Feeling Thankful, OPPO

"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction) 04/21/2015 at 22:26 • Filed to: life

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Seventeen years ago, I was lost. Stuck in a degree that was all wrong for me and a school that didn’t have the right program for me to change into, I had no idea what my future held. The only reason I stayed was because my fiancé had another year before she graduated. I took basic classes my fourth year of college to make a transfer easier.

Mrs. addiction and I were married that summer; thankfully she had a job lined up, but I was still adrift. I worked a crap job and finally found a degree at a school nearby that was right for me and I excelled. It felt great - I felt alive and validated by my professors and my classmates. Those three years were fantastic for me personally, even with my crap job and even though they were tough for us as a couple (her job was draining, physically and mentally). We needed a change and moved to Tulsa. She found a good job, but once again I found myself in the ditch, the best job I could land didn’t pay well and wasn’t rewarding.

Thankfully, after a year, I got a lead from a neighbor about an opportunity in a different field, not in my discipline, but within my ability. I gave it a shot, got the job, and then worked my ass off over the next few years, learning everything I could about the position and the industry to become the best I could at it. A decade has passed since I took that job, and I’ve been through layoffs and downtowns as well as good times, I’ve gone back to school part-time, we’ve added three little addicts to the family, and bought the house pictured here several years back. The job I have today is by no means my dream job, but I’ve worked hard to get here, and I’m grateful to be paid well for a job that, at this point, comes fairly naturally to me.

After an evening of working in the yard and straightening up my tool bench, I can’t help but be thankful. To my wife, for sticking by me and giving me a beautiful family; to my neighbor, for offering me an opportunity; and to my employers of the last ten years, for giving me a shot and encouraging advancement and education.

I know some of you here are going through what I went through in college or after graduation. Feeling “lost”, with no direction, or being underemployed is a terrible feeling. I’d just encourage you to keep cranking and working to find the thing that is right for you, and for the place that you fit. It may suck right now, but it gets better. Just keep at it.

(I’m also thankful for the ridiculously low cost of living in Oklahoma...)

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/21/2015 at 22:32

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Cheers, my good man! Beautiful house, too.

Hey, what do I see here? *squints* ... CX... Sonata... Pathfinder...? Am I partially correct?

$kaycog > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/21/2015 at 22:34

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Wonderful story. Best wishes to you and your wife. You’re a lucky man.

Jcarr > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/21/2015 at 22:37

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Thanks for sharing this, man. Lately I’ve been feeling a little lost and without direction in my career, so this was a real encouragement.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/21/2015 at 22:40

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Beautiful house. I’m graduating college in December with a degree in economics. I don’t really know what I want to do, but I do have some connections. Hopefully I can at least find out what I don’t want to do. Not really looking forward to the first few years after college, but if my relationship with my girlfriend keeps moving forward, I know we will both get through it together. Thanks for sharing and giving all of us some inspiration.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 04/21/2015 at 22:49

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Sure thing - all the best!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Jcarr 04/21/2015 at 22:54

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Glad it came at the right time for you.

My next goal for my career (maybe in 5 years) is to find a job that I can do anywhere with an Internet connection, so I can spend more time with my kids and parents/siblings, and travel more.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > $kaycog 04/21/2015 at 22:55

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Truer words were never spoken. Thanks, $kay.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/21/2015 at 22:58

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Thanks.

CX-9, Pathfinder and... E90 M3. Like I said - very thankful for where I find myself this evening.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/21/2015 at 23:04

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Oh. Please don’t be upset that I mistook the M3 for a Hyundai! I don’t have the best squints...

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/21/2015 at 23:12

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Ha! No worries. I love the Q ship nature of my car, actually.

f86sabre > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/21/2015 at 23:12

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All goodness there. Glad to hear the addict family is doing well.

So, did you end up in oil, aerospace or other?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > f86sabre 04/21/2015 at 23:17

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Thanks. I work for a large independent E&P company, for a group of geologists. I’m software and mapping support. I started off in civil engineering, ended up with a BFA in graphic design, and went back for a graduate certificate in GIS.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/21/2015 at 23:19

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Heed these words if you want a high paying work from home job (I sound like one of the spammers, lol) Microsoft SQL DBA/Administrator or go for a CISSP, CISSA certification and do penetration testing for corporations, or become a UX consultant in web development. These are all six-figure plus fields with a work/home balance in the neighborhood of 30/70

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet 04/21/2015 at 23:34

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I think I could do well in a UX role. What education/experience do most of the people doing this kind of consulting have?

