It's never too late.
I change jobs about every five years, same industry, different programs and things to do.
My grandfather completely uprooted his family in his 50's to start a new business.

Now, my brother works to live. Always has. Smart guy.

A nice swift kick in the nuts is exactly what a lot of young people need. I personally know at least 15 people who were in the position where they were about 30 to 35 years old, finishing up a degree so they could get a real job. They got their degrees, but had endless grief getting a job in their new profession, some never did get the job and of those that did, I have seen them 10 and 15 years later and its sort of pitiful. All for reasons I have already stated. There are exceptions to everything, for example any independent business startup is open, but quite a risk when you already have 10 years of assets at risk and probably kids and a wife to support.

All in all starting over is very BAD advice to give to anyone who has 10 years, or more, in a profession to change that profession. People stating that "its never to late" have screwed up more people than telling them the facts ever will. At least with the facts you know what to expect, what you are getting into.

Building on that 10 years instead of just chucking it is clearly a better answer. 27 isn't to late to change but again your chucking those 4 or 5 years you built up something, ie experience, and throwing it out the window. You also have the problem of a pay cut, not that you won't accept it, its just that no one will hire you at a significant cut in pay, at least not most people will.

Quote:"I was just browsing the catalog of the local community college. They have a great machining program, CAD/CAM/CNC/Milling/Welding, etc I could apply my computer skills AND learn something creative. Maybe I could learn to do my own valve jobs and head work Anyone else in this line of work? I could be like that funky dood on that hod rod show (Coddington)....the one with no upper lip "

Take your own advice here. This is an excellent way to change your job and could lead to a new profession as well. But also know what you are getting into as these are not creative jobs, i.e. CAD people follow prints made by engineers. If you know CAD, some basic engineering on air flow, learn all the tricks in improving airflow, then you can port heads for people. Learn a lot more and you can start to create new solutions to improving air flow or whatever. Or port a lot of heads and invent new better ways of doing so. Learn how to sell your product and get on hot rod shows, become a businessman that can be very creative (except for the accounting, cause that’s illegal). Learning how to meet payroll can be quite creative.

Take a course in writing a business plan while you are there.

Brad, it's never too late to move on. Look at me. At 43 I'm packing it up from Cali. Before that was Australia and Hawaii. It pains me to have to study for the next 5 months to take a second Bar exam in FL, but it will be worth it.

Life is too short not to be happy where you are, whether that be with a spouse, location or job. Your lucky you have it with the spouse and kids. For some they will never be happy and have to keep moving. But if you think about it, it is the moving that keeps them happy. A hundred years ago, it was not uncommon for people to live and die within the same 10 miles, never having the opportunity to travel or live in distant places (back then 10 miles was pretty distant.) Take advantage of the life you live today. You may not have it tomorrow. Do what makes you happy. Everything else will fall in place.

Welcome to the club, Brad.

Kind of parallels my Are You Really Happy - thread. My occupation is generally regarded as fulfilling, stimulating and rewarding. I don´t feel that anymore. A lot of good replies to my thread suggested my daily job was not to blame. The problem lies within myself. I can really relate to the feeling that something is missing in my life.

I believe what Moses suggested that "happy" in certain degree lies within our inherited personality. I seem to be a searcher. Need to sit down a remind myself of all the good things in my life.

One thing is for sure. Its never too late to make a change. Sometimes the problem is finding out WHAT need to be changed.

As far as other occupations that pays of I understand guns, drugs and women are rather lucrative. ;)

smart people build on their past. Dumb people quit thier job and then ask, what do I do now?

I don't know about plastics. Resin prices keep increasing and more plants are moving to China. The plastics industry in USA is shrinking.

ask me how I know.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/261700-calling-all-east-tennessee-pelicans-need-help.html

I'm pretty sure he was refering to the line from The Graduate.

Perhaps you may consider consulting. Where if you are not a part of the solution, there's good money to be made in prolonging the problem!

Sure consulting in IT may be boring for you but when you get that check and its so big that you need an armored truck to take you to the bank to deposit it... Need I say more.

Consulting would require you to stay in your field as to be successful you need some sort of expertise or the ability to convince others you have expertise. However play your cards right and you won't need to do it for much longer.

Good luck!!

Regards,
Carlton

All that I ask is that if you take my advice and it works for you, that you repeat it over and over for the less fortunate.

Male prostitue?

I agree with that - although we disagree on whether one can or should start a new career life in thier 30's, 40's or beyond (as I said earlier, I absolutely beleive it), you bring up a great point that you MUST have a plan. Quitting because you are unhappy and then trying to figure out what you want to do is a sure recipe for disaster. But once the plan is in place - execute and move on IMO.

Some people are more suited for this than others, I think alot of it is individual personalilty traits and aversion to risk in thier personal lives. I should state that I don't have kids either, so making radical changes that could impact my income is somewhat easier of a decsion for me than if I was supporting a family..