Well, there's been some very interesting responses posted by members so in all seriousness I'll give an honest response to my past working life. :)
I began in work aged 14 in the printing industry in Melbourne and was apprenticed as a letterpress machinest. After completing a 5 year apprenticeship I continued working in the industry as a colour printer, at the same time completing advanced courses in Photo Lithography, Camera Operation, Plate Making etc. In 1968 I made a move to Queensland and spent the next forty years in the industry in Brisbane, the only difference being that I moved in to sales. I was a Sales Representative for Simpson Halligan & co, who was Brisbane's largest colour printer at the time, and stayed with them for 11 years, until I was offered a position as Sales Manager for Screen Offset Printing, an up and coming opposition company, which fortunately for me I accepted. After working with them for 18 months I was invited to buy shares in the company, which I did, and was made Sales Director. We built the company up to be the largest privately owned, and most successful colour printing co in Queensland, and I held that position for 19 years before a marriage breakup forced me in to a position of having to sell my shareholding to cash up. Although I was asked to stay on as Sales Manager I chose not to, and joined another colour printer who was up and coming at the time. After being with them for a few months I was made General Manager and brought a few shares in the company. I held that position for almost 6 years until a few disagreements about cash flow with management made me realise I was wasting my time staying on, so I resigned.
I joined yet another large company as Sales Manager and stayed with them for 5 years until I retired when we moved to Tasmania for my wife's health. I decision I've never regretted. All in all I spent 54 years in the printing industry........no where near as exciting as flying around in planes or working in some of the many interesting occupations some other members have worked in. Although my years in sales brought me in to contact with many interesting people, particularly those in the advertising industry, graphic designers, artists, writers, etc. The years I spent in sales was very stressful, as our large colour machinery ran 24 hours a day, 6-7 days a week and my job was to keep them running...................I am just sooooooooo pleased to be out of it now!!
O' I almost forgot..........I built 4 houses over the years as an owner builder, first of all designing them and doing much of the physical work myself. Working with timber, bricks, tiles, paint........I've done it all, and enjoyed what I've done in that respect. I never had a problem selling any of the houses I've built, which were all very different in design.
