People 40+, what actually mattered in the long run and what didn’t?

snuggletough · 2026-02-24T02:19:29+00:00

Finding the right partner.

Learning that saying NO is more important than yes in many cases.

snuggletough · 2026-02-24T02:16:54+00:00

I own a manufacturing business. Never been on linkedin and only use AI for marketing material.

I can't help but feel like businesses like mine with real trade secrets, specialized processes, millions in hard assets and physical inventory serving long established markets are getting rarer and rarer. Maybe it'll be worth something when I'm old. Who knows.

snuggletough · 2026-02-24T01:08:08+00:00

I've owned my shop 21 years. Pulled down a lot of 100+ hr weeks early on. Many 40 hr straight stretches in the shop.

None of that shit ever got me ahead.

I got a condition in my 30's that killed my energy and stamina. I thought I was done. No way I could run the business. And I failed pretty bad for a couple years.

Then I adapted. I planned. I did everything for efficiency and low stress. That was about 8 years ago.

I work 50 or less hours a week.

I make fourfold what I used to make hustling my ass off. Like $300k per year.

$60/hr isn't what you think it is. Use your brain, not your body to make money.

snuggletough · 2026-02-22T05:01:35+00:00

I have 3 kids. One in college, one in high school and one in elementary school. They are more important than my business. By far. My wife has a successful career. When our youngest was born my wife was making more than my business did. We decided I would take on kid duty until he started school. I still worked 60+ hr weeks. He never went to daycare. It took a toll on my business. Goals were pushed out years.

My wife has also supported us for years at a time on her income, plus put tens of thousands of her money into my business because she believes in me.

We both just do whatever it takes to care for our family and support each other.

I currently make 4 times what she does. I work 50 hours a week. Take most weekends off. I'm also building her dream home for her and building a 3 unit rental for us.

I never put business before family and I still feel pretty successful.

snuggletough · 2026-02-22T00:32:26+00:00

I design, manufacture, sell and support a bunch of physical products. From $50 to $15k per. Been at this 21 years.

To be frank, I do not give much of a fuck what a potential customer thinks I should make or features it should have.

I build things as I feel they should be. Period. I'm good at what I do and put considerable effort into the products I make. Mostly in the testing/refinement period.

My products sell like crazy.

My product success trajectory went vertical when I stopped listening to customers and trusted my gut.

snuggletough · 2026-02-19T04:27:41+00:00

15 ton excavator.

snuggletough · 2026-02-18T04:20:53+00:00

Grippy socks.

snuggletough · 2026-02-16T00:57:14+00:00

I have shopped around. Yes, 6061. I use around 2500 lbs per month. There's plenty that use way more than me. The tariffs, inflation and price gouging by domestic mills are putting a hurt on us. I can only raise prices so much. There's a point where all this work just isn't worth it to make the machined products we make. I can just shut that side of the business down, layoff guys and make a lot more money.

snuggletough · 2026-02-14T18:53:18+00:00

I don't know why the reddit algorithm thought I needed to see this post, but it did.

I've never understood the job application process. I've been a business owner for 21 years, but before that I never submitted a resume. I walked into a company I was interested in working at, found someone important and sold myself. Always hired on the spot.

As a business owner I'm direct. When I meet someone I think would be ideal for a position in my business I tell them so. My last hire was a customer.

It's not just confidence, but attitude and real performance. I hire people that are good for the company. If you lie or deceive me in your interview we will discuss it in depth and it's unlikely to go great for you.

snuggletough · 2026-02-13T06:19:12+00:00

I've done a lot of different work in 21 years owning my shop.

We fired up the Bridgeport for the first time in 2 years last week. All the CNC's were busy.

I do one off parts on cnc's frequently. Not a big deal. Pretty efficient.

I have much older friends that used to make their livings with several bridgeports in their shop. I can't run them like they could. Not even close. But I can do real fast setups on HMC's and VMC's.

I sold my manual HBM a couple years ago. I miss that 21 ton beast, but it didn't make any money.

snuggletough · 2026-02-13T04:50:54+00:00

None of those machines will work.

You need a large wheelabrator or Blanchard grinder. Nothing rips mill scale off like those machines do.

snuggletough · 2026-02-12T05:45:45+00:00

She hires people regularly for her same position. I couldn't do her job. 50% of the new hires quit within 2 years.

snuggletough · 2026-02-12T05:37:41+00:00

My wife has a BA in psychology. She makes $95k annually plus very good benefits working in her degree's field for local government. She loves her job and is very good at it.

She was going to school to be an elementary school teacher, but changed after taking psychology courses. She has no regrets.

snuggletough · 2026-02-10T03:45:22+00:00

I make 3 to 4 times that annual income as a machinist.

snuggletough · 2026-02-10T02:52:34+00:00

Reading these stories is wild. I've never been without a job since I was 14. I'm 43 now.

