Career changes

[Further]

have any of you changed career paths later on in life? I applied a while back but just got accepted into a two year program in Enology and Viticulture (winemaking and related fields) and have decided at the age of 40 to go back to school and learn something completely new. I'll be moving to Walla Walla for school and Im very nervous about the prospect of leaving behind everything I've grown familiar with.

In my last job as a research assistant in a cancer research laboratory our grant funds ran out and once again I was going to have to scramble to find a new, low paying job. I just got tired of low pay and low security, but mostly wanted to do something that built a foundation for me to create a more fulfilling career, one that ends in ownership and self-reliance. Anyway, I'm freaked out but excited. Anyone else been through a similar situation?

 

[Haakzilla]

...I've learned that career paths don't define you, the journey does that for you -- enjoy the ride!

 

[donkiez]

I'll be moving to Walla Walla for school and Im very nervous about the prospect of leaving behind everything I've grown familiar with.

Thats the part you should look forward to. Life is full of new challenges and getting out of your rut will help you appreciate the little things. You will have a whole new life, filled with new experiences and you will have the opportunity to build new habits and routines.

 

[Cryptkeeper]

I was a forum moderator and now I'm a global moderator...

 

[Sedatedfork]

Sounds exciting. I am contemplating a career change, but I am in a situation where it doesn't make sense.

 

[Denny Crane]

Central Oregon desperately needs realtors.

I bet the school costs $250 for a few weeks and you can make big bucks.

 

[Further]

Central Oregon desperately needs realtors.

I bet the school costs $250 for a few weeks and you can make big bucks.

I'm not just looking for money, although that's part of it. I'm looking for a job I'm excited to do, in an atmosphere I want to spend my days in. And the potential to build my own little world. For me, wine makes sense. And I already have a friend who wants to start buying vinyard property for the future, he would be in charge of the animals and non-grape farming portions of the property and I the grapes and winemaking.

My mom just retired as realtor so I'm quite familiar with that path too. It's a great choice for many, just doesn't fit my wants. If it were just money, I have a business degree and used to be a manager in market research. I hated that. Money isn't enough.

 

[Denny Crane]

I'm not just looking for money, although that's part of it. I'm looking for a job I'm excited to do, in an atmosphere I want to spend my days in. And the potential to build my own little world. For me, wine makes sense. And I already have a friend who wants to start buying vinyard property for the future, he would be in charge of the animals and non-grape farming portions of the property and I the grapes and winemaking.

My mom just retired as realtor so I'm quite familiar with that path too. It's a great choice for many, just doesn't fit my wants. If it were just money, I have a business degree and used to be a manager in market research. I hated that. Money isn't enough.

It was a subtle joke.

Central Oregon needs a GOOD realtor.

 

[Further]

Ha, allergies bad and obviously my mucus got in the way of my sense of humor.

 

[Denny Crane]

Frankly, it seems like you have a lot invested in the research thing. The government has dumped many $billions into it, but there's a LOT to be done still.

 

[Further]

Frankly, it seems like you have a lot invested in the research thing. The government has dumped many $billions into it, but there's a LOT to be done still.

I really enjoy it, but I would need to go back for a masters at minimum to earn more money, and even with a masters I'd only be looking at a small increase. A doctorate would get me there, but that's at least four years devoted to something that only the extreemly bright succeed at, and I'm a dullard. I could go the private sector, but the jobs there that truly exploratory, interesting and pay well are rare completion is fierce.

The research being done is amazing and very worthwhile for the most part, just not by me.

 

[Denny Crane]

Not to derail the thread, but this is interesting.

http://dtp.nci.nih.gov/timeline/noflash/milestones/m4_nixon.htm

 

[Denny Crane]

And this:
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/08/more-money-won-t-win-the-war-on-cancer/279100/

There was a great mini-series on PBS a couple weeks ago by Ken Burns, discussing cancer and treatments and research. Good stuff.

http://video.pbs.org/program/story-cancer-emperor-all-maladies/

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

have any of you changed career paths later on in life? I applied a while back but just got accepted into a two year program in Enology and Viticulture (winemaking and related fields) and have decided at the age of 40 to go back to school and learn something completely new. I'll be moving to Walla Walla for school and Im very nervous about the prospect of leaving behind everything I've grown familiar with.

In my last job as a research assistant in a cancer research laboratory our grant funds ran out and once again I was going to have to scramble to find a new, low paying job. I just got tired of low pay and low security, but mostly wanted to do something that built a foundation for me to create a more fulfilling career, one that ends in ownership and self-reliance. Anyway, I'm freaked out but excited. Anyone else been through a similar situation?

I left a stable job at a CPA firm with a path that would likely have eventually allowed me to become a partner for a job in the wine industry. The wine industry is so much fun. I have learned so much about production (though I'm on the office and management side of things). Thus far, I have been with my current job for half the time I worked in public accounting, but the opportunities and amazing experiences I've had at the new job have been ten-fold the previous job. Dive in. Enjoy it.

