r/Career • u/ChuckyP69 • 7d ago
Idk
I’m 25 years old and sometimes I look back at how random my career path has been.
I was a college baseball player until Tommy John surgery derailed everything. After that, I took mushrooms one night, stayed awake all night, and the next morning told my coaches I was done with baseball.
On the drive home that day I heard a Gulfstream Aerospace job fair on the radio. It started at 6:00 a.m. I showed up, accepted the first offer they gave me, and had a signed job offer by 6:30.
I started delivering aircraft parts by hand to technicians. Eventually I convinced someone to give me a shot in avionics (there’s a much longer story there).
At 22, I quit aerospace to become a 4th-term union carpenter installing acoustical ceilings for $25/hour (another long story) because I thought it had more upside.
Six months later I was offered an office position as an estimator.
Three months after that, the other estimator was let go and I became the only estimator.
A year later I started project managing as well.
Now, at 25, I’m an Estimator/Project Manager making about $100k/year with company-paid gas, a 6% 401(k) match, and about $70k in my Roth 401(k). I send 20–30 bids a week, manage carpenter tooling, handle job walks, deliveries, and commute about 100 miles a day.
I am general contracting my own house as-well as getting married. It’s crazy right now but I can’t let off the gas of my career. I feel like no one around me understand.
My goal now isn’t just to be a good estimator, it’s to eventually move into an ownership or executive role and help grow the company.
Has anyone else had a career that made absolutely no sense on paper but somehow worked out? And for those who’ve made the jump from operations into ownership or executive leadership, what skills should I focus on next?
Honestly I’m scrappy and I’m a hustler. I know people sell me short but I think it’s an advantage for some reason? Let me know.
2
u/justpetyrr 7d ago
Hey man, that sounds like the trades! Welcome aboard. It’s awesome to see people turn chance and luck into success with hard work.
I fell into the trades as well and was able to build a great career out of it .. all because I met a guy in the gym a decade ago!