Ok...I really think I want to do it. *Massive Rant*

This year was my first year of college. I've always been a straight A student. As important as it is, by now I've realized just how much I dislike being in school. Some time in high school, I really got into ball pythons, as many of you know. Over the last couple of years I've gotten more and more into it, making some serious purchases. This is my first year breeding, and so far, it's going well, I should be producing a 3-4 clutches, thats with breeding about 8 females. Next year my breedable female count will jump to about 15, and the year after that to about 25. Thats just with what I own now, not including future purchases. I think I'll be able to produce some really cool stuff. I really think I have found my passion, my true purpose in life. I'm on this site about 6-7 hours a day, and am constantly thinking of ball pythons. I think the only thing in the world that I want to do, is become a full time ball python breeder. After I finish this year of school, I will be done, no more college, no university. I have a full time job secured with 40 hours a week and a good hourly wage as soon as I am done school. I plan to stay at this job for the next few years, as my collection grows, and I make more profit. I am only 18 years old, so I believe I have some time to play with this and if it doesn't work out, I can always go back to school. My parents have agreed to let me take this path, and do what I love. The have agreed to let me take over most of our basement and expand my collection on a very large scale. I really believe I have a legitimate chance at having a decent business up here in Canada, because there really isn't too many big boys up here, Corey Woods, Mark Mandic, Don Patterson, Henry Piorun. I really believe I can do it, I think I have work ethic, the diligence and the attitude, to really make this a reality.

My question to you guys is, do YOU believe in me? Could Peter Williams really be the next big name in ball pythons?

Yes- Peter Williams could be the next big name in ball pythons :)

Follow your bliss... Live your dreams... Be brave... Be kind.

And thank your parents and let them know you love them for their unconditional love and support :P

It's quite possible you could make it work! I like that you are going to be working a full time job for a while instead of thinking that you can just jump into being a full time ball python breeder and make a livable profit from selling snakes.

Don't ever forget that this hobby always has the chance to fall to its knees financially, just like anything else, except that since you are working with living animals there is even more serious financial risk.

If I only had your guts :D I'm taking the safe route, since my priorities are more about a girl than snakes right now.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pwilliams58

My question to you guys is, do YOU believe in me? Could Peter Williams really be the next big name in ball pythons?

---

keep doing what youre doing and it could happen!

You should definately go for it. You sound a lot like me. I think about ball pythons all the time too but I'm in Australia and so cant own or breed them :( haha. I keep a few of the aussie species which are pretty cool but nothing compared to balls. One day I hope to move overseas to europe or the US and make my living breeding balls. If I was you I would definately go for it!

I am in college now, have a full-time job, and breed snakes on the side. In my opinion, you should stay in school. Think about your future. You don't know what is going to happen with snakes. What if in a few years they ban them? What if in a few years all are worth $20? You just never know. You can be certain that if you stay in school, and get a degree, that you will be able to successfully get a good job.

Do what you will, but think about your future first. You may make a fair about of money now, but what about if you decide to get married, have kids, but a house and a few new cars. Will you pay be enough then?

There's absolutely no doubt that you could do big things in whatever you set your mind, heart and will to do. But why does that mean you should drop out of school? Instead of considering no school....why not consider which educational paths best promote your dream? "Business and Marketing" is one possibility. Successfully breeding animals and building a successful business in a competitive field are two very different things. Another possible path might be the biological sciences that lead you to greater understanding of the animals you are so passionate about working with.

Just a thought. I wish you the best in whatever path you choose for yourself. :)

I agree with Judy and Wh00h0069. I'm moving in and around the same path that you are, and I eventually want to start breeding, but I want to get my education to fall back on as well. You have to have a backup plan. If anything else, you'll throw some amazing animals and in a few years you'll be up there with people like Adam, but just in case life throws you a fast one, be sure you can handle it.

im going to have to go with stay in school. stuff happens and that full time job you think you have secured might be change coming in a year or so. you'd be at the bottom of the latter and would most likely be the first to go.

i finished my undergrad in 05 and almost went into a masters program (marine biology). almost. i didn't because i was hired a month before i finished school by a marine laboratory in the area. all the teachers said everyone who stops before they are completly finished will not go back. that is completly true. stuff piles up. responsibilities add up and before you know it you will not be able to go back to school because you won't have the time. trust me, i know this very well!!

my suggestion is stay in school and breed snakes on the side. you can do everything you want to do while your in school just as you would be able to if you were working. it is always nice to have a formal education to fall back on incase things don't work out. yes college is boring for the first couple of years but it gets better. my last two years were the best. this is when you start doing what you went to college for.

so stay in school, get that degree, and breed snakes at the same time.

