I have recently come under fire at home for the hours I work. Well recently is not really accurate, I’m sure you all can relate.
The concern is that I work 16 hours most days, this usually guarantees that I am stressed and tired all the time.
I would love to keep working in this field as it is all I want to do, I just need to find a way to do it more realistically so I don’t end up another divorced contractor.
I’ve thought of two ways that might improve things , they conflict one another.
1. I continue the way I am now, looking for more subtrades, idealy having 2 or 3 reliable subs in every field. Eventually take off the belt, and just organize things on a few projects.
2. I stop using subtrades all together. I do everything myself, and have a job to go to every day. I know when the job is getting done and that it will be done to my standards.
Right now I’m leaning on the second approach, my only concern is that it really limits the jobs that I can take. It will also ensure that I’ll be working long after my back stops.
I would appreciate hearing if from someone thats been there. Thanks.
Replies
I have been there and done that. What really sucked is working 14 hour days and still making way less than my wife. I am moving to a 3rd option, as a specialist instead of a generalist. Not a subcontractor, but also not doing everything under the sun. Have had a long time interest building performance so I bit the bullet and invested in training and equipment. Haven't launched officially yet.
For me, having to do everything and own every tool was/is too stressful. I can do a wide variety of stuff, but not as efficiently as someone who does only one thing and has gotten good at it. Soem guys can pull it off, but that is a hard road and you might find yourself working just as many hours
Yeah, 16 hour days will take the toll on your marriage; you're not home enough for your wife to pick fights and yell at you. If you got em, kids need a father around in the evening and weekends.
Good luck.
Stupid question: What do you WANT to do, deep down inside? You won't lessen your stress by doing a job you hate.
I should emphasize that my post wasn't encouraging you to go one way or the other. There are some people, eg, who really enjoy working with other people, "facilitating" other people, being the "big thinker", etc, and can be just as happy doing that as doing the "real" work (that they also enjoy). A bridge engineer doesn't actually build the bridge, but he still gets as much satisfaction from seeing it go up (if not more) as the ironworker pounding the rivets.Other people simply aren't happy unless they're "hands on", or they aren't comfortable being "the boss", or they really don't like the business end of things.And every job at every level involves cleaning out an outhouse at one time or another. It's all part of the job.
As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz
You're right. It all depends on what you really want to do. Lately i'm finding alot more enjoyment in management duties, but I still dont mind the feel of a sledge hammer in my hands now and then.
Have to see where things go.
Family.....They're always there when they need you.
You have to find what can work, what you can live with, and then make a choice. This means work and home.
You won't always get absolutely everything you want, even the wealthiest of people will tell you that, and there is a price to pay for every choice you make. It's not a bad thing, it's just the way it is. Once you understand and internalize that, things will go smoother and open up for you.
Make decisions and stick by them.
Make a list of your goals and wants.
List the things you absolutely need to live.
List the things you absolutely WANT to have.
List the things you know you can do without.
What makes you happy? Wife? Job? Kids? House? Fishing?
Lower your living standards? Maybe.
You already cut out immense possibilities by stating that this is all you want to do. You know that for certain or are you thinking this is the only thing I know how to do that makes me (semi) happy?
Ok then, would you be willing to work in another area of the field?
Take a step back and view yourself not so black & white. It's an overused cliche' but try and view yourself 'outside the box'.
I see by your profile, you're fairly young. What do you imagine yourself being 35 years from now? Working still? Happy?
Away from all this wondering, your first choice is a good one if you want the money. When I was leaving one of the few companies I ever worked for the boss said to me, "Remember, you make more money pushing a pencil behind a desk than you do swinging a hammer on a deck." But...are you happy?
The second choice is the area that most guys eventually fall into. I certainly did. But...it's real easy to burn yourself out. I have done that 3-4 times over the last 30 years and it's no fun. What finally happened is that I got real good at two or three things. I stopped doing all the ancillary work that goes with being a builder. (mechanicals etc). I slowed down and specialized. I restore & repair mostly. Does this mean I won't dig a hole, frame a roof, or pour concrete once in a while? Hell no. I did everything that I had to do while the kids were young and through college. But you gotta listen to your body and to your spouse once in a while. Poke your head up and see where your headed. It sounds like that's just what you're doing now.
A divorce will leave you leaning over Dante's 9th rung of Hell. (most people anyways). Some it totally sets free.
I can't tell you what to do, and you won't know yourself until you start doing it. But you will know. Ask the questions, make the decisions, and do it. It'll work out, or it won't, and that's life.
