What was your job before you went full-time?

Cashier · Panama City, FL · Member since 2015 · 14 posts · 6 votes

Real estate agent? Accountant? Grocery store manager? Pizza delivery guy?

Just out of curiosity, what was your job before you decided (or were able) to live off your investments? Doesn't matter how high/low paying or unrelated the job was, I want to know! :)

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James Park

Real Estate Broker · Johns Creek, GA · Member since 2009 · 870 posts · 664 votes

11y

Marge,

I read an article somewhere from a successful entepeneur that we are all given three major business opportunities / or career changes in our life time and it is our job to identify what they are or capture that opportunity. I guess my three careers may look something like this.

Career #1 (Past) (20s - 30s)
I worked as a business consultant for Accenture in the bay area and LA., then I realized that the W2 world wasn't for me so started my first S Corp with my partner in India. We developed an ecommerce platform developed in .net technology and we would implement this platform for our clients. It was fun while it lasted until much cheaper php platform solutions like Magento came out in the market.

Career #2 (Full time broker and investor - I guess I am here now. ) - ( Present ( early30s - late 40s)

Career #3 - (Future retirement career I would like to have in my 50s

Owner of an Investment firm / Hedge Fund / Wealth Advisory that utilizes all of my investment knowledge, research and strategies for both real estate and the financial markets. I would also like to write a book someday about my investment philosophy and publish my research.

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Devan Mcclish
Investor · Nashville, TN · Member since 2015 · 688 posts · 607 votes
11y
Full time student / agent / office max employee / umpire - referee.
0 Reply
Shelton Love
Bellwood, IL · Member since 2013 · 54 posts · 16 votes
11y
I'm still working on it, but I long to say, I was a bus driver. lol
0 Reply
Aaron Mazzrillo
Investor · Riverside, CA · Member since 2011 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
11y
Sold windows to large multifamily builders. Very challenging and even more rewarding. Got to see all of southern California driving to construction sites from San Diego to San Fernando Valley and all over the IE.
1 Reply
Joe Fairless
Investor · Cincinnati, OH · Member since 2013 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
11y
@Account Closedwas a vp at a New York City advertising agency
0 Reply
Bill S.Pro Member
Moderator
Rental Property Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2013 · 4k+ posts · 2k+ votes
11y
I was a civil engineer (still do this "on the side"). I designed pipelines and pump stations for smaller municipal water and sewer systems. It used to be that real estate was the "on the side" gig.
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Luka Milicevic
Real Estate Agent · Nashville, TN · Member since 2015 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
11y
Some day I'll be able to say "I used to be an accountant"
2 Reply
Samuel Awosolu
Real Estate Agent · Fort Lauderdale, FL · Member since 2015 · 67 posts · 34 votes
11y
Some days I was called a Physical Terrorist or Physical Torturer depending on the day. I worked in Acute Care hospitals as a Physical Therapist.
My patient population were people who had knee/hip replacements, cardiac bypass, general surgery, spine surgery, neuro-surgery, etc.
It was a very rewarding profession but I started to burn out and wanted a fresh start at something different.
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Brie SchmidtBusiness Member
Moderator
Real Estate Broker · Chicago, IL · Member since 2013 · 6k+ posts · 5k+ votes
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I worked in corporate sales, mainly advertising and consumer marketing sales.
Podcast Guest on Show #132
Second City Real Estate4.821 Reviews
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Jonathan Trojan
Investor · Bradenton, FL · Member since 2015 · 34 posts · 12 votes
11y
Hi Margie, I deliver fuel for a construction company. 50 hours a week. I would rather put 60 hours a week in RE. This is my goal for 2016. One deal at a time. Jon Trojan
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Stuart Birdsong
Investor · Fort Collins, CO · Member since 2015 · 304 posts · 112 votes
11y
Fly Fishing Guide
3 Reply
Kyle Guida
Landscaper · Bloomingdale, IL · Member since 2015 · 34 posts · 5 votes
11y
one day i hope to just focus on RE but then i might be too bored doing just 1 thing haha, i run a landscaping company, referee hockey, and working on starting 2 new business's
0 Reply
Silvana Baez
Real Estate Agent · Seneca, SC · Member since 2015 · 3 posts · 0 votes
11y
I used to design kitchens. Now I manage our office building and growing my Real estate business in Seneca, SC
0 Reply
James Wise
Real Estate Broker · Cleveland Dayton Cincinnati Toledo Columbus & Akron, OH · Member since 2013 · 31k+ posts · 20k+ votes
11y
Sold, installed and repaired Invisible Fences. Before that I managed a Radioshack.
0 Reply
Tony SanFilippo
Real Estate Investor · Littleton, CO · Member since 2013 · 197 posts · 77 votes
11y
Sales Director for high tech / Internet business and owner of my own marketing company. Full time real estate since 2008.
0 Reply
Erik Nowacki
Investor · Las Vegas and Tulsa · Member since 2014 · 123 posts · 200 votes
11y
Attorney, mostly in real estate so it wasn't that long of a step...
0 Reply
Kathy Henley
Rental Property Investor · St. Louis, MO · Member since 2014 · 741 posts · 424 votes
11y
Wedding dress designer/seamstress. The second recession sent me looking for a new source of income. Found that I am very business minded and landed my current job in commercial property management. My exit strategy is in play.
1 Reply
Steve Vaughan
Rental Property Investor · East Wenatchee, WA · Member since 2014 · 10k+ posts · 16k+ votes
11y
Wait a minute @Stuart Birdsong- you quit being a fly fishing guide? That was my dream! River Runs Through It all the way!
Used to could be a cube-dwelling mutual fund trader.
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Curtis BidwellPro Member
Rental Property Investor · Olympia, WA · Member since 2014 · 781 posts · 744 votes
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Pastor (25 years). Now I consult, fill in, serve on non-profit boards, and do overseas ministry (Bible college teaching, consulting, conference, children's & orphanage work).
Podcast Guest on Show #95
1 Reply
Michael Hicks
Real Estate Investor · Rossville, GA · Member since 2014 · 218 posts · 96 votes
11y
Originally posted by @Devan Mcclish:

