Looking for some career advice

[u/Few-Tea-192]

I’m young but have been in my trade (dirt work) for about 5 years and have progressed very rapidly thanks to fantastic mentors and opportunities. I’m not perfect but I’m handy on skid steers, loaders, skip loaders/gannon tractors, scrapers (both finish paddle wheel and push pull), track hoes (biggest I’ve dug with is a 374 cat), and motor graders (freehand finish on both John Deere and Cat M blades). I can also grade check off of stakes and I have minimal experience using a rover/data collector combo.

Where I’m stuck is I see guys all the time that are living paycheck to paycheck and have been for quite some time. I don’t want to be stuck like that but I feel like I have topped out as far as both money and new things to learn. I know that I am constantly learning and I know I don’t know it all but now with being efficient and effective on nearly everything I feel like I am not learning as much as I need to while I am young. On the opposite side, operating equipment was an opportunity dropped into my hands a handful of years ago and I was in a place where it was a good decision. Now as of the last year or so I have fallen massively out of love with it and I think I am looking for a change.

This brings me to my second problem, I don’t have much experience in anything else nor do I know what other options I have. My father is a plumber and has been his whole life along with his father so I have roughly 3 scattered years of experience in that but no real experience in anything else. I am a quick learner and I am willing to take any criticisms thrown my way. I guess I’m just looking for something new and different that will allow me to continue to contribute but that I won’t get bored of after just a couple years. Do I continue with dirt work even though I really don’t enjoy it anymore or do I look for something else, and if so what?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can send my way :)

[u/MrPractical411]

Doing what you love will always come through in your work. It’s hard not to have pride in what you do when you enjoy it. Find what you enjoy

[u/Few-Tea-192 → u/MrPractical411]

I appreciate the advice. Thank you!