"Wade in the water, wade in the water, wade in the water,
God's gonna trouble the water." Old Spiritual
I'm inthe same boat buddy, but "retirement" is too close to go biggger. How old is you?
Eric
It seems to me the issue is not whether you do it all yourself or hire subs (both valid concepts). The issue is taking on the type of jobs and organizing your time in a way that will satisfy your family. Whatever approach you choose to pursue you can modify or change as the years, your interests, your capabilities and family evolve. Heck by the time your "back stops" you may have a second generation ready to lend a hand.
If you are putting in long hours year round it may be time to hire more help, be more choosy about what jobs you take on or possibly pass leads on to another tradesman in the hope that the favour may be reciprocated.
If you are facing seasonal overload perhaps students could be hired, full time for the summer and part time for the rest of the year. Hiring students who are taking architecture (or other building related studies) might add to your corporate skill set and provide useful contacts for the future.
Edited 10/17/2009 11:12 pm ET by sisyphus
Edited 10/17/2009 11:14 pm ET by sisyphus
What can possibly take 16 hours a day to complete.
Lead carpenters work and run multimillion dollar remodels and don't spend 16 hours a day in the clients home. And a good lead carpenter spends about half his day on the phone and half with the tool belt on, so I know it is possible.
What exactly is taking you 16 hours to complete?
Possibly bidding and selling the projects more realistically is the problem. Are you spending 16 hours a day to simply fit the project into your way too tight time line?
If 16 hours a day is the norm, I'd say you are underestimating the time to build each project by 100%. I try to bid things at 8 hours a day, some of that day is hands on, some is on the phone and some is sitting at the desk.
And I also don't understand the "all subs or no subs". My area I have to use licensed mechanical subs. I need a licensed plumber and licensed electrician, and am smart enough to know a real HVAC sub is invaluable. I simply figure their real cost and time into the schedule.
Drywall and insulation doesn't require a certified/licensed subcontractor, but I'd be fooling myself if I thought I could do their job anywhere as fast or cheap as they can, so they too get figured into the projects.
When I hear tales of 16 hour days, I see poor planning and scheduling.
If you are a sub scheduling and billing 16 hours, great, go bust butt and make bank. If not there is a problem and it is you.
Carpeater has a post here asking what can possibly take 16hrs a day to complete.
Here's my guess if you're solo self-employed:
9-10hrs on a jobsite either doing the work or talking to customer/inspector/sub. Include driving around.
1hr picking stuff up at your supplier.
1 hr spread out all day and into the evening talking on the phone to suppliers, subs, current customers, and new leads.
1 hr unpacking the truck/van/trailer from whatever you did that day, fixing whatever broke and prepping for the next day.
1 hr estimating or preparing bids for upcoming projects.
1 hr billing and/or keeping your records, tax payments, and bills up to date.
1 hr that just seems to disappear somewhere in there, worrying about stuff, looking for the pencil that's stuck in your hat, waiting in line to get your cel phone fixed, or whatever.
Sound about right? Just guessing.
What to cut?
Offload materials delivery onto your supplier. Sometimes customers are willing too, depending on what sort of stuff you do.
Detailed estimates for serious enquiries only - some here suggest fees for estimates but... Also, if you're booked 4 months in advance, be up front about that - it'll weed out some right off the bat.
Get a book-keeper. You still have to look over his/her shoulder but they can carry the load.
Let calls you don't recognize go to message and pick a time of day to get back to them all in one block.
Spend a chunk of time organizing your storage space/shop and truck or trailer. Cut out the daily tool shuffle as much as possible.
Pick a paperwork evening per week, then sit down and do it all in one shot.
Get a daytimer and plan your week, recognizing the difference between urgent and important stuff.
Do I do all these things? I wish.
My kid drew a picture of everyone in the family doing their favorite thing a couple of weeks ago. Under mine it said, "Daddy likes to work." Wake up call for me.
j
edit: i guess i didn't answer your first question about subs or not. For me there's lots of stuff I enjoy doing but there's only so many things I CAN do EFFECIENTLY. Sub out the rest as much as possible.
Edited 10/18/2009 10:42 pm by JeffyT
nick--- you mentioned 2 options-- there is AT LEAST one more option-- which is what I do
I prefer to work alone-by far.- I also realize that more money can be made by leveraging the efforts of others.
I have had employees--- and I HATE it-- I could write a book on how much I HATE having employees.
so--what I have gone back to-- is that I primarily work alone---and yet when a big enough job comes along-- I bring in a sub-- while reserving the fun parts of the job-- like the carpentry, flashing the chimneys, installing skylights, hanging spouting- stuff i like---for myself.
