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So I'm out here in DE interviewing for a position with a fairly awesome company, phase one of the interview was today. I'm happy to say I think I goddamn crushed it. I am fully expecting them to make me a solid offer tomorrow afternoon. They're going to give me some tasks and see how I work, talk to me some more and then we'll do the results and offer/"eh feth off" meeting. I really like the company, I like the staff, they're all cool guys.... buuuuuuuuut gunsmithing was my original big plan, and while I'd be trading it for a well paying position in an industry I can really be passionate about... I think owning my own business in another industry I can be passionate about down the line could be better over all....

There's significant opportunity cost either way I go. Gunsmithing is very much about "time in service" so not going now, probably means getting recycled on my school's wait list, that's another 3-4 years not counting time at work in this job. All those are years I could be getting my skills up, and building my reputation. There's also the sunk costs of moving to the DE/PA/MD area (In the neighborhood of $3000 minimum, probably more), and further non-financial costs of moving away from my small social circle.

Skipping out on the job... if offered as it is still indeed an if, means giving up a very nice salary now for the specter of money and freedom later. I've been trying to live a more dynamic life along the lines of Qui audet adipiscitur (Who dares, wins) but I'm not sure what is the more courageous choice here. Both are relatively safe (my school has something like a 90% placement rate, the 10% are old dudes who wanted something to do/guys going into self business right off the bat), both will require lots of effort on my part for potentially little to no reward. One is a light blue collar, the other's one of the last old trades left to us in the modern age.

I'm just kinda lost on this guys. This is a massive decision I'm going to have to make in the next 24 hours and I'm pretty utterly torn between the two positions.

Use "The Most Important Rule" (Page 4 BRB) to sort it out!

Without a solid business plan and alot of reserves to eat on for a while, going into business for oneself is a fool's errand.

Also, nothing says you can't be looking into how to get your own business started on your off time while you are working for somebody else and having stable income. Having stable income makes alot of things in life alot easier, and takes things off your mind so you can focus on building that really good business plan and amassing some savings to go forward with it.

 whitedragon wrote:
nothing says you can't be looking into how to get your own business started on your off time while you are working for somebody else and having stable income.

This. You can use this job as a stepping stone to your greater aspirations.

Where in Delaware on the Eastern Shore?.....being my hometown is Salisbury....

I faced a similar situation when I got out and just wanted to bum around teaching sailing for the rest of my life in the BVI or something. But then the private sector was all, "Here, take our money."

So I teach sailing locally on the side.

Up to you though, man. Do the one that you think's going to make you happiest in the long run, taking everything into account.

How long a timescale do you have before the gunsmithing opportunity passes you by? Do you really only have a day or two? You might well not get offered the job and then the decision's made for you.
You do also have the option of calling up the employer and, without going into too much detail, say "I've had a decent offer that I don't want to lose out on, but would really prefer working for you. If you can make me an offer please let me know as soon as you can, if I haven't heard anything by tomorrow then I'll have to take the offer." If they really like you, then this won't be a problem. If they shirk up and start acting funny then it probably means you either weren't getting the job anyway, or it wasn't that fantastic a place to work for anyway.

There's always more opportunities no matter what schools tell you.

Take the job, accept you are a drone like the rest of us and help our Lizard people rulers to give us more consumable goods and allow them to procreate and rule.

All hail the Lizard Queen!

...or don't; you know or whatever. No biggie.

 Ahtman wrote:

 whitedragon wrote:
nothing says you can't be looking into how to get your own business started on your off time while you are working for somebody else and having stable income.

This. You can use this job as a stepping stone to your greater aspirations.

Sure but I can't do gak without the training and putting my time in We'll see what happens.

 KalashnikovMarine wrote:
So I'm out here in DE interviewing for a position with a fairly awesome company, phase one of the interview was today. I'm happy to say I think I goddamn crushed it. I am fully expecting them to make me a solid offer tomorrow afternoon. They're going to give me some tasks and see how I work, talk to me some more and then we'll do the results and offer/"eh feth off" meeting. I really like the company, I like the staff, they're all cool guys.... buuuuuuuuut gunsmithing was my original big plan, and while I'd be trading it for a well paying position in an industry I can really be passionate about... I think owning my own business in another industry I can be passionate about down the line could be better over all....

There's significant opportunity cost either way I go. Gunsmithing is very much about "time in service" so not going now, probably means getting recycled on my school's wait list, that's another 3-4 years not counting time at work in this job. All those are years I could be getting my skills up, and building my reputation. There's also the sunk costs of moving to the DE/PA/MD area (In the neighborhood of $3000 minimum, probably more), and further non-financial costs of moving away from my small social circle.

Skipping out on the job... if offered as it is still indeed an if, means giving up a very nice salary now for the specter of money and freedom later. I've been trying to live a more dynamic life along the lines of Qui audet adipiscitur (Who dares, wins) but I'm not sure what is the more courageous choice here. Both are relatively safe (my school has something like a 90% placement rate, the 10% are old dudes who wanted something to do/guys going into self business right off the bat), both will require lots of effort on my part for potentially little to no reward. One is a light blue collar, the other's one of the last old trades left to us in the modern age.

I'm just kinda lost on this guys. This is a massive decision I'm going to have to make in the next 24 hours and I'm pretty utterly torn between the two positions.

The econmoy sucks. A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush. You can work on gunsmithing as a side business. Burwell who is a name in S&W gunsmithing, does it as a side business.

Take the job offer. If it's a solid, well-paying job, you'll be able to build a solid monetary base and gather experience in regards to how to properly handle customers.

These two things will allow you to found your own business later on.

Hard to say. It depends on the specifics of your age, what the salary of the job actually is, your work experience, your education level and your overall life goals.

