23 years at the bench and in retail. GIA graduate gemology program Lost all inspiration but it's what I do for a living so I better learn as much as I can and develope the skills to master the art. You climb the ladder all your life and when you get to the top you realize your ladder was against the wrong building. I've been sitting stairing at a half inch of real estate for almost 25 years and what I really want to do is see the open sky and mountains and seas.Look into the faces of beautiful innocent people, not have to explain myself to unappreciative employers or who really could'nt do half of what I do but make all the money. Or wait for paying customers to justify what I do and give me permission to work because as they say nothing happens without a sale. I used to love this when it was new and learning new techniques and challenging myself with each new job thought I would be rich and famous and travel the world to buy exotic gems and live the life but instead I have inriched others working the back rooms of countless trade and retail shops probably to retire with the shakes from being exposed to so many toxic fumes and dust dye broke with no benifits or little savings. I'll give you a word of advise, Get your own sales counter,learn all you can as fast as you can,go big or get out. STEAL THE ART...USE IT FOR YOUR OWN ADVANTAGE...DON'T LET PEOPLE USE YOU UP,PUT YOU DOWN,LEAVE YOU ALONE WHEN YOU ARE NO LONGER USEFUL. Don't listen to what they say_ see what they do. That's what you sould be doing_not what they want you to do for them. Well I guess it't not over yet,not untill the fat lady sings. I might find my inspiration again one day and go on to make jewelry so beautiful people have to wonder how it was done,who did it,why we never heard of this artist. Funny he never made a cent when he was alive. Heard he worked as a used car saleman in his later years. Who knew this guy made jewelry like that at home?