We are considering selling our house, buying some land, and developing a small vineyard to dive even a little deeper into the industry.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Central Oregon desperately needs realtors.

I bet the school costs $250 for a few weeks and you can make big bucks.

Well, until interest rates go up, then zero people will be buying.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Frankly, it seems like you have a lot invested in the research thing. The government has dumped many $billions into it, but there's a LOT to be done still.

You don't make any money unless you're in sales or the business side of things. I interviewed for these lab jobs, and it looked depressing.

Do what you love though, I hate what I'm doing, I'm making ok money but i'm pretty miserable the rest of the time. If you enjoy your work, I think your overall hapiness would be better.

 

[MarAzul]

have any of you changed career paths later on in life? I applied a while back but just got accepted into a two year program in Enology and Viticulture (winemaking and related fields) and have decided at the age of 40 to go back to school and learn something completely new. I'll be moving to Walla Walla for school and Im very nervous about the prospect of leaving behind everything I've grown familiar with.

In my last job as a research assistant in a cancer research laboratory our grant funds ran out and once again I was going to have to scramble to find a new, low paying job. I just got tired of low pay and low security, but mostly wanted to do something that built a foundation for me to create a more fulfilling career, one that ends in ownership and self-reliance. Anyway, I'm freaked out but excited. Anyone else been through a similar situation?

Yes, a few times now. One time it was kind a unknown what the heck was going to happen. I retired, and bought a ranch with some farm land on it. Went to UC Davis and got their ag books, got the whole coarse. Read it in about three week and went farming. Did it for about 6 and half years, made a little money along the way but not much, the help I hired at minimum wage was making more than me, but I like the work. When my depreciation time on capital equipment ran out and I was actually going to have to pay taxes, I sold the place. Turned out pretty good, made about 400k on the place and carried a contract of 200k @ 8% when I sold.

Decided to take up my all time favorite then, Naval Architecture. Don't know how that will turn out, sold a few plans for a few K, but we shall see.

 

[Further]

I left a stable job at a CPA firm with a path that would likely have eventually allowed me to become a partner for a job in the wine industry. The wine industry is so much fun. I have learned so much about production (though I'm on the office and management side of things). Thus far, I have been with my current job for half the time I worked in public accounting, but the opportunities and amazing experiences I've had at the new job have been ten-fold the previous job. Dive in. Enjoy it.

We are considering selling our house, buying some land, and developing a small vineyard to dive even a little deeper into the industry.

Well I'm following your lead into the industry. In the past I worked some fine dining restaurants which gave me my first serious look into the wine world. Also, every few years I go to France, usually a family vacation, and spend a good portion of my time visiting the wineries, tasting and just enjoying the life. but aside from that, the field is really new to me. I just read a textbook so I'd have a little background, but mostly I'm a complete novice.

There are only 30 people a year accepted into the program, so I should get more than enough guidance and exposure to the wine world. The school grows 14 varietals and the students will be responsible for making couple dozen wines per year. Also, really exciting is we will be tasting over 1500 wines in class during the program.

I'm not totally sure what I want to stress, winemaking, viticulture, wine science techniques, import/export, but we will be learning all of that and more. last night to celebrate the acceptance letter, my family drank a few bottles of áMaurice Melbec, super tasty Walla Walla wine. By the time the bottles were drained I was more secure than ever with my new found course.

Where are you guys thinking of getting land? Are there specific varietals you want to grow?

 

[Denny Crane]

FWIW, I've been to EJ Gallo and seen their operation. A few times.

The town (Modesto) is a ghost town since the recession, and I think I saw actual tumbleweeds rolling through the intersections where there were no cars but the streetlights still working.

The company is so big if they opened their own cafeteria, they'd put the local restaurants out of business.

It's not likely to be similar to the smaller vineyards you guys describe, but Gallo buys a lot of them.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

FWIW, I've been to EJ Gallo and seen their operation. A few times.

The town (Modesto) is a ghost town since the recession, and I think I saw actual tumbleweeds rolling through the intersections where there were no cars but the streetlights still working.

The company is so big if they opened their own cafeteria, they'd put the local restaurants out of business.

It's not likely to be similar to the smaller vineyards you guys describe, but Gallo buys a lot of them.

Gallo is one of the biggest wine conglomerates in the country, if not world. Their operation is unlike nearly all others.

 

[Denny Crane]

Gallo is one of the biggest wine conglomerates in the country, if not world. Their operation is unlike nearly all others.

It's a privately held company. Like $4B in revenues.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

It's a privately held company. Like $4B in revenues.

Exactly my point.

My boss has a partnership with another of the US's big conglomerates. I've worked with 300+ wineries in the NW, have friends that work with wineries all over the globe. The work and typical winery Further would be associated with would be fairly typical for the NW, but so different from the names we're familiar with.

