Career change, kinda scary

“Well, after 5 years with Wilderness Recovery Center as a wilderness guide, I finally called it quits. I knew last year that I was going to be leaving for another adventure soon, but it's difficult leaving a job that your comfortable with, enjoy doing and feeling that your making a difference. The final kicker was my knees, I'm just too beat up. Too many years of racing motorcycles, skiing accidents and mountaineering, finally made the decision for me. Wearing out 15/17 year olds is for the younger guides.

I told my boss I was leaving the day I left for my last 10 day, she was actually happy for me ...she even rotated with my partner so we could spend the last 5 days of the trip together. I will miss the kids, well some of them anyway.

The day after I told my wife I was planning to quite my job, an odd series of events (the Force is strong) led me to Yates Gear....they manufacture climbing and rescue equipment, as well as supplying equipment to the Navy and Special Forces. John Yates and I go way back. I was going to open a climbing store when I moved to Redding over 20 years ago and was told that I had better check with the Yates brothers, who were selling gear out of their garage in Shingletown at the time....I didn't open my shop but John and Jim did. We climbed together with the likes of Todd Skinner and Beth Wald and he was even on the SAR team with us. Now Yates manufactures and supplies harness's and equipment to much of the industry.

To make a long story short, I was offered a job when I walked in to get a pack repaired and I jumped at it.....much better pay and benefits to boot. I got home from my last 10 day yesterday, spent most of today getting set up with the paper work and training schedules and I start full time tomorrow.

Life is full of surprises, many times we are afraid of change, when change is what we are supposed to do. I always tell folks to listen to that little voice....I actually had a couple friends remind me to do that myself recently....I'm glad I listened to them.




I will miss being off for three weeks at a time though..............”

“Change is sometimes hard but often exciting...go get 'em Steve!”

“I know what you mean about the voice, mtnsteve. My life has been terrific since I started listening to mine... and filled with a whole lot of change. Different state, new career, new husband...
Life is good!”

“Hit "Submit" instead of "enter" :)

Congratulations on the new adventure! And good for you for listening to your voice and finding it! Let us know how it goes...”

“best wishes mtnsteve!”

“I have a feeling I am going to get a few more gray hairs though....

cindy lu...that little voice has been a guiding force in my life for the last few years...when I listen, everything goes well, when I don't, well, things just suck. I'm glad you have learned to listen to yours as well.


Life's an adventure, enjoy the ride!”

“Congrats, mtnsteve!”

“congrats mtnsteve, i'm very jealous of both your last job and your new one!

good luck








now... if I could only decide which little voice to listen too.......”

“Good luck in your new endeavor, mtnsteve!”

“Good luck, mtnsteve.

I wish I had listened to that little voice more in my life. It was my mother's voice. She was always right, although sometimes it was for the wrong reason.”

“Congrats! Sounds like it was destiny.”

“Yates - as in screamers ??

Does not sound scary to me, sounds like perfect timing with a sprinkling of good karma.

Best of luck in the new job.”

“After 22 years in sales I start teaching Sept 7th.....following that voice, if I had only known earlier.... Good Luck and have a great time....My goal is to start a wilderness therapy program so someday I might pick your brain.

JC”

“Happy for ya MtSteve! It's great the way things work out.”

“Paperback writer, paperback writer.
Dear Sir or Madam will you read my book,
It took me years to write will you take a look,
Based on a novel by a man named Lear,
And I need a job,
So I want to be a paperback writer,
Paperback writer.”

“Good Luck Steve & Congrats! If you ever need to test gear on the massive hills of the midwest, send the team on out here!”

“Congrats, mtnsteve!

I am seriously thinking about changing careers, but have no idea what I want to do. Maybe I'll have a similar experience to yours!

Good luck in your new adventure - make sure those guys let you loose every now and then to get out into the mountains, huh?”

“Hey Mtn Steve! Best of luck to you. Sounds like it was meant to be! Sometimes things just have their way of working out. Roll with it...”

“manula....yep, Yates screamers...I still have one from the first batch they made up, I was told to take it out and break it.

So far my biggest problem is scheduling the shower with my wife....seems we both get ready for work at the same time now...LOL

Well, I'm off to work.”