Hell I say go for it otherwise you will always have that what if taunting you in the back of your mid. You already have a good name for a snake breeder lol. Worse case scenario is you dont make it or atleast not as big as you may have wanted. Either way you get to spend time with all your animals. :gj::gj::gj:

Peter, I was an honor student in high school, top of almost every class.. went to UofT for Mechanical Engineering. Ended up only finishing first year before withdrawing for personal reasons. If you can balance both school and work I would stick to it, even if you take longer to finish. Select a program that interests you and will benefit your animals and future business.

After my lucrative first few years of work dried up I really regretted not finishing school.

Whatever you do its up to you but this is my only regret in life these days.

Richard

Hey man the thing is life is to short and you need to enjoy it, if breed snakes is your passion and you love it go for it! College will always be there! Follow your heart.

i would still say you should go to college as a backup, plus a biology degree or genetics classes could help and some business knowledge is important. well you seem to be well planned out you should do well.

Stick with school. Having a degree gives you CHOICE. No matter what job you have, or how well your BP breeding works out, having a degree will always give you more options in the event you decide you need a change, or if life throws you a curveball.

There's nothing worse then being stuck in a lifestyle or job, and having to stick with it because you have no other reasonable options. There's a chance the BP breeding may not work out, or you may not want to do it anymore (even though that seems impossible right now, a lot can change in 5-10-20 years). Having a degree will always give you more career options, which in turn gives you more options in life.

I hear it more than anything else: "I wish I would have stayed in school", "Going back after a lapse in enrollment was much tougher", "I always planned to go back but it never happened". The advice I've gotten more than any other "stay in school"

A few more years is a blink of the eye in the long life you will have. Stick with school and give yourself those options. Even if you never need to use them, it's better to live knowing you have them. Knowing you can make a move if you want to can really do a lot for your mental health, and outlook on life.

why not do both? Get a bio degree and become a herp vet, God knows we need more in Canada. Did you know theres only one exotic vet in Nova Scotia, hugh market opportunity.

Go for your dreams brotha, I got faith in ya.

Some of the most brilliant and successful people in the world are high school/ college drop outs. Just sayin...

if college isn't ur thing, then carve your own path. Won't be easy. Won't be fun.

Figure out what you want and don't let anything stand in your way ;) :gj:

Thanks guys, I'm going to go for it. I know alot of you went with me staying in school, but for right now, that is not an option for me. It is hard enough to drag myself to get out of bed every morning to go to school, I just can't stand it, I can't bring myself to enjoy it, or focus on doing it. I need at least two years to get my head right, so that's what I'm going to do. If things don't work out, I'm still young.

Just do me one huge favour guys, don't ever forget my name.

I will tell you a story.
I am 38 unemployed, trying to find a job. I can't seem to get one. I am over qualified for McDonalds and underqualified for other things.
when I was 16 to 18 I thought I would be a horse mounted policeman. And then I thought I would get a scholarship for music. I moved and missed out on details and timing to get the paperwork in. I was talented and well didn't educate myself.
I went into the Navy hoping to use the GI Bill for college. But then got a bit scared.
I finally went for 2 semesters, after I broke my leg and couldn't do anything else. But then my disability ran out and I had to find a job to eat.
Because I have no degree at all even an Associates in something= 2 years of college or there abouts.. I can't get certain kinds of jobs.
I am missing out on a lot of things.
My husband on the other hand, a tall gaunt guy, did 4 yrs in the Marines, then went to college and now has a job that is 40 hours a week for the state and makes over 20 dollars an hour.
Find a job that will be around in 5, 10 and more years. With the changes going on, don't count on one thing to make your money. Keep your mind open and don't pass up this opportunity to get a higher education.
It will pay off, it will help, it just takes a bit of hard work, patience to get through the BS, and time.
Don't be an unemployed 30 something, hoping to make money off of a hobby you love...
I also have horses, and could train horses, but its a hobby, and people are giving horses away because no one can afford them now.

