About my journey of a new career

Today marks the beginning of a new life for me. You can read a little bit about me in the left sidebar but I'll try to establish a baseline for what this blog is about and where it is hopefully going.

I have been self employed as a freelance 3D artist and custom programmer for 17 years. In that time I've had great ups and downs. In fact at one point I was earning enough from residuals from software royalties to take 3 years off complete at which time my wife and I invested in flipping some real estate and day trading the futures markets. The real estate flipping paid off, the futures markets did not, however I loved trading futures anyway, but as a math-head and statistics cruncher, I honestly don't see how anyone can make a living day trading unless you are in the business of selling software to that market or information or something other than trading.

Anyway, back on topic, after 17 years I have reached complete creative burn out and exhaustion from the logistics of running a small company. For much of this time I have worked at home as well which most people would think was the ultimate situation, which I must admit has its benefits. I had built a huge new custom home almost 5 years ago with a big separate studio just for my work and it is indeed very nice. But the ups and downs of being self employed have had their toll on my and my family and I am exhausted. For one, I pay all of my own benefits if I want any such as health insurance. Well, my old health insurance policy just last year reach about $1,950 per month. Guess what, I have no health insurance now. Retirement? What's that? Financial insecurity, I've had plenty of that. Anyone that has run a small business for numerous years understands exactly the thing I talk about.

But some of the biggest complaints I've had come in the form of job satisfaction and socialization. I have done some very cool 3D stuff over the years, and working with attorneys doing forensic animation has been rewarding depending on the case. But overall, my work is seen for but a moment and then gone and I am left feeling that I didn't really do anything to benefit society for it. Working at home has also left me isolated and feeling alone. With the internet I have done work literally all over the world, yet I have met probably less than 1% of the people I actually have worked for. I work alone in my studio 7 days a week without personal contact. That has certainly taken a toll on me. I miss people. I miss mental stimulation. Sure I have plenty of friends, but my typical work day finds me working alone, chatting on Skype or email with my clients, but overall, I'm alone... I need to interact with my fellow humans.

I need a change... a complete change. Financially yes, but socially as well along with a feeling that I am doing something positive for my fellow man. After my wife battled and won her fight with breast cancer 7 years ago and my own personal health crisis in the hospital, I felt a great degree of admiration for those in the health care industry that were helping us. From the nursing staff, the doctors, the technicians and everyone else. That planted a seed in my brain that for the 2nd half of my life, I have a desire to be directly involved in helping people in medical distress by playing a part in their care. I have decided to embark on a 3 year journey of entering school to become a radiologic technician... an x-ray tech. Fortunately there is an incredibly respected school for that in my town and I have just enrolled. But my journey is just starting... can I do well enough in the pre-requesits to gain entrance since they only admit 36 out of 200-250 applicants. Can I get my financial aid I need? Can my small amount of existing software royalties and clients sustain me through this time without losing my home while I make the change?

I don't know but I am willing to do whatever it takes to at least try. At age 44, I bet there are plenty of folks out there who would love a chance at a career do-over. I invite you to follow along as I post about each day's progress, frustrations and victories. I invite you to leave comments and questions.

Here I go.