So four years ago I made this post:
http://www.bluegartr.com/threads/106...-of-the-sticks
There were several suggestions, most notably CPA. I looked into it, busted my ass and last week I received my CPA license in the mail.
In between then and now we packed up in December of 2011 and moved to what I consider the best city in the country. I needed a year and a half of business classes in order to be CPA eligible so I went to school during the day and worked maintenance/housekeeping at night. My schedule was pretty much 6am-2am everyday without a scheduled bathroom break. Ironically, one suggestion in the above post was to be a stripper. I did actually join that proud fraternity that paid his way through school by stripping.......stripping and waxing floors.
It kinda sucked to sit next to 19 year olds in a calculus class while wearing what was basically a janitors uniform but who cares what they think. I worked hard and got a big 4 offer. After a year and a half I found a job (with a promotion and a raise) five minutes from my house. They already have me revamping every business process they do and the work is meaningful, productive, and has a clear vertical path within the company. I pick my kids up at 3:30 and don't do any more work until the next morning. It's awesome.
When I was considering the move I kept thinking...."man, you will be 40 by the time you get through the tough times. What are you thinking?" Well you know what? I'd be 40 now anyways whether I went for it or didn't. In the end the only residual effect of the 3-4 tough years was my kids witnessing what hard work will do for you.
I see my mother in law once a year.