Carol

If you do what you love, you'll always be successful. Not to mention happy.

Just make sure to spend time creating a solid backup plan for if you decide you need change, or if things don't work out. It's a lot easier to climb a mountain when you know you have a safety line to keep you from falling. You never want to use it, but it's comforting to know it's there.

hey man just joined this forum today, but as I was reading your rant I realized I wasn't the only one that felt like this lol. My situation is a little different though. I could have went to school, my parents are willing to fund my education 100%, but at the time (present as well) I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I am a musician as well and have been following this path for a long time now and have been playing for well, 5 years now, and don't plan on stopping. While on this "path" I realized a lot. I came to a point where I thought, in order to "survive" I need to get a good job, go to school, the whole nine...but the more i would think about it the more I would feel like I was going against my will and conforming to society which is something I am against. Well once I decided on not going, I slowly fell into herps again(i used to have lots of herps when I was younger), and fell into an old passion of mine that I forgot about. Now I am on my way of breeding these guys as well, and don't plan no looking back. Now I may not be someone who "society" looks at as "successful", but two thing are for sure though, I'm EXTREMELY happy I did not go to college, and I'm happy! Don't go like these people are telling you if your heart is not there, you will just make yourself miserable. Do not think about what will happen if you don't go cuz heres the thing, if you believe and visualize yourself with your goal in mind and really believe in yourself it WILL and I mean WILL happen. I think what your doing is awesome and sounds to me like you need to breeding snakes lol, not studying about who knows what. I hope you stick to your gut on this one cuz it sounds to me like you have a lot of passion for this, and it can bring about a big change in your life. Good luck my friend!!

I guess if school is no longer an option, at least make the effort to educate yourself.... Read books about running a business and marketing techniques and what not and read about genetics (not just what morphs make what).

For what it's worth, I really like your racks, you may even think about building some of those and selling them for some extra income as well.

Oh and definitely thank your parents

Personally, i wouldnt quit school, maybe dont take as many classes, but dont quit... even if you plan to do it later... if you atleast get an aa or your generals done, it will be so much easier for you to go back and do the "fun" stuff...

im in college right now, i would love to drop out and breed snakes, but an AA in graphic design opens so many more doors for me than breeding snakes and doing freelance work without a degree... get my point? if you go and get an AA, you'll be what, 20? breed snakes on the side. seriously think about whether you want to quit school...

as for the snakes, time wise... 15 breedable females is not all that much more time than what you have now... - sin yes - but if you werent on here as much that gives you that bit more time... ;) what exactly were you planning on getting a degree in?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ChicaPiton519

Personally, i wouldnt quit school, maybe dont take as many classes, but dont quit... even if you plan to do it later... if you atleast get an aa or your generals done, it will be so much easier for you to go back and do the "fun" stuff...

im in college right now, i would love to drop out and breed snakes, but an AA in graphic design opens so many more doors for me than breeding snakes and doing freelance work without a degree... get my point? if you go and get an AA, you'll be what, 20? breed snakes on the side. seriously think about whether you want to quit school...

as for the snakes, time wise... 15 breedable females is not all that much more time than what you have now... - sin yes - but if you werent on here as much that gives you that bit more time... ;) what exactly were you planning on getting a degree in?

---

I wasn't planning on getting a degree in anything. My parents just wanted me to have 1 year of college, I am in general arts and sciences. For fun, this comming semester, I will be taking a business course, but I am not pursuing a business degree.

Listen Peter- no one can tell you what you ought to do; that's what 'growing up' means. Making your choices and following them through. College is not for everyone. Nuff said. College can also be attended at any time in life; I got my BS when I was 47 years old.

