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This thread is about one man shows, you know … the Lone Ranger. From watching this board it seems like there are more than a few people who work completely by themselves.
What can a one man show do to make himself extremely productive? profitable? Any great one man tricks … such as running 16′ crown by yourself or decking a roof by yourself? Installing heavy doors?
How do you keep yourself motivated? What keeps you from staying in bed until noon?
Replies
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I'm motivated by my love of the job and the necessity of having an income. Also, at this point in my life, sleeping later than nine takes effort!
Productive?? I probably can't speak to that....I doubt seriously that I can ever be called productive.
Profitable?? I'm guessing that if I just keep raising my prices, sooner or later I'll be profitable (or out of customers!).
In five (or so) unproductive years, I have gotten help twice. Once was in removing a bathtub that wouldn't break and the second time was holding up a sheet of panelling to a sloped ceiling. In retrospect, I don't know why I didn't just nail some 2x4's together to hold up the panelling.
I try to work smart, using a hand truck, or levers, or whatever to make things easier and bending at the knees when it's still hard. When all else fails, I am a stubbon SOB and I just find the strength.
I especially remember trying to lift an old very heavy kitchen sink/counter onto the cabinet base. I could barely get it up to my knees when I started. But I just kept breathing deeply between efforts and got it a bit higher each time. Finally I got it up an over. I took my time and got it done.
Rich Beckman
*Peter,My dad has a really good book that he loaned me awhile back that delt entirely with the challenges of working alone in the carpentry/remodeling field. I'm gonna take a guess at the title...I think it's simply called "Working Alone"...no idea who the author is. But he had a bookful of great tips and tricks for doing all the stuff you usually think requires two sets of hands...by yourself.If your interested, do a search under the title...and if nothing comes up let me know...and I'll see if I can't turn it up next time I'm over at my folks place. Definately worth a read...Q
*Taunton press.Working Alone
*Q- man thanks ive been thinking about that book cuz i do my work alone and was wondring if it was worth getting.
*It's worth it. Now that I'm back to being alone, I've revisited the book to recharge forgotten tricks.
*Peter, I've been at it alone for almost 8 years. My father is a retired teacher and helps out as a gopher from time to time. Actually, I've found the physical part of working alone to be the easiest. Decking a roof, running crown, hanging drywall, all of it not too bad alone maybe just sometimes harder and takes more time. The part I do have trouble with is not having anyone to work with on estimates, advertising, accounting, taxes, complaining about bad customers, etc. And lunch is usually eaten on the job...No time for that one hour stop at a restaurant because if I'm gone, no work is getting done. Theres another bad part. If you're sick or on vacation, no money is being earned. Motivation is rather easy. If you don't get out of bed, you don't make any money. When you work for someone else, there are always sick days and paid vacation....Man, do I miss working for someone else. ;) (I am only joking in that last sentence but I am also looking for a new career).Mike
*Mike, one of these days I'll have to talk to you about reworking your "numbers" so you will get paid for personal time, sick time, vacations and holidays.And this crap about eating lunch at teh job is balony. I did it for years. One of the advantages of working for yourself is not haing to answer to someone else about taking an hour for lunch. Take it. Remember the old adage about the guy who's on his death bed. No one ever heard any one in that position saying his only regret want "not" spending more time at the office.Don't wait until you're my age to start kicking your self in the rear end. I wish I had a ten dollar bill for every "I which I would have..............." that I've said lately.A nice lunch (but not expensive) off the site is part of the fun of our business. Without the fun, it becomes ONLY a $$$$ producing life - not worth it. I"d rather buy a slightly cheaper truck, one dinner out each month less and save a little longer for a nice table saw - and enjoy my lunches.
*Sonny, Damn! I wish I lived closer to Naples! I need someone like you to push me around a little and make me "enjoy" the work more. Honestly, someone like you would be a good mentor as I do admit, I fight alot of the business aspects of this profession.Mike
*I agree with Sonny about leaving the jobsite for lunch (or supper).I learned a long time ago to leave the site and take a break from the action. A change of scenery and a good meal makes for a great afternoon. It also clears my head a bit, and gets my attention on something else for a few minutes. It does not have to be a LONG lunch, just get away. Heck, I've been known to bring a lunch with me, and go to the park to eat it. James DuHamel
*Peter, Rich hit the very essence of it all, i Stubborn. Stubborn SOB is the absolute heart of it, and clever enough to figure a way to do the physically impossible. To move the unmovable without hurting yourself. To take the time & stare at whatever until you see a way to do it by yourself.After 27 years of mostly alone, I find people get upset because I don't want their help, but I can screw it up by myself so please go away. "Doesn't play well with others" might be one description? Joe HPS: Employees i canmake you a lot of money if you find the right one(s), and I've done that too.
