I am passionate about angling, shouldn't I be working in the industry?

[Fishing Fanatic]

Hello,

I have a background in business - Bachelor of Science in Economics and Master of Business Administration. I am currently working for a large manufacturing company and have been "climbing the ladder" for the past 6 years. Throughout my experience, my vision of what a successful future holds in this industry is becoming much clearer. The problem...I'm not excited anymore.

I know that my gripe may not be well recieved during a time of economic recession. Don't get me wrong, I am extremely thankful that I am able to earn a good paycheck. It's just that I can't help but continue to believe that an opportunity exists for me to put my effort to use in an industry that I am passionate about. I have been completing applications and submitting resumes but believe that I have to make some contacts in order to get my foot in the door. I am thinking that attending trade shows and angling events with the intention of making those connections is my best bet for making it happen.

I guess what I am looking for by posting this is an opportunity to express myself and where I am at. I'd appreciate any encouragement, ideas, advice, etc. from those of you who do have a career you are passionate about.

Thank you

[Deitz Dittrich]

FF- as someone who does work in the industry part time, I can say this. It really depends on what you are wanting to do?.. You thinking of becoming a guide? You thinking of turning pro and hitting the tournament trail?.. You going to go into sales and or Rep group?

If going into sales and or Rep group I may have some advice for you, as that is what I work in. But I will tell you this. I am only part time, I know a lot of guys that are doing it full time and I can count on my hands and toes the number of time they get to fish a year.

[Fishing Fanatic]

Deitz,

First, thanks for the response.

I would love to fish the tourney trail but even if my family supported the lifestyle, I can easily recognize that my chances of supporting them are near zilch. I fish around a dozen small 1-day tourneys each season and consider it a great success if I break even on the entry fees alone.

Sales/Rep would be more along the lines of what I'm thinking. I am not looking to gain more time on the water through a career change (although that would be great ). I am happy occupying time reading and learning about related companies, products and such. It would feel like a dream to be managing sales contracts, analyzing market opportunities and so on for a tackle, boat, or equipment manufacturer for example. Some of the same sort of activies I am involved in now but in an industry I truly am interested in.

[Brad B]

my feeling on this subject is that if you take something that you have a passion for and turn it into a career you will lose the passion for it as time goes on. this happened to me back in the mid 90's when I went to work for a pro dog trainer. I enjoyed it at first then I lost the enjoyment of it. I ended up taking sometime off and decided to do something else as a job. doing this allowed me to enjoy the time I would train and compete with my personal dogs and never again I would take a thing I enjoy and turn it into a job or career.

[Scoot]

... and never again I would take a thing I enjoy and turn it into a job or career.

I always think of this too-- how many fishing guides do you know who go fishing on their day off, because they still love to fish? Not many. How many pro golfers just can't wait to get out and play a round of golf on their day off? Just about none. I'm not trying to be discouraging, but I think Brad make's a good point. That's kept me away from a career in the field for a long time.

[BobT]

The local bait shop came up for sale a few years back. I actually considered checking into the idea of buying that business. My thought was that I enjoy fishing and so it seemed like a dream career.

In the end I chose not to do it. Not because of the financial challenge, which would have been tremendous, but because it occurred to me that with this type of business I'd have to be working when everyone else was out enjoying what I wanted to be out enjoying.

I talked with a conservation officer one time about this when she stopped out in our goose blind. I found out that she enjoyed hunting and so I shared how I had once considered a career as a conservation officer but eventually decided against it because it would require that I work the hardest when I'd rather be out hunting.

She told me that to some degree this is true. She said that they (she and her colleagues) try to work it out so they can enjoy what they like to do too. For example, one officer may get to take opening fishing off, another may get opening firearms season off, another maybe the goose opener, etc. She did say that it certainly cut into her choices though.

[gunflint]

Fishing Fanatic, I have worked in the industry in a few different areas. I am one who guided and went fishing on my days off and even in the evening after an all dayer. I have also worked in the retail end of things. If you would like a little more insight and a suggestion or two, send me an email gunflintguide at gmail dot com.

[Getanet]

I haven't worked in the fishing industry, but I can say one of the best articles I read about following your passion was entitled, "Do what you love and you'll probably starve." The gist was instead of following your passion, you should identify what you do best and then identify what fields/industries are best suited for your skills.

You'd also have to factor in any potential pay difference. It may be great to think about having that spring in your step every day as you get to the office, but how happy would you be if it meant a significant pay decrease?

I'm not trying to rain on your parade. Good luck if you decide to give it a shot.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Don't quit your day job... but, you might consider something part-time, or your own small PT business venture into a related field.

I own a machining business and have developed a few products that I sell online. Perhaps you can come up with something to sell that you enjoy.

Another idea is to squirrel away another money to retire early and then get a hobby job in the industry (selling boats, tackle, etc.)

[guideman]

There is an old saying;

"The smartest man alive is the guy that figured out a way to go fishing and get paid for it".

Does that make me the smartest guy alive? Maybe not, but I do get paid for it.

On the fishing end of the business, there are very few that actually make a real living fishing.

Tournament fishing is a great life if you like to spend your life on the road all summer and spend the winter doing sport shows and trade shows for expence money.

Most of the big money trails are losing sponsors and finding it very difficult to stay alive. Even the best anglers spend thousands before they ever see any return on the investment of time and money. Free trucks and boats are reserved for guys on TV and everybody can fish as good or better than you can.

If it was easy, everybody would do it....

It's even tougher when you have a family to think about.

Pay days can be few and far between in the tournament game and guiding in Minnesota is a short season. Unless you guide on the ice and that means a substainal investment in that type of equipment. I would estimate that I have about 30 or $40,000.00 invested in my equipment and that doesn't include my truck and 2 boats.

The real money is in the sales end of the business, but those guys don't spend much time on the water. Most of the reps and sales people that I know make a decent living, but they spend a lot of time on the road away from their boats and their families.

Go for the dream if that is what you really want, but know this, there is always a price to pay for living the dream.

"Ace"

[Fishing Fanatic]

Boy, this was the right place to share my thoughts. I really appreciate all of you who provided your experiences and advice on the matter. After reading, I can see that all attempts at pursuing a career in what you love aren't successful...and for various reasons.

However, I am 100% sure that I would be one of those people who would fish for fun after a day with clients (if I were a guide). I AM one of those who would have no reservations about working additional hours or travelling, both of which I already do, if it were to have anything to do with fishing. I lay in bed at night & dream in the office - recreating past fishing outings, envisioning future outings, and trying to determine what the next innovation will be or where I could add value in the sport. Sometimes I believe I am sick with a fishing disease (my wife has diagnosed me luckily she enjoys the sport too). What I'm saying is that I am sure that I wouldn't lose the passion, and if I did I guess I'd have to consider myself healed

Now, I just have to find the right path...

[Deitz Dittrich]

With the economy as such as of late, many rep companies have had to let some people go.. I would wait for the economy to rebound and then maybe try and get your feet wet. talk to a rep company and offer to work a few events. Maybe it is for you.. As I said, I work part time for a hand full of Full time guys.. Of the 3 i know best, none of them get to fish much at all, they are always on the road. They have to invest with their own money something like $40,000 a year in samples to show stores, which then then have to work their tail off trying to sell and not loose their home.

I dont want it to sound like it cant be done.. obviously it can, as there are people that do it and do it well and make a decent living. I am just saying, its not the bed or roses many think it is.