How to get somewhere and make something of oneself?
How to get somewhere and make something of oneself?
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itannum990

Original Poster:

275 posts

146 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
?

Edited by itannum990 on Monday 1st December 18:42

RDMcG

20,909 posts

238 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
I have had a fair number of senior positions, and there is one thing I am clear about. Success, critically , is more about drive than intelligence.

If you think you can't do something, you are 100% right. Every time. You have already set your own limits. If you think you CAN do something, than you have a chance of it happening. When I read your post I am not worried about the writing, but about the lists of negatives. Go back and count how many things ( on almost every line) where you have said you can't do something, you're not after promotion, your ideas are daft and so on.

It is very important to take an inventory of what you can do and to drive yourself hard. Ambition is not a bad thing…in fact, its essential to progress. Just doing your job OK is fine if you want to remain static. Why can't you do the next job up?..what does it take to do it? Where do you see and opportunity? How could you do something extra at work?..get on a project that is important to management.

I started work at 11 years old in a petrol station and bootstrapped my way up , scholarships and the like. It is all possible, but you MUST believe in yourself first.

glm1977

200 posts

192 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
you've almost answered your own question:

itannum990 said:
Want a change. Want to make a change, achieve something.

I do dislike my attitude and the way it's going.

I dislike people who want to change something but don't make the effort to do that. Fat people who wont eat sensibly and exercise, unemployed who turn down jobs, whingers whiners and people who want more but dont know the next step...
Edited by itannum990 on Wednesday 3rd September 16:20
It sounds like you need inspiration, to a degree, and the courage to take a risk and put the effort in (as obviously nothing will be handed down).
There is nothing to say you wont succeed with a decent business idea - sometimes its not a case of an idea being completely new, but just having the compulsion to do it well, as there are plenty of people getting by doing things badly.

You can start by looking at other people who have broken free of the 'man' - for example there are websites like 'escape the city' and so forth - seek inspiration from others that have been through what you are looking to do.

(there is the thread on here about a chap who started a sports car hire business from just looking to buy a single lotus to hire out... have a search)

The reality of it is, that there has never been an easier time to make a go of a business given the internet and the reach it gives you to a client base. All the tools and advise are within a google search away.

But either way, it will take time, effort and dedication to get to where you aspire to be. In the meantime, you can keep playing the lottery!

itannum990

Original Poster:

275 posts

146 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all






RDMcG said:
I have had a fair number of senior positions, and there is one thing I am clear about. Success, critically , is more about drive than intelligence.

If you think you can't do something, you are 100% right. Every time. You have already set your own limits. If you think you CAN do something, than you have a chance of it happening. When I read your post I am not worried about the writing, but about the lists of negatives. Go back and count how many things ( on almost every line) where you have said you can't do something, you're not after promotion, your ideas are daft and so on.

It is very important to take an inventory of what you can do and to drive yourself hard. Ambition is not a bad thing…in fact, its essential to progress. Just doing your job OK is fine if you want to remain static. Why can't you do the next job up?..what does it take to do it? Where do you see and opportunity? How could you do something extra at work?..get on a project that is important to management.

I started work at 11 years old in a petrol station and bootstrapped my way up , scholarships and the like. It is all possible, but you MUST believe in yourself first.
I will agree wink I'm definitely a negative person at times. I've been told before that positive people shouldn't mix with negative people, they will get dragged down. True? Dunno.

Ambition I definitely do posess. Like I say, my colleagues are happy to stay static. I am not. I am in the railway, the working practices are straight out of the victorian era. So lower management levels seriously do not appeal to me. There are other positions, but frankly my job is the best in this industry outside of the directors floor at head office. Like I say I am lucky to have it.

Incedently, Toronto does appear on my list!







glm1977 said:
you've almost answered your own question:

itannum990 said:
Want a change. Want to make a change, achieve something.

I do dislike my attitude and the way it's going.