*James, I really like that idea - bring a lunch and eat it at the park! Great idea.Mike, any time you want to "jaw", call me at 941-793-6609.BTW, I do take some jobs that are a PITA (they represent challenges & I charge more for them) or where part of the job is a PITA. I do those first, or those applications first and it's down hill from there.A few years ago I changed the process I use for estimating. One day I said to myself (which you will too as you age), why should I charge the same rate for the stuff that requires a lot of expertise or experience, as I charge for the routine? Scary is that I answered myself. But - I liked the answer.So, replacing damaged ceramic tile, or replacing a section of rotted cedar facia with a 1x3 or 1x2 frieze board and make the splice look good, gets charged at a higher rate. Or waterproofing a monolithic slab foundation that's transfering water to the drywall and bsbd. also gets charged more. Like the electrical engineeer who charged $5000 to press an electrical button in a factory's breaker panel to get the plant up and running electrically again. $10 to press the button and $4990 for testing, evaluating and knowing which button to press.Anyway, now my estimates are calculated using the above process. Charge "X" amount for your time, but with an "upcharge" where your expertise really makes you shine - not compared to your competitors, but to your client!
*OK here are some jobs that have challenged me in the past re: working alone. Running crown mould where the run is long (approx 16'). The installation isnt bad but the measuring etc. is somewhat tuff.How bout an 8' bay window?How bout 12' siding... say hardi plankRafters?I know I can find all of this in a book but this is so much more fun!
*Peter:It just takes some ingenuity & jigs. Lots of jigs.I've done 8' bays by myself by setting it on a plank and lifting one side at a time till it was at framing level. Then slide it in. Wouldn't want to try it on the second floor. On siding I've used a siding hook to hold one end. For crown, a nail in a strategic place. Cabinets with a T brace or cleat on the wall. There's all kinds of methods. Sometimes you just need to take your lunch to the park :) and think it out. Whew, no wonder I've hired a helper. Barry
*Peter, use sticks to measure. I like 1x2's. grab two of them 12' long and you can accurately and instantly measure up to 21' or so by sliding them apart and holding them firmly in the middle. Lay them down on the piece that you want to cut and mark each end.I know lots of rough tricks. Even though we usually have four on the crews, we all basically work alone.blue
*Peter, I work alone 90% of the time. As far as getting out of bed I don't sleep much anyway (6 hours tops) so that is never an issue with me. I have always been motivated and task oriented so each job is usually a "new begining" for me. I like to work and love to learn so the repair/remodel thing is good for me. I have assembled a small network of guys that like to make side money occasionally and help me if I need it. Most are pros too so I can sub some items to them, nice money for little effort and no fixed overhead. They are not cheap but work effeciently and you can trust them. I have rental property so I try them out on that to qualify them. I agree with all above on the stubborn quality. I don't take a lunch, usually just a snack as a meal makes me sluggish. I don't take many breaks but try to limit my work day to 6 hours or so. That is my reward for being on my own. I also use the usual 2 wheel dolly a lot as well as levers. I am so used to it now that when working with others I find them in my way as I am not used to someone handing me anything or holding it for me. DanT
*The only reason I'm in this business is because I GET to work alone. Now it may take me a little longer to get things done and I may have to lift things that would be easier with another person but in the long run this is better than the hassles you can have working with others. I like the company of other people, just not at work. I have tried to have a helper but I'm afraid I'm not a very good teacher and get easily frustrated teaching someone that will not remember the same thing the next day. Am I ranting? No wonder no one will work with me! Plus working alone I get to pick my own radio station and I can listen to Frank Zappa all day and nobody can tell me to turn it down. cc
*" pick my own radio station and I can listen to Frank Zappa all day and nobody can tell me to turn it down"Very important!
