What's a mechanic do instead of mechanicing

Was a Chrysler/Hyundai tech for about 5 years. Did everything from water leaks to diesel drivetrain. I went through a lot of factory training too since you were not allowed to work on cars with certain problems if you weren't trained. I was level 4 in a lot of areas. I got fired after Sandy for not being able to go in - lost power for two weeks, had a 4 month old and a 4 year old kid with heart condition. Prior to that, I was in at 7:00 AM doing waiter oil changes for years just to make myself look good, everyone else rolled in at 8:00.

Anyway, I am glad to be out of that business. I got into it because I liked cars and fixing them but in a dealership environment, you end up being kind of a salesman trying to up sell services and crap that people don't need. Warranty work was killing me too. My boss and I did not get along so he fed me all warranty work and/or jobs that required taking apart the whole car to find an intermittent fault or mystery noise. Never got any gravy work. Things may be different in an independent shop, I don't know.

I work for myself now in a family business and would not go back. I do miss being in the shop with the guys and doing the actual work, that was the fun part. The politics and hustling made it depressing and overshadowed the other stuff. I spend plenty of time wrenching on my own junk now so it feeds the need. I still got all my tools from work so I can do most anything for myself at home.

I would say maybe look for something that you can use your skills but have it be more fun, like a speed/dyno shop, engine building or machine shop or even a restoration shop. The money my not be there but t least it might be more interesting.