Calling it Quits to Aviation as a Profession!

Bigey said:
Well I just wanted to chime in on my own thread here since it seems to have started some heated debate about persistence and the word usage.

So if it helps set the record straight, I dont have the persistence to make it in aviation. It's the plain and simple. If I did, I wouldnt be leaving the field!

Now, just because I dont have the persistence, doesnt mean I'm a failure. It means that my priorities have changed in life, and I'm QUITTING (yes, QUITTING) this phase of my life. I now am trying to be PERSISTENT in the catering and restaurant field. In such a short time in comparison to aviation, I am actually sucessful. I make more money than what the costs are. I'm in the green, so have it. Hence, why I feel that to pass this opportunity to continue to be in the green and enjoy other things in life, would be not worthy.

So call it whatever everyone wants, but I guess i'm good at making money in the restaurant and food industry than I am in the aviation field. Hopefully everything continues well, and I can continue to have aviation as a hobby and not as a profession!
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Just curious but how much did it help having your parents owning everything to start? How long do you figure it would've set you back if you had to front X dollars as startup? Thanks and good luck with the catering.
 
Maximillian_Jenius said:
...aloft, is that you??? :confused:
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I'm not getting an "Aloft vs. Alex" vibe from that post. I'm getting more off a "Hey...in terms of setting up this business, how much did your parents help" (as in, timelines cut, financings easier, etc). Sounded more like a legitimate question business people/owner/operators would ask each other. Maybe my "snark dial" is tuned low or malfunctioning but when Bigey and I meet it would be a question to ask him as I learn about his business.
 
WacoFan said:
I'm not getting an "Aloft vs. Alex" vibe from that post. I'm getting more off a "Hey...in terms of setting up this business, how much did your parents help" (as in, timelines cut, financings easier, etc). Sounded more like a legitimate question business people/owner/operators would ask each other. Maybe my "snark dial" is tuned low or malfunctioning but when Bigey and I meet it would be a question to ask him as I learn about his business.
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Agreed! I didn't get the impression the question was a "shot" at Bigey. I thought it was a legitimate question out of curiosity. Even if Bigey's parents set him up, SO WHAT? God bless and good for him to have parents who are in that position and want to help their son. Nothing wrong with that as far as I can see.
 
I like the cat thingy. The difference between that and what happens to those of us who feel as if they can't reach the top of the slide and the cat is:

"Kitty does not turn into a bitter Schmuck!"​

Whatever you do, make sure you don't!​

In fact, when Kitty realizes that this plan of action does not work, he/ she will turn around and walk away with the antenna up high, ready for the next mischief. They don't look back!​

If you take comfort in being unable, prevented from, or not supported enough to reach the top of a slide, readjust your attitude, or start with a smaller slide. It's usually not them, us, they, or it... usually the person preventing the climb to the top is the one staring back at one in the mirror.​

If I had a dime for each time I have seen a young copilot or pilot fail, or for everytime I was sitting down, wondering how to make this happen, or for everytime talking to someone who turned into a bitter schmuck I would not drive a 98 Dodge.​

Everytime I turned from aviation (except once) I made more money, green or mula. It's easy to make more mula almost anywhere. Heck, I know people who pull in 400K/ year and what they do has not the slightest bit to do with planes or the people who fly them. I've met Starbucks Store managers who made ~10K-20K more than a full time cfi..​

If you're passion is in the food and hotelbusiness and you can sit through the hard times, all the power to you. It took me a long time to realize that the only person preventing me from getting to where I wanted to be was:​

<----- That Guy! :eek:​
 
Maximillian_Jenius said:
...aloft, is that you??? :confused:
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Oh, Max...

WacoFan said:
I'm not getting an "Aloft vs. Alex" vibe from that post. I'm getting more off a "Hey...in terms of setting up this business, how much did your parents help" (as in, timelines cut, financings easier, etc). Sounded more like a legitimate question business people/owner/operators would ask each other. Maybe my "snark dial" is tuned low or malfunctioning but when Bigey and I meet it would be a question to ask him as I learn about his business.
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'Sactly. I am legitimately interested in what he thinks the differences are/were. He may have had no help at all but if he did I am just wondering if his results would've been the same or how long until his initial investment paid off. I am very happy for him but the "numbers guy" in me is just curious. No malice intended.