*> I am so used to it now that when working with others I find them in my way as I am not used to someone handing me anything or holding it for me.> The only reason I'm in this business is because I GET to work alone.> I get to pick my own radio station and I can listen to Frank Zappa all dayLOL!All excellent points! (except the Zappa part!).Rich Beckman
*Brown shoes dont make it brown shoes dont make :)
*Up the ladder, down the ladder, grab a tool. Move the ladder, up the ladder, down the ladder. Move the ladder, up the ladder, forget tool, down the ladder, up the ladder...start thinking about getting a helper...
*Anthony, start thinking about getting the job done without ladders...blue
*blue ,hahahahahah i like that one
*Taking a proper lunch break AND taking short breaks morning & afternnon are also part of working safely. Breaks are part of a safety program.
*bobl i think the cyber pimp can do that s a 2'fer he can eat my shorts and do it on his break :)
*I ordered the book today from Taunton. "Working Alone".I'm always up for a new trick.No Andy, you can't use my Amex card for lap dances.However......I would like to see where they swipe the card.I know, I know........Sorry. I couldn't resist.Ed.
*I set stairs for a living, and they can get pretty complicated. I don't like waiting for someone to cut a board for me, only to find that it's 35 5/8 instead of 35 1/2. I also don't like to have someone watching me while they're waiting for the next cut. the hardest part is when I get a solid Oak set of about 16 risers. those bastards are heavy. but I use props, and I roll them on pipes, and I never actually lift the whole thing. there are ways.Rick Louquet
*That sounds heavy Rick. I'd like to see some of your rigging to lift those stairs. I've set a few prebuilts in my day, but never set one alone. I suppose I could, but it seems wasteful.Got any pics?blue
*Levers I'll bet. Number 1 tool of the Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, Myians, etc. If so, do you call them lee-vers or levers?
*All things being equal, do you think a man working by himself will earn more or less than a man working with an 8-10 dollar an hour helper? What does it depend on?
*Peter...You should always make more with 1 to 3 crew. After that...you need to jump in size...to handle sales and administration...and more.near the stream,ajThere is so much more to it though...Does your work fit the level of skill of you and the crew....and more. I do high skill work by myself and repetitious/laborious work with help.
*I agree with AJ, and especially where he says:" I do high skill work by myself and repetitious/laborious work with help."One of the keys in bringing up new staff is to take the opportunities, when available, to train one or more of those people the whys and how of that high skill work. Their education is synonomous with charging higher rates for what they work on at any particular project.For example, I get a fair amount of jobs waterproofing sections of monolithic slabs in condos and houses due to moisture invasion into the wall/floor joints and subsequent damage to drywall, baseboard and/or flooring.On those jobs I get about $100 plus per hour which is built in to my price. So If I can teach an employee the hows and why it happens and the specifics of my solution to correcting it, I can then make extra money on that employee when he performs the corrective procedures as well. But make no mistake, the specifics of each operation must be explained in detail so no detail is missed or done incorrectly.Ditto with drywall repairs and particularly matching the various types of texture used in our area. Another very high margin market.BTW, the above is an example of what I meant in my comments on another thread about charging different rates based upon the skill level(s) to be performed as different applications of any particular project.My Cardiologist charges about $110 for an office check up, yet charged my insurance company $4000 - labor only - for angioplasty and another $3000 for insertion of two stints. Totally about a 2-3 hour procedure. Follow me? Same thing with installing say $8000 in kitchen cabinets vs. $38,000 in cabinets. I charge more based upon the value of what I'm installing. The reasons are obvious.
*Peter, it is impossible to make a blanket statement that a helper will improve a skilled persons income enough to overcome the extra wages.If I'm working on a complicated set of stairs, the helper might have ten minutes of material handling, then be in my way for the rest of the day. That's an extreme example. Generally speaking, a skilled person will be able to juggle a few helpers to make himself more productive. The ratio is critical and changes with the nature of each job. Generally, most framers should be paired up with a less costly laborer, but that usually doesn't work out because working effectively in a team is more difficult than just putting Joe with George. It takes effort to make a team concept work. blue
*2 can do the work of 3. go yankees.
*Have you ever seen an electrician work by themselves? Lots can be done by one guy but pulling wire and fishing wire by yourself can be crazy.
