Outsourcing Jobs and USA's Greed
Thank you Fengzi. As I was telling Dr. Hashman, it is much easier for me to understand your point of view if I know the background.
BTW, I finally got accurate figures on my fiance's company. I was looking in the wrong place, so I asked him about it today.
Revenue of 4.2 billion for 4th quarter fy06. (I knew there was a 2 and a 4 involved.;) )
Operating profit of 326 million.
Looking over your post, it seems to me that you are coming from your viewpoint as personally as I am coming from mine. People that are very dear to each of us are affected in different ways by outsourcing, to the good on your end, to the negative on my end.
Sorry about your stock losses. My mom lost a bunch of her retirement fund one year, when she was only 3 years from retirement and didn't know if she'd be able to recoup a loss that large. That is not a good feeling.
Outsourcing Jobs and USA's Greed
Here is where I come from financially:
My dad grew up on a small corn farm in Iowa, he was one of 4 brothers. When he was 18 he hitchhiked to California, and was a Janitor in a daycare in exchange for being able to live at the facility (in a storage closet). He also worked in a warehouse for a company (can't mention what field exactly, but it is electric like). He then memorized the catalog, and proved through hard work that he was a good worker. Eventually get was moved into the office doing petty work, he excelled and then moved into sales. He was the #1 salesman after only 3 months. He then attended night class at a community college but only finished 2 years.
He got a big break when a regional distribution company in that field went broke (the office that went broke had 8 employees). My dad moved to the area and setup an office with another another person. My dad did all the work, bought out his co-owner, and hired a secretary and a engineer. Now my dad has 30 people working for him and he has sole distribution rights to 8 states and contracts with major stores (where you guys probably buy alot of stuff). So from corn farmer to multi-millionaire...
And now a couple other things... 25% return? wow... I am an avid investor (IPOs, venture capital, stocks, and a bit of bonds) and 25% is really good. Most I have made in one year is 22% average return, but then again I have only been investing 3 years and that was mostly from an venture capital investment that was really successful.
Outsourcing Jobs and USA's Greed
Hashman, knowing what you know about how your dad worked his way up the ranks, do you feel like you have a similar chance in the current economic climate to do the same?
I'm asking because I know quite a few people who were raised to believe that if you worked hard, you'd succeed, and they've found that's it's not always so. What say you?
Outsourcing Jobs and USA's Greed
Considering that I am already successful in my opinion, I think I will do well. I have been reading books on investing, business, economics, and governments since I was young. When I turn 18 in a few months I am going to start selling Arbonne products (a multi-level marketing company that sells healthy skin and body products) just so I can learn how to sell. I have always had a dream of retiring young and writing travel books while sailing/flying around the world. I love flying and I love sailing. My grandpa (moms side) has a nice yacht that I love and my mom's friends all have airplanes, but one day I want to own some of my own. I also want to setup small villages in third world countries and build wells, hospitals, ect. I have been volunteering with a group called Flying Samaritans for a couple years and have done alot of work with them. That info was to show that I am not a greedy person who wants to have a huge corporation.
How about you? Have you worked hard to try to become successful?
Outsourcing Jobs and USA's Greed
Quote:
Originally Posted by medicinal
Outsourcing didn't start last year, it's been going on for a very long time. Yet, the economy grows and unemployment falls. Hmmm, makes you wonder doesn't it.
It certainly does. I believe the numbers are skewed, on purpose, to make us feel better about our crashing economy. The only ones doing well in this economy are the upper crust. The people with large stock portfolios and upper management. You are right about one thing, when the average consumer can't afford to consume, the walls will come crashing in. Hey, every civilization has it's day and we've had ours, now like all of the rest of them, greed is about to bring it down. Moving to a cheaper country has a few drawbacks, like safety, health care, leaving all your friends and family etc., but might be the only alternative for people like me living on social security and a small pension. When I was in Mexico a couple of years ago, I got to talking with a mexican citizen and we were discusing incomes. I informed him that I only recieved about 1500.00 a month. He said I could live very well on that. Of course after I sold out here, I'd have a few hundred K to re-establish my abode with. He raised 5 children on about 800.00 a month and bought a house and had a decent car, so I believed him. If it gets much worse in my neighborhood (illegals buying in), I might as well move to mexico anyway where I could live well on my meager retirement, I already speak a little spanish, uno, dos tres quatro, etc.
