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March 7th, 2008, 04:32
| #1 |
| Old Skool  Join Date: May 2006 Location: Live in Arlington, TX - From Ithaca, NY - Wish I was on an island in Fiji
Posts: 1,950
|  Left Comfort Zone - Scared!!
Ugghhhh....Insomnia... Today is the last day of my comfortable $70k/yr cube farm job. I will be out of work for almost 2 months, living off my wife's salary to pay our finite bills, and my savings for everything else, while I complete my CMEL and then CFI, II, and MEI. I am excited, yet scared to death. On the one hand, I am thrilled to be that much closer to the dream, had since childhood, of being a professional pilot. On the other, I am afraid a good paying job was just thrown to the side, in a time of economic turmoil, to pursue something that sometimes appears barely within reach. It seems when I decided on this path two years ago, the airlines were looking like an easy option. Today, with major regionals like Xjet preluding to possible furlough, I just hope I find a seat before the music stops again. Otherwise, it is back to the cube farm with my tail between my legs! Not sure if I could stomach that. Thanks so much to everyone here for fantastic mentorship and advice. I am headed back to the bed to try and get a few hours of sleep before my last day.
__________________ AMEL, ASEL, IFR Gold Seal Instructor, CFI, CFII, MEI, IGI 725TT 300ME Ex- USAF C141B Crewmember Ex- Cube Monkey Getting paid to fly! (little stuff) |
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March 7th, 2008, 06:15
| #2 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 301
| Re: Left Comfort Zone - Scared!!
Congrats on taking a huge leap towards your goals!
__________________ "I wish people would stop using "national security" when they mean "fear" or "downright stupidity"." - Chief Captain If you're not cheating, you're not trying |
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March 7th, 2008, 09:02
| #3 |
| Super Moderator  | Re: Left Comfort Zone - Scared!!
WoW! Talk about an exciting time. Envious my brother, Envious I say! Let us know how it's going!   For being able to chase the dream.
__________________ : : : “One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure its worth watching.” |
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March 7th, 2008, 09:32
| #4 |
| Old Skool  | Re: Left Comfort Zone - Scared!!
Awesome. Congrats! I'm most excited about not having to read those "where oh where should I train" threads anymore.  (I kid.... I kid!)And I feel you about taking the leap. I didn't have to do any training to leap, but I left a higher paying job than yours to do this stuff. And I'm not even flying jets or wearing a uniform  . Couldn't be happier. Have fun with it, and try and stay out of the industry BS, brother.
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March 7th, 2008, 09:41
| #5 |
| Old Skool  Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: "A" on the Q
Posts: 4,223
 | Re: Left Comfort Zone - Scared!!
Don't ever be afraid to follow your dream! I did, as have others, and have never looked back! You are understandably nervous of the unknown, but you will be fine...Just believe in yourself and enjoy the ride.
__________________ Colgan Q-400 FA/ATS, Union Rep and Hotel Committee First Lady of the JC Mini-Conservative Movement Opinions are like a-holes, we all have one! |
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March 7th, 2008, 10:09
| #6 |
| Senior Member  Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Brooklyn,NY
Posts: 426
| Re: Left Comfort Zone - Scared!!
Good luck! Great news. Very inspirational. Two thumbs up! I have to side with Ian, stay out of the industry BS. Just enjoy every moment of your dreams!
__________________ "The tragedy of life doesn't lie in not reaching your goals! The tragedy lies in having no goals to reach."  |
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March 7th, 2008, 10:14
| #7 |
| Old Skool  Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Big D
Posts: 2,139
| Re: Left Comfort Zone - Scared!!
Congrats. "Welcome to the suck." 
__________________ "All I ask is a fast ship, and a STAR to steer her by." "Be the change you want to see in the world." - Gandhi |
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March 7th, 2008, 10:18
| #8 |
| Junior Member  Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 199
| Re: Left Comfort Zone - Scared!!
DON'T DO IT!!!!! Kidding! I don't miss it one bit. Guess I never made a formal post for "the switch", but it's weird: it's like I was never in that other job. Welcome to the other side! |
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March 7th, 2008, 10:57
| #9 |
| Senior Member  Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tucson
Posts: 1,024
| Re: Left Comfort Zone - Scared!!
Good for you. It will be the greatest decision you have ever made. I know b/c I've been there!
__________________ I want to die like my grandfather did, peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming in terror like his passengers. |
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March 7th, 2008, 11:02
| #10 |
| Senior Member  Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Antonio TX
Posts: 641
| Re: Left Comfort Zone - Scared!!
Jeremy, I know the feeling! It is not an easy one. Stepping out of your comfort zone is really hard sometimes. I think I will be right behind you though...OS aviation is looking really good to me right now! If I can swing it I might try to head over there the first week of April! Good luck and be sure to let me know what you think of OS when you get back with your new CSEL/CMEL tickets in hand! |
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March 7th, 2008, 11:34
| #11 |
| Old Skool  Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Inside your OODA loop
Posts: 7,181
| Re: Left Comfort Zone - Scared!!
Li'l story.... Back in early December, I had just landed in Olympia, WA and standing on the ramp when my cell phone rang. It was a technical recruiter, wondering if I was available for a contract assignment. My reply: "Sorry, I've left the programming field." Uttering those words gave me the greatest feeling in the world!
