21 M - Weird Standoff With Career
I’m a 21-year-old car salesman and could use some advice from people who’ve been in a similar spot.
I started in the business right after turning 20. I come from a car family, so I had some exposure, but I’m still pretty new overall. I’d say I’m doing decent so far, and I know this is a career where the longer you stay in, the better you can get.
I ended up dropping out of college to pursue this, and at the time it felt like the right move. The money can definitely be there—I cleared about $9k last month. I know that’s not guaranteed every month, but for my age, it’s hard to ignore. 9k a month isn’t that bad for some dipshit that was always dead broke in college.
The issue is, the more I’ve made, the more burnt out I’ve felt. I actually enjoyed the job more when I was making less. Now I’m starting to understand why so many people burn out in this business—60+ hour weeks, constantly being at the dealership, the emotional ups and downs, and dealing with customer games. Sometimes I swear there’s always something wrong with a vehicle I sell. It takes a lot of work from every department to sell a vehicle sometimes.
I’m at a bit of a crossroads. I’m not sure if this is something I can do long-term while still being happy and having a good family life. At the same time, I’m considering going back to school, but that would mean basically resetting my life—moving back to campus, less income, and starting over in a way.
I also know myself, I’ve struggled with online school before and didn’t do well with it. I don’t love school, but I do see the long-term benefits, especially paired with sales experience. Going back to campus would probably be the best option, but then I go back not knowing what my career would turn out to be.
I like selling, but I don’t like the lifestyle that comes with this version of it. I leave for work at 7 and don’t get home until 7. I’m often pretty tired for other chores and self improvement tasks, maybe that’s on me, but not sure if that’s sustainable for me in future years.
I guess I’m just trying to figure out if this is something I should push through, or if it’s a sign to pivot while I’m still young.
Would really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s been in a similar position.