Qgar said:
Agreed! I didn't get the impression the question was a "shot" at Bigey. I thought it was a legitimate question out of curiosity. Even if Bigey's parents set him up, SO WHAT? God bless and good for him to have parents who are in that position and want to help their son. Nothing wrong with that as far as I can see.
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Bingo. He was in a position to capitalize and he did!
 
pullup said:
'Sactly. I am legitimately interested in what he thinks the differences are/were. He may have had no help at all but if he did I am just wondering if his results would've been the same or how long until his initial investment paid off. I am very happy for him but the "numbers guy" in me is just curious. No malice intended.
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I think anyone that is in business, or has a business, asks questions like this as a way to get some insight from people about lots of areas. Lots of good ideas can cross-pollinate across industries. I could that with your post and would have asked the same thing.

As an example of how good ideas can cross pollinate - I am in financial services/risk management/consulting and at my firm I have recently taken something from the restaurant industry and enacted it in my business. I have implemented a new dress code for female staff. Short-shorts, tight, low-cut tank tops. Thank you Hooters!
 
how do you call it quits when you never really started? just sayin... good luck with the family restaurant business though!
 
SIUav8er said:
how do you call it quits when you never really started? just sayin... good luck with the family restaurant business though!
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Dude's been on here for years obsessed with aviation. You might not be getting paid but with that amount of time devoted you might as well be in the industry.
 
pullup said:
Just curious but how much did it help having your parents owning everything to start? How long do you figure it would've set you back if you had to front X dollars as startup? Thanks and good luck with the catering.
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In all honesty, I first would of never gotten into this business had I not already been set up. I just had no desire/passion for this field. Now that it is existent and running (kind of) it's a lot easier. The restaurant field is a very competitive and cut throat. I'm not sure i'd have the initial capital to start nor the motivation in such a slumped economy.

In number wise, there isnt much start up cost for me. The product already exists(location, menu, etc.), which is a main thing. What i'm going to have to do is add some additional things to menu to make us suitable for more than one type of event and start advertising our new catering business to prospective clients. My dad is starting to teach me the ins and outs of catering. Long term goal - I'd like to have a full catering service including servers, party gear, dj, bartending etc.

So if i have to put an actual figure on it? From fresh with nothing $150k? That would include the restaurant/kitchen location and all the equipment to go with it.

If we had to break it down to a time line that it would take me? Well I make $11.25 per hour at my airline gig so, quite a long time!:insane:

SIUav8er said:
how do you call it quits when you never really started? just sayin... good luck with the family restaurant business though!
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Well technically, I am in this field. I've been going to school for ATC for the past 2 years, and currently work for an airline (non-flying). I guess i'm calling the pursuit off. I was so sure I was going to make some sort of career out of it, and now i'm not. Thank you though!:)
 
Bigey said:
In all honesty, I first would of never gotten into this business had I not already been set up. I just had no desire/passion for this field. Now that it is existent and running (kind of) it's a lot easier. The restaurant field is a very competitive and cut throat. I'm not sure i'd have the initial capital to start nor the motivation in such a slumped economy.

In number wise, there isnt much start up cost for me. The product already exists(location, menu, etc.), which is a main thing. What i'm going to have to do is add some additional things to menu to make us suitable for more than one type of event and start advertising our new catering business to prospective clients. My dad is starting to teach me the ins and outs of catering. Long term goal - I'd like to have a full catering service including servers, party gear, dj, bartending etc.

So if i have to put an actual figure on it? From fresh with nothing $150k? That would include the restaurant/kitchen location and all the equipment to go with it.

If we had to break it down to a time line that it would take me? Well I make $11.25 per hour at my airline gig so, quite a long time!:insane:
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Cool, thanks for the rundown. Good luck!
 
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