Rico > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/21/2015 at 23:36

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House like that in NYC would cost MILLIONS. Congrats man!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Rico 04/21/2015 at 23:40

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Thanks. Ready for this? $73 per sq ft... And my commute is ~20 minutes.

CAcoalminer > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/21/2015 at 23:42

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I hope the youngsters read this and take it to heart. Terrific story, my friend.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > CAcoalminer 04/21/2015 at 23:49

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Thanks for the kind words. I hope so, too. Does this mean I’m not a youngster anymore?

Rico > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/21/2015 at 23:53

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I’ll live vicariously through your oppo posts lol

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/22/2015 at 00:19

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Iam not a lost soul, merely delaying home ownership for a bit so my finances and debt stabilize and I have a down payment worth talking about. But still I appreciate others besides myself sticking it out on Oppo to try and be cheerleaders to others on here who, for one reason or another, cannot see the success they can have.

FWIW - I am 25, renting an apartment in a historic house just outside of a trendy downtown and I own a motorcycle (1985 honda nighthawk 650) and a Fiesta ST. I have a bachelor’s in chemistry and in general have very little to complain about.

Frank Grimes > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/22/2015 at 02:17

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Soo good to hear about someone who made it ok out the other side of college. been feeling lost and useless for years.

E. Julius > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/22/2015 at 04:10

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Inspiring story, thank you for sharing. You have a lot to be thankful for, and your story makes me feel very hopeful about the future me and my girlfriend (the person my previous post on un/underemployment was about) have ahead of us. I have got to meet you one of these days when I’m in OK.

Also, definitely agreed on Oklahoma’s insane CoL— my apartment in Paris is less than a tenth of the size of my apartment in OK, and it costs almost four times as much.

BKRM3 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/22/2015 at 07:44

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You lucky duck... We paid $212 per square foot back in September. Maybe I ought to move to Oklahoma too!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > BKRM3 04/22/2015 at 08:51

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Can’t complain, for sure. Eastern Oklahoma really is beautiful, too. We really enjoy it here.

sellphones2493 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/22/2015 at 09:02

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Thanks I needed that right now. I just accepted a job at a startup in Boulder, CO. I don’t know anyone there and I’m slightly terrified!

This helped!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > E. Julius 04/22/2015 at 09:02

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I look forward to the day we get to have a beer together, my friend. I’m sorry she’s having a rough go of it; I hope she can find something soon that is rewarding and fulfilling.

Oklahoma is cheap, but it’s not exactly Paris - ha! I’ve been to Paris..., TX.

thebigbossyboss > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/22/2015 at 09:06

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Wow man. It seems that the life of riley comes to those who work hard and persevere. Congratulations on all your success.

Not feeling that great about my own life at the moment, but hey maybe it will get better.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Frank Grimes 04/22/2015 at 09:12

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Sorry to hear it. I’d encourage you to find anything (even a hobby, or a side-job) that really is rewarding to you. It’s easy to slip into hopelessness when you feel like you’re on the wrong path in life, but seeking out the things that are fulfilling to you, personally, and actively pursuing them, can help you find the right way forward.

CAcoalminer > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/22/2015 at 09:15

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Haha. Not at all. I just think it would be the most beneficial for them.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > thebigbossyboss 04/22/2015 at 09:25

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Thanks. I’ve been very fortunate, but I’ve put in the time necessary as well. Sorry to hear that you’re in the doldrums, but be confident of the fact that it will get better. Seek out the things that fulfill you — even if it’s a hobby or a side-job — and pursue them.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > sellphones2493 04/22/2015 at 09:27

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Congrats on the job! Boulder’s a great place to be. Work your butt off and never turn down an invitation to lunch or an after-hours get-together. You’ll do great, I’m sure.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 04/22/2015 at 09:31

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Sounds like you’re well on your way! I hope our occasional words of encouragement can help those here that are still piecing it all together.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Rico 04/22/2015 at 09:33

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Ha! Not quite as much going on in Tulsa as in New York, but we love it here.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > CAcoalminer 04/22/2015 at 09:35

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Definitely. What have you been up to? Any fun trips recently? I assume the GT3 RS order is still on hold until initial demand dies down, and you get get that beautiful shade of purple you desire.