I agree 100% move to mexico.... dont let the door hit ya.
Outsourcing Jobs and USA's Greed
I've worked on paper since I was 14. Before that, I had your usual kid jobs, babysitting, paper delivery, yard work. In my late teens (17ish) I wound up in retail management, first a bakery, then a hair salon. I foolishly decided to keep working rather than accept my full ride to Mt. Holyoke. I thought I'd "take a year off" then go to school. After managing a movie theater, I found myself divorced, in another city, and working in a restaurant. By then I was 21-22. Sometimes that whole 2 years seems like a blur. If anything, my life has been an example of what not to do. I went to a trade school to try to make a quick turnaround, only to discover I hated my trade ;) I wound up tending bar and dancing for 4 years or so, then went back into retail management. At some point (26?) I met my 2nd husband, and had two children one at 29, the other at 32. I stayed home with them, and started building indoor tabletop fountains and making custom greeting cards and stationery. This went well until my then husband decided that crack was a helluva drug. I found myself divorced again, and in a battered women's shelter. Starting over, I finally went to school (fulltime) and majored in Technical Communications while working fulltime for an IT company, doing something I can't really classify to this day. My official job title was CyberTech. Whatever the hell that means. Anyhow it paid well and afforded me flexibility for school.
After trying rather unsuccessfully to get a job in my field, I settled for craptacular administrative positions while I continued applying for jobs in my field, all the while becoming disillusioned at the amount of lying and asskissing required. Which is really funny considering my field is based entirely on lying and asskissing. Que sera sera. I've also done construction and roofing. My crackhead ex was a contractor, so I have experience.
In 2003 I met and married some dick in the Army. He didn't want his wife working. When he left for Iraq, I took a job in a tattoo shop, to give me something to do during the day, and for free ink.:D Then I went back to dancing, to make some money instead of just ink. Something told me I'd need a little financial cushion. Lo and behold I was right. He came back from Iraq acting sketchy as fuck...sleeping with a loaded handgun in the bed, screaming at the kids, slamming me up against the wall. One night, I dropped my kids off at my mom's, went to work, and never went back home.
At this point, I've been out of the legit work force for 2 years. So I kept dancing while I was getting my ducks in a row. I met my current fiance during this time (2005, and no, not in the bar. A friend introduced us) Then one rainy night, I didn't have my glasses on (I can't see well in the dark at all) and I wrecked my car, nearly killing myself in the process. They had to cut the windshield and sort of squish me out. I was hospitalized for 2 weeks, and recovering for much longer than that. Due to my injuries, I believed dancing to be out of the question. Surprisingly, 6 weeks later my boss begged me to come back to work. However, my fiance encouraged me to go back to the professional workforce, which I have been trying to do ever since last summer, and am growing increasingly frustrated with. In the meantime, I fix computers for a living. Under the table naturally.;) I'll be 38 this May. I feel like I've worked hard indeed, although success wasn't really my goal, at least not the way most people define it.
I've always wanted to just be happy, and raise well adjusted kids. I've managed to do that so far. They are wonderful little people, smart, with beautiful souls. So yes, I feel successful.:)
Outsourcing Jobs and USA's Greed
they can outsource all they want, its time like these i'm glad i'm an electrician. my job is not going to asia. guaranteed. and thankfully, i absolutely love doing what i do, how i got into it is a long story, but basically long story short, oportunity knocked and i answered. now i'm an apprentice electrical worker. i have A LOT left to learn, but i thouroughly enjoy it , i'd much rather strap on the tool belt and bend some conduit any day than sit behind a desk or work in a factory making bottles.
1,000th post by the way :)
Outsourcing Jobs and USA's Greed
Quote:
Originally Posted by higher4hockey
they can outsource all they want, its time like these i'm glad i'm an electrician. my job is not going to asia. guaranteed.