Full time student / agent / office max employee / umpire - referee.
Did you give up the umpire/referee gig? As my adult sports days are coming to an end, I think I want to umpire as a way of staying on the field. I love the smell of dirt on the baseball/ now softball field.
0 Reply
Stuart Birdsong
Investor · Fort Collins, CO · Member since 2015 · 304 posts · 112 votes
11y
@Steve Vaughan Believe it or not, I did. It was lots of fun, but being a parent changes things quite a bit. Cheers!
1 Reply
Amos Allen
Miami, FL · Member since 2015 · 11 posts · 0 votes
11y
Mailman and pro football player. CFL. Bc Lions and Toronto Argonauts
0 Reply
Tim Hoffman
Investor · Rockford, IL · Member since 2013 · 63 posts · 41 votes
11y
accountant, controller of a small manufacturing company. I am / was a CPA so numbers just come naturally.
0 Reply
John Reynolds
General Contractor · Saint Cloud, FL · Member since 2015 · 7 posts · 0 votes
11y
Still am a General Contractor have done plenty of rehabs for other investors now hoping to get further involved and do them for myself
0 Reply
Devan Mcclish
Investor · Nashville, TN · Member since 2015 · 688 posts · 607 votes
11y
@Michael Hicks no I'm still doing it. It's only about 8 hours a week. My business isn't big enough that I need to give it up yet
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Chris Soignier
Real Estate Broker · North Richland Hills, TX · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 607 votes
11y
I was a finance professional, and spent most of my career working for Dell Inc. in the Austin area. I was most recently a credit manager before taking the plunge to go full time in March.
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