ORIGINAL: Greg / MO

At this point, I've got to pause and ask... Is any of this sinking in? I mean, you've had page after page of literally some of the best advice dispensed here on HNI in years... seriously. So much so that I'd give the entire THREAD an honorary rack award if I were capable.

From Wash Hunter and GMMAT's great posts, to even the sound advice from Va shadow about working toward your degree in the day and busting your balls in chasing after your dreams at night... There's a couple pearls of wisdom around thoughts like that: One goes something like "You make a living from 9-5; you make a lifestyle from 5-9." In other words, it's the "above and beyond" that will get you to where you want to go and how you want to live.

I started this post with the above quote because it appears you're not taking some of the information to heart; if you want to hunt a lot, DON'T work in the industry -- at least from a service standpoint. As a columnist for a major national archery publication, I talk with and interview a lot of shop owners as well as others in the industry. It's already been said, but guess when they're the busiest? During hunting season.

I mentioned in my first reply that I work in outside sales primarily. Yes, I'm heavily involved in the industry as well, sitting on eight manufacturer's national pro staffs in addition to the writing I do. You've got to realize it's always been very tempting to move away from something like medical sales into a bona fide position within our industry... but I would lose my hunting seasons, not to mention probably 1/3 of my income.

GMMAT had a plethora of great points, as did almost every single poster. In fact, Jeff and I share very similar backgrounds. Like him in golf, I played tennis at an extremely competitive level. I was eventually recruited by a couple universities to come participate in their summer camps and help teach. Guess what suffered? My personal game...

As a typical boy growing up in the Midwest, I obviously loved sports... considered (and still do) myself very athletic. During my senior year of journalism school, I landed a job at the state's largest daily independent newspaper as a full-time sportswriter. Yep, you guessed it... after a couple years, I could have cared less if I ever saw another sporting event again. They all became one, droning on into the next one...

Someone mentioned it doesn't necessarily take a college degree, and they're right -- but you'd better be in the right vehicle if you're going to forsake that ingredient. Traditional business owners almost always have only one-half of the equation: money. See, it takes two things to do what you're speaking of -- TIME and money. THAT'S why I'm in outside sales, period. Yes, as you can imagine I make a darn good living in medical sales. But if it didn't have the autonomy, the flexibility that goes along with that -- I wouldn't be doing it.

Service-oriented businesses or professionals that trade hours for dollars to earn ther living by default can only have one-half of the equaion; they can either have lots of hours, or lots of dollars -- the forumula won't allow for both. To do that, you've got to find another vehicle, one that allows you to create multiple "yous". Or -- and the simplest way of all... find a profession that allows you to take your vacations or time off during hunting season -- a time when you're not needed as much.

Working in an archery shop (as an example) is not that profession. I could expound further on several points, but I'm driving and about to run out of decent cell-phone (laptop) coverage.

ORIGINAL: Bowman4440

I can be the "fence" if he is trying to keep deer out. . No but really im stuck here in south jersey and im really trying to get out to the midwest. maybe ohio kansas illinois iowa idaho anywhere out that way maybe even as far as montana.