Ok guys, I know this has been discussed before, but I will bring it up again. Would anyone be willing to share ideas on profitable business opportunities in this market? I have 20 experience as a remodeler, sub and GC which covers most of my adult life. I have been investing in the mobile home business the last few years and it has done well so far, but I am looking for new opportunities not necessarily construction related.
I have enjoyed the last 20 years but at my age, 44, I feel it is time to move on to other less physically demanding areas. My mind just seems to be frozen when it comes to seeing present opportunities unless it is a bankruptcy attorney or debt collector. I think the last few years have been teaching us a lesson that we cannot remain stagnant in our careers reguardless of what they are.
Replies
start with this -
What do you LIKE to do?
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Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
What do you LIKE to do?
Sit here on BT.
Watch TV some.
Coffee in the morning.
Play with my kids.
Sit on the patio when the weather is good.
Ride my bike.
General goofing around.
Sit here more on BT.
Watch life go by.
Pet the cat & dog.
Fly kites.
That kinda stuff, so what do you think?
No one should regard themselve as "God's gift to man." But rather a mere man whos gifts are from God.
set up a web cam and charge folks a membership fee to watch you do that.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Piffin,
Your the best!!
I may do just that, probable not get rich fast.
Paul No one should regard themselve as "God's gift to man." But rather a mere man whos gifts are from God.
I'm not in the trades (though enjoy the stuff) but I'm definitely with you on the 'what I enjoy doing'.I never understood the career advice about 'do what you'd do even if money wasn't an issue'. If money wasn't an issue, I'd be sitting on my lake dock with a beer reading a book*. Anyone that would do the 9-5 grind even if money wasn't an issue is just insane. ;o)The other issue that once you *have* to do what you like to do as a JOB, suddenly it's not quite as fun as it used to be. ;o)* in theory, as I don't own a lake dock. :(
Edited 5/1/2009 2:19 pm ET by darrel
You are so right, I use to love carpentry but somthing snapped, I think in my head and I don't enjoy it like I use to but became a job.
I really wish I could get that back, maybe the fact that I want it back is a good sign.
- Boy, that was deep-
Paul No one should regard themselve as "God's gift to man." But rather a mere man whos gifts are from God.
Amazing - that's exactly how I feel. I think carpentry work used to be pretty fulfilling, but lately a new project seems like a big PITA. Maybe it has something to do with cost of living - when it's difficult to make the bills no matter what you do, then what's the point. Also could be the competition between the "Joneses". To the original poster - "Thinking For A Living" is a pretty inspiring book to read...kind of out of the box.
Edited 5/1/2009 7:46 pm ET by back2work
Two or three different books with the same title. Do you know what one is the one you're refering to?
Thanks
MikeInsert initially amusing but ultimately annoying catch phrase here.
Copyright 1998 - Joey Reiman
"Maybe it has something to do with cost of living - when it's difficult to make the bills no matter what you do, then what's the point"
When that happens, I get angry. And, it's happened all too often in my long career.
It boils down to choices. I chose to do custom frames. Now, not many custom frames, at the proper price, are being built. So, to stay in that biz, I'd have to treat it like any starving artist would...just bite the bullet and stay the course. But, that ain't fair to the family.
There was a time when I would have been there every day framing even if I had hit the lotto. Not anymore. That ship has sailed.
I find it interesting in watching the "House of Cards" special on CNBC that the guys who made all the money in the last real estate bubble run up were the Loan Officers,
Particularly the Lebanese immigrant guy who with a sixth grade education went from pumping gas to selling mercedes to starting a mortgage loan company.
And then there were the former pizza delivery guys selling mortgages making ten grand a week plus.
The key thing is to see where the money is being made and try to do that. Not much money is being made these days but that can't last forever, what will be the next thing? Thats the $64 question.
If everyone sends me $64.00 I'll tell you!!!
LOL No one should regard themselve as "God's gift to man." But rather a mere man whos gifts are from God.
I think what you will tell us is to have everyone send you $64.
Seriously while I was busy during the boom trying to grow my business I should have gone to work for my friendly neighborhood mortgage broker selling mortgages.
The old, Woulda-Shoulda- Coulda, syndrome.
And your right,
ATTENTION EVERYONE, SEND ME $64.00!!!
No one should regard themselve as "God's gift to man." But rather a mere man whos gifts are from God.
Edited 5/3/2009 6:33 pm ET by CardiacPaul
"I never understood the career advice about 'do what you'd do even if money wasn't an issue'. "It helps you focus on things from a different POV other than just money.and success books are full of stories of people who found both financial success and fulfillment/satisfaction only after they learned to focus on doing what gives them positive feedback psychologically.For me, I had 3-4 years of the business very nearly doubling each year. But the stress was burning me off from the inside. I got a couple medical problems that made me step back and take another look.I asked myself what I like most about the things I do, and decided to focus on those portions of the business. life is much better that way. I am making a living doing what I love to do, and not everything that every body wants me to do.From what I read, other people find that when they make their career follow their loves or interests, they find themselves focusing more clearly and working more efficiently, when self employed or in an organization where their energy brought to task is noticed. Compare that to the performance of a person who can barely drag themselves to work because they hate the job.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
No big ideas here, but i can certainly commiserate. 43 and out of work since last October. That's the problem with anything tied to the construction industry, it's all a bellwether of the economy. Don't know that i'd do it again if i had a time machine (architecture), but i'd certainly do it differently.
There's some areas that are a little more economy-proof than others in construction, although less exciting. Any public sector work, such as schools, or military contracts.
Also opportunities for creative thinkers. One architect in Seattle set up a stand at a local farmer's market and charges people 5 cents to ask him questions about their future home projects. A clever way to get his name out there and get contacts. It's gotten both local and national attention with the media and spots on NPR.
http://architecture5cents.com/
Some additional coin might be found in the craft shows/art fairs. Several people here make such items (cutting boards, wood toys, stained glass). Another option might be teaching an adjunct class at a local tech school about woodworking or such.
I am not a contractor, but I did a few awesome shower bars for my parents. They loved them, they were eay to install, carbide hole saw!!
I am thinks a flat rate installed price, a nice sheet in the mail box, could get you a few bucks abd lead to biggers jobs, all types based on the aging of america? i am sure this could lead to other things that the eldery need
Good luck!
We had a remodeling business focused on the barrier free/aging/handicapped market, and turned the lights off three years ago. Never could get connected to insurance or the medical profession. Most people that really needed assistive products were either unwilling to pay for them, or assumed we were an agency.
As far as the flat rate for properly installed grab bars, good luck.
MikeInsert initially amusing but ultimately annoying catch phrase here.
As I said I am not a contractor, however I think understand the issues you bring up. getting somone to admit to themselves they need hand rails can be a major stumbling block, as well as trying toe get an insurance co to be proactive, and provie one before a person falls and gets hurt.
Dave
I do a lot of tile but I hate grouting. I was talking to another contractor at the lumberyard recently and he said the same thing
if someone offered a grouting service that included grout removal, regrouting, epoxy grouts, grout caulk etc., I think they could do well
Same here. When I was doing a lot of tile in CO, I had an Indian girl with arms as big as my legs doing the grouting.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Web programming seems to be where it's at these days.
As someone that's in that field, I can say it's easier on the back, but it's like any profession. 10 years into it, it's just a job.Plus, the market has flattened. We're not tanking like construction, but the growth period of the last decade is definitely over.
Yeah, but try to even find a want ad for any other type of programming.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. -John Kenneth Galbraith