planning my future, opinions?

Knowing how to wrench is way more valuable then knowing how to run a business. If the economy goes to crap as you say what do you think will be worth more? The mechanical knowledge or the ability to work for someone else running a business? I would say get the mechanic certs as a fall back then go to night school for business and open the yard after that. Then you will have the know how on both sides for fall back.

I did career counseling as a large part of my career for 12 years. Really, your question and situation is too big for a forum like this but two pieces of basic advice:
1. Find something you enjoy (within reason) to pursue as a career. Simply going after "the money" is not going to be satisfying. As far as disappointing your father/parents, that will be temporary. Going into something you don't like is more permanent.

2. I've seen many, many very good craftsmen fail because simply due to lack of business skills. (Think large company CEO's. They may not know the first thing about the company's product but they know business principles very well). Just because someone is a good mechanic, welder etc doesn't mean they'll succeed at their own business. "A good salesman can sell anything". If you're wanting to own your own business, get a minimum of an Associate (2-year) degree. Be sure it includes how to develop a GOOD Business Plan. If you're thinking about a job in the Business field, you'll want at least a Bachelor (4-year) degree with a specialization in something and probably a Master's (MBA) degree. But before jumping into the latter two, get advice from a good career counselor as trends change all the time. A couple years ago, MBAs were a "dime a dozen". Now, a couple weeks ago, I heard lawyers (even from top schools) can't get a job.

i disagree, i think the mechanics skills are much better than the business degree if i had to chose one. I have a BBA with a well known university and turn a wrench full time in my other pursuits. I can tell you for a fact that the wrench pays more than the fancy graduation hat.

Think about this, in a bad economy what is an entry level manager worth vs someone that can fix cars. During a good economy they might make the same money. But the mechanic dosent have to worry about losing his job when it all goes to crap. People cant afford to buy new cars in a bad economy. Id go with the sure thing over the maybe.

If i could do it all over again i would prefer to be a diesel technician. I really think you should go to a tech school to learn mechanics and pickup a 2 year degree from a university.

You have a lot of things going on to consider. Sometimes when we have too many choices, it's almost impossible to decide what we should do.

It seems you are not only asking how to start and grow a scrapping business, but advice about many different things.

It also seems you are the type of person who likes a challenge, but after the challenging part is no longer a challenge, you need something else to engage you. This is a good quality, and you should use it to your advantage.

There is an old saying "know thy self" and in this case I believe it rings more true than you might at first figure. Knowing yourself, knowing what leads you to excel and what leads you into that hated boredom seems like the most logical start.

Without getting into my formal education let me tell you what I have done, so you can understand what I say further.

When I was 12 I started my first business, I didn't do that well and I think in part it's because of the name I chose, but I started a real business, my last name is Brown, so I started a software resale company called "soft brown stuff" I thought it was funny, people I was trying to sell to didn't.

I also mowed lawns, sold knives I was purchasing from a company that made them here in the USA, collecting bottles and returning them to the grocery store for the deposit, etc.

So far as college was concerned I started out in psychology, did very well but when I got a degree, realized it wasn't for me, then went back for a degree in computer science and engineering because I had got a job as a WAN Admin, but then realized I didn't like hearing people complain to me all day about their broken computers, went back to school for Poly Sci and Philosophy and eventually to get my degree in law, but I haven't as of yet finished that degree. I can tell you this about college, you should be doing it for yourself, not to get a good job that pays a lot of money. No job I have ever held did I hold because of any college degree I obtained.

. From the age of 16-18 I worked at Burger King, while selling pirated cassette tapes at local flee markets and oddly made far more selling the tapes, then I worked for a tourist attraction as a busboy, and then finally a waiter at a country club.

From 18-20s I worked for United Air Lines, I started throwing bags, worked my way into air freight, then aircraft refueling, flight planning while I attended college and got my AS in Aeronautics then my AP license so I could become a aircraft mechanic. While working at United Air Lines, I started a car stereo, car alarm, cellular phone and pager business that really took off. I ended up taking an extended leave of absence from United Air Lines, and eventually quit to run my business. Good Guys and Circuit City opened up in my area, and put me out of business within a year. That fast, and there was no falling back.