“So far my biggest problem is scheduling the shower with my wife...."

mtnsteve
09:36:44 AM
07/23/04


There's a logical solution to that, you know.... ;-)”

“Let the next adventure begin. Good luck with it!.”

“Wow, congrats MtSteve! It sounds like a terrific opportunity that fell into your lap. Change is always a bit scary, but at least you're still involved with the climbing community, which I'm sure is comforting. Best of luck.”

“Good luck mtnsteve!”

“Good things always happen to good people, it's the positive karma around you buddy!

Does this mean we can't go BP'ing anymore?? sniff, sniff.”

“"So far my biggest problem is scheduling the shower with my wife...."

mtnsteve



There's a logical solution to that, you know.... ;-)"
BowlderMan

"Let the next adventure begin. Good luck with it!."
ynamiynami”

“Good on you, Mtn Steve! For me, going to law school when I was 42 was a big break with security. I was going to work in environmental law, but ended up in patent law, and it's worked out better than what I had originally planned. Good luck to you. I'll be down your way in a few days, to climb Mt. Shasta. I hear you about the knees. Mine were dying last weekend on Mt. Borah.”

“Shower scheduling - that logical solution makes both VERY late to work.”

“Hey congrats and good luck! From a great job to an even better job! Wow!!”

“Manuka - well, it depends on the individual, hee hee....”

“Sounds like mtnsteve could be installing a larger shower with at least 2 shower heads soon. Of course, that may make him end up being very late for work many, many times.

Congrats on the new job and the change, mtnsteve.”

“Thumbs up on the change! I did this about 5 years ago as well.

Right out of college I scored a job as an assistant TV producer. 6 months later I got moved up to full producer duties. I loved the work, however very low pay, long hours and no one noticing my work took its toll. That lasted 4 years.

I quit and went back to school to earn my Masters in Communciation. I became a graduate teaching assistant as well. Teaching freshmen level communciations and some higher TV production classes. I loved teaching. Being able to get inside these kids heads and see that I can make a difference was out of this world.

Unfortunatly, school ended, I graduated and decided that was as far as I could go. To teach college, I needed a PhD. No patience for that.

Now, and for the last 3 years, I have been in the accounting department of a major law firm. The work is easy, the benifits are sweet, and I get the time off to go hiking.

I couldn't ask for more.”

“Congatulations on the new job! I'm sure you'll find a way to handle the shower "problem". :D”

“We tried the shower thing right after we had the new (larger) shower installed a couple months ago....it definitely doesn't speed things up.....well, not if you really want to get anything done.....OK, that depends on what you want done ;)

It's really sobering to realize how much I will have to learn in the next year or so, but I'll get it down. I'm expected to be able to do virtually everything eventually. When folks would ask what I was being trained for John would say..."everything but cleaning the bathrooms, he already knows how to do that".

I am very impressed with how this place is run, it's a class act. The quality control is amazing

It looks like I will have plenty of time to backpack, they expect their employees to play.....it's so they can work your butt off when they need to, fair trade off though.

Well, I'm going to take some Advil and fall down in the front room.

Thanks again for the kind words.”

“Sounds like the new job is really going to suck. Suck so bad that someday you're going to truely regret your decision to move on.

I pity you!”

“....some day, perhaps your job will suck as much....one can only hope.”

“lol”

“;-)”

“Hey Steve! Sounds like you made a good move though I'm sure the program will miss you. I'm inbetween work myself right now and grappling with potential career changes. Scary and exciting at the same time.

I'm coming up Redding way in a few weeks to visit the grandparents and would love to swing by, check out the shop and meet ya. Will you be around and if so, where is it?

Peace!”

“Rosey....I wish ya the best on your adventure, you'll do the right thing.

If the shop is open, I should be there. Let me know what day if you can, the address is...

YATES GEAR Inc. 2608 Hartnell Ave. Redding, CA 96002.”

“Does this change your ability to make Winterfest? ;-)”

“Sweet! Will do, Steve!”

“congrats Steve! I wish you the best. I'm sure you'll do great there.

I'm trying to go with my gut on becoming a nurse, starting school at age 43, and moving up to the foothills in the future. I'm getting some negative feedback from a couple of my friends. I know what you mean about listening to your inner voice. I'm trying!

Good luck to you! Is winterfest2005 still on?! We talked about it a lot on the the sierra trip two weeks ago.”

