Help me choose a new career.

CA has lots of people, lots of cars. There are no other auto repair shops, AC shops, etc. around within say a 15-30 minute drive? I know you live down a dirt road, maybe somewhat far out, but make concentric circles away from your home. Nothing? No opportunities?

Id suspect that CA is pretty miserable for starting a new business. Probably even worse for doing a business that includes hazmat/controlled CAA/EPA substances. But some folks must be doing it/making it. How? By accepting less money? How “well off”/successful was the owner of your prior company where you did AC work? Did you get insight into the business operations?

It seems like you have a niche that is the custom auto AC work. The barriers of entry for equipment and whatnot are probably high. What happened to all the equipment and tools when your prior company shut down? Can you overcome the barriers to entry (debt, costs of certain mandatory equipment, etc)?
 
Can you do an employee referral ?
Not really, I work in Phoenix and am in the corporate office. Don't have any ties in the shop. But they're hiring, and an application might lead to an interview. Even discussing what he likes, they could find him a more niche A/C job working on trucks or refrigerated trailers or something.
 
Would any of the lengthy advice/discussion in this thread still be of interest?

 
CA has lots of people, lots of cars. There are no other auto repair shops, AC shops, etc. around within say a 15-30 minute drive? I know you live down a dirt road, maybe somewhat far out, but make concentric circles away from your home. Nothing? No opportunities?

Id suspect that CA is pretty miserable for starting a new business. Probably even worse for doing a business that includes hazmat/controlled CAA/EPA substances. But some folks must be doing it/making it. How? By accepting less money? How “well off”/successful was the owner of your prior company where you did AC work? Did you get insight into the business operations?

It seems like you have a niche that is the custom auto AC work. The barriers of entry for equipment and whatnot are probably high. What happened to all the equipment and tools when your prior company shut down? Can you overcome the barriers to entry (debt, costs of certain mandatory equipment, etc)?
I am the only guy for miles,maybe a hour drive or more that can make these hoses and do custom stuff. I have all the equipment from my former employer too. See my pics a few posts up.

There is a hose place in town but they use compression fittings. Those bite into the soft aluminum pipe and leak. Mine are brazed/ welded. I will make a video soon showing how it's done :)
 
Unfortunately lots of people don’t like their job or career..... but need a paycheck to survive.

I‘ve met tons of people that are borderline depressed and have to drag themselves out of bed everyday and go to a terrible job.

No job is perfect.
 
Unfortunately lots of people don’t like their job or career..... but need a paycheck to survive.

I‘ve met tons of people that are borderline depressed and have to drag themselves out of bed everyda.

No job is perfect.
Agree but everyone is in control of their future.
You can do the same old thing you do everyday and complain or you can take charge of your life and make a change. Plus you live in the most easy place in this world to make that change. I mean, if you cant make it here, you wont make it anywhere.

Surviving on planet earth has never been more easy since mankind walked on this earth and of all places the USA and if your dragging yourself out of bed or depressed then you would have never survived to begin with. So pick oneself up and make something of your life, no one owes you anything and the USA is the easiest place in the world to live..
 
alarmguy,

I agree with you 100 %. Yes it’s a blessing to live in the USA with all the opportunities. 🇺🇲

America didn’t owe my dad anything when he came to this country in the early 1950’s with absolutely nothing after Hitler , then the communists chased him out of Europe. He was never bitter at what happened, he just accepted it and moved on to a much better life.

.
 
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I am the only guy for miles,maybe a hour drive or more that can make these hoses and do custom stuff. I have all the equipment from my former employer too. See my pics a few posts up.

There is a hose place in town but they use compression fittings. Those bite into the soft aluminum pipe and leak. Mine are brazed/ welded. I will make a video soon showing how it's done :)
Start your own shop. Advertise why they should chose you over generic do all shops. Part of your advertising will be educating the customer.
 
So true, alarmguy and Dave Hess. But, some people have a much taller wall to climb than others. Imagine being raised in a city slum with inferior education, poor/no parenting, and an ingrained lifestyle that does not teach honesty, integrity, work ethic, and the golden rule.

One can "read" the satisfaction that Chris142 had doing custom automotive A/C work. The writing is on the wall. He just has to figure out how to achieve his goals. He probably wishes not to sell his home and move, so that is a challenge. He will probably have to accept some new challenges and changes that makes him uncomfortable. I'm surprised that the basic concepts of building A/C is that much different than automotive A/C that he is reluctant to venture in that new direction.

What he needs are ideas to pursue his automotive A/C passion. Opening up one's own shop is not easy. Could he piggy-back a business into an already existing business? Find a strong independent garage that could support a full time A/C specialist that could fill in on other work when needed? Maybe he just needs to sell himself to prospective employer/partners?

Good luck Chris142. You know what it is like to wake up and go to two different types of jobs regarding satisfaction.
 
how about a government mechanical job for fixed hours, steady paycheck, pension plan, disability protection and health benefits, with some aircon work as a sideline to keep a hand in the business and maintain contacts? fast forward 20 years or so, retire as early as possible from government job and expand beloved sideline into something more, with a forever-secure pension and medical insurance as your financial foundation.
 
Unfortunately lots of people don’t like their job or career..... but need a paycheck to survive.

I‘ve met tons of people that are borderline depressed and have to drag themselves out of bed everyday and go to a terrible job.

No job is perfect.
That would be me! My boss never has anything nice to say. Never. He will come tearing into the shop screaming expletives and looking for me.

Next thing he says is usually something like. " You Just serviced #5,it's at a job site and won't start. Grab tools and go out there to see what you did wrong".

So I head out there wondering what I goofed up only to find that someone stole the batteries in the night so it had nothing to do with my work.

No wonder it won't start.

Another one was a small bobcat that won't move. I got to the site and it won't move because it's stuck on a stump.
 
That would be me! My boss never has anything nice to say. Never. He will come tearing into the shop screaming expletives and looking for me.

Next thing he says is usually something like. " You Just serviced #5,it's at a job site and won't start. Grab tools and go out there to see what you did wrong".

So I head out there wondering what I goofed up only to find that someone stole the batteries in the night so it had nothing to do with my work.

No wonder it won't start.

Another one was a small bobcat that won't move. I got to the site and it won't move because it's stuck on a stump.
What has the boss said after the explanation came out? Have you explained that his other mindless employees didn’t investigate, so put the blame in the right place?
 
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