When my business was doing good, I went back to college for my degree in psychology, I got married, had a daughter so when I lost my business I had to knuckle down and work, so I got a job at Roadway Freight stripping trucks of freight every night, and another job wrapping pallets for 8 hours a day. I did this until I I saved enough to buy a couple 1-900 phone lines for a dating service, and did that until the 900 businesses became heavily regulated and it was no longer legal for me to own a line on an existing service. During this time I started to broker international trade deals, and did so over the length of time from this point until just a few years ago. It has helped me bridge the gap between many different things I have done, but is a very difficult business to be in, 99% of the people you meet are fake, or scam artists.

I got a job bouncing, I had done it before for extra money and figured I could do that while looking for a job during the day. I ended up at the same time landing a job with Johnston & Johnston, with a company called ALZA they purchased, making the Nicoderm Patch. I had an opportunity to buy out the "grill" part of the bar I was bouncing at, I had the money saved, so I did. I quit my job with ALZA and devoted my time to the "Grill". I made very good money until the owner of the bar lost her license, so I had to close down.

I started bouncing at another bar, then landed a job with Japan Air Lines, at Napa Air Port, they train all their pilots here in the US, in Napa. I worked on small aircraft while bouncing, saved my money and went into the grocery business with my brother inlaw. We did very well, and he still owns a store today, him and his wife do very well. But it wasn't for me, so after awhile I gave that up, and bought into another nightclub/bar. I did very well, we were open from 11am until 2pm everyday, I served dinner with live jazz until about 10pm, then took the tables off the floor, and turned it into a college nightclub, we served students from UC Berkeley and St Mary's. But then the building was condemned, and I couldn't find another venue for the license and had to close down.

Then I got into real estate, helping people modify their home loans so they could keep their houses. We would examine a person's loan, find all the things that were mistakes or not done legal, have a lawyer write a letter and force the bank to come to the negotiating table to either sell short, modify the payment structure or whatever needed to be done. We did very well, until the Obama administration changed the laws.

All during this time I have been attending college off and on, and scrapping/refining precious metals for extra money.

My Brother Inlaw wanted to start a organic produce store, so I bought into the entire idea, and jumped in. It didn't do well and I had to close down a year later.

Which brings me to right about now, I am leaving out many other things I have done, and minor jobs I held for short periods of time. For myost of my adult life I have either worked two jobs, or worked a job while owning a business at the same time. In all this I finally discovered something about myself. I get bored easy, extremely easy. I need constant challenges, which you seem to need. This is the very reason why I am spending the time and exposing my past history so that you might understand this about yourself. I need challenges or I am not happy. I believe you are the same, or at least you seem to be by what you have expressed.

In what I have chosen to invest my time, effort and energy in currently, I am constantly challenged. I will never know everything, and could spend my life hoping to learn as much as possible but only barely scratching the surface. I love it. It's important I have this type of engaging work, or else I will again get bored and start looking for something more challenging.

My past work, college and business history is so varied, it's almost embarrassing to express, I am doing so as well so that it adds validity to what I am going to say about your situation. I have had it all, and lost it all several times already in my life, and relatively speaking I am still fairly young.

This would be my advice to you if we were sitting down, having a cup of coffee, and talking about what you have already expressed.

First, I wouldn't overly concern myself with what might happen 10 years down the road, focusing too intently on a future so far distance distracts you from the future that is tomorrow. Worry about what you are doing now, the future is going to happen while you are making other plans, no matter and regardless what your plans happen to be. Life happens while we are making other plans.

Have fall backs, that's great, but don't concentrate too much on the negative what ifs. You can "what if" yourself to death doing so. In the grocery business we had a saying, "success comes in cans, not can-nots" I have mentioned this before but I didn't say how it pertains to what I have said. If you instead devote your effort and energy towards things that you "CAN" do, you will spend your time, effort and energy far more productively than if you are thinking about what you "CANNOT" do. For example, you are concerned that if you get your mechanics license, then have to fall back on it that you will not understand the technology in 10 years. I wouldn't even concern myself with any of that. You can always hire the talent you need if you have the business. Or if you have a mechanics license, you can always grab the education you need to get up to speed. But you shouldn't need to worry about these things anyway, you have already decided what you want to do, and getting your mechanics license isn't it. So if you focused on getting your degree in business, all the other questions don't matter. Also, you don't need to dream up excuses for not wanting to do things your father wants you to do, it's your life, and I'm sure if you explained how you feel to your father, he will understand even if he doesn't agree.

