PT Barnum had a real problem with patrons who lingered in his museum a bit too long, which limited the crowds and cut into profits. He needed a way to get people to leave and replaced the exit signs with “This Way to Egress.” Thinking there was an egress display, folks instead found themselves back on the street and the door locked preventing reentry! But before you can egress (exit), you must ingress (enter), and from there you get to plot your journey (career) in the trades.
I ingressed in 1972, but did not yet have a plan because I had not set my sights on a career in the PHVAC fields. Truth be told, I viewed this as a stepping-stone to somewhere else without a clue as to what something else would be when it appeared on the horizon. About six months into what was to become my career, it dawned on me that I was beginning to really enjoy the work, and that the potential was present for eventually having my own business. Pursuing the American Dream! Well, why not? I was aware of others who jumped into the deep end and hung out their shingles, but also became aware that most egressed involuntarily by going bankrupt within the first few years.