You need to sit down and quiet yourself (your mind) and do some introspection. Figure out your own path.

That's the only way.

I can relate a lot to what the OP and a few others have said about college. I'm one of the spoiled ones, and have been fortunate enough to have parents that planned ahead for my education. I am so thankful for the opportunities they have provided me. But at the same time, it was also detrimental.

Right out of high school I never questioned why I was going to college, or what I should study. I just went because I assumed that was the next logical step after high school, and that's what my parents did after they graduated. Big mistake. So after the first semester or two when the grades came in poor (I was an A-B student in high school) my parents couldn't understand what was going on.

I wasn't prepared, and I didn't have any motivation behind what I was doing. I just went through the motions because that's what I was "supposed" to be doing. Well of course things couldn't continue like that so after a few more semesters I bailed out.

Not until now, almost 3 years later, have I finally figured out what I want to do in life, and returned to finish a degree. I should have waited until this semester to START college! I finally have motivation to go and do the work, and it feels great.

So just keep this in mind. Not too long ago I was thinking about the same thing you are going to do (not with BPs, but you get the idea). A lot can change in a few years, and you might just need some time to figure it out. I feel like a totally different person than I was a few years ago. If you don't end up going to school that's fine, but just always keep it open as an option.

I've said it before: you want as many options in life as possible. Doesn't matter if you never use them, or if they're off the wall. Just the fact of knowing you have another choice, and that you're never stuck, can make a big difference in your life.

So enough of my portion of the rant. Good luck OP, and always keep an open mind to any of life's options!

First off I agree with Starmom that you are going to have to figure this out for yourself; people can give you advice, but you are ultimately going to be responsible for the outcome. So, choose very carefully. I will give you my story since it's pretty similar to yours, and probably to a lot of herp lovers on here.

A year ago I was in the same boat as you are. Close to straight A student, first year of college in an engineering major, and guess what, same thing... all I thought about was HERPS all day and all night. I found school to be boring and disconnected from what I perceived as "the real world". So I figured I would switch majors and aim to become a herp vet, because what else could make me happy other than that?

A year later, and I have switched back into chemical engineering.

Here's MY reality. To be blunt, the job market sucks right now. Unemployment is going up and up and up. I personally need to be secure in my life, because that is me. If I am living on a shoestring with no security in getting a job, I won't be happy: this is what I ultimately realized. I decided I wanted to go back to chemical engineering - which, while it's definitely not all cupcakes and gumdrops to learn about, is involved in almost every important industry in the US, and continues to grow as a field even when the economy heads towards the gutter. It's a HARD major, and most people drop out of it. But I recognized that if I want to, I HAVE the ability to complete this major, and make a huge investment in my future.

Most majors are not ultra fascinating all the time. That's what they never told me in high school: The purpose of college is not "to have a learning experience", but to prepare you for a career in the real world. And guess what- your actual career after college probably won't consist of sitting in a classroom taking notes. College is a step you take in life - it's not the be-all and end-all.

Do I still think about herps all the time? Absolutely. Is raising snakes still a major part of my life that defines who I am? Of course. But once I am an engineer, I'll have the money to not only afford all those pretty morphs and nice equipment I've been drooling over, but I'll have money to support a family as well.

On the other side of this, some people can and do live on a shoestring doing what they love, and they accept the fact that they'll probably have to cut a lot of corners. For some people this lifestyle works for them. My herp vet back home, for example, pours all of his time, money, and resources into his job, and he loves it. I have tremendous respect for him as well (he's also a fantastic vet).

All I'm saying is, don't expect to have it both ways. If you take this route you must embrace the ugly parts of it. Keep your dreams high, but be realistic at the same time.

Peter,

I'm not going into the whether or not you should go to school aspect. However I do have one idea for you to see if this is something that you are entirely serious about. Although you'd learn a ton if you were to take some marketing classes, perhaps business management, etc. But anyways!

