Run my own business. It's a success but I hate it!
Discussion
This is going to be one of those "easier said than done posts", but you seem like a capable and handy chap. If you're interested in selling specialist cars, why not look to buy a "fixerupper", erm, fix it up, and sell it on. Keep going until you have enough to buy what you want without tinkering with it.
As I said, easier said then done, but that first car will be the start of a new adventure.
As I said, easier said then done, but that first car will be the start of a new adventure.
jammy_basturd said:
Talk to your in-laws, tell them how miserable you are, try to negotiate a new deal.
If they realise you might be able to walk away then they'd be stupid not to enter into a dialogue with you.
Then hire someone part time to give you some work life balance.
I've attempted this. The problem is that the mother in law is unwell upstairs and the father in law won't do anything to rectify it. She gets over excited in times of stress (house not tidy, people not doing what she says, daughters exams / wedding / pregnancy / birth of grandson......) or when events are approaching (holiday, Christmas etc) and takes her confusion out on her daughter. Violently and vindictively so! We put up with it for years but when my son came along last May she lost the plot and we drew the line. The father in law is scared of her. Scared to get hung out to dry. he couldn't survive a week on his own. He'd starve and be naked with no clean clothes! As a result he says nothing and has lost his grandson in the process. They still receive payments from the business and holiday as per normal. Life is complicated! If they realise you might be able to walk away then they'd be stupid not to enter into a dialogue with you.
Then hire someone part time to give you some work life balance.
16plates said:
Are you profitable enough to hire someone part-time? The way the world is now, i bet there are experienced goldsmiths sitting out of work near you.
Offer them 2 days a week or 16 hours or whatever to start with, if they prove good, then you have the luxury of getting them in more often and taking more time for yourself.
Either way, I agree you'd be mad to sack it off now, when it's making you money!
Yeah, more than profitable to hire and pay a decent wage for quality work. It's finding quality that is the problem. Any goldsmith worth his / her salt will be running their own workshop and I don't want to bring somebody in who will poach my customers! That's how my father in law got started! You can see a picture being painted here can't you? lolOffer them 2 days a week or 16 hours or whatever to start with, if they prove good, then you have the luxury of getting them in more often and taking more time for yourself.
Either way, I agree you'd be mad to sack it off now, when it's making you money!
Grumfutock said:
Let me offer a view from the other side. I retired from the Army in 2008 after 22 years and was going to start my own business as a surveyor. Sadly the arse fell out of the world economy and so I pulled the plug before I had sunk to much of my money into retraining etc. Resettlement didn't even come close to covering it so i was out of pocket by a fair whack but glad I didn't waste more.
Anyway, I ended up getting a job as an Operations Manager which, as an ex SNCO, I can do standing on my head and whilst it isn't for huge money it is good enough. I also went through the mental health bit and thankfully came out the other side, although I still have the odd moment and I hate firework night.
So to the main bit. I work for somebody else. It is easy and the money is ok. But it is so boring. No challenge at all and I find myself on places like this during work time
.
What I am trying to say mate is that the grass is not always greener. I now live for the family and weekends.
Sure, i hear what you are saying. There is always a risk that i'd throw away a perfectly good business to hunt for a better life and only find myself worse off. My job is dirty, it's bad for my health, it's antisocial and it's stressful. It's all the things I didn't want in my life. I crave the freedom to go for a walk and get some fresh air at lunch time. I hate being Mr Nice-Guy to the public when they are blatantly taking the mick. I hate that my eyes are deteriorating with every hour that i'm staring at an object 6 inches from my face! I hate the lack of exercise! I hate being alone with my thoughts for 9 hours a day. I need access to the world, not just cooped up in a concrete box staring at metal and rocks.Anyway, I ended up getting a job as an Operations Manager which, as an ex SNCO, I can do standing on my head and whilst it isn't for huge money it is good enough. I also went through the mental health bit and thankfully came out the other side, although I still have the odd moment and I hate firework night.
So to the main bit. I work for somebody else. It is easy and the money is ok. But it is so boring. No challenge at all and I find myself on places like this during work time
.What I am trying to say mate is that the grass is not always greener. I now live for the family and weekends.