__________________ ________|________ -------(o)- ------° ° ° |
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March 7th, 2008, 13:38
| #12 | |
| Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 199
| Re: Left Comfort Zone - Scared!! Quote:
 Nothing gives me greater joy than telling a recruiter that I'm not in IT anymore. Just did it yesterday, in fact... | |
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March 7th, 2008, 14:11
| #13 |
| Old Skool  Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: ATL
Posts: 2,073
| Re: Left Comfort Zone - Scared!!
Strap in, and hang tight, its gunna be a wild ride. Good Luck!
__________________ Comm-ASEL, MEL, Inst. CFI, CFII, MEI TT: 700 Part 121 ATR72 FO B.S. Aviation Management-Business Minor Southeastern Oklahoma State University Cum Laude Graduate |
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March 7th, 2008, 14:46
| #14 |
| Senior Member  Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Philly
Posts: 844
| Re: Left Comfort Zone - Scared!! Congrats man! The feeling of handing in the letter of resignation is pure joy, knowing you are making your path through life. It gets hard not having the disposable income, but every time I step in the plane I know it is well worth it.Good luck! |
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March 7th, 2008, 16:09
| #15 |
| Old Skool  Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: DFW, based back in EWR, wishing I was in Maine
Posts: 3,958
 | Re: Left Comfort Zone - Scared!!
It certainly will be a wild ride! I know how much effort and consideration you and your wife have put into this desicion so I know you two will make it work. Keep your spirits up... and my this time next month... I guarauntee that you won't miss your old job at all. Bob
__________________ My head is in the clouds and my heart is still in Maine... but my devotion and love belong to my wife and children. Pics! |
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March 7th, 2008, 17:42
| #16 |
| Old Skool  Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: on the mountain over the fog . . .
Posts: 2,341
| Re: Left Comfort Zone - Scared!!
Good luck and congratulations on being true to yourself. We'll be here for you!
__________________ Shoot for the moon . . . if you miss, you'll be among the stars! You may refer to me as Commodore . . . |
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March 7th, 2008, 18:32
| #17 | |
| Old Skool Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Inside your OODA loop
Posts: 7,181
| Re: Left Comfort Zone - Scared!! Quote:
__________________ ________|________ -------(o)- ------° ° ° | |
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March 7th, 2008, 22:25
| #18 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In the sticks
Posts: 663
| Re: Left Comfort Zone - Scared!!
Good luck.
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March 8th, 2008, 10:59
| #19 |
| Old Skool  Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: CFI / CFII in PA
Posts: 2,758
| Re: Left Comfort Zone - Scared!!
Good job, cube monkey. Glad to hear you're following a desire over selling your soul. |
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March 8th, 2008, 12:07
| #20 |
| Old Skool  Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: KMKE
Posts: 2,036
| Re: Left Comfort Zone - Scared!!
Sooner than later, you'll be telling some student pilot about how you joined the brother and sisterhood of men and women who brave the financial hardship of starting out in this business and they'll be all ears scared to death for you but still wishing they were in your shoes already. Then, you'll know that you've arrived in your new and quite quaint comfort zone. Welcome! 
__________________ British Airways flight asks for push back clearance from terminal. Control Tower replies: "And where is the world's most experienced airline going today without filing a flight plan?" |
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March 8th, 2008, 12:13
| #21 |
| Old Skool  Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Elk Grove, CA
Posts: 2,248
| Re: Left Comfort Zone - Scared!!
Good for you and your wife!! As your wife no doubt supports you, you both will be happier in the long run when you're able to do for a living what you love!! Whenever you're ready, no doubt you'll be able to get a recommendation from anybody on here...just name the place!! |
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March 8th, 2008, 21:10
| #22 |
| Junior Member  Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Gilbert, AZ
Posts: 114
| Re: Left Comfort Zone - Scared!!
Good luck! I'm also a career changer (33, former Pharmacist Recruiter, Fortune 100 company) and just finished my last CFI rating (MEI, CFI-single, CFI-I through ATP self-paced program) and will be interviewing at a couple flight schools next week. Keep your eye on the prize, put the same effort into school as you did work (which will be easy), and you'll be fine. The road seemd very long at times but I constantly remembered the day I decided to make the switch. All career changers probably remember that particular day - when you just couldn't bring yourself to turn on the computer in the morning knowing what was waiting in the inbox, or dreaded coming in and seeing the voicemail light on the phone on knowing there were 20 messages with BS problems that needed to be solved RIGHT NOW and that light had been on since 5 minutes after you left at 9pm the night before. From the outside it seems like a dream job - inside a nice climate controlled building, not physical labor, well paying. But to some (me and probably other career changers as well) those things weren't worth what the job took from us - BS meetings, soul sucking Corporate Culture, and the fact that on a 1 hr daily commute you knew over half the license plates around you at any given time because you were all in the same pack of sheep. Do not worry - you made the right decision! Give it hell! |
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March 9th, 2008, 00:16
| #23 | |
| Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Philly
Posts: 844
| Re: Left Comfort Zone - Scared!! Quote:
I am considering going back to work at a corporate job while I train so I have health care and can pay cash to fly. But I will be doing it with the end game in sight. | |
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March 12th, 2008, 21:50
| #24 |
| Junior Member  | Re: Left Comfort Zone - Scared!!
Congratulations! I'm a career changer too (just went to the accountant today to figure out how to swing the temporary lack of income). But you're a step ahead of me and I'm already envious. Good luck with everything, it will be worth it.
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