If you think you want to be the next Mark Mandic, Don Patterson, Corey Woods, or Henry Piorun, I think your best move would be to try and get an internship for a week or two with someone like them. Someone who knows the ins and outs of the business, as well as its ups and downs. See if the workload is something that you think you could handle. And if possible, try to get some financial figures. Materials cost for caging, cost for feeders or supplies, and utilities costs. I'm sure if you're plugging your parent's basement full of snakes, they'll want recoup for utilities.

Ask them for advice, I guarantee that they all have one commonality, I'm guessing they all have business plans on how that business is operated, and goals that they want to achieve.

Although these gentlemen are going to be your major competition, my guess is at least one of them will be more than willing to help you learn how to run a large and diverse collection.

I guarantee that your first couple years will be tough, because really you should be putting more money into the business than you are taking out, so having that 40 hour a week job will be important for other bills. You're going to sleep VERY little, entrepreneurships are THE most difficult lifestyles to live. You pour your heart and soul into the business, all free time should go towards the business.

I do believe that you can do it, for your age you're an intelligent guy, and you seem to have an idea of what you want and how to achieve it. Write down your goals, make up a business plan, and keep on top of it. The worst thing you can do is let your business go stale. Update your goals and market the hell out of yourself.

I think right now, networking is going to be your best friend, find one of those big breeders that will mentor you.

Good luck brother, eh! :gj:

Oh, by the way, I do well in school, I'm an intelligent enough kid but...I HATE school. However, I'm forcing myself to complete my bachelors degree.

After graduation, I went to college for one year...couldn't figure out my life and where I wanted to go, so I took a year off.

Well, I fell into a situation like yourself where I wanted to pursue my dream. However, I made the decision that I would like to have that fall back plan. I'm surely but slowly finishing my Bachelors in Business Administration with an emphasis in entrepreneurship. I've learned a heck of a lot about the ins and outs of business... so although the work is tough and time consuming, I just look at the fact that it will benefit my future business venture.

School is ALWAYS an option for you, no matter age and stage of life. I do all my education online, there isn't a college around here for an hour drive.

Peter - 24 years ago I graduated from HS and my parents had my college picked out and paid for. That was not what I wanted to do. Instead I wanted to do something that was for me...something I was interested in, so I joined the Air Force. I won't try and pump sunshine up your skirt and tell you I loved every minute of it, because like all things in life, there were some really bad days and sometimes life is just hard, even if you're doing something you love to do. Actually, I think the tough days are tougher because you love it so much. It's easy to block out a bad day at a job you hate, because you aren't emotionally invested in it, and bad days at a suck job aren't that unusual. It's when you work your guts out at a job you love and suddenly have everything go to heck in a handbasket when true character is formed.

I spent 23 years in the Air Force and would do it again if I had to make the choice tomorrow. Am I a college grad? No. Did I get rich? No. Did I sacrifice some things here and there? Yes. Am I a happier person for doing it my way? Yes I am.

Follow your dream, do whatever you can to make it work, and do not loose sight of your goal. You might not get rich, but I tend to count riches in happiness, not dollars and cents.

Good luck whatever you choose to do.

For all but a lucky few, who started years ago, and have made decent money when the Ball market was crazy, Balls are a hobby, or side business at best. Ball Python breeding is not a viable career. Get a degree, and a real job, and breed high end balls on the side.

Dave

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by EmberBall

For all but a lucky few, who started years ago, and have made decent money when the Ball market was crazy, Balls are a hobby, or side business at best. Ball Python breeding is not a viable career.

---

Adam from 8BallPythons might disagree with you on that point, and so would I.
Breed great BP's, charge reasonable prices, and provide outstanding customer service, and it can, and probably will work.

yeah I agree, theres money to be made in bp's for sure. You just gotta REALLY go for it.

This reminds me of when I stopped college after a year, got so fed up with school, and decided to start making money online. I've always wanted to make money online, from anywhere in the world. I started learning how to make money online 4 years ago. It took me two years to actually start to make anything decent online($2k+/month), and actually learned what works for me, and what's a complete pile of !#@$*&.