I love the income and the flexibility and confidence it gives to my family. I love the small perks that go with being a jeweller: Access to watches and other things that i can enjoy at the weekend. But, i'd give the material things up right now if it meant i could find something that would pay the bills and have me happy, healthy and content with my lot.
trickywoo said:
Is there any option for just doing the highest end jobs? i.e. do 40% of the work you are now for 75% of the money.
This is an option I have looked at briefly. I have thought about maybe bringing the workshop home, thus saving on the rent payments to the inlaws. The plan would involve building a workshop on the rear of the house and concentrating solely on the trade customers rather than the public work. Currently the trade work is 60 to 70% of my income, but is 80% of my workload. The public stuff can range from 25% to 40% of the income depending on what i take in / sell in a month but is much lower volume. I'd happily just do the public work but how do i get the footfall at home? I'd need to stick to the trade customers and have them deliver / post as they do now at the shop. But then i'd be down on income, down on staff but still doing 80% of the original load that was shared between 2. Or, i could really scale back and concentrate on my 7 or 8 best shops. That would just about cover us but we'd be saving nothing for a rainy day! Tough one eh!!It sounds like you are the business and without you there would be nothing.
I assume the good reputation of the business is because of you and that your skills would be in demand whatever happened.
As above, stop dealing with the public and just deal with B2B. You then have more flexibility with hours.
Do you need the premises where you are, that you don't own and are paying the in laws for?
do you own your equipment? Could you move somewhere smaller and the in laws can sell the premises.
buy a claasic car or two for fun and add value to them and sell for a profit and see how it goes
I assume the good reputation of the business is because of you and that your skills would be in demand whatever happened.
As above, stop dealing with the public and just deal with B2B. You then have more flexibility with hours.
Do you need the premises where you are, that you don't own and are paying the in laws for?
do you own your equipment? Could you move somewhere smaller and the in laws can sell the premises.
buy a claasic car or two for fun and add value to them and sell for a profit and see how it goes
ecain63 said:
I've attempted this. The problem is that the mother in law is unwell upstairs and the father in law won't do anything to rectify it. She gets over excited in times of stress (house not tidy, people not doing what she says, daughters exams / wedding / pregnancy / birth of grandson......) or when events are approaching (holiday, Christmas etc) and takes her confusion out on her daughter. Violently and vindictively so! We put up with it for years but when my son came along last May she lost the plot and we drew the line. The father in law is scared of her. Scared to get hung out to dry. he couldn't survive a week on his own. He'd starve and be naked with no clean clothes! As a result he says nothing and has lost his grandson in the process. They still receive payments from the business and holiday as per normal. Life is complicated!
Close the company and start again under your own terms?If your customers think you are the best, and you are too busy, then you are too cheap.
Whack your prices up, some of the work will evaporate, and what is left will make more money.
The major reason to be self employed is to be able to determine your own work-load, and price will let you do that overnight.
Whack your prices up, some of the work will evaporate, and what is left will make more money.
The major reason to be self employed is to be able to determine your own work-load, and price will let you do that overnight.
ecain63 said:
Sure, i hear what you are saying. There is always a risk that i'd throw away a perfectly good business to hunt for a better life and only find myself worse off. My job is dirty, it's bad for my health, it's antisocial and it's stressful. It's all the things I didn't want in my life. I crave the freedom to go for a walk and get some fresh air at lunch time. I hate being Mr Nice-Guy to the public when they are blatantly taking the mick. I hate that my eyes are deteriorating with every hour that i'm staring at an object 6 inches from my face! I hate the lack of exercise! I hate being alone with my thoughts for 9 hours a day. I need access to the world, not just cooped up in a concrete box staring at metal and rocks.
I love the income and the flexibility and confidence it gives to my family. I love the small perks that go with being a jeweller: Access to watches and other things that i can enjoy at the weekend. But, i'd give the material things up right now if it meant i could find something that would pay the bills and have me happy, healthy and content with my lot.
I fully understand. I refuse to do stress (had enough of that in the past life) and I refuse to work away from home (otherwise I would be one of those tax dodging swine in Iraq/Stan/etc) but rather I prefer to earn enough to pay the bills, have a tiny bit left to spoil the wife from time to time and be with the family.I love the income and the flexibility and confidence it gives to my family. I love the small perks that go with being a jeweller: Access to watches and other things that i can enjoy at the weekend. But, i'd give the material things up right now if it meant i could find something that would pay the bills and have me happy, healthy and content with my lot.