“that absolutely ROCKS! I do love mountain men and gearheads.

Not to worry about that shower thing. Just hop on in with her. I'm sure she won't care.

I am betting you are the kind who will thrive and find the positives wherever you are.... and whatever you're doing! Happy for you! :-)”

“Funny how things come full circle
"Well, after 5 years with Wilderness Recovery Center as a wilderness guide, I finally called it quits. I knew last year that I was going to be leaving for another adventure soon, but it's difficult leaving a job that your comfortable with, enjoy doing and feeling that your making a difference. The final kicker was my knees, I'm just too beat up. Too many years of racing motorcycles, skiing accidents and mountaineering, finally made the decision for me. Wearing out 15/17 year olds is for the younger guides.

I told my boss I was leaving the day I left for my last 10 day, she was actually happy for me ...she even rotated with my partner so we could spend the last 5 days of the trip together. I will miss the kids, well some of them anyway.

The day after I told my wife I was planning to quite my job, an odd series of events (the Force is strong) led me to Yates Gear....they manufacture climbing and rescue equipment, as well as supplying equipment to the Navy and Special Forces. John Yates and I go way back. I was going to open a climbing store when I moved to Redding over 20 years ago and was told that I had better check with the Yates brothers, who were selling gear out of their garage in Shingletown at the time....I didn't open my shop but John and Jim did. We climbed together with the likes of Todd Skinner and Beth Wald and he was even on the SAR team with us. Now Yates manufactures and supplies harness's and equipment to much of the industry.

To make a long story short, I was offered a job when I walked in to get a pack repaired and I jumped at it.....much better pay and benefits to boot. I got home from my last 10 day yesterday, spent most of today getting set up with the paper work and training schedules and I start full time tomorrow.

Life is full of surprises, many times we are afraid of change, when change is what we are supposed to do. I always tell folks to listen to that little voice....I actually had a couple friends remind me to do that myself recently....I'm glad I listened to them.




I will miss being off for three weeks at a time though.............."
mtnsteve
11:23:08 PM
07/22/04
ignore this user

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Congrats on the new job!
"Change is sometimes hard but often exciting...go get 'em Steve!"
Wind Walker
11:58:11 PM
07/22/04
ignore this user

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I know what you mean about the voice, mtnsteve. My life has been terrific since I started listening to mine... and filled with a whole lot of change. Different state, new career, new husband...
Life is good!"
cindy_lu
11:58:28 PM
07/22/04
ignore this user

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"Hit "Submit" instead of "enter" :)

Congratulations on the new adventure! And good for you for listening to your voice and finding it! Let us know how it goes..."
cindy_lu
12:00:34 AM
07/23/04
ignore this user

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Congrats and
"best wishes mtnsteve!"
Pathman
12:17:48 AM
07/23/04
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thanks all
"I have a feeling I am going to get a few more gray hairs though....

cindy lu...that little voice has been a guiding force in my life for the last few years...when I listen, everything goes well, when I don't, well, things just suck. I'm glad you have learned to listen to yours as well.


Life's an adventure, enjoy the ride!"
mtnsteve
12:20:31 AM
07/23/04
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"Congrats, mtnsteve!"
mtnmom2
12:48:27 AM
07/23/04
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"congrats mtnsteve, i'm very jealous of both your last job and your new one!

good luck








now... if I could only decide which little voice to listen too......."
Roam Around
06:48:36 AM
07/23/04
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"Good luck in your new endeavor, mtnsteve!"
bitpusher
07:33:38 AM
07/23/04
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"Good luck, mtnsteve.

I wish I had listened to that little voice more in my life. It was my mother's voice. She was always right, although sometimes it was for the wrong reason."
nowslimmer
07:34:21 AM
07/23/04
ignore this user

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"Congrats! Sounds like it was destiny."
dhutch1
07:36:32 AM
07/23/04
ignore this user

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"Yates - as in screamers ??

Does not sound scary to me, sounds like perfect timing with a sprinkling of good karma.

Best of luck in the new job."
manuka
08:12:31 AM
07/23/04
ignore this user

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Good Luck
"After 22 years in sales I start teaching Sept 7th.....following that voice, if I had only known earlier.... Good Luck and have a great time....My goal is to start a wilderness therapy program so someday I might pick your brain.

