Well said
@tcco94
I have ZERO desire to go to the big airlines. I am very happy flying the Van. This morning I got to chose how I went back to the airport. Got to fly by some great views. Followed the river west and my passengers got some great pictures of the Oregon countryside. Last week we were able to give our sole passenger a tour of the Dallies. 3 weeks ago I flew one of our Vans up to Alaska with the base chief pilot. Spent most of the trip looking at views of the stars most people never get to see. Actually saw the blue arm of the milky way. Then sun rise as we pulled into JNU was just unbelievably beautiful. Not going to be able to do that at Delta or United.
I love my job!!!
I can easily see myself spending my career here at SeaPort (and no I don't have any DUIs or criminal activity in my past). I've done the hustle and bustle of the big office and power lunches. I don't want to do it any more.
At the same time I will not begrudge anyone who wants to move up the chain to bigger and more responsibility at a larger airline. There was a time I felt that way too. But I will leave this thread with the following story so that those that think a career with a 135 is a dead end can see my point of view.....
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An investment banker stood at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The banker complimented the fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The fisherman replied, “Only a little while.”
The banker then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish?
The fisherman said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.
The banker then asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine, and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life.”
The investor scoffed, “I am an Ivy League MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, and eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats.
“The investor continued, “And instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would then sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution! You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then Los Angeles and eventually New York City, where you will run your expanding enterprise.”
The fisherman asked, “But how long will this all take?”
To which the banker replied, “Perhaps 15 to 20 years.”
“But what then?” asked the fisherman.
The banker laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions!”
“Millions. Okay, then what?” wondered the fisherman.
To which the investment banker replied, “Then you would retire. You could move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, and stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”
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Perspective.....it's a beautiful thing.