I have one primary sub that I can call on that is capable of doing a completely turnkey job( I am looking for a second sub of this caliber as well)-- i have several other independent guys I call on from time to time- that come and work alongside of me more as co-workers for the day-if I need them.
for me-- it's the best of all worlds-- from time to time I get to show up with coffee and donuts-- catch up with everybodies new Tats and the latest roster of dirty jokes---and a couple days later -they go their way-and i go mine
now- this next part i have told a million times on breaktime---so the regulars may want to skip it
however-- I average about 1000 hours of work a year--and that includes overhead hoours--estimating,tax work, buying materials-everything.
want to work only 1000 hours in 2010?-- here is how you do it.
sit down with a pencil and paper and determine WHAT you want and need for 2010-- income,investments, business overhead--EVERYTHING-vacations EVERYTHING--- come up with a grand total figure--- that is your NUT for the year
for me- my 1000 hours breaks down to about 700 production--300 overhead-----so your NUT- your grand total figure devided by 700 is what you need to collect for every hour you are producing-at a minimum!
at first- that hourly figure will scare you-- but it really FREES you---- because it immediately allows you to leave behind all the time wasting things you have been doing--- no more cleaning out little old ladies gutters for $35--- no more painting windows or installing ceiling fans as a favor-----------. you can still DO those things if you want-- but now you HAVE to sell those jobs at an hourly rate AT LEAST 1/700 of your NUT-- some people will pay it---some people won't---doesn't matter which to you
tommorrow-- I will be replacing a skylight--- that is 5/700ths of my NUT-- plus giving an estimate AND making contact with a condo association that is replacing several hundred squares of roofing in 2010----and I will be home by 3:30
tuesday- i will work out( run ) and give 2 estimates-- I will be done by 2:00
since you want to work less--- you need to be more efficient---- best thing you can do---is keep a note pad and pencil with you at almost all times and the eving before plan out the next days route---- I make the most money--laying on the couch with a pencil and paper THINKING, making to do lists, and planning efficiencies
Best wishes--- gotta run,
stephen
Read and re-read what Carpeater and Hazlett have said in their posts. They are dead on the money (not to make a pun). If you took a long look at your 16 hour day, I'll wager that you will find a lot of time wasted due to inefficiency. Systems, flow-charts, & methodical-production ways of working are what keeps you inside a 40 hour work week.
There's no reason you should be working 16 hour days as a contractor unless you're trying to clear a quarter million take-home which is fine but that is the price you pay. Or maybe there's an avoidance thing going on and you're doing it subconsciously. I'm not to say. You gotta find what it is that will right the ship.
Maybe you want to hire a gal-Friday to come in once or twice a month for a few hours to organize your books and do payroll. A lot of times if there are kids at home and the DW doesn't work or only works part time, she does that because she's right there at home at the computer & files. I know a lot of great husband-wife combo businesses. You say you can't afford it?...you might be surprised.
Also, and I speak from experience here, keep the jabbering and talking to a minimum, both with the subs and the customer. Often, what should be a 15 conversation with a customer will turn into a 45 minute or hour long session where the subject ends up being about the delicate life of the curry plant in India. (You think I'm kiddin'?!!) Add that up at the end of the week or month and you might need to find a chair to sit down. Politely get to the heart of the matter, resolve it, and politely leave.
If you know the customer to be a chatty sort who wants to know about every last spec of dust and how are you going to execute this or that, or what do you think about my idea of blah blah...then work it into the estimate or make it clear on the contract that you charge for "consultation time", let them know when a "consulting session" has started, and leave it at that.
Keep us posted on any changes you've made and what's happening. I am interested.
I decided long ago that I want to run my business; I don't want it to run me.
Ooops--gotta run; someone just drove in needs to see me....
Dinosaur
How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not brought
low by this? For thine evil pales before that which
foolish men call Justice....
My Motto is : I work to live i dont live to work & i have explaned this to many a customer over the years ( married to the same woman since 67 )
I am a one-man-show and I work at my own speed. Sometimes that speed is a dead stop.Many times I have dropped my tools on the spot and gone for a coffee with a buddy. When I was younger I worked at several jobs because it is what I wanted. When I was younger my main priority was to have my house paid for and that was done by the time I was 28.
Money still means a lot to me and I do NOT work cheap but I don't let it rule my life but maybe that's because I have everything paid for. I save the money I make. Always have ,still working on the wife though;)
It appears to some people and friends that I have an ideal life. My nephew often states that he doesn't ever remember me having a job or working.