*Peter, the first problem is actually finding an $8-10 /hour helper.When I pay helpers $10 and roofers $15( at least) it actually costs me $15/ $20 plus repectively.The second problem is getting a helper to show up consistently.Each year I produce work in 3 different manners 1) working alone2) working with a crew on my payroll on on my books3)Using subs to handle lesser skilled aspects of large jobs while reserving skilled work or problem areas for my own hands. for me working alone is BY FAR the most efficient way to produce work while allowing myself personal freedom.Using subs to handle the lesser skilled aspects of jobs while handling the technical areas with my own hands can be Extremely profitable but it can be a hassel coordinating everybodies schedules.for me the least profitable,highest hassel way of producing jobs is with an in-house crew.My advice would be to avoid the use of direct employees if there is any other way available to produce the work.In my case I find working with a helper actually will only save me about 1-2 hours a day.The way I work,a helper is a lot of help at the beginning and end of each day but not much help at other times.If A helper saves me only 1 or 2 hours a day of my time billed at a minimum of $70/hour the helper is at best only a breakeven proposition.I would rather spend an extra hour on the job and not deal with the employees baggage.
*The props I use are 2x4s, in stepped up lengths. Same goes with props to keep the stairs from sliding. Takes about and hour and a half, as opposed to about half an hour with a helper. Maybe two hours.I get easily distracted, and prefer to work alone. Although I can work quite well while there is a plumber or an electrician in the unit, and even carry on a conversation while working. Go figure.Rick Louquet
*Interesting Rick. I have a hard time yapping while I work. I either work, or I yap. Since I'm old now, I don't mind yapping. In my earlier days, I'd have run anyone off when they tried to yip with me.I think I could rig a wall jack and get those same stairs set a little quicker.How do you get them into the house?blue
*Actually an electrician that I used years ago was a one man show.He shied away from new construction ( full houses )and stayed with additions and remodel/repair work. He didn't mind new construction work, just the time frame requirements.When it came to fishing wire, I never saw a better technician.Terry
*Terry, those of us who work alone, become good technicians out of necessity. If you are always relying on numbers and brute strength, you never take the time to figure out how to make the job easier.blue
*You guys haven't lived until you get jobs working in high rise condos doing a job that only takes a day or less but requires using half the tools in you truck without evn addressing teh materials. Especially those jobs where the parking area is almost a block away and it takes your working on the 17th floor.I can kiss the person who invented the wheel!Yes, I do include 1 hour in each job to get the "stuff" up there and another hour to get it back down. And one more hour for debris removal. Even though they pay, it's still a PITA.
*Hey this is a great thread for me today. I am in the process of dissolving an LLC partnership that I have been in for 5 years. Without going into all the gory details I must say that I am VERY much looking forward to working on my own. I am a loner and when I am alone and figuring out the job I feel most productive. I don't mind having a helper now and then and I do use subs when necessary..but when I work I don't talk (except to myself!)..so I have never been very popular to work with anyway. Hopefully it will all work out ok. Don
*I mainly work alone but have found other one man shows who are licensed and insured to hook up with on those jobs I don't want to turn away. I have been doing this for years and with enough notice it works rather well.
*I work mostly alone because I honestly can't find those who actually want to WORK ! I've been in business about 18 yrs. and am willing to pay for good help ,but with one or two exceptions the young people today what top dollar right away with little or no experiece.( God I sound like my father).Although I do admit some of the jobs I do are not alot of fun (200 year old bird poop falling on your head }. I do OLD house restoration, 1600's-1800's and for the most of it I really the work. Learning the story of the house by seeing how the original carpenter put it together ,mistakes and all. And as was stated above working alone just takes alittle more thought on how to get peice "A" on wall "B". All that aside I actually do a "One Man Show" for museums and the like. I dress in 1750,s cloths and demo early carpentry including pit sawing , riveing oak clapboard, broad axe work & moldings with the old hand planes. It,s most enjoyable and I get to educate the young and learn from those older than myself ( I,m at the half centery mark ). Good Luck to all those loners. Quality Wood Chips Bill. D.
*I've always said that if I could find someone who could do everything I can do faster and better, I'd hire him. Until then I'm on my own. But I've never had a hard time finding someone to help out for a couple hours, it seems that I always know someone who is perpetually unemployed. What we should do is have REAL apprentices again, you know "Here is little Johnny, feed him give him a bed near the stove and teach him your trade and he will work for you for ten years." I can dream can't I?
