So what does everyone here in the forum do for a living? (just very curious)

DJ_Pon3

Argos employee woophee....

goshe7

I'm just a dude. Who doesn't talk shop outside the employer's walls, if it can be avoided.

monkey_roo

Rather altruistically I thought I would resurrect this old thread.

Technically this isn’t what I do for a living yet, but is what I would like to do for a living. Writing.

In pursuit of actually make that come true I have finally published my first children’s book (the first of seven planned volumes in the series, charting the adventures of an eleven year old princess and her friends). The first book, “Olivia and the Family Secret: The Hamington Chronicles Volume1” is available on all the Amazon sites but the big ones are:

UK – http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00L2BXOJ0
UK – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L2BXOJ0
AU - http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00L2BXOJ0

My measure for being successful in my enterprise is when The Lego Group calls me up to ask if they turn my books into a line of figures and sets - A boy can dream can’t he… Actually my daughter was asking if would make custom sets for her, which will probably lead to posts in other threads down the road.

Bit of a plug really, so sorry about that but also a genuine post about how I hope to make a living one day.

legogal

monkey, that sounds cool! Way to go with the books! Many of us change careers several times and still manage to breathe. Has your first book made it to iTunes yet? If so, I will download a sample chapter. With my first grandchild on the way very, very soon, we definitely will be looking for books to read to/with her.

monkey_roo

Thanks @legogal and thanks everyone for the digital thumbs ups as well.

The book is not on iTunes and realistically I doubt it will be. As a 'self published' volume I effectively had to chose between Amazon and Apple.

Apple has a lovely IBook creator but it is proprietary and only works on apply PC's, (I don't own one) whereas Amazon's tool is open source and easy to use, but I had to sign exclusively to them for 90 days.

The only way to use both formats is to pay to have and Ipub version of the book made, and sadly my budget doesn't stretch that far. But the kindle reader for iPads is free, which is something.

Matthew

^ Apologies if I've got this completely wrong, but the only issue you have with publishing to Apple is lack of an Apple PC to create the file? If that's the case I know at least several forum members do - I'm sure you could come to an agreement with someone?

monkey_roo

^ no, you have the nub of the issue in one. When it was choosing the publishing format and platform I was reluctant to ask for help so that was a big factor in picking amazon, which only required MS Word as a source file.

Four month later and I am mostly past worrying about asking for help, I need every bit I can get. Once I am out of the 90 day exclusivity period I will certainly look at other platforms and providers so the sort of arrangement you are suggesting may well be advantageous.

CHERUBboy

Children's writer, the forum name is a giveaway!

Natebw

Optometrist. I specialize in pediatric care and get to talk LEGO and trade minifigures with kids at work, which is pretty sweet. :-)

dneul

I found the job of recreation instructor. What do I instruct? Lego classes. Quite a story as well. Part time but I do what I love.

Aanchir

I'm an intern at the local newspaper. I mostly help out with promotions and occasional office work like cleaning out or reorganizing storage rooms. Until recently it was the family business, but sadly we had to declare bankruptcy this year, and so it's now under new ownership.

I also intern at a local toy company's studio, building things from their creativity sets to post on their Facebook page. But I don't get paid for that. I have had absolutely no luck getting a paying job except through family connections, and sometimes that gets me really anxious and depressed.

I was in college to study industrial design in hopes of working for the LEGO Group, but all that resulted in was a year of emotional trauma that I'm still trying to get over. I don't know honestly if I'll ever be able to achieve that dream.

legogal

@aanchir, wow, that is a sad situation about the newspaper. What a brutal business these days.

It seems that you are in good company with most recent college/uni grads not having decent jobs several years out. My son graduated four years ago, and many of his friends are still working as waiters, fast food folks, ... It is a dismal scene. The best I can offer is to broaden your search not putting all your apples in one basket. And consider starting up a business on your own or with a partner. Hopefully you are not drowning in student debt as well.

Realistically TLG hires very few designers each year and the competition is just bonkers because there are so many talented and overqualified applicants. If you can find an internship with a company you like, that may be the way to get your foot in the door. My son volunteered with a company the last two years of college and finally got a full time position seven months after graduation. The pay is much lower than five years ago, but at least he has a job.

So please don't give up and do use all of the connections you can because finding a job is a bit like wrestling a bear. You will be surprised at the moves you didn't know you had until you are pushed to the edge by a charging bear. (Fortunately most bears do not charge or I would not be writing this!)

KiwiLegoMeister

the_real_indy said:

What about the people with over 500 sets?
Where does the cash come from?

OK; I admit to having well over 1,000 sets - 830 different, according to my inventory. Although that includes my daughter's sets, i.e. the full Friends range plus plus.
And that's only the sets I can account for (i.e. have the instruction booklets); for insurance purposes, I then added about 33% , to account for all the loose bricks, bulk bin-lots etc that I can't account for by set.
So where does the cash come from - A well paid IT job - data architect.
And lots of bargain hunting. My motto (at least for Lego acquisitions): "Never pay full price". Most toy shops have regular 20% off sales; sometimes up to 30%; and then there's 'keep an eye open for clearance sales'.

display_go

Manufacture custom parts to High-Tech Industries such as Wafer Fab, Robotics, and Medical Equipment.

As this market has slowed down in the US over the years, we have started designing Display Cases for collectibles. As a collector of various things myself (pez, lego, toys, etc) and having 3 young boys who are LEGO MANIACS I found that while times were slow in this industry, it would be best to put our capabilities to some FUN use!!!

