If I were young again, I would chose one career path in particular. I’ve not had many jobs in my lifetime — I worked in a Nursing Home for a couple years after high school while attending IUS, I worked for a dentist (while having a baby and again, attending college), I held several different positions in one bank, I was self-employed (drove a bus and worked from home creating corporate websites), and for the past 10 years, I’ve worked with my brother — a professional business speaker/trainer/consultant. But if I were young again… I’d be a handyman.
Why a handyman you ask? Because they are obviously in great demand. As a female homeowner I can’t seem to find anyone that will do “fix-it” jobs. It doesn’t matter who I call, if it’s not a BIG job (like building a house) no one wants to do it. In Seymour, I need someone to clean up the brick columns that were flattened, put in a lamp post and a mailbox. At my Crothersville home, I need a new back door, the back yard graded and grass planted (where the pool was), and either deck renovations or a patio poured (again, because there’s no longer a pool there). I’ve had two different people tell me they would take a look and call/email with pricing “tomorrow” only to never hear back from them. And if they don’t respond with a PRICE within 2 weeks… you can bet they won’t complete the job in a timely manner, you guys.
If I were a handyman, I wouldn’t knock on people’s doors to say, “Our crew is in your neighborhood installing new windows,” or “we can roof your house cheaper than anyone else.” I would; however, do a good job for everyone that hired me and charge a fair price. And I WOULD WORK. I remember delivering food to a home a few years back during the holiday season so the family could eat — yet, this “handyman” is obviously too busy with other projects to take on any more money-making endeavors. I know because I called him.
If you’re young — be a handyman. If you have children (or grandchildren), teach them to be handy — send them to college — but buy them an old beater truck and teach them to be handy. If they choose not to be a full-time handyman, for extra money they can do small, weekend jobs for people like me.
And if you get this look when mentioning the “handyman” career choice, don’t be discouraged:
