GOODBYE "REAL WORLD"

[BuffaloHunter]

GOODBYE "REAL WORLD"

Well, I have made a life changing decision. I have decided to quit my current job as a Contract Specialist/Sales Rep for a very successful British Software Company here in DC to pursue (resume) my career in the Marine/Sportfishing industry. I have taken a full time, year-round job back at Sunset Marina in OCMD where I worked during college.

Since September of Last year I have spent each day in a cubicle, staring at a computer screen in a big fancy office building. This job was complete with meetings in boardrooms, lunch meetings, conference calls, seminars, and travel. This was in every way the stereotypical office job. This was the job we kids are conditioned to believe we need and should want growing up in school and going through college. All I heard from everyone around me, “Oh you’re so lucky..” or ”That sounds wonderful!” The funny thing is I hate offices, I hate computers, and I CAN'T STAND being couped up in doors all the time. Be that as it may, at 23, I am where I am supposed to be, a budding young professional at the bottom rung of Corporate America.

Well, I’ve decided to say “F*** IT.” My heart is and always has been with the water, fishing, and boats since I was a little Boy. My Dad starting taking me on the boat with him as soon as I was big enough to fit in a car seat and its been in my blood ever since. My First offshore trip was when I was 8 aboard the Fishin Frenzy out of OI (The Red Boat, is it still around??), I caught my first Billfish when I was 10, and in between offshore trips I spent every single weekend up until about High School from March through December fishing on our Boat in the Chesapeake Bay from Chesapeake Beach to Cape Charles and everywhere in between. Since then I've spent as much time as possible offshore on our own boat mainly with my Dad out of OI and now within the last 3 years we've moved our Vacation home from Pirates Cove to OC. I’ve day dreamed constantly about days on the water, owning my own boat (which has since come true many times over, something I am extremely lucky and grateful for), and fishing. Most little kids have pictures of Racecars or Jet Fighters on the walls in their rooms, I had Tugboat wall paper. In Middle school my friends all had pictures of bands they liked, or fancy cars in their lockers, I had fish pictures and pictures of Sportfishers. I may have been the only 18 year old with a subscription to Yachting Magazine.

With all that being said I have accepted an opportunity to begin my career in the Marine Industry. And although I once again find myself on the bottom rung, it is now of a ladder that I can’t wait to climb and look forward to every step. I am set to earn my Captain’s license this fall, which is a big life goal of mine, and whether I end up as a Charter Captain, a Marina Manager, a Yacht Broker , or even in Boat Sales I know I’ll be happy in an environment I feel I belong and have a TON to offer. I am absolutely JACKED UP to get started and will do whatever it takes to be as successful as possible in the long term in whatever dicipline I find myself.

I know many of you on SFC are in the Marine/Sportfishing Industry whether it be Charter Captains, Mates, Tackle Shop Owners, Boat Sales etc… and I’m sure there are hundreds of years of experience between all of you. I have seen (briefly, but long enough for me) the 9-5 gig over here on dry land, rotting in an office, sitting on my A$$ all day in a cubicle, and from my perspective you all are the luckiest and perhaps the smartest folks in the world. I feel tremendously blessed to be afforded the opportunity to in some way (albeit somewhat inconsequential at the start) humbly join your ranks.

Take it for what you want, I just wanted to share some of this with the SFC Community as I’ve never been more excited about anything in my life. I hope to meet some more of you in the future as I know a number of you atleast visit the marina at some point during the summer. For those of you already at the Marina (I already know some of you from working at Provisions for a while,) I look forward to seeing more of you and will do what I can to make sure you’re taken care of. Just look for the Fat Guy in the Blue Shirt…

Thanks for reading my gibberish, but I thought I’d share.


-Brian Behe

[marlineer]

I can't tell You how important it is to follow Your heart and Your dreams. You will be very happy and I am sure with Your enthusiasm You will be moving up that ladder soon. Again, best of luck Brian...

[clt_capt]

More power to you - Congrats and Best luck. I wish I had the nuts to do the same.

[Ace1st]

Good Luck........at least you get to tackle it on your own terms. Nothing like actually having ajob that doesnt feel like a job. Hope it works out for you!

[knot for shore]

Best of luck to you at Sunset. Kim's and my favorite place to dine a few times during the summer. In what capacity will you be at the marina?

[BuffaloHunter]

Best of luck to you at Sunset. Kim's and my favorite place to dine a few times during the summer. In what capacity will you be at the marina?

Right now if I had to give it a title I guess it would be "Assistant Harbormaster." Essentially, I'm Amanda's (Harbormaster) *****. At this point It could be "Toilet Scrubber" and I wouldn't mind.

[frankypettolina]

be careful Amanda's mean

Hey Brian, glad to have you back full time. When I was going into my senior year of college I made the same decision- no grad school for me (i was originally intent on law school) The thought of suit and tie and 9 to 5 scared the hell out of me.

A little over 15 years later hear I sit. I just left Sunset where I helped a survey client sort out a problem with his boat, and then gave him and 2 other of my very close and coincidentally vertically challenged friends (Jackson and Steffy) a hand putting the rig in its slip.

I got a PM on here yesterday asking to take a quick peak at a previous client/current friend's boat. did that too. Life is good.

On the flip side, I had 2 surveys get cancelled this week- both under unique circumstances- but that happens. Hurts the pocket book a bit, but hey I will get by.

I wish you the best Brian, and I hope you are as happy with your decision 15 years from now as i am today. See you at the marina- I'll be the fat guy in the PMS T-shirt

[Big Fish Billy]

Right now if I had to give it a title I guess it would be "Assistant Harbormaster." Essentially, I'm Amanda's (Harbormaster) *****. At this point It could be "Toilet Scrubber" and I wouldn't mind.

There's nothing like being a ***** for someone who knows how to treat a *****...oops wait, here comes my anchor/mooring ***** now........

[flndrpndr23]

Brian,
Sounds like a good move for you. It is really nice to be in an industry that keeps you close to what you love to do. Living at the beach, being at the marinia, what could be better. I wish I had "figured it out" at an earlier stage in my life.
Good luck.
Doug

[birdhunter]

Good luck, I was in the same place last year when I quit my corprate job to chase a dream mating. It was the best thing i have ever done. Just learn to live within your means.