By now we've all heard that AI is going to take away a ton of jobs — that maybe software engineers will disappear, or at the very least the market won't be what it used to be. There are lots of layoffs, and honestly, I don't know exactly what to do with my life at this point. I still have a job, and they seem to like me here, but I could be laid off at any moment.
So I've been thinking about maybe learning something new — you know, like that godfather of AI says: learn to be a plumber or something. I want to do something more tangible, something with more interaction with the physical world, because that's gonna take a while longer to be replaced by AI. If I just stay in front of a computer, it feels like it's only a matter of time before AI takes my job, or at least pays me less for it.
I was thinking about industrial IoT for a while, but I kept coming back to this idea that I need to do something besides software. Somehow I landed on automotive repair. Learn how to change a tire — which, actually, last month was the first time in my life I ever changed a tire, so that was a win. But I don't even know how to change the oil in my car. I mean, I know the theory, but I've never done it myself. And I'm interested in how things work, so even though I've never actually messed with a car, I feel like I'd enjoy it — diagnosing problems, tinkering, making things run smoothly again. That sounds rewarding to me.
So I started thinking about a path where I buy a cheap car and just start figuring things out, get proficient, and eventually maybe hire someone to work with me at a car repair shop. Or buy an existing one. I don't know, something like that.
Then I started talking to an old friend of mine — someone I've known since college. He was a university professor, and back then I did IT work for the building he worked in. We've kept in touch for over a decade now. He's always been into trading. I remember seeing E-Trade open on his screen every time I came by his office. From what he's told me, he's made a substantial amount of money investing — though back then it was mostly long-term stuff, not active trading. Now that he's retired, he's leaning into it more, and he says it's actually possible to make good money that way.
I know the sensible advice: don't do it. It's a really bad idea. Most people lose money. Just put everything in an S&P 500 index fund, let it grow, and call it a day. But I'm still curious about whether I could actually pull it off. I know it would take a lot of learning, a lot of focus, and nerves of steel — it can be scary and stressful. But I think this could work for me.
I'm gonna give it an honest try. I'll set up a budget and see what happens after a year. Maybe even a year is too short, but I really want to try it. Part of what tempts me is that it means staying in front of a computer, which is my happy place — and maybe picking up some side income while I'm at it.
I'll sit with it a little longer. I know it's a bad idea on paper, but there are a few people who actually make it. I could be one of them. We'll see.