Down here in the sticks of the Bluegrass state, us country folks sure to do love getting muddy and going off road in our jacked-up diesel trucks.  Many times, though, we take things a little too far and find ourselves stuck.  We also tend to mess things up on our trucks.  But that's not a problem because we have a diesel mechanic here in my area that does top-grade work on diesel vehicles.  

Regardless of your age, if you have a desire to work on diesel engines, it's never too late to establish a career in this line of work. Best of all, this is a job that tends to pay quite well and is accompanied with a high level of job stability. 

There are several steps that you'll need to complete before earning the legitimate title of a diesel mechanic in Kentucky. Sure, without following these steps you can open your own shop and perform a variety of diesel-related tasks, but you won't be able to acquire insurance on your shop, nor will you be able to attract a lot of customers.

Gain Experience
As soon as you decide you want to become a diesel mechanic in Kentucky, it'll be beneficial to secure a job at a local diesel shop. Even if you're only running the cash register or sweeping the shop's floor, any and all experience will be propitious.

Go to School
You don't have to go to an actual college or university to become a diesel mechanic, but vocational training is required. Keep in mind that working on diesel engines is much different than working on gas engines, and because of this, diesel mechanic programs are not the same as regular mechanic curricula. The average diesel mechanic program tends to be about two to three years in length. Most programs also come with job placement help, which can be of the utmost value once you graduate.

Get Your Licensure
Once you graduate from your post-secondary training program, you'll then have to acquire your licensure. Most licensure programs require you to pay a fee and pass an exam. Part of the exam will likely be hands-on, while the other part will be a multiple-choice test.

Land a Job
Hopefully, the school that you complete your training through will offer a job placement program. As a result, you'll already have a job lined up once you graduate. If the school doesn't offer job placement, you'll have to search for a job yourself, but there's no need to fret. Diesel mechanics in Kentucky tend to be in high demand due to the extensive training and knowledge that they must possess, so it shouldn't be hard for you to find a job.


The Takeaway
Becoming a diesel mechanic does take quite a bit of training and requires lots of experience, but it's definitely a career field you should look into if you like working on diesel engines.

Freelance writing.  Is this a career path that you're thinking about jumping into?  If so, you should first realize that even though making the jump is the first step, the fall down can be quite bumpy (as well as tickle your stomach a time or two) before you land on solid ground.  

Unfortunately, for some of you, there is no solid ground to land on.  Although writing skills can be practiced and mastered over time, there's one thing that always remains true about successful freelance writers: you either are one or you aren't.  

The most important thing to keep in mind is that establishing a successful freelance writing career TAKES TIME!  

I freelanced for 1.4 cents a word for nearly 3 1/2 years before I landed a gig that now pays me about $750 a week.  3 1/2 years was a long time, but it was during those years that I was able to get the feel for what freelance writing was, including how to deal with clients and how to properly network with both clients and other freelancers.  

Was writing for peanuts (pennies) 3 1/2 years worth the wait?  Most definitely!  But it should be noted that I was blessed enough to be at a point in my life where working 20 hours for $200 a week was feasible and paid the bills.  I know that not everyone can survive on $200 a week, and I couldn't have had it not been for my husband making the money that he made.  

I wrote a blog posting earlier for a client about the mindset of a boxer.  This is exactly what you need to have if you want to be successful as a freelance writer.  

You must persevere through those days when there is no work (it's these days that you need to be marketing yourself), you must have courage to take on an assignment that you're not quite so-sure about, and you must find what motivates you.  

And as any true writer will tell you, it's not the money that primarily motivates you to write.  Instead, it's your passion for writing!  

Writing is what I love to do, and I am very blessed that I have found clients who are willing to pay for me for the content that I produce for them.  

My hope is to expand my clientele as well as my writing skills, and hopefully, keep living this dream that I've been living for the past several years.  Don't get me wrong, this dream is not perfect.  I most definitely have difficult days just like everyone else, but for the most part, being a freelance writer is more than I could have ever hoped for.  

If you have content that you need created for your website, blog, signage, etc..., please contact me today.  With a deep passion for writing and top-notch communication skills, I'm confident that I can create the content you're in need of.