The great liberty boat in the sky will arrive soon enough and it will be time for the big sleep. So my advice to you is go for it. Do what makes you and the family happy, bugger the rest of the world and enjoy! Just remember it can go pete tong but you ain't the sort to want to live without trying or worry about regrets I suspect.
TBH I suspect you have already decided. Good luck to you mate.
One question, did you do enough for the pension? That is a nice cushion if you do jump.
SpeckledJim said:
If your customers think you are the best, and you are too busy, then you are too cheap.
Whack your prices up, some of the work will evaporate, and what is left will make more money.
The major reason to be self employed is to be able to determine your own work-load, and price will let you do that overnight.
You speak great sense! I'll look into this i think.Whack your prices up, some of the work will evaporate, and what is left will make more money.
The major reason to be self employed is to be able to determine your own work-load, and price will let you do that overnight.
Grumfutock said:
ecain63 said:
Sure, i hear what you are saying. There is always a risk that i'd throw away a perfectly good business to hunt for a better life and only find myself worse off. My job is dirty, it's bad for my health, it's antisocial and it's stressful. It's all the things I didn't want in my life. I crave the freedom to go for a walk and get some fresh air at lunch time. I hate being Mr Nice-Guy to the public when they are blatantly taking the mick. I hate that my eyes are deteriorating with every hour that i'm staring at an object 6 inches from my face! I hate the lack of exercise! I hate being alone with my thoughts for 9 hours a day. I need access to the world, not just cooped up in a concrete box staring at metal and rocks.
I love the income and the flexibility and confidence it gives to my family. I love the small perks that go with being a jeweller: Access to watches and other things that i can enjoy at the weekend. But, i'd give the material things up right now if it meant i could find something that would pay the bills and have me happy, healthy and content with my lot.
I fully understand. I refuse to do stress (had enough of that in the past life) and I refuse to work away from home (otherwise I would be one of those tax dodging swine in Iraq/Stan/etc) but rather I prefer to earn enough to pay the bills, have a tiny bit left to spoil the wife from time to time and be with the family.I love the income and the flexibility and confidence it gives to my family. I love the small perks that go with being a jeweller: Access to watches and other things that i can enjoy at the weekend. But, i'd give the material things up right now if it meant i could find something that would pay the bills and have me happy, healthy and content with my lot.
The great liberty boat in the sky will arrive soon enough and it will be time for the big sleep. So my advice to you is go for it. Do what makes you and the family happy, bugger the rest of the world and enjoy! Just remember it can go pete tong but you ain't the sort to want to live without trying or worry about regrets I suspect.
TBH I suspect you have already decided. Good luck to you mate.
One question, did you do enough for the pension? That is a nice cushion if you do jump.
Just a thought, but something I have experienced (so please ignore as nonsense).
You have clearly been through a lot of stressful and changing situations. Cancer, a young child and running your own business can all be considered life changing on their own.
Could you be depressed (or stressed), with your focus on a dislike for your job being too narrow an assessment of what is wrong? I've been there myself and with hindsight it wasn't really all about the job at all.
You have clearly been through a lot of stressful and changing situations. Cancer, a young child and running your own business can all be considered life changing on their own.
Could you be depressed (or stressed), with your focus on a dislike for your job being too narrow an assessment of what is wrong? I've been there myself and with hindsight it wasn't really all about the job at all.
ecain63 said:
Grumfutock said:
Your not in Bournemouth are you? I nearly went for a gold based thing there in 2008 and recall chatting to somebody from PH about it and i am sure they were an ex Marine.
Yup! All me And you lot call us hats stupid?
ecain63 said:
My job is dirty
It's bad for my health
It's antisocial
It's stressful
It's all the things I didn't want in my life
I hate being Mr Nice-Guy to the public
I hate that my eyes are deteriorating
I hate the lack of exercise
I hate being alone with my thoughts for 9 hours a day
I said it before, sell up or walk away. It's bad for my health
It's antisocial
It's stressful
It's all the things I didn't want in my life
I hate being Mr Nice-Guy to the public
I hate that my eyes are deteriorating
I hate the lack of exercise
I hate being alone with my thoughts for 9 hours a day
Don't fiddle faddle around trying to make it work in a slightly different way, get out of it.