23 year old male, minimal "real" work experience besides the Marines and a nice track record with a private security firm. Some college, and my end goal is global domination.

 KalashnikovMarine wrote:
23 year old male, minimal "real" work experience besides the Marines and a nice track record with a private security firm. Some college, and my end goal is global domination.

EDIT: You're young. Don't really have much substantive to put on you resume yet, and don't have a locked-in life plan is my take away. Therefore:

If you're looking at something in the $25/hr wage or 50k/yr salary area take it hands down. Even if it kills your more favored path for the forseeable future. Below that, take it if you can find anyway to persue your dream on the side. If it's down in the $18/hr or 30k/year range or below just forget and go for your gunsmiths thing, it's not enough of an opportunity to be worth delaying your long term goals.

 KalashnikovMarine wrote:
my end goal is global domination.

Then gunsmithing is barking up the wrong tree. Have you considered nuclear/fission engineering?

Chongara wrote:

 KalashnikovMarine wrote:
23 year old male, minimal "real" work experience besides the Marines and a nice track record with a private security firm. Some college, and my end goal is global domination.

EDIT: You're young. Don't really have much substantive to put on you resume yet, and don't have a locked-in life plan is my take away. Therefore:

If you're looking at something in the $25/hr wage or 50k/yr salary area take it hands down. Even if it kills your more favored path for the forseeable future. Below that, take it if you can find anyway to persue your dream on the side. If it's down in the $18/hr or 30k/year range or below just forget and go for your gunsmiths thing, it's not enough of an opportunity to be worth delaying your long term goals.

CHongara has the way of it.

Well, I can't help much besides saying I'm right now in the same situation

I say to take the stable job for now. I have been working for 3 years and after much thinking I just feel I will not be able to be happy with an entire life working in an industry I don't like, I just took computer engineering because I always knew it was a job with higher than average available jobs. Doubly good decision when your country is currently in a f'king sorry state with around 44% "young people" unemployed (and around 18% overall).

I have been slowly winning good experience that's always useful like managing tough clients, documents, your own work among others and there's the stable play. Whatever money you can afford to save up once you decide to move on is good. Less money you have to borrow from a bank.

Getting a job in any industry that you are passionate about is no mean feat, especially not a job that pays well and that has people you can get along well with. Are there any skills that this job has that you can translate across to your gunsmithing - Project planning, time management, customer service, advertising, manufacturing contacts, suppliers, or any one of a hundred things you'll need if you go out on your own?

Not to be harsh but as I do not know your financial situation could you afford to start smithing? Bear in mind that if you start a venture that you have to wind up due to lack of finances then you're running the risk of financial harm to yourself, and upset clients and suppliers which will be a long term problem for your reputation if you try and restart in a few years.

If it was my decision to make I'd crunch some numbers to see if I could afford the smithing path now. If not, if it is too much of a stretch and there is no safety net if something going wrong then I would probably take the job offer, but smith on the side. I'd work out just how much I need to live off and put every other penny into a savings account with a long term plan of getting into smithing full time later with the capital that I've built up.

Good luck, I know this isn't an easy decision for you.

businesses on average don't start making money for the first few years

If you cant soak that kind of cost then its not the greatest idea.

IMHO gunsmithing has been going downhill since so many people have claimed to be gunsmiths and all they do is put RIS's on AR15's and replace crap. With so many botards its hard to get noticed.

It's never to early to think about retirement.

I say that a little tongue and cheek, but it's true. At this point, I'd not rely on social security to be there when you need it. For the most part, if you set some cash aside and let the miracle of compound interest work for you, life will be better in your twilight years. But the sooner you start, and the more you get multiplying early, the better.

Having a real job, with real pay, and a 401k or whatever, early, will make a huge difference later in life. There are other perks for working for a company, like health care and paid vacation days.

/responsible dad mode

KalashnikovMarine, I understand your position all too well. I was in the same boat once (I had a weekend to figure it out). I think both Frazzled and Chongara have the right idea, so I'm throwing my hat in with them: I'd take the job that is offered, unless you can come up with a reason not to.

 KalashnikovMarine wrote:

 Ahtman wrote:

 whitedragon wrote:
nothing says you can't be looking into how to get your own business started on your off time while you are working for somebody else and having stable income.

This. You can use this job as a stepping stone to your greater aspirations.

Sure but I can't do gak without the training and putting my time in We'll see what happens.

Best get busy then.

Well I ended up taking it, my school is letting me defer a year so I'm moving to Newark Delaware as of... two freaking weeks from now >.>

I would say taking the job is the right choice. Especially if the job has good health insurance. You may be young, but you're never too young to have health problems that insurance can help with.

23 year old male, minimal "real" work experience besides the Marines and a nice track record with a private security firm. Some college, and my end goal is global domination.

KM....As your Uncle Sargie Wilki.....I'm glad you decided to take the job. If not.....by the time I'm done with on the deck you be looking for salvation...and lots of water...I even be nice and probably toss half a motrin to you...as you do some serious soul searching to get back on track to accept that job...even if I have to grab your heart through your back..

Hahaha. Well I took it.... so we're good.

Negative Airborne. Your good. I'm side lined till I get this cancer cleared the Hell up......final verdict be in on Tuesday.....I've a warm and fuzzy

Kick cancer's donkey man!

Let me know when you start gunsmithing, I'd love to own a kalishnakovmarine brand kalishnakov.

Good luck man, I faced a similar situation with luthier work, but ultimately passed it, to my regret. I'm poised to have a position in show production, but we'll see what happens.

I'd take the solid job now, and use it to save up cash for your dream business. Make a 5 year plan or something and just say "5 years from now, I WILL be a gunsmith." I had a friend who is doing something similar and it helped him stay focused on his dream.