As well, you can apply your degree in business to anything you do in the future, but you don't need a degree in business. If you do get a degree in business, make sure you are doing it for yourself, not to get a job that pays well. After all you don't need to go to college to educate yourself in business. I didn't, I might not be the greatest example considering how many businesses I have owned through the years, but I know enough to start, run and close or sell a business.

I also know enough to realize that no matter what you do or how well you plan, life is always there dishing out challenges like a soup kitchen. It's your ability to be dynamic, to adapt and overcome, to think outside the box in a way that others are not able to that differentiate you. Your father seems to possess this, you seem to possess this, I would say that the majority of people that post on this forum, also belong to this group of people. We are all thinking outside the box, and all able to be dynamic in an ever changing market. You already have one great big advantage over other people in that you are considering many options, where others only see one, to get up every morning, slap their alarm clock, punch the time clock, and go back home 8 hours later. While those people are the foundation of this great country, I would prefer to be me rather than them. Please don't get me wrong, I have a world of respect for people able to do that type of thing, but I just simply cannot, and I get the feeling you and most people here are much the same. We value our freedom to make our own choices and choose to create a business that allows us to do so.

I do however think it's smart to retain your auto repair business on the side, it is a fallback, you can always hire the talent to manage, operate and do the work. Specially in this job market. I have always tried to diversify while keeping something successful going at the same time. It's just simply good business. Plus, a lot of the licensing required in some states, is the same type of licensing required for both auto repair shops and scrap yards. Specially when it comes to hazardous waste disposal. And if you can run your scrap yard under your auto repair business license, your insurance fees should be far less, not to mention other fees associated with a scrap yard.

You also have another thing on your side, you are 22. You have enough time to make huge mistakes, and correct them, that yo don't really need to worry about making mistakes. I am not saying to go out of your way, and make mistakes, but you have plenty of time to recover from the ones you will make. And while concerning yourself about making mistakes and how to recover, think about this. Making mistakes is just practice for success. The more mistakes you make, and recover from, the more likely you are to be a success.

I think I have said enough here, probably too much. You were so open about your situation, and I could almost here the words as they might be if you were saying them, I felt compelled to write too much. I am not proud that I have had so many different experiences, but I am happy with who I am today. I don't want what I have stated to be taken the wrong way, and hope that it isn't. I have tried to find my place in life for a long time, but I would rather spend my entire life seeking happiness instead of wishing that I did.

Scott

there is no right or wrong answer, the bottom line is I would do what you want to, your 22 you will make many mistakes along the way, the good thing is if you learn from them mistakes are profitable in the long run

if I had your mechanic skills I would be better of myself

as far as college, in my area it will get you a job, don't get me started on the kids they hired to try to be bosses where I came from. im not against college and I actually for it I just know people skills in todays youth for the most part is lacking

do what you want to do, if that doesn't work out listen to someone else

I wonder how many of the 25% of unemployed/underemployed in the united states have a business degree? think about it

Originally Posted by PartTimeScrapper

What are you talking about obama foxed it allready unemployment is only 7% and everything is fine. Just ask him.

Originally Posted by jghilino

if every thing is fine then why are there 11 states that have more people on government assistance than they do people working?

I think he was being sarcastic...

I don't get the feeling that people on this forum believe any of the garbage that our government has been claiming, is true.

Scott

The point that some are missing is that he hates training as a mechanic (he's miserable). He has no intention of being a mechanic unless as a "fallback". Then he'd need to retrain to regain certification. Right now, mechanics is a waste of time for him.

Originally Posted by Mick

The point that some are missing is that he hates training as a mechanic (he's miserable). He has no intention of being a mechanic unless as a "fallback". Then he'd need to retrain to regain certification. Right now, mechanics is a waste of time for him.

sometimes the hard road works out better than the easy road, being a suit might work out better for him, its hard to tell, young managers get no respect especially if they are a suit

I came up with a degree from the school of hard knocks, I won't recommend that one, but I don't think you need college degree to make honest cash reguardless from the field. I don't need 4 years in college to know selling items for 50% more than you paid for them will make you money.

If your like me, something has to capture my attention in order for me to become fully involved and absorb what I should be learning. Being a mechanic is a good trade but if your not into it, it could be a huge waste of time. Now explaining that to Dad might be tricky, but if you have a plan to roll out to him or start a brainstorm session with him, things could start to fall into place.

I was in the restaurant biz from 15 to my mid twenties, then construction for 20+ years and I use all the stuff I learned a long the way to be a better scrapper today.