CAN YOU GUESS THE IDEAL “HAPPINESS” JOB?

 CAN YOU GUESS THE IDEAL “HAPPINESS” JOB?

People everywhere are regularly searching for the perfect job or profession that will make them happy. Some seek employment in a people oriented role and some seek the isolation of a remote location or an isolated tech job. I found a lot of joy in life as an educator. I enjoyed (past tense should be noted) teaching teens and later the challenge of school and district administration. Money was never a primary consideration in my work life, but it was important to earn a comfortable wage to support my family and a lifestyle that I could enjoy. Recently, I was again reminded of a job that few people probably have considered, but seems to have a high job satisfaction rating. 

Of course, I am referring to the owners and operators of septic cleaning truck services. One man’s waste is considered a bonanza by septic cleaning specialists. In my recent “holiday” in Elbow, we found that our water from the bathtub and toilet stopped draining. After much plunging without any success we were forced to contact the local septic sucking service to empty the septic tank. Brad showed up within fifteen minutes and you have not met a happier guy. He went about his work with a smile on his face and a clothespin on his nose. (not really). He enjoyed his work and he gave me a suck by suck account of what he was doing and why. When he had completed his evacuation of the septic tank, he washed everything down and left with a smile still on his face. 

Many years ago when we operated a conference centre on the outskirts of Calgary we also needed the services of a septic tank specialist. Again, the driver was happy, smiling and very social. He informed me that he had been an engineer working in the oil patch in Calgary and got fed up with the cut throat, high-pressure environment, took a buy-out and left the oil patch for the septic field. With his bonus he bought a vacuum truck and found “the job he loved”. It is hard to imagine that working in the area of human waste removal would be such an enjoyable job choice. He said he wouldn’t trade it for the world. He was his own boss, business was booming, the money was good and there was absolutely no pressure. There was no way that he could not do a job that people were not thankful for and happy to pay him to do. It was a win-win for everyone!

If you need any more convincing and you were a follower of the old Red Green TV Show, you probably remember the smile on the face of Winston Rothschild, III the owner and operator of Rothschild's Sewage and Septic Sucking Services that was featured on the show. There was no happier man than Winston!

 

Young high school graduates need to take the time to consider possible career paths that deviate from the usual accepted norms. They need to consider jobs that people do not like doing themselves but would rather pay someone else to do. Septic tank cleaning is a more exotic alternative but a lot of people make a good living doing yard and lawn maintenance, snow removal, window washing and gutter cleaning. I personally know of two individuals who set up cleaning companies to clean office buildings. Most people hate housework and cleaning, and the same goes for office towers. Both of them acquired cleaning contracts with large complexes (eg Elveden House) and retired very wealthy men. They found a need and filled it, which is the secret of so many success stories.

I encourage young people to explore beyond high tech and computer careers and seek other less obvious, unique careers. Study the jobs or tasks that people don’t like to do personally and are willing to pay others to carry out. Put on your thinking caps kids, and start searching for a societal need that you might be able to fill! Or perhaps, I should state, find a need that you might be able to empty!