 

[barfo]

have any of you changed career paths later on in life?

Yep. Gave up my career as a male prostitute when I realized I was holding the other male prostitutes back, being so gorgeous and all. Became a government employee and union member so that I could live off of other people's taxes. Now I drive a Cadillac and use my food stamps to buy escargot and wine coolers.

barfo

 

[MarAzul]

Modesto! Got stuck in Modesto when the Grey Hound bus broke down about a mile out of town. Had to walk to Modesto and wait at the Bus station there until another came. It came the next day. There was no Gallo wine there. Damn! What a place, Denny's right, tumbleweed do roll through town. When that Merle Haggard song "Oh Lord Stuck in Lodi Again" was released, I could relate. Lodi, Modesto, same same.

 

[jlprk]

Not to derail the thread, but this is interesting.

http://dtp.nci.nih.gov/timeline/noflash/milestones/m4_nixon.htm

You thought that this would be just the right time to introduce a 44-year-old article about Nixon's State of the Union speech. He included a paragraph about cancer funding. Well sure. It fits right in. For once it didn't change the thread's momentum, because this time everyone ignored you.

Cancer has been around forever, like climate change. Scientists are motivated by money. Some research is a lie. You can't fight nature. Que sera, sera. Survival of the fittest.

Oh wait, rich conservatives get cancer! Uh, reverse the previous paragraph.

 

[barfo]

Modesto! Got stuck in Modesto when the Grey Hound bus broke down about a mile out of town. Had to walk to Modesto and wait at the Bus station there until another came. It came the next day. There was no Gallo wine there. Damn! What a place, Denny's right, tumbleweed do roll through town. When that Merle Haggard song "Oh Lord Stuck in Lodi Again" was released, I could relate. Lodi, Modesto, same same.

It was Creedence Clearwater Revival, but yes.

barfo

 

[MarAzul]

It was Creedence Clearwater Revival, but yes.

barfo

Ah yes. Just about my favorite group. Glad you are paying attention.

 

[Denny Crane]

You thought that this would be just the right time to introduce a 44-year-old article about Nixon's State of the Union speech. He included a paragraph about cancer funding. Well sure. It fits right in. For once it didn't change the thread's momentum, because this time everyone ignored you.

Cancer has been around forever, like climate change. Scientists are motivated by money. Some research is a lie. You can't fight nature. Que sera, sera. Survival of the fittest.

Oh wait, rich conservatives get cancer! Uh, reverse the previous paragraph.

More like Nixon started government funding massive amounts for cancer research. It's 40 years later and still no cure found. Though the survivor rate for some forms is 90% or better if caught early.

I thought the information might be of interest to Further, who started this thread. Him being a cancer researcher and all.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Well I'm following your lead into the industry. In the past I worked some fine dining restaurants which gave me my first serious look into the wine world. Also, every few years I go to France, usually a family vacation, and spend a good portion of my time visiting the wineries, tasting and just enjoying the life. but aside from that, the field is really new to me. I just read a textbook so I'd have a little background, but mostly I'm a complete novice.

There are only 30 people a year accepted into the program, so I should get more than enough guidance and exposure to the wine world. The school grows 14 varietals and the students will be responsible for making couple dozen wines per year. Also, really exciting is we will be tasting over 1500 wines in class during the program.

I'm not totally sure what I want to stress, winemaking, viticulture, wine science techniques, import/export, but we will be learning all of that and more. last night to celebrate the acceptance letter, my family drank a few bottles of áMaurice Melbec, super tasty Walla Walla wine. By the time the bottles were drained I was more secure than ever with my new found course.

Where are you guys thinking of getting land? Are there specific varietals you want to grow?

That sounds really cool - seems like you're getting into a solid program and you'll get to work with a lot of varietals. Walla Walla is a cool area, and some great wineries are out there (áMaurice is a solid winery; I'm acquaintances with the owner of Figgins Family Wines, another great producer out there). Very different climate than the Valley here. Much warmer varietals out that way.

We've looked here in the valley, as far south as Elkton. We're open, but being in the valley towards Newberg/Dundee/Carlton is definitely preferred. Depending on the property, Pinot Noir would be the big consideration, but I'd like to do a small block of Riesling, and perhaps some Gewurz.

 

[DaLincolnJones]

Gallo is one of the biggest wine conglomerates in the country, if not world. Their operation is unlike nearly all others.

Just to toss in my two cents, Further, you could apply the education already at hand and take a position at a large producer like Gallo. This would give you a chance to see if it would be something you would really enjoy.

My niece completed an internship as a chemical engineer at Gallo, had great things to say about the company. The notoriety of having been at Gallo brought many offers to her for her next internship, in fact one company created a position just to bring her in..Ghirardellis..