[masraum]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

I sometimes wonder how much further I could have got in life, had I used my brain, instead of my back .

Sir, you couldn't be where you are without having used your brain. To be successful at what you are doing, you have to be smart enough to fix cars (well) and run a business. You're clearly using your brains, it just happens that your work also requires some brawn and a lack of AC (and a surplus of idiot customers).

Originally Posted by Baz

I have very few regerts in life.....

While I think that probably comes from making good, or at least decent decisions, I think a big part of that is also outlook on life.

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

Me neither Baz, I am actually pretty happy where I am at in life .
Today, I am installing a motor into a Camry, listening to a groovy reggae mix, and feeling pretty good about life .
I am sure I have left some money on the table, but I did it my way on my own terms. No boss for almost 30 years now .
Of course , it occasionally has its moments .

Yep, successful business for 30 years, you've got to be using your brains at least as much as your back, if not more. And being happy/content where you are is a testament to your outlook as well.

Originally Posted by KC911

^^^ ... and that pretty much defines success imo.

You know the old saying... "The grass is always greener ... in the other guy's stash of weed!"

Or something like that .

You rock Fred!

"No Regerts!" here either.... well... other than that damn tattoo

Exactly, I was thinking about posting one of the regerts tattoo pics.

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

We all have at least some faint regrets, perceived missed opportunities, etc., but we all made decisions we have to stand by. We have no choice. I think lots of people who buy into the used my brain, instead of my back" are influenced by the hype promoted by portions of society - namely that sitting in a seat talking on a phone, or in front of a computer is the way everybody should go. Fred should know that's not the only path. He's "feeling pretty good about life." There are a lot of people "using their brains" not feeling that way.

Exactly, not everyone is cut out for all/any jobs. I took a personality test once long ago that was tied to checking the sort of vocation you might be best at. You'd get 3 "types" of work which were then scored. The highest score (most suited) was supposed to be your best "job" path. The second highest score was supposed to be something that you could maybe do as a job, but might actually be better suited as a hobby or pastime. I think for me my highest score was something like what I'm doing now, technical desk work. My second highest score was working with my hands in a technical way, carpentry, cars, etc... That's supposed to be stuff that I might like as a hobby, but probably not best as a job. So, working on a car, doing carpentry, etc... is enjoyable in smaller doses, but full time, might not make me happy. There could be folks that had those same two things, but reversed.

Then there's the whole "your own boss" thing.

But I think your outlook on life has a lot to do with this subject too. I used to tell my wife "it always works out in the end." Something might happen, that at the time seems really bad, but then at some point, whether it's a week or a month or a year down the road, you'll end up in a position where you realize that bad thing lead you to a new opportunity, and you're better of now than you were before. ie, you lose a job, but your next job is even better or wreck a car, but the next car is even better or ....)

I started out going to college for electrical engineering. I didn't want to do electrical engineering, and didn't even know what that meant that I'd be doing. I just thought "I'm good at math and science and working with my hands and... so this seems like a good direction for me." Because I had no idea what I could or would do or what I wanted to do, I eventually quit. Would my life be different now if I'd finished? Absolutely! Would it be better? I wonder about that sometimes, but I have no idea. There's a chance that it would have lead me down a path with more hardship or less happiness. As it is, I enjoy what I do and am happy and relatively successful.

I think a big part of life is continuing to move forward and being able to be happy which is I think, something that comes from inside yourself.