JC"
jackcanine
08:13:13 AM
07/23/04
ignore this user

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"Happy for ya MtSteve! It's great the way things work out."
lizs
08:17:35 AM
07/23/04
ignore this user

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Paperback writer, paperback writer.
Dear Sir or Madam will you read my book,
It took me years to write will you take a look,
Based on a novel by a man named Lear,
And I need a job,
So I want to be a paperback writer,
Paperback writer."
Nigal
08:21:12 AM
07/23/04
ignore this user

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Good Luck Steve & Congrats! If you ever need to test gear on the massive hills of the midwest, send the team on out here!"
Buddha Bear
09:15:35 AM
07/23/04
ignore this user

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Congrats, mtnsteve!

I am seriously thinking about changing careers, but have no idea what I want to do. Maybe I'll have a similar experience to yours!

Good luck in your new adventure - make sure those guys let you loose every now and then to get out into the mountains, huh?"
BowlderMan
09:20:10 AM
07/23/04
ignore this user

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"Hey Mtn Steve! Best of luck to you. Sounds like it was meant to be! Sometimes things just have their way of working out. Roll with it..."
Treebeard
09:25:43 AM
07/23/04
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Thanks again everyone, it's appreciated
"manula....yep, Yates screamers...I still have one from the first batch they made up, I was told to take it out and break it.

So far my biggest problem is scheduling the shower with my wife....seems we both get ready for work at the same time now...LOL

Well, I'm off to work."
mtnsteve
09:36:44 AM
07/23/04
ignore this user

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"So far my biggest problem is scheduling the shower with my wife...."

mtnsteve
09:36:44 AM
07/23/04


There's a logical solution to that, you know.... ;-)"
BowlderMan
09:48:26 AM
07/23/04
ignore this user

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"Let the next adventure begin. Good luck with it!."
ynamiynami
09:49:57 AM
07/23/04
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"Wow, congrats MtSteve! It sounds like a terrific opportunity that fell into your lap. Change is always a bit scary, but at least you're still involved with the climbing community, which I'm sure is comforting. Best of luck."
Artex
09:59:01 AM
07/23/04
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"Good luck mtnsteve!"
yam
10:00:00 AM
07/23/04
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"Good things always happen to good people, it's the positive karma around you buddy!

Does this mean we can't go BP'ing anymore?? sniff, sniff."
wanderer
10:05:12 AM
07/23/04
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Innuendo?
""So far my biggest problem is scheduling the shower with my wife...."

mtnsteve



There's a logical solution to that, you know.... ;-)"
BowlderMan

"Let the next adventure begin. Good luck with it!."
ynamiynami"
Pathman
10:07:17 AM
07/23/04
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"Good on you, Mtn Steve! For me, going to law school when I was 42 was a big break with security. I was going to work in environmental law, but ended up in patent law, and it's worked out better than what I had originally planned. Good luck to you. I'll be down your way in a few days, to climb Mt. Shasta. I hear you about the knees. Mine were dying last weekend on Mt. Borah."
Idaho Bob
10:57:17 AM
07/23/04
ignore this user

Manuka wrote:
"Shower scheduling - that logical solution makes both VERY late to work."


I wished I hadn't read that. Now I'm mad. How many times have I been late to work or to the designated meeting place at the trailhead because Hairy Beast jumped in the shower with me.. then got to the trailhead or called my work and told them I was a lazy slug and wouldn't motivate.
That I was too busy sleeping in or curling my hair or whatever.. arrgh!”

“Congratulations Steve!! Have you noticed that when the new path starts opening up, the old path becomes more difficult (knees, patience (15 year old kids.. go figure!), etc)? When the timing is right... it's right... Grab that handle and open the door!!

Now... let's discuss the really important stuff... What about Winterfest 05????? :-) I've already told my new work (yes... I DID it too!) I'm gone for the annual Winterfest05!”

“danababy...tell em the truth...folks seem to understand it. Those that don't, well, phuch em, they're just envious ;-)

LadyHiker....What are you doing now? Looking forward to Winterfest 2005!”

“Check out some community or small colleges. Some are looking for people with a Master's Degree. Often they are part-time positions so you can do what you're doing now and throw in teaching a class or two.”