This first-person article is based on an interview with Carl Murawski, a 44-year-old specialist and content creator living in Connecticut. The text has been edited for length and clarity.
I have post-secondary education with a general profile, electrical qualifications to practice my profession, a truck driving license and specialized training in safety and work in high-risk conditions.
I worked as a mechanic and tow truck driver for the first five years of my career before moving into the electrical industry. For the next decade, I worked for a small local electrical contractor, learning residential and light commercial installations. I then moved to a larger company as an assistant project manager, and in 2016 I joined my current employer as a project engineer.
I perform various roles depending on needs: I coordinate projects, deal with quality assurance, quality control and monitor the team's work. I earn six figures a year in dollars and I don't regret choosing this career path.
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I grew up in a single parent family, I started as a mechanic and then became an electrician. Twenty years later, I have built a life where I can comfortably support a family—without a bachelor's degree and without overwhelming student debt.
I am proof of that there is more than one path to success. Combining work as a licensed electrician with running a YouTube channel that I founded in 2016 and which reaches over 200,000 people. people, I have created both financial stability and a sense of purpose by doing work that really matters.
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Here's what my balance between work and content creation looks like
I usually edit videos for an hour or two before I leave for work. I like to be on site at 6:30 in the morning. I record materials on weekends. The income from my full-time job is enough to support my family, so I reinvest everything I earn from YouTube into the business.
Each video is different, but I usually choose a topic from a list of ideas saved in the notes app. I have a rule that I do not accept free products or compensation for reviews because I believe this affects objectivity. I usually buy products several weeks in advance so that I can test them.
To finance films, I work with an agency to obtain sponsors from related (non-competitive) industries. I record when my wife takes the children shopping on the weekend.
Most working days start in an office on a construction site
I discuss plans with the construction manager and solve current problems. After the team leaves the base, every day looks different, which I really like.
Some days I spend visiting construction sites, others solving problems with documentation and scheduling. Having worked in many positions over the last 20 years, I have a unique experience that allows me to handle a variety of tasks – which makes work interesting.
Our teams return between 2:30 and 3:00 p.m., at which point I close the area and go home.
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This type of work cannot be transferred abroad or automated. It requires skill and commitment. We work as a team, creating amazing things and celebrating successes together.
Changing to a technical career mid-career isn't easy, but I see more and more people coming to our industry from office jobs. Sometimes they are looking for fulfillment, other times they are forced to do so because their position has been eliminated. I welcome them all because they are needed.
Recently, I've noticed a lot of middle-aged office workers leaving their professions because their positions have been moved overseas or replaced by AI – especially in the insurance industry.
My career gives me great satisfaction
The physical work involved in running a business as a content creator isn't easy, but I've been doing it for a decade. I've learned a lot on the job through trial and error, and I hope it helps the next generation of blue-collar workers – that's what motivates me.
Each career path has its pros and cons and it's up to you how you evaluate them. Tech jobs can be a great choice for people who prefer to be active during the day rather than sitting in front of a screen.
For those who want to see the results of their work in a completed project, job satisfaction is hard to beat.
The above text is a translation from American edition of Business Insider