I'm an electrician too. Started CCTV and fire alarms. Also have a BS in Electrical Engineering. IBEW loc#103
Outsourcing Jobs and USA's Greed
Quote:
Originally Posted by higher4hockey
they can outsource all they want, its time like these i'm glad i'm an electrician. my job is not going to asia. guaranteed. and thankfully, i absolutely love doing what i do, how i got into it is a long story, but basically long story short, oportunity knocked and i answered. now i'm an apprentice electrical worker. i have A LOT left to learn, but i thouroughly enjoy it , i'd much rather strap on the tool belt and bend some conduit any day than sit behind a desk or work in a factory making bottles.
1,000th post by the way :)
Yeah but sad to say is the Fact that Big Company Greed does Effect You. A Big Houseing Company will Love to Use Cheaper Non Union Workers than a Union worker. Thus Lowering the Top Wage, Wage benefits, and Job security.
Outsourcing Jobs and USA's Greed
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr.Hashman
Here is where I come from financially:
My dad grew up on a small corn farm in Iowa, he was one of 4 brothers. When he was 18 he hitchhiked to California, and was a Janitor in a daycare in exchange for being able to live at the facility (in a storage closet). He also worked in a warehouse for a company (can't mention what field exactly, but it is electric like). He then memorized the catalog, and proved through hard work that he was a good worker. Eventually get was moved into the office doing petty work, he excelled and then moved into sales. He was the #1 salesman after only 3 months. He then attended night class at a community college but only finished 2 years.
He got a big break when a regional distribution company in that field went broke (the office that went broke had 8 employees). My dad moved to the area and setup an office with another another person. My dad did all the work, bought out his co-owner, and hired a secretary and a engineer. Now my dad has 30 people working for him and he has sole distribution rights to 8 states and contracts with major stores (where you guys probably buy alot of stuff). So from corn farmer to multi-millionaire...
And now a couple other things... 25% return? wow... I am an avid investor (IPOs, venture capital, stocks, and a bit of bonds) and 25% is really good. Most I have made in one year is 22% average return, but then again I have only been investing 3 years and that was mostly from an venture capital investment that was really successful.
Interesting, it seems like your Dad is a big influence in how you've come to form your opinions and it's the same with me. Like your father, mine came from a very humble background, worked his way up, and now he's what many would consider one of the "bigwigs in power".
I always get a bit defensive when people start in on the "bigwigs" because I've seen what being a "bigwig" can do to a person. I've seen my father beat himself up emotionally, not sleeping for a week, before having to do a big layoff. I've seen him lying in a hospital bed with tubes sticking out from everwhere after a triple bypass. Something he needed not because of a bad diet or lack of exercise, but most likely due to the stress from work. Last year he spent more days in hotel beds overseas then in his own bed at home. He celebrated his 60th birthday, a big milestone, in Japan.
The bottom line is that being a bigwig isn't the walk in the park people think it is. Yeah they earn a lot of money, but they earn it. If it was that easy a job, everyone would be doing it. But it isn't. I also know that in the vast majority of cases, the bigwigs' compensations are tied to the company's performance. My father has had his compensation plan nearly cut in 1/2 a few years ago when, despite the fact that his division had record sales, the rest of the company wasn't doing very good. Not to mention the fact that, even as an Executive VP, he was layed off from a previous position when his division was eliminated. See, not even the bigwigs are immune from layoffs. Hell, even CEOs "leave" (aka are fired) when the corporation isn't doing good.
Anyhow, it sounds like your following in your Dad's footsteps and that's great. I initially rejected following my Father and it took me a long, long, time to work myself up to where I am now. Fortunately my father cut me off when I turned 18 and, although I didn't see it that way back then, it was the best thing he ever did for me.
As for the 25% return, I do a lot of day and swing trades making less than 1% at a time. 1% may not seem like a lot but if you can make 1% a week (I don't btw) it adds up. I've also gotton lucky on a number of pretty risky investments that paid off really, really well. Plus, that 25% includes what we make with my wife's stock purchase plan which guaruntees a minimum 15% return. Anyhow, if your only 18yo and pulling in 20%, I sure as shit wouldn't complain. At 20%, by the time your my age, whatever you've got in now will have grown 4,000% and that's pretty damn good.