Anyways, a couple of years ago I met a nice guy who had been in a different woodworking business and was burnt out. What this guy could do with wood blew me away. Slow but a finished art form.
He wanted a slower life style similar to mine. I told him the way I worked and he was all for it so we worked a few jobs together and we had a good time.
Gradually he was getting more and more work and never wanted to say no. It seems that when he had the other business he never felt "secure" unless he had work stacked up waiting. That results in stress. A vicious circle.
He knew what he wanted but his personality prevents him from achieving it.
What is your personality.
Mine is slug-like.
PS Sorry, this should have gone to Nick25
roger
Edited 10/18/2009 12:29 pm ET by roger g
One other thing:
I've made the observation here several times that lots of the folks hanging around here have "Adult Attention Deficit Disorder". (Don't everyone get you dander up -- I didn't say "all", and I couldn't tell you whether it's 10% or 90%, but definitely "some".)
A common characteristic of ADD is that you tend to have difficulty organizing your day, and especially have difficulty organizing paperwork and other stuff you'd rather not be doing. The end result is a lot of time spent spinning your wheels.
If this description fits you (and I'm not saying it does), you may want to read up on ADD a bit ("Driven to Distraction" is a good book, and there are lots of others around). But more than that you may want to think of some way to "offload" the stuff that's giving you the most trouble.
In a surprising number of cases ones wife is willing and able to take on this duty to some degree (though of course that can lead to other marital stresses), or you can perhaps find a part-time bookkeeper or "Gal Friday" to take care of it.
Additionally, if you read some of the books on ADD they'll give you additional ideas on how to organize things. (Some of these may even be helpful for people without significant ADD tendencies.)
Most psychologists and psychiatrists are equipped to diagnose ADD, plus many public health services will be able to refer you to a clinic that can do an initial screening at little or no cost. If you're diagnosed you don't HAVE to accept drug treatment (though it's certainly an option worth considering) -- often just understanding that you do have the problem is in itself a big help.
Nick,
You definitely want to take the biggest jobs you can handle and get the most bang for your buck! Well, the earning buck that is!
Having folks work for you is not the real issue actually. The real issue to me is can you get the big jobs? Ove the past few years, I have taken bigger and bigger ones (last one was a 8500 sq ft house) but my issue is I can't keep the phone ringing for them. If you can, concentrate on them and forget abouyt the $200-300 ones unless you want to use those as fill-ins.
Good luck!
Mike
Nick,
I second Jercarp saying to reread Hazlett and Carpeater's posts. Hazlett is right on the money for me. Sounds like it's describing my work to a "T"
I'm not that much older than you, and like you I'm still very much in the honeymoon phase of the job. I work alone and love it. I normally work 10 hour days or so and then put in a few more in the evenings giving estimates and figuring out how I can do everything even better.
I also do not have a wife or kids though, and it's for the exact reason that I am focused on what it is I'm doing and fully aware of that. I don't expect it to continue that way, and I know it wouldn't be healthy to do so forever, but for now it's just what I want, and I can't imagine foisting that on anyone else.
I don't want any employees, I hate being a boss. But I do have great subcontractors and I depend on them to help make things go well. I have set my high standards and work with people who understand and uphold those standards. It's like having really great employees but without the headaches. And they know I respect them as they respect me.
When you say that your two options conflict each other, I say that's actually not true at all. Just like Stephen was saying, you do the parts that you love and have your subs do the other stuff. You don't have to work with anyone for the most part, but then you get a couple days to hang with "the boys" or "the gals". Weed out the folks that don't do things the way you want, and hold to for dear life to the ones who do.
As an example, I'm just starting a 2 month long basement remodel tomorrow. I'm heading in there and I'll start laying things out and framing. Then I've got my plumber, HVAC, and electrician coming in to put in a new furnace, water heater, plumbing, and electrical panel and wiring. Then I'll do the insulating and anything else pre-sheetrock. I used to do my own sheetrock, but now I've got great drywall guys that will come in and get the place rocked out. I bring them in on anything bigger than a single room at this point. Then i'll do just about everything else, trim, doors, windows, built-ins, cabs, maybe tile work (on really high-end stuff I have great tile guys that I bring in who will do a better job than I will and probably cost less). I'll either paint, or bring in my painters depending on what the schedule looks like. Then the mechanical subs will come back and set trim on everything, I'll do the punch-out and be done. Everyone's happy.
