Festool Hobbyists....What is your day job or business?

I worked as a software engineer for over a decade, but for the past year and a half, I've been back in college finishing my bachelor's degree and getting ready to apply to med schools. Sadly, this new path hasn't left me much time (or money!) for woodworking lately, but I have a feeling it will be worth the sacrifice.
 
Sparktrician said:
Maybe it's because us IT guys are smarter than the average toilet paper tube and understand concepts like cost-benefit ratios. 
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No!  IT guys are simply exacting types that also work constantly with structure and interconnected systems that lends them to adopt such similar system as Festool offers.

IT guys have little to none concept of cost benefit scenarios I would think.  They just like the systematic approach and overall efficiencies in what they do.

As I said earlier, I'm a CFP and although being such is not greatly geared to such analytical discussion as to why people do lend themselves to Festool products and their premium pricing, I do get to express what I feel are some of the probables of those who may tend to adopt Festool based on my experience with people of different calibers of disposable income and their general nature as to where they came from.  Been doin' it for 25 years now.  There are definitely certain indicators with who typically is a Festool adoptee although I am stunned as to how many IT guys are here in this thread that are in this group of non-pro-contractor users.  Bit unexpected actually.
 
Kevin D. said:
Sparktrician said:
Maybe it's because us IT guys are smarter than the average toilet paper tube and understand concepts like cost-benefit ratios. 
Click to expand...

No!  IT guys are simply exacting types that also work constantly with structure and interconnected systems that lends them to adopt such similar system as Festool offers.

IT guys have little to none concept of cost benefit scenarios I would think.  They just like the systematic approach and overall efficiencies in what they do.

As I said earlier, I'm a CFP and although being such is not greatly geared to such analytical discussion as to why people do lend themselves to Festool products and their premium pricing, I do get to express what I feel are some of the probables of those who may tend to adopt Festool based on my experience with people of different calibers of disposable income and their general nature as to where they came from.  Been doin' it for 25 years now.  There are definitely certain indicators with who typically is a Festool adoptee although I am stunned as to how many IT guys are here in this thread that are in this group of non-pro-contractor users.  Bit unexpected actually.
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People seem to be confusing the cross section of casual Festool adopters on this forum vs casual Festool adopters in real life.

Wuffles said:
IT guys hang around on forums more than the average person. It's really that simple.
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I know lots of people with Festool gear who are not on this forum, I'm the only one with a streak of geek in me, therefore I am here. Can't help ourselves.
 
Kevin D. said:
Sparktrician said:
Maybe it's because us IT guys are smarter than the average toilet paper tube and understand concepts like cost-benefit ratios. 
Click to expand...
No!  IT guys are simply exacting types that also work constantly with structure and interconnected systems that lends them to adopt such similar system as Festool offers.

IT guys have little to none concept of cost benefit scenarios I would think.  They just like the systematic approach and overall efficiencies in what they do.
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Au contraire, monsieur!!!  In my line of work, I have to be VERY cost-conscious, to the point of recognizing that even slight deviations from the contracted plan can adversely affect the profitability of the job and/or its deliverables.  I have to weigh very carefully every prospective change to a project and identify a detailed, defensible path, with clear alternatives and a very robust risk matrix fully identified going forward, that is cost-justifiable and acceptable to my customer(s).  If I do anything that even incidentally/accidentally blindsides the customer or adversely affects the timing or scope of the desired outcome, I'm likely going to be in very deep kimchi.  The fact that I understand systems and interactions makes it easier to see the big picture, and therefore makes it easier to predict with some reasonable certainty the effects of changes.  It's this appreciation of unified systems that makes use of Festool products so attractive in my other line of work. 
 
Retired from a 33 year career as an electrical engineer, engineering manager and project manager for a high tech company.  Volunteer high school swim coach during last 7 years of working career, then 8 years as a club swim coach after retiring.  Currently and for the last 6+ years have been working with Habitat for Humanity as a site supervisor/project manager building affordable housing. 
 
Maybe the reason why there are so many more IT guys on the FOG is because they have more opportunity to get on here.
what would you rather be doing through out the day? writing code or maybe dozing off in front of spreadsheets, or a quick check on the FOG!
 
I'm a Structural Analysis Engineer working in the Aerospace field.  I spend my days figuring out how to make things not break, or figuring when they will break.  Or if things go badly, figuring out why they broke!
 
I run a small wholesale business in Austria for fiberoptic cables and accessories serving the EU market.
 
Petroleum engineer by trade, presently Director of Business Development for a large independent oil company in Houston.  Have worked in the oil business for over 30 years and counting the days (well probably years) until I can dedicate more time to woodworking!  Really enjoying the FOG and learning a lot from everyone here.
 
Brice Burrell said:
Alex said:
KrisB said:
There seems to be something indeed between us, IT guys  and Festool. Are we drawn to it because of our IT backgrounds, and if so, why Festool and not another brand? Perhaps there is a shrink on the forum who can explain?
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Too little data to draw your conclusions. Perhaps there are so many IT guys here because they tend to be more involved with computers and have a larger internet presence than people with other backgrounds?
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Alex, it's true, IT types are drawn to Festool and the FOG because of the some special, subliminal code Shane has been putting in here and the Festool site.  It doesn't seem to effect us regular people, but the IT guys are like trained rats. [tongue] [big grin]
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Hmmmm
I thought it was something that's in the kool aid
 
Gnovice17 said:
General and vascular surgeon--28years.  Just started woodworking a few years ago but found that measure twice , cut once applies to woodworking also.
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Scary funny...... [jawdrop]
 
I am really enjoying this thread and although we have a bunch of different backgrounds (IT, Surgeon, Mechanical, Operations, Sales) I do see a common theme....we mostly like to fix or build things.

For the last 16 years I've for worked for software companies, both large and small, on the sales and marketing side of things. If that wasn't enough to keep me busy I've bought and remodeled a number of homes which led me to woodworking and Festool. The learning never ends and I love that part of it.
 
Juvenile and domestic relations court judge.  I love to come home to my shop!
Cheers,
Crox
 
I was in the beer business for over a decade (distributor) and in 2010 walked away and went back to school.  I now own a small company with my father.  We wear several hats, but all involve working with senior housing cooperatives.  We do HUD insured master mortgages; we have a non-profit foundation for lobbying, education, and communication; and we also created a purchasing cooperative (for senior housing cooperatives) to leverage collective buying power.  I realize that most (if not all) have not heard of senior housing cooperatives, but they have a small following in the upper Midwest (about 100 total in the US - 90 in Minnesota).

My maternal grandfather (jack of all trades, but in construction the majority of his working career) and my father got me into woodworking at a young age.  I digressed when I learned about things with motors, then again when copious amounts of alcohol were discovered (first attempt at college), for the past ten years or so I have been dabbling more consistently with DIY stuff and home projects (when I have the time - twin 7 year olds at home).  I have a hard time paying people to do things for me.  I would rather spend that money on the tools required and learn the process myself.  This upsets my wife to no end and is resulting with a backlog of projects that would take me several years to finish if I was working full time on them (the oldest of which is a  Jeep CJ project that began in 1995... )
 
I'm a Software Engineer and have always been interested in wood working. I had some projects I really wanted to attack and was sucked into the green Kool-Aid quickly.
 
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