What do you do for a living?

[Redheadkentuckian]

I was 29 when you were born

Whats driven me to professional success is a pretty simple equation honestly... Im rarely the smartest guy in the room.. and while I am a very hard and dedicated worker, its rare that I'm the hardest working person in the room..

For me what has worked is strict adherence to just four key things

1) Be forever curious.. be driven to learn something new every single day and be further driven to apply what you've learned.. force yourself to grow.. even when you don't want to..

2) Dont be afraid of failure.. just be prepared to learn from failures quickly and never make the same mistake twice.. being overly cautious and reserved arent qualities senior leaders look for in future senior leaders..

3) Take care of your people... don't just say the words.. no shit mean them.. take care of your people, and your people will take care of your customers.. if your customers are taken care of the bottom line generally takes care of itself..

4) Maintain a laser like focus on the mission, vision, and values of your firm.. if you arent 100% on board with the MVV, you're probably working at the wrong place and you wont have the sort of passion and drive necessary to be successful long term..


as a hunter 1-3 apply, just in a different way..

stay curious and always learning... don't be afraid of failure.. if you hunt long enough and often enough you are absolutely going to fail at some point.. learn from it, and move on.. and when doing guided hunts, always take care of "your people".. be courteous even when things go wrong (they will)... be kind.. be respectful.. and take advantage of #1.. your people will have A LOT of things they can show you, teach you, etc that will expand your horizons and make you a better and more successful hunter.. if you're taking care of them, they will almost always go out of their way to take care of you..

I was very happy to read this and it is phenomenal advice. Thank you

 

[Odinsraven]

Trade in firearms as a side Hussle ...like 30 a month ..every month ....have a small manufacturing business ....flip the odd car ...drive 12 yo car myself ...etc etc get to go to Africa most years is a 24/7 Hussle ..also organize trips to Africa and beyond

 

[Rare Breed]

Hello everyone,

Haven’t posted in a while but just curious. What do you all do for a living to afford your hunts?
Definitely jealous of all of your safaris but living vicariously through your posts!


Thanks
Red

Senior Marketing executive

 

[Hunt anything]

I was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 1986 out of Auburn university and my parents Made me start putting money away every month . My career only lasted five years and topped out in AAA. By then I had a pretty good nest egg and finished college soon after. Took a consulting job for the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. In 1994 I met my wife on a blind fishing date out of Orange Beach, Alabama.
After we were married we got tired of me being gone 4 days a week traveling the state conducting fish consumption surveys on all of the waterways of the state. I was offered a job running the sod production on a farm in 98 or so and have been doing that ever since. But I have always put money away for my addiction (hunting) even though I’ve never made what would be considered a lot of money today.

 

[WyoBull]

I just retired this past September. Spent my entire career in the transportation and transportation technology industry.
Save as much as you can but have fun along the way as well. Life goes quick.

 

[Rare Breed]

As has been said I have first an understanding of what animals I want to hunt where. I add flights, hotel and tips and that becomes my budget. I divide by number of months and that becomes my monthly savings budget making sure it is always discretionary income

 

[Redheadkentuckian]

I was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 1986 out of Auburn university and my parents Made me start putting money away every month . My career only lasted five years and topped out in AAA. By then I had a pretty good nest egg and finished college soon after. Took a consulting job for the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. In 1994 I met my wife on a blind fishing date out of Orange Beach, Alabama.
After we were married we got tired of me being gone 4 days a week traveling the state conducting fish consumption surveys on all of the waterways of the state. I was offered a job running the sod production on a farm in 98 or so and have been doing that ever since. But I have always put money away for my addiction (hunting) even though I’ve never made what would be considered a lot of money today.

That’s awesome, I am moving to Alabama this summer, small world. You have a fantastic life story sir

 

[cajunchefray]

I was very happy to read this and it is phenomenal advice. Thank you

@mdwest expressed many truths,
follow these while you are young, and never waver:
then understand these truths and then pass along to the next generation.

- Pay attention to and learn from the experiences of your elders.

- Support your people that make things happen, in all circumstances, take care of them, they will take care of your clients/ customers. Never falter in this.

- Always work to move forward. Try, recalibrate, and try again. Never stop

- Listen to your people, customers, employees', vendors. Don't say much at first, listen, just take it all in, contemplate and act decisively.

Early advice I was given, from a WWII veteran I worked for, while he was building a great restaurant empire:

"If you have not failed at least once, you are not really trying."
"Fix this and try again".

 

[wesheltonj]

H’mm similar thread floating around here somewhere.

Anyway retired (not by choice) government worker. The state gave me a license to steal (JD) many years ago, I preferred to drink too much in college, so I was unable to get a license to print money (MD). I work still as a part-time government worker and do some ADR work.

My safaris and traveling is mainly from savings and being in the lucky sperm club did not hurt either.