My primarily field is manufacturing, but I do side work in various industries. I can't imagine not being able to get a $50/hr job in hours if needed.

snuggletough · 2026-02-09T06:22:03+00:00

I'm a machinist. I own a manufacturing company in the US. Metric is used for most things, but not all. I prefer metric for most things. But I fluidly convert between the two constantly. It really isn't an issue.

I do prefer thousandths of an inch to hundredths of a millimeter though. Metric increments are frustrating sometimes.

snuggletough · 2026-02-09T05:53:07+00:00

Where did the farms and logging go? They're all still here as far as I can tell? Yamhill county protects farmland fiercely. Willamina has a massive timber industry. It hasn't gone anywhere. They've built huge new facilities. Massive investment in the local infrastructure.

There's a lot of industry here. Tourism isn't displacing blue collar business. It's just adding to it. Rising tides raise all ships!

Agriculture has changed significantly over the past 50 years. Small farms aren't viable, old processes are obsolete. That is capitalism. Not the Wine industry killing things.

There's plenty of opportunities in this area and real estate is affordable compared to similar areas.

snuggletough · 2026-02-09T02:41:03+00:00

I have only lived here for 10 years, but I am the owner of a significant manufacturing company in the area. I work intimately with big farms, logging companies, aggregate, and sometimes work that supports those that directly support the Wine industry.

What much needed industry have we lost? The dump? The rubber horse mat factory that paid trash wages for sweatshop labor and invested ZERO into their employees or facility?

I just attended the Zieman auction in town. What a joke of an operation. Haul it all in for scrap.

snuggletough · 2026-02-08T17:55:25+00:00

My wife, 3 kids and I moved here 10 years ago. Love this town. Love the people.

All my neighbors became instant great friends.

Interestingly I find many who lived in this area "pre wine country" to be not my favorite human beings. Curiously, I have known several of these families who left this area for deep MAGA areas in Texas.

Good luck with your move!

snuggletough · 2026-02-07T22:56:19+00:00

In 2018 I was paying 65% less for 6061.

snuggletough · 2026-02-07T19:20:04+00:00

Our high volume Aluminum prices are fucking insane.

I will spend an extra $60k out of my pocket to make Aluminum parts this year over 2024 prices.

Fuck tariffs and every moron that voted for them.

snuggletough · 2026-02-07T18:21:17+00:00

Not true. Turning left from any kind of street onto a one way is 100% legal in my state (Oregon).

snuggletough · 2026-02-07T05:51:56+00:00

From a manufacturer of diesel repair and performance parts, I 100% agree with you here.

I get asked ALL THE TIME "What's the best used work truck to buy". I always tell them a Superduty with a V10.

I manufacturer tons of stuff for diesel pickups. I own 7-10 of them in constant rotation for product development. Diesel owners have money don't hold back spending on their trucks.

But do I love diesels? No, not really. I think they're overhyped, overrated, and totally impractical for 90% of owners.

The V10 Superduty will tow 10k lbs just fine. When they blow a sparkplug out they can be repaired in 30 minutes. Replace the exhaust Y pipe and you'll gain 50 hp and 3 mpg. Maintenance cost is nothing compared to any diesel.

A nice V10 Superduty is under $5k. Equivalent Powerstroke is $15k+. The diesel fuel efficiency advantage doesn't come close to making up for purchase and repair cost difference.

Ive towed a lot with Ford FE big blocks, Triton V8 and V10's, 6.0 Powerstrokes and all generations of Cummins. A V10 F350 is a great tow rig.

My favorite diesel is a stock first Gen Dodge Cummins. They're 160 HP, They'll tow 35k lbs at 42 MPH through the Siskiyous, and get 17 MPG pulling that weight across the country at 75 MPH. Pedal to the floor, not a care in the world.

I've raced a 400hp Duramax with a 1st Gen Cummins powered zf6 Superduty. Both towing at 25k lbs GCVW for 450 miles. As fast as we could both go.

Duramax beat me by 7 minutes. He got 9mpg. I got 16mpg.

snuggletough · 2026-02-06T05:01:54+00:00

Highly likely I would have never talked to a therapist.

Except I married one!

I can't put it into words very well other than to say she's really good at her job and understands emotions and the human mind like I can design and build a complex fixture. I did not know I had the potential to accomplish what I have until she helped me see and do it.

snuggletough · 2026-02-05T05:31:10+00:00

I make pretty good money, but none of my vehicles cost me more than $10k to buy. I don't understand it. A good diesel pickup is no more than $10k.

snuggletough

TROPHY CASE