At present, I'm making around $4k more or less per month, and I'm extremely happy in my decision 4 years ago to stop college and to start to make money from home. I know $4k/month sounds crappy, but I work when I want to, no boss, no nothing. It takes me 2 hours tops a day, that's all I do then I can spend most of my hours with my gf, family, pets, buying guitar stuff etc.

Point is, I did what I wanted to do not what others THINK I should do, and I made it work out real good in the end. Would college help me earn more from what I chose to do? No, it would not. lol And I wouldn't be as stress free as I am now. I really don't like working for other people.

I really would like to help you, but since I know nothing about making a living from selling ball pythons or breeding them, I can't really give you any advice. The good thing is the serps for "Ball Python" is 853,000k, and "ball pythons for sale" is 276,000k, easy to dominate, so if you're planning to sell your ball pythons online, your first step would be to get on page 1 for those keywords. Or at least that's what I would do, while also selling ball python supplies, etc.

Send me a PM with your website and I'll try to find a link for you from a related pet site I own with decent PR. You could also ask me some SEO/marketing related stuff if you want, I'd give you some basic advice on what you could do to get to the top of your keyword/s.

Good luck!:gj:

(sorry for the long post, I post like once a year, and lurk the rest lol)

yoo bro what do you doo man?!? That sounds right up my alley!!

Also I agree with him a lot, DONT EVER LET ANYONE TELL YOU HOW TO LIVE YOUR LIFE. We are all different and what works for someone might now work for you. I know I'm not cut out for the school life. To me its a complete waste of time if your HEART is not there. I don't believe in going to school just to be SUCESSFUL, because I think life in general is tainted by this belief. There is a lot more to life then meshing with the norm of society. I like to go against the grain personally, and ever since I picked up this snake hobby my parents think I lost my mind, but I believe I found something that could change how I'm going to survive in this world. Living is about what makes you happy, and what makes you, well YOU. I think people should stop telling this kid to go to school, because honestly your not him, nor am I, but I know the answers come from within not from us. Take all advice with a grain of salt, but ALWAYS follow YOUR heart. Don't worry about the negative's about doing what you love, all of that will fall into place. Just go after your dreams man, thats why your alive not to make money. Also don't let money get in the way of your decesion making!! ITS EVIL!!! If you feel like going to school is a chore, then I think you need to take a step back, and check yourself out. Sorry again for the lengthly message...

sounds good . sounds like you got a decent plan . follow your dreams if you love it that much .
but keep in mind .

an old school breeder friend of mine once said (1 of the big boys)
"Dont get into this hobby thinking your going to get rich , cause you wont .
Do it cause you love it not because you think your going to make tons of money ..."

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dsmalex97

yoo bro what do you doo man?!? That sounds right up my alley!!

---

In a nutshell, I find niches and build sites that dominate the serps for those niches.

Other than that ...I'm a frustrated musician learning Vai songs haha.

follow your dreams until you cant anymore...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by temec

follow your dreams until you cant anymore...

---

...which will only be when you've passed on to your next life....and then follow your dreams some more ;)
Also remember that it is okay to change dreams! :P

I wish you alot of luck! I dunno if i could do it full time. I wish I really had a job I loved but I do love the money I make.

Caym : There is no shame in learning Vai... I'm more of a Satriani player myself but hey, we all have our weaknesses... mine just happens to be animals and the art of shredding whatever musical instrument I touch.

Peter, This may sound stupid but I've always wanted to follow in the family footsteps and work at GM. I dropped out of high school, got out of bad habits, got my GED and now I'm working at GM and it's bought me a house and all my animals and everything I have to be thankful for, my parents have been here the whole way encouraging me to do all the things I've wanted to achieve. Get your parents behind you first, that helps immensely! I have this little theory and it goes something like this "Have a job that supports you while you're achieving what your dreams are but have no backup plan. Settle for nothing less then what you want to do!"

Some of the happiest people in the world work the crappiest jobs in the world. Once again I have the utmost in confidence in you. Good luck!

am I weird that my dream has absolutely nothing to do with the job that I'm working, but the people I spend my non-working time with?

Got to do what you love man, i say go for it!!!!!!!!!!!! You can do it. And your parents are backing you thats great man. Best of luck :gj: