I also have degrees in Mgmnt and Economics form a prestigious university. After college I joined the Sherwin-Williams Company as a sales rep, which paid for my flight training. It was a 7 day a week job that often caused me to work 70-80 hour weeks and countless evenings at home. I once worked form March to October without a single day off. Yes it was my choice but because of my work ethic I quickly rose to the top and was promoted several times.

When I told my boss I was leaving he had brought me into his office to discuss applying for the top sale rep position in the division. I thanked him but declined and then put in my two weeks notice. You see, I was tired of working so hard and with so much stress for 65K a year. The most I would top out at was 85K and that wasn't worth all the stress. STRESS and lots of it, not to mention that I hated sales.

You say life as a pilot is unstable. I'll give you that, but it's far more unstable as a sales rep or in Mgmnt positions where every day you are graded and queried. About how you're going to improve, beat last month, last year, improve customer support and product quality, decrease customer complaints, increase quality control, improve employee moral, improve employee performance, decrease expenses, increase profit and etc. AND if you don't perform you're OUT! Just as quick as you were hired, you're gone. In the “real world” performance is everything and you are always expendable.

So what start your own business? Fine, how is a broke pilot going to come up with the initial capital, contacts, idea, customers and support. The NFIB (National Federation of Independent Business' Education Foundation) estimates that over the lifetime of a business, 39% are profitable, 30% break even, and 30% lose money, with 1% falling in the "unable to determine" category. The NFIB also concluded that 64.2% of ALL new business fail; now that’s risky and stressful.

You can have all that STESS. I'll gladly take my airline seat, making just as much, as a CA without all that STRESS and enjoying my job. I'll make my own retirement and I'll do just fine. Yes my airline can collapse, but it’s far less likely then being fired for not performing. I do agree that everyone, not just pilots, should supplement their income. That's the best way to build a sevure future.