E. Julius > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/22/2015 at 10:05

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Indeed! I have confidence that things will work out eventually, they will just take a little bit of time. Now, I’ve been to a fair amount of places, but I can certainly that I’ve never been to Paris, Texas haha

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > E. Julius 04/22/2015 at 10:23

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Well, when you make it there, don’t miss Burgerland.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/22/2015 at 10:29

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Business connections out the wazoo, as well as web design/marketing backgrounds

E. Julius > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/22/2015 at 10:37

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Ha I’ll keep an eye out. That reminds me, have you ever been to a place called Fat Guy’s Burgers (or something like that) in Tulsa?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet 04/22/2015 at 11:06

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I’ve done some web design (front end) in the past, and have a BFA in graphic design, but my current role is something of a software specialist, and I’m acutely aware of what’s good/bad, efficient/inefficient, intuitive/not intuitive when it comes to UX.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > E. Julius 04/22/2015 at 11:11

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Hell yes I have, and it’s amazing . There are two - one by the ballpark downtown, and one down south (north of 81st on Memorial). Here’s my go-to order: cheeseburger with lettuce & tomato, grilled onions, mushrooms and jalapenos, and Thai chili sauce. SO GOOD. They also have tons of unique dipping sauces to go with their fries, and crazy delicious specialty burgers. My treat the next time you’re in town!

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/22/2015 at 11:14

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Then do it dude, on the consulting side there is soooo much money to make, the statistics about UX overhaul that for every $1 invested you net a 1000% return on investment.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet 04/22/2015 at 11:23

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Crazy - thanks for the tip and encouragement!

E. Julius > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/22/2015 at 11:47

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It’s funny because I originally heard about it from an incredibly obnoxious guy named Dave from Tulsa that worked there, and he kept going on and on about how they were the greatest burgers in the world. I wanted to see if it lived up to his hype, and sounds like it has. I’d love to try it out, sounds like a great place for us to meet next time I’m rolling through.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/22/2015 at 12:01

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If you get into it for real, contact me on the mail of google: rob.saldana9

Because my co seriously needs a web design overhaul. Granted we will take whatever you sell us and have it implemented by our dev team in India....

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > E. Julius 04/22/2015 at 12:25

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Ha! Well, I’ve never worked there, and I’m only slightly obnoxious (you may get another answer if you ask my wife). They are legit, though.

Frank Grimes > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/22/2015 at 13:01

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thanks for your hopeful words.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Frank Grimes 04/22/2015 at 14:15

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Sure thing.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet 04/22/2015 at 14:38

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Thanks. My freelance work as of late is more logo/identity design — http://davidlange.co/ (just a Squarespace portfolio site I threw together recently) — but like I said, I’m keeping my eyes peeled for other potential business ideas going forward.

CAcoalminer > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/22/2015 at 21:11

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Well, I’ve been quite busy with a new venture that I’m funding. The two young men who will be running the venture are quite intelligent and driven but obviously don’t have the experience of running a business yet. So, I’m essentially in a mentorship role right now. Also, I’m looking forward to meeting all of the interns and new hires at my companies once college wraps up in a few weeks, so that’s always exciting.

As far as trips, the wife, myself, and both of our children’s families all went to Italy for Spring Break. In addition, the wife and I spent two weeks at the Telluride house recently just relaxing and taking in nature. I’m still working on where we are traveling this summer.

Concerning the Porsche, yes, everything is unfortunately still on hold on that front.

How about yourself? Anything exciting happening or coming up?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > CAcoalminer 04/22/2015 at 21:42

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Hope the new business proves a success for you (and them). We’ll have a good group of interns coming into our office soon as well, and I’ll be spending time getting them up to speed on our software and structures.

We were in Destin with the kids and two other families for spring break. It was great - just what we needed. I hope to make it to Italy some day; my wife and her parents were there a few years back - her cousin is a nun in Florence.

I’m looking forward to a couple trips in June: one with Mrs. addiction and friends to Winnipeg to take in a U.S. women’s national team soccer match, and a road trip with the family to meet up with my parents and my three older brothers and their families at my sister-in-law’s family’s ranch north of Wolcott, CO (pretty much my favorite place on the planet, so far).

CAcoalminer > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/22/2015 at 22:46

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Thank you. I hope so as well.

The thing that I love about interns is that they’re young, hopeful, and excited. I’m always enthusiastic to hear of their plans for the future and I think their general sense of optimism just seems to uplift the office as a whole.

Destin is a very nice area. Hopefully you didn’t have to battle the college students for beach space. Haha.

I hope you do make it to Italy, as there is just so much to do and see. Also, from my experience at least, they are the friendliest people out of any European country.

Sounds like some exciting events coming up. That entire area around Wolcott is just terrific, especially in the winter.

AM > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/27/2015 at 12:46

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Great article, very inspiring to those that are struggling right now, especially the youngsters in college. I wish I would have been able to read this when I was in college 11 years ago.

That’s an absolutely beautiful house btw, glad everything worked out for you!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > AM 04/27/2015 at 13:59

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Thank you. I hope it was helpful for some.