I used to think I was "cheating" by bringing in subs because I wanted everything to be up to my exacting standards, but it can become a disservice to the client and yourself and family if you're taking longer and/or costing more than it needs to. I view what we do as an art, so I don't always worry that the job I'm doing may cost more than another contractor. My goal is to do it well and make it beautiful. But it still needs to be an equal exchange for all the parties involved.
Last example and then I'll be quiet and get back to my work. When I was writing my thesis in college I'd be in the library and start packing up at 11pm or so while some folks would just be getting another cup of coffee so they could work for a few more hours. But I found that I would always do better work and get much more done if I stepped back and rested enough to actually pay attention to what was going on. If you just keep pushing and pushing, it's not your back that will give out, it's your spirit, and that's even harder to get back than your strength!
Hope that gives some more insight from a somewhat similar situation.
Paul
Nick
If you have time after your long days you might try reading 7 habits of highly effective people.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Seven_Habits_of_Highly_Effective_People
Pay attention to Habit 7. Sharpen the Saw. Loggers who don't set a few minutes and sharpen the saw are not effective. They work too hard for the outcome.
I worry about folks that say that they work 16's as a matter of course.
<If you just keep pushing and pushing, it's not your back that will give out, it's your spirit>That's so so true. By the way, you have a very fine website that shows off some great looking projects. j
Thanks Jeff, I appreciate it.You can see why I say I'm still in the honeymoon phase. I've got some great projects and great clients, and I really enjoy the variety that each one brings. Every job has some little difference to it that makes it interesting and challenging and frustrating and fun.Paul
http://www.pauljohnsoncarpentry.com
So how long can a honeymoon last? Keep stretching. Part of it's also locating and maintaining a group of customers and referrals who know how to choose and pay for carefully done work. Evidently you're on track. j
Nick,
I wish I had inspiring tales of success to tell. What I do have may be just as valuable......It's a big filing cabinet full of all my notes and bills and invoices from when I was in business.
When I had to close up shop (For reasons less related to my success than to my daughters situation) I looked long and hard thru that cabinet for ways to be successful when I got the chance to try again.
Those detailed notes taught me quite a lesson..........well, more than one actually.
1. Know your TRUE cost to be in business. about three weeks ago I was helping a friend of mine figure a set of plans and when we finished I explained this to him.............and he was shocked when he saw the real number. If a business needs a Cell Phone? Then the Buisness pays for a cell phone, not you.
2. Know what you need to make...............the real amount. Don't forget to include a vacation for yourself and a little for a rainy day.
3. Know how much work you produce every day...keep notes..refer back to them EVERY time you figure a job. For the first year I was in business I under estimated how long things would take by a consistant 50%..................that meant my 8 hour days ended up being 12 hour days.
4 Combine the three above items................do the math.....figure put what your hour/Day/Week is worth.....................now embrace it. Make peace with it.
No matter how hard you try, once you've faced the truth? The number is what the number is. You can't will yourself to do it in 50% less time because you think your price is too high or because the customer has unrealistic deadlines.
Now, go out and instead of trying to sell it faster or cheaper..................try to sell it for more than you need. The better you get at that, the less you'll need to work.
And remember, your body won't last forever. What's your back up plan? a 40 Y/O guy working alone is kinda cool..........a 60 y/o guy still working alone.............and still having to work can be kinda sad. There's a lot to be said for managing the work of others.
Nick, it might be hard to swallow...but your wife is right.
If you are truly leaving the house at 8 and getting home at midnight, you probably should set an appointment with the shrink.
Well, looks like all our good advice has gone unread 3 days later
Maybe he really is working 16s
Scrapr
Well, looks like all our good advice has gone unread 3 days later
I read the OP this morning. I thought about his situation and thought I would reply at noon.
Now, i think I'll just keep it to myself.
It bugs me when people ask for help and then disappear.
Rich
We should all go back and delete the good advice we gave him.
That'll teach the em to ask for our advice
If the guys working 16 hrs a day, cut him some slack. He'll get around to looking at the replies. He might only get one chance a week. Lets be thankful someone is too busy to check this daily, or hourly.
He may be looking, but not having the time to reply, especially since he probably wants to write another book.
As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz
jim
I'll cut him some slack.
But I have seen this time and time again, where the OP doesn't come back to even read the replies.
Oh well, it's pointless to get mad at the internet. :)
Rich
I too find it frustating when I make an effort to explain something which is obviously ignored by the OP. I do find solace though in the realization that in organizing my thoughts I often learn something myself and of course the thread reaches a much wider audience than the OP and any individual poster.