ModelMama

I'm - wait for it - a mother.
Law / Philosophy graduate, worked kinda like an IT go-between at our National Library. A long while ago.
LEGO is every birthday / Christmas / romantic gesture present from husband for last couple of years. Plus all my pocket money. Maybe getting a paid job would be a really bad idea as then I could buy whatever I wanted. That's not as good as it sounds.

suprajames

I used to make video games for a studio own by Disney, but now I restore classic cars, mainly E-Type jags, classic Fords and American Muscle cars :) Before all that I worked in IT project management for a very large bank in London. Changed paths a few times :)

dolphins79

Dentist

Mojoest

I used to work as a recycling officer for a local council (which amongst other things is the person who thinks its a good idea to have a range of different bins and tries to enthuse others into the same mindset).

Following on from that I'm now a chartered waste manager (yes should a thing exists), working for a multinational engineering firm on a range of waste and recycling collection and treatment projects across the UK and Australia, (although as a lot of what I do data analysis and modelling, I'm still waiting to actually get a trip out to Oz :-( ).

oceanangel

Assassin Erm....I mean pysch student

Norlego

Part of my income comes from buying and selling Lego. So I build Lego most days for a month or 2, then do something else for a month or 2, then back to Lego. (I tend to stop building when cars, houses etc look like bricks to me.) Dont make a massive amount, but dont drive a Porche either... (Been off building for 7 weeks so back to building in 6 days time. Got lots of orders to build.)

jadedanc

Medically Retired Army medic...

rdflego

I'm an apprentice, customer service manager & office manager but I specialise in emergencies (like 999, but private). The industry I work in? Bus and coaches throughout Europe.

MorkMan

@jadedanc said:

Medically Retired Army medic...

Happy Veterans Day to you and all veterans!

nexander

Run a bar. If anyone wants space for a Glasgow meet up let me know

rancorbait

I remove and sell body parts...

Auto body parts that is :oP

Aspieteacher

I am a special education teacher with mild autism. I currently instruct students with moderate/severe disabilities in a high school-transition program.

bluedragon

Virologist- trying to rid the world of HIV.

ritztoys

I'm lucky enough to be retired, with enough ( $ ) to be able to build daily if I choose.
I'm currently building a 9Volt Train layout for Brickworld Indy in March, next year I'll add my version of Lego City to my train layout.
The best part is the wife really enjoys my hobby and participates whenever she can.

monkey

Law/philosophy researcher and lecturer at a university. My biggest problem is not buying lego, but finding the time to build. Maybe when I retire!..

WeezyCupcake

Medical Device Sales: I sell medical equipment to hospitals. My wifes and her whole family collect Lego's I've got way yo many Lego's and not enough space and time to build.

tomcatt

Short version: I work in IT for Royal Dutch Shell

Long version: I am the Global Product Owner for the OSIsoft PI software suite at Shell. My team determines how the software will be deployed across Shell (set standards for architecture, infrastructure, etc.) and then ensures all the various Shell assets follow the standards for deploying it. I also gather Shell's use cases for the software, and then ask the vendor (OSIsoft) to design their software so it meets our needs.

I really enjoy it, and it pays well so I can buy lots of LEGO! Problem is I never have time to play with my LEGO because I'm working all day. Need to make an early retirement plan :)

dagsbricks

Home designer. Tendencies towards smaller living, energy efficient, and material efficient. I stock house plans on my website plus do customs and commissions. Also releasing an ebook on tiny home design in a week or two.

jadedanc

Congrats on the book @dagsbricks‌

esaresky

I own and operate a power tool repair company. So basicly I take things apart and put them back together all day, not sure why I enjoy doing it again in at home with Lego's.

MorkMan

esaresky said:

I own and operate a power tool repair company. So basicly I take things apart and put them back together all day, not sure why I enjoy doing it again in at home with Lego's.

Habit. I crunch numbers in Excel spreadsheets all day, then volunteer to do work for my son's preschool to do it all again. And I can't help but be thinking about math and calculations when shopping at stores, so I guess it's ingrained/- or a habit!

margot

@dagsbricks, what's your website?

Solfami75

Hy everybody!
I am an italian lawyer

morgan4699

Company Director of my own engineering firm. I embarked on this particular tangent in life after becoming fed up with working for other people.

superstarbeejay

I'm a technology intelligence lead for a large engineering firm. Don't know quite how I ended up here but it is a great job. I get to fund work to investigate new technology and oversee new technology identification activities. I also dabble in consultancy in the social sciences domain. I've spent a hell of a lot on Lego in the last couple of years after getting back into it from a 20 year break.

drlmiles1

I'm a GP (family doctor) in practice with my wife in Merseyside. My wife does not really approve of my relatively recent Lego hobby...

markarm919

I'm a director of Information Technology...for a couple more weeks. I'm actually being laid off the middle of next month. That being said...My resume is ready and waiting for your request. :)

jadedanc

@drlmiles1‌ tell your wife it's great therapy. :) The Army therapists got me into it for ptsd.

rawbob

I'm an Aerospace Engineer (design) and former part time Musician (bass, guitar, vocals)

superstarbeejay

jadedanc said:

@drlmiles1‌ tell your wife it's great therapy. :) The Army therapists got me into it for ptsd.

I think many of us rediscovered Lego in later life due to its thereputic nature. I went to a business recently that had 2 Lego tables in its office for staff to play with to chill out.

Robatron86

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Controls Engineer.

Legopassion8

Construction. Everything is awesome!

I install HVAC systems! Residential.

MrGudz

I'm a Postie. And yes, it's getting busy!

Robatron86

Legopassion8 said:

Construction. Everything is awesome!

I install HVAC systems! Residential.

You fit them, I control them!

DitchAFOL

Process Engineer within the injection molding industry for consumer end packaging for EL, P&G, Hershey's, Ice Breakers, etc. Ultimate job would be doing this for Lego

Pitfall69

Solfami75 said:

Hy everybody!
I am an italian lawyer

Did you defend Amanda Knox?