happy to travel the world doing the work but now as I'm older I'm happy to drive a desk and engineer projects. Work life balance is excellent and I love where I live; it's the home with wife and kids life that swallows my time limiting the ski/bike/etc opportunities.

[b]Would you consider a change of career?:[/b] Not at the moment but who knows what the future holds... ideally to only work a few days a week 8) . Certainly not the move to X country for X years that the headhunters offer 🙄
Change is good; I used to ski for a living and it was something I could never see myself not doing... yet I fell out of love with it and yesterday was my first day on ski's in three years. It was a great day watching my 7 year old grin like a loon all day... but I wouldn't go back to that life... I'd miss the mental stimulations of what I currenlty do (perhaps the ski-bum thing was a rebound result of my efforts to get through a Beng at uni?).

[b]Does it pay enough for you to MTB comfortably?:[/b] Yes. I've found I spend less on bikes if I'm riding a lot... I get spendy when I'm away from the bikes and have too much time on my hands and end up thinking about bike bits and how they will make my biking "X" times better 😯 which they don't .

1. i take photographs of celebs, shiny things and places.
2. very much so, it doesn't really feel like work.
3. definitely not, don't really see it as a career more a way of life/lifestyle that i'm happy with.
4. it does but i'm not a spend for spending's sake person and have lots of industry contacts so 'cost' is rarely an issue. i'm still riding a 2009 giant trance not because i can't afford a new bike but i can't see the point in changing it.

1. Patent Illustrator - I do drawings of inventions and products for registered design and patent applications around the world.

2. Yes, I used to work in house at a big multi-national company, but have been self employed doing the same thing for the same people for several years now. It gives me freedom to do what I want and earn what I want.

3. Hell no.

4. Yes.

[b]How do you make your living?[/b] I work for a small consultancy, and am currently working for Volvo Penta as an Enterprise Architect. I also run training courses in various tools and methodologies within the Enterprise Architect area.

[b]Are you happy doing it?[/b] Very much so, especially the training courses as I get to travel around the Nordics and meet a whole bunch of motivated people

[b]Would you consider a change of career?[/b] Nope, not considering one currently

[b]Does it pay enough for you to MTB comfortably?[/b] It pays well enough for me to race a full CX and XC season. Although one doesn't move from the UK to Sweden for the wage.

[b]How do you make your living? [/b]
Digital Marketing Consultant, Project Manager (Web Dev), Body Builder/Personal Trainer

[b]Are you happy doing it?[/b]
Hell yes!

[b]Would you consider a change of career? [/b]
No

[b]Does it pay enough for you to MTB comfortably? [/b]
Yes but I have hardly any time to ride these days!

How do you make your living? Plant Research Technician in a Chemistry department. I look after a pretty diverse array of instruments, that I wouldn't get to do in a non-academic environment, and help students with practical issues. Go out harvesting for other non-student related research, and currently looking at quantifying floral scent in common British flowers.

Are you happy doing it? Not really. It's interesting, and different every day, but I'm tired of the location, and I'm not passionate about the work. Mixture of work and non-work issues make me want to leave.

Would you considering a change of career? I'd love to do something a bit more engineering related. Always toyed with the idea of outdoor ed, but I'm falling apart, and I'd like to have a trade to fall back on.

Does it pay enough for you to mtb comfortably? Just about. I have no dependants, only have to look after myself, and have a pretty reasonable stable of bikes. Living in North Wales helps, and the ability to ride Snowdon from the house is awesome!

How do you make your living? own a company that does applications/ r&d work in semiconductors.

Are you happy doing it? Yep best thing i ever did

Would you considering a change of career? No chance

Does it pay enough for you to mtb comfortably? Yep

stuff 8)

How do you make your living? Probate Lawyer and Company Director.

Are you happy doing it? Yes, interesting challenging and rewarding.

Would you considering a change of career? No I came to this as a second career and love it.

Does it pay enough for you to mtb comfortably? Yes thanks very much

I hang on in quiet desperation. It's the English way...

How - Hospitality and Catering Management

Happy - 50% of the time I am bored, but I like the people I work with/for

Change - Would like to manage and outdoor business or (cliche alert) bike shop/delicatessen

Does it pay for MTB - I don't own top end gear unless it is 2nd hand but I am probably better off than I think. Time management issues mainly.

[b]How do you make your living? [/b]
Financial Planning and Analysis

[b]Are you happy doing it?[/b]
Very

[b]Would you consider a change of career? [/b]
No

[b]Does it pay enough for you to MTB comfortably? [/b]
Yup - but my needs are simple

How do you make your living?
Offshore Rope Access

Are you happy doing it?
Yep, I like the time off.

Would you consider a change of career?
Yes or I'd go back to doing rope access onshore which is far more interesting.

Does it pay enough for you to MTB comfortably?
Yes- but I only need one bike. I just make it nice one.

Freeagent. Got any vacancies going I'm a fridgey a/c bloke with 24 year's experience, facing an uncertain future at present due to going through tupe process, the company I've worked for have lost a contract basically and new company want to subbie the work out.

How do you make your living?
IT consultant for large consultancy

Are you happy doing it?
Nope. Hoping an upcoming switch to small consultancy will help (but it won't)

Would you considering a change of career?
If I had no mortgage certainly - but I get paid too much to do what is an easy job.

Does it pay enough for you to mtb comfortably?
Yep - it's one of the few things I spend money on and every penny I spend i enjoyed.

I'm a Chartered Quantity Surveyor.

I enjoy it most of the time. I like being out of the office, poking around site...I'm quite sad and enjoy construction, iI like seeing buildings progress etc. I've been lucky and had some good projects which has kept it interesting. I quite like the company I work for, my team is good and we all have a good laugh. I'm allowed a bit of flexibility so can work from home when I feel like it, which works well in the summer when I want to start and finish early to get out on the bike.

I'd consider a career change...ideally doing something outdoors butfor now I'm quite content.

Money is OK, better now I'm chartered although like many people I'd prefer a bit more. Keeps me in bikes and bike stuff, although I buy a lot of stuff second hand. I couldn't go out and drop £3.5k on a whiney new bike though. I guess thinking about starting a family will put money back under pressure a bit!

Resourcing Manager for a big bank
Do I enjoy it? Not especially, its a job to pay for stuff I like.
Would I consider a career change - probably, will end up getting made redundant at some point this year I reckon, worse things have happened
Does it pay for my bikes....Yes, the money is the only thing I will miss.

tacopowell - Member
Veterinary nurse!
Tried the vets out for my work experience day during school all them many years ago,
Watched a cats tail been amputated and fainted, had I applied myself I could have worked through my squeamishness and gone down your route.
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Fascinating thread btw! You are all extremely interesting! 🙂