*Don't forget a retirement fund!! (like I did for 13 yrs)
*I am a one-man cabinet shop. I design upscale furniture and built-ins. The majority of my work consists of free-standing products which are fabricated and finished prior to delivery. Built-ins are prefinished and installation at the customer site usually takes no more than several days. Collectively, I probably spend no more than two weeks out of the year working at customer locations.To be on the safe side, I carry liability insurance but in the past three years my annual premium has gone up 35%. My next annual premium is $769 for general coverage ($1,000,000 per occurance). I've tried shopping around and have discovered that the big carriers refuse to provide "artisans" insurance. Considering how little time that I actually spend at customer sites, paying nearly $800 a year for liability insurance is killing me. Is the cost of this premium out of line? Can anyone suggest a more cost effective alternative?
*Sorry, your business has to be able to support your lifestyle and all those little things that pop out of the woodwork. It looks like you could cover that whole premium with less than .40 cents an hour increase in your basic rate. (Based on 50 weeks @ 40 hours per week).
*i'd agree with ralph... insurance is cheap... my premiums exceed $12,000 annual... but i wouldn't drop a dimes worth of coverage...brag it up in your three-fold brochure .. you know,.... the one that talks about your background and what a great guy you are .. and how much you love your work.. and why you're worth it...and how you're "insured"...you do have a brochure , don't you ?
*I like what Sonny said about charging for expertise type work. I started doing that several years ago. Like water leaks...finding them...leaks coming in from the right side of the roof and falling out of the left side ceiling. When I finally figured out how to find those leaks I started charging a bundle..Not by the hour. Sometimes the water would roll down a length of rafter across a plate then roll across the drywall till it hit something and dropped into the house. I loveeeeee those jobs,,,,,boringgggg but pays like that electrican that charges $5000 to hit the reset button. I've done so many of those little quirky jobs and nine out of ten times I was able to make in half a day and hardley any tools what I could make in a week of shlepping tools up and down stairs. After being in this biz now for about thirty years and doing everything hands on I learned an awful lot..Plan on getting paid for those things. Theres been plenty of times I've worked alone...Actually this house I finished, I did more then half alone....HEres a pix attached of the front of the house being done alone....setting up all that scaffolding allowed me to do so much alone and comfortably....Could even lock my tools up there, cover them for the night and go in to sleep...where theres a will theres a way. Work smart/ not hard....especially when you're alone.
*Oh, and by the way I love Suzy Creamcheese
*Andy----fixing those troublesome leaks describes my business exactly.It's not glamorous,it gets very little respect but it affords me considerable personal freedom plus the ability to send my kids to top notch schools.
*Bill -I tried to send you an email at [email protected], but it bounced back. I thought your "One Man Show" sounds interesting, and was wondering if you were anywhere close so I might be able to catch it. You can reply here if you like, or email me at [email protected]
*Peter, I've found that you can sometimes made more money working alone then having employees. I know there are a lot less headaches involved. My wife helps me sometimes and has become a pretty good rail installer her self., and I don't even have to pay her. Your question: How do you keep yourself motivated? What keeps you from staying in bed until noon? Need to pay bills because I have to one else to depend on. Larry
*Boss Hog Sorry about not responding sooner but the comp.was sick . I do 17th-19th century carpentry demos. I start with a poplar log and broard-axe it flat on two opposite sides. Then pit saw it into dimensional lumber.Then hand plane it into some molding or some beveled beaded siding. I also set up a brake to rive out some oak clapboard or split some cypress (old growth) into shakes/shingles.I travel the MD.,VA.,& DEL. area. It's a lot of fun and I get to teach the young and learn from the "OLD GUYS" Bill D. Quality Wood Chips
*When you are tired of interviewing guys with their knuckles barely off the ground. Guys who swear they are "between jobs" and have tons of undocumented experience--it's sometimes less frustration to go it alone. I've been full time for 5 years and make enough to keep ahead of the wolves. Adding a couple of guys would make me truly profitable. I've interviewed and tried out many. No one seems to really have the skills they say. This year I'm committed to going it alone for 6 months before I think about trying to add on again. The paperwork is the hardest part, I agree. A good "office type" a couple of hours a week is sometimes a better asset than 3 hacks in the field. Working everyday is easy, No work = No cash = strong motivation if you have bills. Keep swinging and in time you can make a good living at this. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, I may even get there going it alone.