I dislike people who want to change something but don't make the effort to do that. Fat people who wont eat sensibly and exercise, unemployed who turn down jobs, whingers whiners and people who want more but dont know the next step...
Edited by itannum990 on Wednesday 3rd September 16:20
It sounds like you need inspiration, to a degree, and the courage to take a risk and put the effort in (as obviously nothing will be handed down).
There is nothing to say you wont succeed with a decent business idea - sometimes its not a case of an idea being completely new, but just having the compulsion to do it well, as there are plenty of people getting by doing things badly.

You can start by looking at other people who have broken free of the 'man' - for example there are websites like 'escape the city' and so forth - seek inspiration from others that have been through what you are looking to do.

(there is the thread on here about a chap who started a sports car hire business from just looking to buy a single lotus to hire out... have a search)

The reality of it is, that there has never been an easier time to make a go of a business given the internet and the reach it gives you to a client base. All the tools and advise are within a google search away.

But either way, it will take time, effort and dedication to get to where you aspire to be. In the meantime, you can keep playing the lottery!
Indeed my self loathing is deep!

I'll spend some time on that website, sounds fantastic. Absolutely love to hear stories about people like mr lotus too, as you say, inspirational.

Must admit however that I dont play lottery.. possible business plan #3318 sell house spend balance on tickets..?


BoRED S2upid

21,130 posts

271 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
You've been reading threads on here too long and believing them, not everyone has more cars than space in their garages / barns,

Sounds like you have achieved a lot, car, house did you say almost paid for? Fair play if so as most will achieve that just before retirement, your married some people never find 'the one' you need some goals in life paying the mortgage is one massive one being debt free! Think what you could do with that extra money travel the world while many are struggling to pay their massive mortgages and lease cars.

johnfm

13,751 posts

281 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
Having tried a few things, succeeded a bit, failed a bit, started a couple of businesses and now retrained as a lawyer my advice would be simply to do something.

It doesn't need to be an 'amazing original idea' - merely a service or product that people need and will pay for. If you then tell the market you exist and then provide whatever it is better than most of the competition (be that price,service, quality or all of those) you will grow and succeed over time.

Some bloke I know sell bathrooms online. Has done nothing else since about 2000. He wasn't a genius, nor did he have any capital when he started - but he got selling on the internet when most people still had showrooms etc. Now he has a company worth about £50m a bunch of nice cars and freedom to do what he wants. BUT he has ploughed the same furrow for 14 years. It is a long game. You have to stick at it. But the main thing is not to think you have to devise the next Uber or Facebook or something completely new - just start something that you understand and get on with it. Good luck.

itannum990

Original Poster:

275 posts

146 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
BoRED S2upid said:
You've been reading threads on here too long and believing them, not everyone has more cars than space in their garages / barns,

Sounds like you have achieved a lot, car, house did you say almost paid for? Fair play if so as most will achieve that just before retirement, your married some people never find 'the one' you need some goals in life paying the mortgage is one massive one being debt free! Think what you could do with that extra money travel the world while many are struggling to pay their massive mortgages and lease cars.
Not for one moment do I believe the tall tales on here all the time don't worry!
Yep can't deny I'm very lucky, started young and been boring! Indeed I could just live like a prince quite nicely, but could work harder and live even better..


Ari

19,834 posts

246 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
BoRED S2upid said:
You've been reading threads on here too long and believing them, not everyone has more cars than space in their garages / barns,

Sounds like you have achieved a lot, car, house did you say almost paid for? Fair play if so as most will achieve that just before retirement, your married some people never find 'the one' you need some goals in life paying the mortgage is one massive one being debt free! Think what you could do with that extra money travel the world while many are struggling to pay their massive mortgages and lease cars.
Absolutely this! yes

There is an astonishing amount of bullst on here these days.

So, you're thirties, married, got a house and a mortgage with the end in sight and earn double the national average so what does that put you on, £50,000/year!? fk me, poor you! biggrin

Here's the thing, instead of looking enviously up, try looking down. try looking at those earning £15,000/year with no hope of ever owning their own house paying £750/month in rent and wondering when their amateur BTL landlord is going to chuck them out in order to 'crystallise his profit'.

Then look a bit further, at people out in war worn conflict zones that have nothing. Literally nothing.