 

[kpoynter]

Good Subject and people are naturally curious…
I started young and our Dad made us work screen printing textiles and working in a flea market.
Waiting tables and bartending while in school.
Became an Accountant and then got into the insurance business.
One thing I will say is Safari can be for anyone. Did my first one for like $4,700 (twenty years ago)
You can do a GOOD Plains Game Hunt for the price of an average Elk or Mule deer hunt.
Big Safaris? Whole different ballgame…Dangerous Game etc.
I’ve been fortunate to do several. I budgeted quite a bit for myself to continue to travel, hunt, and fish while I’m still able

 

[Hunt anything]

That’s awesome, I am moving to Alabama this summer, small world. You have a fantastic life story sir

Where are you moving to in Alabama?

 

[CZDiesel]

Retired now, unfortunately due to injuries not age… But was in management for Costco for thirty years. Started buying all the company stock I could way back when it was Price Club at $14 a share…
The stock has done really well

 

[towserthemouser]

Underwear model here. Calvin Klein, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, etc. Got a shoot next week, better lose 25 pounds in a hurry

 

[Tundra Tiger]

The first 17 years of my adult life: elementary teacher (all grades, K-6) and coach (JH and HS basketball, football, track, volleyball / little league softball and baseball).

The second half of my adult life: I am now two months shy of 18 years of working for the USFWS. I started out as the Education Specialist for Togiak NWR (the 4th largest Refuge in the system at almost 5 million acres) and for the past 4 years or so I have been the Lead Park Ranger/Visitor Services Manager, in addition to retaining my education duties (they have never back-filled behind me). I love my job, and it has a great deal of variety to it.

Affording Africa? The biggest factor for me has been living debt free over the past decade or so. It was a deeeeeep hole to crawl out of (thanks to a previous wife), but crawl out of it I did (thank you Dave Ramsey!). I have my mortgage and that's pretty much it, though I am going to be paying my ex for half of the house, so that's going to curtail Africa for at least this year. C'est la vie...

 

[Redheadkentuckian]

Where are you moving to in Alabama?

Auburn!

 

[Redheadkentuckian]

The first 17 years of my adult life: elementary teacher (all grades, K-6) and coach (JH and HS basketball, football, track, volleyball / little league softball and baseball).

The second half of my adult life: I am now two months shy of 18 years of working for the USFWS. I started out as the Education Specialist for Togiak NWR (the 4th largest Refuge in the system at almost 5 million acres) and for the past 4 years or so I have been the Lead Park Ranger/Visitor Services Manager, in addition to retaining my education duties (they have never back-filled behind me). I love my job, and it has a great deal of variety to it.

Affording Africa? The biggest factor for me has been living debt free over the past decade or so. It was a deeeeeep hole to crawl out of (thanks to a previous wife), but crawl out of it I did. I have my mortgage and that's pretty much it, though I am going to be paying my ex for half of the house, so that's going to curtail Africa for at least this year. C'est la vie...

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That is great! What a dream job

 

[thi9elsp]

Junior high janitor, high school flipped burgers. Mom bought chuck e Taylor seconds at the flea market for me for the basketball team - the other kids had leather converse. Early 20’s teller trainee at a bank. Did anything and everything asked and moved up to assistant treasurer at a small bank. Got my IT degree at 32 worked at a gas pipeline for 5 years then 23 years consulting

One thing stuck with me from my “sperm donor / absent” father. Start saving early and get the discipline. Then as you can, save more and invest long term.

Paid houses and cars off early. 2003 cancer scare shifted priorities. Continued to live within our means but started hunting Africa and doing international leisure travel with my wife.

We’re retired several years now and appreciating every day. Off to Tokoloshe for elephant this summer.

 

[Bonk]

0-18: Kid
18-39: U.S. Marine (retired)
39-65: Airline pilot (retired)
65-present: Co-own (with my wife) an alpaca rescue, sheep farm, & fiber mill.

 

[Redheadkentuckian]

Junior high janitor, high school flipped burgers. Mom bought chuck e Taylor seconds at the flea market for me for the basketball team - the other kids had leather converse. Early 20’s teller trainee at a bank. Did anything and everything asked and moved up to assistant treasurer at a small bank. Got my IT degree at 32 worked at a gas pipeline for 5 years then 23 years consulting

One thing stuck with me from my “sperm donor / absent” father. Start saving early and get the discipline. Then as you can, save more and invest long term.

Paid houses and cars off early. 2003 cancer scare shifted priorities. Continued to live within our means but started hunting Africa and doing international leisure travel with my wife.

We’re retired several years now and appreciating every day. Off to Tokoloshe for elephant this summer.

Good luck on your elephant hunt! Thank you for sharing your story

 

[leslie hetrick]

heavy hiway construction, worked all the overtime i could get and when my son got his degree at penn state in 2005 i retired and went to work again part time at a friends company, if i showed up i got paid and if i didn,t, he didn,t care. my first trip to africa was in 2013 and my last in 2019, six trips all together. i thank god that i was and i,m still in pretty good condition pushing 82. i would like go on a moose hunt in alaska if one came up.