*Mike, if adding a couple of guys would make you "truly profitable", then why aren't you adding a couple of guys?It sounds like you've tried many times, but failed every time. I also get the feeling that you haven't changed your approach. YOur wage structure might only be fit for apes, not humans with families.Try putting out your ad differently. And don't bother talking to people without references. In fact, put the words "references required" in your ads and most slackers won't even bother calling you.Or, better yet, ask for references but direct the job seekers to your work site. Don't include a phone number. If they have references and can find your way to the job, you will be meeting an excellent prospect. Going it alone is great...for hermits.blue
*I have some very good friends that do this for a living. When I need them I call them.They call me, Im there. Im a builder that as turned to repos. I hire all the out side work done except painting on a new house.When the sr hangers get done on the inside ,its mine to do.this doesnt tie me up with help working in this manner. If I want to go to a house auction ,I can go. I do my work alone. Actually my dad trained me that way . He was a builder also. One thing that is funny about this is he and I worked on the same job alone .I dont know if its more profitable. Ive always hired subs when crews are needed.I do all the finish by my self. motivation??????? If you need motivation maybe you would be happier doing something else. I love my work .Its part of me and I cant imagine haveing to work and not enjoy it ,look forward to it.You should have a job that you love to go to in the morning ,just like comming home to a good wife. Life is too short not to be having fun with your tools.Thats my opinion , not everybodies Im sure.
*Hey Peter,I read that book that one of the guys mentioned and it was worth it. There is a series of books put out in the 60's called the Foxfire books. It is a compilation of ways that our forefathers did things before technology, using jigs, levers and fulcrums. I did a job in the mountains and had to fire my unreliable help. Needless to say this left me alone. I had a double 14" ridge log 20'+ in length that I had to set in place 4' higher than where it was sitting. The solution was 4 27' straps and 2 hydraulic jacks, and a lot of climbing. The job was snowed in, so no crane access till spring. I got both of the 20' sections set, posts scribed and set in 2 days. The G.C. said I could not do it by hand even with help. Proved him wrong.
*In addition to the usual assortment of jigs, levers, wedges, etc, I get amazing results with smoke and mirrors.But seriously, The major disadvantage of working alone is the time it takes to complete a big project. A good size crew can build a house in a few weeks. A guy working alone might take a few years. How many customers are willing to wait that long?On a smaller scale, consider a redwood deck. Last one I built took me a month. While I was at it, a three-man crew built one across the street in about six days. My price was a little lower and my quality was much, much better. It all boils down to what is more important to the customer.
*Andy... Super home... insane scaffolding set up! burn that picture and the negatives.near the stream,aj
*Tom... just wondering since I have built a few decks solo... How many sqft was the deck and how much did the materials cost along with the final price to customer?I'll add it to my pricing thread.near the stream,ajWe use Cedar and Brazilian Cherry here for upper end decks.
*aj, Actually I should have posted my website (WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM) which has a lot of the jobs that went into this 4000 sq ft house that I built just about alone for the most part. My wife said I should do an article with all the before and after pictures I took to submit to F.H about this insane project that I've done...ALONE! Knocked most of the original cape down..set up a little corner of the basement that I lived in while my wife and kid stayed with friends....Stories? Do I have stories you wouldn't even beleive..A small one is the pile of debris in a small bathroom I kept alive on the first floor....went up in the middle of a snowy night climbing over tremendous piles of rubble to get to the bathroom to relieve myself and had to sit on the bowl with my feet up about four feet on debris with an umbrella so the snow wouldnt soak me..Picture that one....LOL..wasn't funny then...well, yeh it was kinda funny..And yeh, I'd like to burn all the negatives but I think the pictures of this project are just about tatooed inside my eyelids so whats the point?Andy
*Has anyone discovered that they are better off not working alone?? Find myself going nuts talking to lumber and talk radio only goes so far. Often lunches are longer just so I can talk to somebody... Sheesh. I was crazy when I started out...had no idea I could go crazier.
*I've been working alone for the past two months, I miss working with a crew, the stupid banter and cameraderie and push each other to work smart and do decent production. I do miss those idiots. One of the things I miss the most is the amount of learning on a daily basis, with all the skills and experience and brains to pick. I also don't end up taking any real breaks or lunch. Those are good times to joke and enjoy your buds. Another is that I keep my own schedule now, and I find that I kind of thrive on a set schedule. Since I've been working this way my significant other has me running various errands during the day. With the 'construction season' coming upon us I look forward to getting back with a regular crew.
*I built a pole barn mostly alone, It's currently my house. I am preparing to build my house the same way, it's amazing what you can come up with if you have to.