Then, when you finally stop feeling sorry for yourself, start putting £500/month, or even £1,000/month away (should be easy on £50K a year, and presumably the missus works, and you've got no kids)

After a year or two you'll have between £10,000 - £25,000. Now you're in a position to do something, take a risk, have a go, start something in your spare time.

Stop dreaming, take stock of your situation (which is a bloody good one frankly), and Make Things Happen!

Good luck!

itannum990

Original Poster:

275 posts

146 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
johnfm said:
Having tried a few things, succeeded a bit, failed a bit, started a couple of businesses and now retrained as a lawyer my advice would be simply to do something.

It doesn't need to be an 'amazing original idea' - merely a service or product that people need and will pay for. If you then tell the market you exist and then provide whatever it is better than most of the competition (be that price,service, quality or all of those) you will grow and succeed over time.

Some bloke I know sell bathrooms online. Has done nothing else since about 2000. He wasn't a genius, nor did he have any capital when he started - but he got selling on the internet when most people still had showrooms etc. Now he has a company worth about £50m a bunch of nice cars and freedom to do what he wants. BUT he has ploughed the same furrow for 14 years. It is a long game. You have to stick at it. But the main thing is not to think you have to devise the next Uber or Facebook or something completely new - just start something that you understand and get on with it. Good luck.
Fantastic to hear about your mate, that is incredible. Proper success story.

Try something, that's what I want. I'm holding back as A: I'm scared of failing, and losing everything, my home my job etc. That would suck. And B: I dont know how. How to set up a business? How to buy and store stock if applicable?

Your mate had the balls to do it, it sounds like his hard work and gamble paid off handsomely.


itannum990

Original Poster:

275 posts

146 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
Ari said:
BoRED S2upid said:
You've been reading threads on here too long and believing them, not everyone has more cars than space in their garages / barns,

Sounds like you have achieved a lot, car, house did you say almost paid for? Fair play if so as most will achieve that just before retirement, your married some people never find 'the one' you need some goals in life paying the mortgage is one massive one being debt free! Think what you could do with that extra money travel the world while many are struggling to pay their massive mortgages and lease cars.
Absolutely this! yes

There is an astonishing amount of bullst on here these days.

So, you're thirties, married, got a house and a mortgage with the end in sight and earn double the national average so what does that put you on, £50,000/year!? fk me, poor you! biggrin

Here's the thing, instead of looking enviously up, try looking down. try looking at those earning £15,000/year with no hope of ever owning their own house paying £750/month in rent and wondering when their amateur BTL landlord is going to chuck them out in order to 'crystallise his profit'.

Then look a bit further, at people out in war worn conflict zones that have nothing. Literally nothing.

Then, when you finally stop feeling sorry for yourself, start putting £500/month, or even £1,000/month away (should be easy on £50K a year, and presumably the missus works, and you've got no kids)

After a year or two you'll have between £10,000 - £25,000. Now you're in a position to do something, take a risk, have a go, start something in your spare time.

Stop dreaming, take stock of your situation (which is a bloody good one frankly), and Make Things Happen!

Good luck!
This site is no different to any pub, mess room, playground or office. People spout crap to pretend to themselves that they are better than they actually are (crap knows why). You can see them coming and take the piss..

Yep I'm lucky. Proper lucky. Life is good I'm not on a downer. I've lived on the breadline, got through that st and and my wages have quadrupled in the last ten years. Not complaining about that at all! Not much hard work on my behalf I will admit, just luck. st job to fun one to current one which I enjoy, but do not want to still be here when I retire.

Your putting money aside plan matches mine. There's just the question of what to do, and will my balls let me..

Anonamoose

442 posts

166 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
Firstly - I'm in the rail industry, trust me you can earn far more than double the national wage.

Secondly - if you want a job that allows you to live abroad, the rail way is a great way to do this. I know people working in Saudi, Malaysia, Australia and Singapore to name a few.

So without trying too hard you could acheive quite a lot from right where you are.

If you don't want to stay in the industry then I'd just pick an idea and just try, stop thinking you can't, start thinking you can. Buy some books on business practices etc, do on line research into storage, suppliers. Attend trade fairs to get ideas.

Just trying will make you feel better than doing nothing even if it doesn't work out.

johnfm

13,751 posts

281 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
itannum990 said:
johnfm said:
Having tried a few things, succeeded a bit, failed a bit, started a couple of businesses and now retrained as a lawyer my advice would be simply to do something.

It doesn't need to be an 'amazing original idea' - merely a service or product that people need and will pay for. If you then tell the market you exist and then provide whatever it is better than most of the competition (be that price,service, quality or all of those) you will grow and succeed over time.

Some bloke I know sell bathrooms online. Has done nothing else since about 2000. He wasn't a genius, nor did he have any capital when he started - but he got selling on the internet when most people still had showrooms etc. Now he has a company worth about £50m a bunch of nice cars and freedom to do what he wants. BUT he has ploughed the same furrow for 14 years. It is a long game. You have to stick at it. But the main thing is not to think you have to devise the next Uber or Facebook or something completely new - just start something that you understand and get on with it. Good luck.
Fantastic to hear about your mate, that is incredible. Proper success story.

Try something, that's what I want. I'm holding back as A: I'm scared of failing, and losing everything, my home my job etc. That would suck. And B: I dont know how. How to set up a business? How to buy and store stock if applicable?

Your mate had the balls to do it, it sounds like his hard work and gamble paid off handsomely.
What do you currently do? If you have done it for a while and make £50k+, you probably know it inside out. You can leverage that experience and knowledge - depending on what it is.

TurricanII

1,516 posts

229 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
Have you had a chat with the missus? Perhaps she has thoughts on it. Suggestions:

Why not save for a deposit on a buy to let property, then do it up yourself and rent it?

Buy and build an ac cobra or other kit car..

Do an OU degree in something new.

Build or buy a camper van and live out of that for a year. See if there is any option to take a sabbatical from work. Rent your house perhaps. Plan how to survive in advance, obviously, and travel the country.

These things would keep you busy for a while.

There are quite a few motivational books out there, rich dad poor dad being one. 'The power of now' and 'Four hour work week' being others. . Some see them as junk, some are inspired by them and make changes to the way they think or act.

Being a business owner is not always great. You can at some point have employees to do the stuff you don't want to, but read the business and employment sections on here to see the tip of the iceberg of ballache it can be.

Edited by TurricanII on Wednesday 3rd September 20:52

Seventy

5,500 posts

169 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
Get a grip. Jesus. I'm presuming you've never travelled, I mean really travelled.
If you're in the financial position you say you're in then take a sabbatical. If you haven't got the cash ( and you should have on your salary with no kids) take some equity out of the house.
Do something for others instead of feeling sorry for yourself. Cycle round the world. Cycle round Europe. Cycle round the UK. Raise money. Raise awareness. Raise your self belief.
Do it for others and you will realise that without being selfish you've done it for yourself.
DO IT!!!!

glm1977

200 posts

192 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
itannum990 said:
Indeed my self loathing is deep!

I'll spend some time on that website, sounds fantastic. Absolutely love to hear stories about people like mr lotus too, as you say, inspirational.

Must admit however that I dont play lottery.. possible business plan #3318 sell house spend balance on tickets..?
Here you go:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

There are also stories like this:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26628377

Good luck!


951TSE

600 posts

188 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
itannum990 said:
I have daft ideas for businesses. Don't know the first thing about starting them up of course. This holds me back don't even know how I'd learn this stuff? Motorcycle tours and hire in Japan. Gun ranch with radio controlled targets and missions in USA. Cafe/bistro near awesome driving and riding roads that actually serves decent food cheaply. With appropriate decoration and facilities like rental garage space. Massive property empire. Detailing business, car and bike transportation with high care and security, bullets with slow burning solid fuel propulsion, mobile cocktail van/bar for festivals.. there's loads.
First off don't give up your day job. Or at least not until you hit the idea that will take you to where you want to go.

Use your evenings to plan and your weekends to implement your ideas. Read biographies of businessmen such as Branson, Sugar and Stelios, one thing you will find from all of these is that they didn't hit on their big thing first off. Their journeys are littered with failures and didn't works, but they learnt from the failures and didn't repeat the same mistakes again. They just stuck at it.

Looking at your list why do things abroad? Won't the 'Gun Ranch' idea work just as well in this country with paintballs rather than real guns (the targets would last longer for one thing)? Can't you do motorcycle tours in the UK or EU based at your high end cafe? seems you're making life hard for yourself before you've even started.

If you don't have too much spare cash to spend try piggy backing your ideas onto existing facilities.

MrSparks

655 posts

151 months

Thursday 4th September 2014
quotequote all
Google business things like how to start a business, learn about profit margins, mark ups, break-even analysis. It's not hard to find information and start learning, there is plenty of material available for free and written for "dummies" like me!

Buy books, read them... you don't necessarily have to start a business right now but you can read, learn, inspire yourself... then when you come up with an idea with legs you'll know how to start a business and rather than writing ideas off you can do a quick feasibility study using your newfound knowledge on pricing/margins/breakevens.

Look for business forums like ukbusinessforums.co.uk and read the threads, see others ideas, learn from others questions. Find a wholesaler and start a little drop ship business on eBay/Amazon, it doesn't necessarily have to do well but you'll inevitably learn from the experience with low risk (i.e don't give up the day job or invest lots of money!)

You can spend all the time you want thinking, writing yourself off and being depressed, but you might as well learn a little on the way yes?

Mr Overheads

2,635 posts

207 months

Thursday 4th September 2014
quotequote all
Can you make ti to Sheffield later in the month?....

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itannum990

Original Poster:

275 posts

146 months

Thursday 4th September 2014
quotequote all
Some excellent and helpful suggestions coming here, thanks so much.

To reiterate, again, I'm not in a bad place. I know this more than anyone. I have nothing in life to be upset about, I am so very lucky.

Currently train driver, cant take long term leave or sabbatical due to regs, yep I can make 70-80 k if I push it.

No haven't travelled. Like really travelled. Thats a dream too that will happen one day.

Spent the morning researching and reading. Learnt loads and I'll continue this until I'm comfortable. I'm not one to rush into things without knowing what I'm doing.

And no, I won't give up the day (sometimes night) job until I've got something viable.

mjb1

2,585 posts

190 months

Thursday 4th September 2014
quotequote all
itannum990 said:
Not quite got midlife crises issues yet, more of an existential issue. Aka getting a bit fked off with myself!


Bit of background info first, I'm early thirties, married no kids (yay!) Full time employed, houseowner, petrolhead, biker, foodie, normal stuff.

Want a change. Want to make a change, achieve something. I'm one of life's natural losers, crap at everything, painfully uncomfortable in large groups socially and even with one close friend at a time. Hence asking life advice fron anonymous internet forum of company directors..
Either you're under selling yourself, or you really are a loser! Mostly going your own way in business is about selling - either yourself, the product, or both. Nearly all highly successful business people have the gift of the gab, they're personable and they don't take no for an answer. If that's not you, it'll count against you. It doesn't mean you can't succeed, but you'll have to do better than how you've described yourself above.

Are you sure kids couldn't be on the horizon? Parenthood would probably tick some of your boxes and change your perspective on life somewhat. Is your missus a similar age? Even if she says she doesn't want kids now, the biological clock is ticking, and many change their mind somewhere after 30.

It may be worth doing an OU degree if you can decide on a field that you'd like to go into. That'll give you a confidence boost, looks great on a CV, along with giving you a grounding if it's a new subject (you want to stick with what you know in business). Should be able to do that alongside the day job. Also, scrimp and save (and/or pay off your mortgage) like no tomorrow. On your income, that should be easy. No reason at all why you couldn't start building a property 'empire', as a mortgage free homeowner BTL mortgages will be readily available to you, and you should have no problem saving a good 20% to get started. It's not a licence to print money though, but you should be able to work it around your current job.

It's a daunting prospect - having a job and a career, with no where to progress to when you think "I'm going to be doing this till I die/retire". When I was an employee, I always got bored of a job within a year or two and moved on.

I'm in almost the exact opposite situation to you - similar age, but with 3 kids, can't get a mortgage, good degree from a good uni, running my own business. You earn way more than I do (at least 5 times!), but I am able to work from home and fit it around family life to an extent.