I have vivid memories of a few times when working to deadlines I put in one or more weeks of 100 hours +/- on site. Little was accomplished once I got home-- eat, wash and sleep. I can well understand how anyone pulling 16 hour days may not be the most diligent correspondent and remain hopeful he will get get back to us once more pressing matters are dealt with.
sisyphus
organizing my thoughts
much wider audience
You are right.
Little was accomplished once I got home
I've been there, and BT falls to the wayside.
But not if I started the thread.
Then I have a problem and I need an answer. Then again maybe the OP is using a library computer. Or his puter broke down.
Our maybe the rooftop killer got him. Or he broke both arms and he is walking around with double casts. :) (From the movie You've Got Mail)
Rich
Just remember guys, the OP is not the only one who can gain insight from your replies so they are not posted in vain. I am sure I learn just as much reading in someone else's thread as the OP does.
Mike
I'm sorry.
I'll go back to work and stop beating up on AWOL OPs.
But you are still not going to get my insights from the mountain top. :)
Rich
Rich,
Maybe we do need to go look for the OP as even now I am getting ticked he hasn't come back to read anything! :)
Mike
Yeah, somebody go to Toronto and kick the #### out of his ####.
As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz
Working 16 hour days in Toronto during the winter is a punishment both more subtle and severe than what you suggest. LOL
...come to think of it, spending 16 hours a day doing anything in TO could be taken as punishment. ;) when in doubt, move west. jps. i wonder if the OP was counting his time here as work hours. consultation and continuing ed, after all.
Jeffy T, The West certainly seems to be where the action is the last few years. I understand the attraction of BC. Calgary, of course, has the oil thing going on but the run up in housing prices in parts of Saskatchewan caught me be surprise. I don't hear much about Manitoba either (mostly just stories about the Aspers).
I certainly look upon coming here as part of my ongoing education but I haven't found a way to bill anyone for my time here so I am reluctant to classify it as work. Mental maintenance maybe.
Do you think Winnipeg going to get an NHL team in the next few years? It might be an appropriate place to move the Coyotes to. : )
You don't hear much about MB because we never go bust but we never boom either. Nobody has to go broke here but money's not being made hand over fist like AB was for a while. Really not like a lot of the US guys on this forum who are scraping the bottom of the barrel after years of build build build. Boring but satisfying should be the provincial motto. I'll bet you an X-large double double that we never again see the NHL in this province as long as the sport is driven by broadcast ratings. j
Mike
At supper just now I thought maybe I should just check to see if Nick showed up.
LOL
Still AWOL.
Rich
Don't you figure that the guy's AFRAID to say anything by now -- afraid we'll bite his head off?
As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz
Dan
He hasn't even read the 1st reply.
I think both arms are broken.
Rich
I thought that he might be intimidated but, last time I looked and as Cargin pointed out apparently he hasn't read any of the replies. When he does check in there will be a novella awaiting him here, denouement uncertain.
I hate to imagine what his wife might say if after being absent so much his first act when he got home was check emails and make posts. Especially if he types as slowly as I do. LOL
it depends on you and your clientel.
If you like dealing with other peoples problems, broke down vehicles, baby sitter problems people getting sick (or saying they're sick) Going big can produce a better more predictable income. You profit off others labor! Ghe real definition of captiloism .
However that assumes you have more work to do and will continue to have more work than you can do.. (which will depend on the quality of the people who work for you)
If that doesn't appeal to you then you accept less income and cut back on your work load or work as you're doing now and risk your marriage and health..
Let me ask you.. do you want to wok to live or live to work?
frenchy
Nick was trying to get away from the roof top killer, he fell and broke both arms, which are in a cast now. So he can not access his computer.
:) Rich
Your suspicions of another OP absconding have been borne out but I think your amusing movie references have made the thread worthwhile. "You've Got Mail" had a great cast.
Edited 10/23/2009 10:44 pm ET by sisyphus
sisyphus
I like about 3 chick flicks and they all have Meg Ryan in them.
You've Got Mail has so many good lines, and my wife and daughter use them frequently.
Right now I can just see Ryan's store help walking around with both arms sticking straight out. LOL
I hope Nick shows up and that he apprieciates the humor.
Rich
Frenchy, did you get tosses out of the tavern? You've been hangin out a lot more lately around this folder.
I post wherever I'm interested, why?
"The concern is that I work 16 hours most days, this usually guarantees that I am stressed and tired all the time."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzMiWa1VKT8