Can't sit at a computer anymore, few career change options.

Absolutely right, this is so challenging, I consider myself a pretty intelligent guy and I've been stumped many times over this. That's why I'm turning over every stone.

Thx for the reply.

They have to lift all the things people donate, the rest of those jobs are cash register type positions. Checked them out already, but thx for the suggestion.

I want to thank all that have made suggestions, please keep them coming, the more stones I have to turn over, the more chance of finding the correct path for me.

Maybe you could tell us some of your interests.

Did I already say tutoring?

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Sure, and yes I've been looking at tutoring/training as a possible path but lack of degree or college training might make it a longshot for me.

My passion is music, I am a self/ear trained multi-instrumentalist and songwriter that can barely read music but can compose & perform at a pro level. Having no degree prevents me becoming a teacher, and a songwriter isn't a stable career choice, although I do work on & promote my work as a pipe dream hobby. (link below)

Huggy Bee - the Funky Composer Music, Lyrics, Songs, and Videos!

The other is fishing, I am a member of an angling association and a source of info for many members. Have looked into in fish/seafood/coastal environment/Fish & game/etc jobs, but not much to work with. Too old to be a game warden, don't have a boat to be a guide, and selling fishing poles at Walmart isn't a good option. Have been looking into state park jobs too, they start at very low pay and require lifting.

Broadcasting is another interest related to music but it requires similar equipment to computers.

Still turning over stones.
Thanks

Tutoring is a great suggestion. People don't ask their guitar (another carpal tunnel inducer) tutor what degree he has. You could run classes with four or five students.

Teach fishing. And what about selling fishing poles at an upscale place? Do you have fly shops?

Or what about finding a business partner with a boat? A lot of people have boats they don't use all that much. My neighbor was trying to sell his sailboat two years ago without much luck. Some college kids asked if they could pay him part of the cost and use it as a time share for the summer. It worked out well for everyone involved. I've had other friends make similar arrangements. With the cost of gas, a lot of people with motorboats are looking for a way to reduce expenses.

OP, are your injuries a result of doing a lot of data entry? Did you have to maintain a productivity and speed level at all?

I actually have a couple students off & on but it's a tough go without that music degree to get in with a company, get enough students, and make it worthwhile.

Not much in fly fishing here in SF,CA, though I applied at a sporting goods outfit today for the fishing dept. As far as fishing party boats, here they go out in 40-50ft seaworthy craft for salmon & deepsea fishing, a large enterprise that I'm not in a position to take on.

The only teaching fishing job i found was at a summer camp that I would have to stay at for weeks/months at a time. I'm divorced & have a kid, don't want to lose my visits with her.

Good ideas though, most that I've already thought of or researched as U can see, but it is 'outside the box' thinking, like I'm trying to do. I even applied for a meter reader job today. Pay's decent.

Yes, over 2 decades of fast paced phone use, data entry, catalog books, and internet use. The productivity & speed was dictated by the influx of calls, staffing(or lack of), and/or the desire to make more $ from commissions.

San Francisco? Have you been here?

http://bayareacareercenter.com/

I would suggest a brainstorming session. In CO there is a fair every year for precisely that. Brainstorming for small business. By small business I include self employment. However you might want to think in terms of a business and think creatively. You have a couple great interests to work with. SF is a great place to try different ideas. For example, I was interested in teaching and mindfulness so I got certified to teach Zentangle - a meditation alternative using drawing. I taught it for a while on the side. Mindfulness wasn't really a household word when I started. Now it is. I never thought I could teach drawing as I do not have a background for it either. Someone I met via Zentangle incorporated it in her life coaching business in Oakland. She also used to (or still does) teach nearly homeless how to be sufficient and incorporated it there as well. There are a zillion things you can do that you can't imagine until you start brainstorming and talking to locals in person.

If you can seek out groups for small business ideas you can use other people to help come up with ways to incorporate music or fishing into something unique. That link might help as well as searching meetup.

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Ugh, I'm so sorry to hear all of this. I experienced an injury due to fast-paced data entry and thankfully I no longer do that work...but I can see how years and years of subjecting one's body to this kind of work can lead to health issues.

My credit is so bad from my divorce that starting up a business might create more headaches than solutions at this point but being in business for yourself is very admirable and something that I have pondered much over the past year.

On the advice of all the people around me starting up anything in music, it should be songwriting as that is my strength. I'd be happy with a regular day job that paid the bills and keep developing and promoting my songwriting on the side, but it would be PERFECT if something from my upcoming demo sold. At this point & time it would be the door I'd walk through without hesitation.

Till then I have to keep searching for something that I can get into, that pays decent, and doesn't require me to sit at the computer.

Thx for your ideas.

PS-That website has career counseling at $110.00 and hour, the free counseling I get from the Dept of Rehabilitation stinks, but I can't do that price.

Thanks for your thoughts.

You only need good credit to get a loan. To get the tax advantages you only need to get a business checking account. You can use your own name which avoids a title search. It's just how you declare it. The law changed so you don't even need to incorporate. There are a ton of people with businesses that started on 50 dollars or less. That's one of the major myths about it.

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I know this is an old thread but I just wanted to share the end result of what was a search for a new career that spanned a few years.

Unfortunately I was never able to find a new career that did not require repetitive motion on tech or physical like fishing guide, and was forced into early retirement on permanent disability. I have a stable fixed income but is very modest and does not give me the resource to rectify many of the other problems in my life, which is why I have come back to the forum.

The replies to this thread were very supportive and helpful at the time, and I hope that my future engagement will be just as positive.

thanks

I heard on NPR that there's such a thing as a Death Doula. These people visit patients and their families in hospice. Some actually bring an instrument and play soothing music.

If you can still drive, you can drive for a service like "Dial-a-Ride" to provide transportation for the elderly and disabled.

Sorry if these ideas were already suggested and rejected.