You sound resourceful and hardworking, talk to your wife, a mentor, anyone with clear solid advice and make a plan, don't act out of fear, be bold, realise your dreams and go for what you really want.
You're a one man business - the entire value of the place is in your abilities and knowledge. If you feel like you've been done over in the deal, I can't see much to stop you shutting up shop and setting up as "Mr Cain's smashing rings" 3 weeks later. You're your own man again, and 45 minutes on the phone to your old customers should have you sorted.
0a said:
Just a thought, but something I have experienced (so please ignore as nonsense).
You have clearly been through a lot of stressful and changing situations. Cancer, a young child and running your own business can all be considered life changing on their own.
Could you be depressed (or stressed), with your focus on a dislike for your job being too narrow an assessment of what is wrong? I've been there myself and with hindsight it wasn't really all about the job at all.
It's a possibility. I'm in tomorrow for pre-chemo and i have already planned to ask my oncologist if they have any good head doctors to hand. Both the wife and I have had a really heavy past 18 months and have had no time to process it. I've still got baggage from my time in the forces and I feel it would be of benefit to get that thrashed out at the same time. Work is still my issue i reckon and if i can get that balanced the rest will fall into place im sure.You have clearly been through a lot of stressful and changing situations. Cancer, a young child and running your own business can all be considered life changing on their own.
Could you be depressed (or stressed), with your focus on a dislike for your job being too narrow an assessment of what is wrong? I've been there myself and with hindsight it wasn't really all about the job at all.
Edd
Grumfutock said:
ecain63 said:
Grumfutock said:
Your not in Bournemouth are you? I nearly went for a gold based thing there in 2008 and recall chatting to somebody from PH about it and i am sure they were an ex Marine.
Yup! All me And you lot call us hats stupid?
ecain63 said:
0a said:
Just a thought, but something I have experienced (so please ignore as nonsense).
You have clearly been through a lot of stressful and changing situations. Cancer, a young child and running your own business can all be considered life changing on their own.
Could you be depressed (or stressed), with your focus on a dislike for your job being too narrow an assessment of what is wrong? I've been there myself and with hindsight it wasn't really all about the job at all.
It's a possibility. I'm in tomorrow for pre-chemo and i have already planned to ask my oncologist if they have any good head doctors to hand. Both the wife and I have had a really heavy past 18 months and have had no time to process it. I've still got baggage from my time in the forces and I feel it would be of benefit to get that thrashed out at the same time. Work is still my issue i reckon and if i can get that balanced the rest will fall into place im sure.You have clearly been through a lot of stressful and changing situations. Cancer, a young child and running your own business can all be considered life changing on their own.
Could you be depressed (or stressed), with your focus on a dislike for your job being too narrow an assessment of what is wrong? I've been there myself and with hindsight it wasn't really all about the job at all.
Edd
In the meantime - put your prices up
By the way I am really enjoying the A45 thread, though I don't think I would be brave enough for that colour
tricky one - from a legal point of view can you stop paying the goodwill on account of there being not a lot? sounds like he sold you to you in a way!
what you really need is a way of compromising this situation so you can extricate yourself from it without suffering 100% financial loss... few thoughts:
- are there any similar businesses in the region you could sell the trade to?
- is there any way you could outsource this to another location? so you front the business but send the work elsewhere? even abroad....
- is there anyway your father in law could help out a couple of hours a day to give you a break?
otherwise, you have my sympathy, I only share you vocational frustrations, 19 years in a job I realise I have no love for whatsoever - your experiences make me sound like a right whinger!
what you really need is a way of compromising this situation so you can extricate yourself from it without suffering 100% financial loss... few thoughts:
- are there any similar businesses in the region you could sell the trade to?
- is there any way you could outsource this to another location? so you front the business but send the work elsewhere? even abroad....
- is there anyway your father in law could help out a couple of hours a day to give you a break?
otherwise, you have my sympathy, I only share you vocational frustrations, 19 years in a job I realise I have no love for whatsoever - your experiences make me sound like a right whinger!
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff