Quit six figure job for a passion...

Well I still plan on making six figures with this job. My Dad has since 1986. Right now it's tough making 20,000 but I'm only 26 and my fiance makes 60,000 so we're doing ok, even in Ct. I figure by my mid 30's I'll be pushing a 100k. Hopefully by my mid forties I'll be well into the six figures and working a 3 day schedule. Like I said my Dad has a portfolio that's well into 7 figures as a pilot. Granted he got on with a great airline pretty early in their history. I don't think these jobs are completely gone though, they're just in hibernation.
 
One doesn't jump from making 30K to 60K and automatically KNOW what to do with the extra money. Sure, cars, clothes, etc ... but I'm talking lifestyle. I know some folks hoarding all their money into savings, simply because they don't know what else to do with it, and are comfortable in their low-budget simple lifestyle.

Same principle if you flip the coin. Granted, its easier to get comfortable with money than it is without. So the transition is merely the shock of the cold water. Swim around for a bit, and you'll "warm up" to the water. If you stick it through, and don't hold on to the "past" of sitting beside the pool under the shade tree, enduring the shock of the lifestyle change will be 100% worth it.
 
I too had the passion to fly early on and decided to go for it. From a practical standpoint, I was crazy for jumping into this unknown world that would require more of me and my family than I ever imagined. I second guessed myself many times over the years but today I live my passion -AND- have my comfortable six figure income as well. I am a "go for your dreams" kind of guy and I have many close friends today that thank me on a regular basis for offering that same advice to them years ago. I can't imagine being older and watching the contrails overhead wondering what might have been.
 
I'm in the ATC CTI program, I've already decided to screw ATC and become a pilot, I have 12 credits left to finish that I simply won't do, going to use that money to help pay for ATP. I've been exposed enough to ATC to know I won't be happy doing that job. Everyone in that program is doing it for the money. They are making a mistake and don't even realize it yet. I feel like a million bucks right now having realized that I WILL live my childhood dream.
 
I'm in the ATC CTI program, I've already decided to screw ATC and become a pilot, I have 12 credits left to finish that I simply won't do, going to use that money to help pay for ATP. I've been exposed enough to ATC to know I won't be happy doing that job. Everyone in that program is doing it for the money. They are making a mistake and don't even realize it yet. I feel like a million bucks right now having realized that I WILL live my childhood dream.


Bill, I suspect in 10 years when you are sitting in the captains seat that you will look back on this decision and be thankful you had the courage to make it.
Enjoy your new career.
 
I wanted to fly but couldn't because I didn't have the money and my father wouldn't pay for my education....I ended up enlisting in the military and got my college done, then got commissioned, had PRK...By this time I was over the age limit so now I'm waiting to retire and then get my ratings and start flying for a living....

The journey has taken me 20 year but I'll start training in 2009. I do care about pay / benefits so I won't be going to MESA. I can wait it out as a CFI for the airlines of my choice...

-LAFF
 
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