focusonwood
Established Member
Congratulations.
And good luck with your new career.
And good luck with your new career.
Last day in the office
- Thread starter shuggy
- Start date
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mind_the_goat
Established Member
Best of luck with that. Am in a similar position, the two of us are on the verge of packing in our careers and going of to do something completely different. I'm in IT too. I really don't have the skills to consider woodwork as a new career move but the hope is the new venture will give me more time to build up some skills.
bit frustrating that i was refused redundancy last year (after they ask for volunteers) , so will have to ensure we have another income and unable to take so much time out to do a quality course.
Keep us posted with your progress.
bit frustrating that i was refused redundancy last year (after they ask for volunteers) , so will have to ensure we have another income and unable to take so much time out to do a quality course.
Keep us posted with your progress.
Aggrajag
Established Member
Gawd how many of us here have been in IT 20-30 years (29 here), are approaching 50 and wish we could take the plunge. I'm the same as you, lost creativity (programming) as I moved up the ladder, now I'm sat pushing paper and losing the will to live. I wish I had your balls (not literally!)
Good luck, I hope it goes well for you. Keep in touch!
Good luck, I hope it goes well for you. Keep in touch!
mind_the_goat
Established Member
Aggrajag":2h9dzmfq said:
I think there is enough of us here to warrant a new forum to support burnt out IT specialists.
porker
Established Member
Aggrajag":2cnp0y7r said:
+1 Although I am in telecoms. 47 years old. Used to get my creative kicks from being a Software developer but you move up the ranks and now I do nothing creative except try to persuade people who are equally unenthused about their job to deliver stuff. Good luck and it would be interesting to know how it goes. Unfortunately I know I will never do it as I am addicted to the income I get now and am realistic that it would be a great life changer. Unfortunately I know little about woodwork and soak up more than I contribute but try to add what I do know of 25 years of house renovation (which is probably what I would choose to do full time)
Aggrajag":n1769yk7 said:
Many thanks Aggrajag - it is amazing how many of us IT folks share a common passion for creativity, especially around making things. I'm certainly very lucky to be able to take this step, and it's not been an easy or snap decision. I'm keen to give it my best shot and see where I end up. It's very much about the journey, not knowing for sure where or how things will end up. I need to be learning new things, and that has manifested itself over the years with having new hobby after new hobby, which has kept me sane during office hours. However, I just feel there's still something more I want to do, and this somehow feels right. Hence the Ah F*** It, Life's Too Short, and You Only Live Once :lol: :lol: :lol:
Cheers.
mind_the_goat":v6jdj4cp said:
Many thanks mind_the_goat! Good luck with your career change too
MattRoberts
Established Member
I'm a consultant in a digital agency, doing a lot of stuff around user experience. It's probably the frustrated designer in me that needed woodwork as a creative outlet!
custard":swzly5va said:
Thanks Custard - I think you're right. Just out of interest, how did you originally come to know Waters & Acland? I hadn't heard of them before reading your positive comments.
Graham Orm
Established Member
Well done Shuggy on the initiative and brave leap. I've just looked at the prices of the courses, that's a LOT of money added to which you won't be earning anything for a year. No doubt you've thought those issues through long and hard.
I'd think the biggest obvious wall you'll have to climb is where to get new work from? I don't envy you that task. I'd think marketing and selling yourself will be as hard a job as making the furniture.
I have no experience in the bespoke furniture industry, but my 'common sense' idea would be to start off doing almost anything from gate making to van lining. There are lots of wood based options that you might need when the time comes just to keep money coming in while you build a customer base for your furniture.
I'd think the biggest obvious wall you'll have to climb is where to get new work from? I don't envy you that task. I'd think marketing and selling yourself will be as hard a job as making the furniture.
I have no experience in the bespoke furniture industry, but my 'common sense' idea would be to start off doing almost anything from gate making to van lining. There are lots of wood based options that you might need when the time comes just to keep money coming in while you build a customer base for your furniture.
Good luck to you. I really hope it works out for you. Sometimes you have to stack the odds as much as you can then roll the dice. The alternative is no longer viable. Fair play to you.
My best wishes.
Chris
My best wishes.
Chris
BearTricks
Established Member
To be honest, I'm at the point where even a 20 year career in IT sounds nice.
NickWelford
So many tools, so little to show
It's interesting how many of us are/have been in IT. I took up woodwork/turning as a stress reliever from my IT job. Retired now, I don't have the discipline to churn out enough woodwork to make a living. Good luck to you though.
BearTricks":1qtcxkvu said:
You say that, but the constant global travel in business or first class, endless drinks with people of all nationalities on expenses and manicured soft hands do wear you down over time.
iNewbie
Established Member
Fairplay to you shuggy, you only live once, but don't forget to measure twice!
