Frustration is getting to me

[SS MAYFLOAT]

A couple of years ago I purchased a 1 ton bucket truck for my own persnonal needs. Lately I've been getting jobs for a part time business. My problem is that most of these jobs I really don't want to do. It's not that they are too big or hard to do, but the time to do them is. So for the jobs that I see taking too much of my time, I try to price my services at a high rate. Even with that, they still want me to do it. Yeah, the money is nice, but so is the time to get my personal things accomplished. Especially finding time restoring some stringers/transom of my boat.<br /><br />An example of this caused me to miss the get-together in Ky. The night before I was to leave for Ky, a car lot owner called and let me know I have the job of updating his lot lights. Sad thing was, he wanted them done this weekend. I spent all day saturday working on this car lot and have only got about 25% of them done. There is a total of 86 light poles that I need to service. I was to work on them today, but it is raining again. <br /><br />Their grand opening is Memorial weekend. That means after my full time job, I gotta work at the car lot every night this coming week. This now makes 3 weeks of not being able to work on my boat. <br /><br />I guess I just need to tell people "NO, sorry, I just don't have the time. BTW, thats not all, I've got 3 tree jobs to do after the car lot. Just maybe I'll be able to get my boat finished before winter. Yep,,,,,,I'm bummed....

 

[heycods]

Re: Frustration is getting to me

"Just say no"

 

[tommays]

Re: Frustration is getting to me

i feel for SS i have just gotten to the point in my life were i can say NO to the side jobs and my wife and my self only need to work the normal 50 hr week <br /><br />tommays

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Frustration is getting to me

welcome to my world .<br /> I am heading for currituck to dissasemble the VST and injectors on an 06 F150 then over to north duck to work on a seacraft with twin 3.0's.<br /> the money is nice but my body is rebelling.

 

[technostingray]

Re: Frustration is getting to me

Let Jorge do it.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Frustration is getting to me

I hope the it at least hurts all the way to the bank SS.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Frustration is getting to me

Right after I started this topic, got a call from my main job. Had to run to a town 35 minuets away to put a belt on an exhaust fan. 40 minuets each way, less than a minuet to change the belt I'm paid salery, so this call in won't reflect anything in my check <br /><br />I know I shouldn't complain since a lot of people say they can't find work. Sure is weird that work finds me. Maybe it is the quality of work that I do. I don't advertise, it is just word of mouth that gets me jobs. I tried sending a few of my friends out with the truck only to be told that "I" was hired and not them.<br /><br />Its been since September at Grayson when I had my last vacation. Another bummer is, I can't even project when I will have time to take one.<br /><br />One good thing, the skys have cleared since my call in. Car lot or boat,,,,,,,hmmmmmm I think I hear my boat whinning for attention.

 

[technostingray]

Re: Frustration is getting to me

It's called fooling the public. The next time some one turns down your workman show up personally without the truck.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Frustration is getting to me

One nice advantage about the use of a bucket truck doing those high up jobs...........NOBODY is looking over your shoulder except the higher up authority!

 

[OBJ]

Re: Frustration is getting to me

One thing for sure SS....the lousy weather we been having around our neck of the woods don't make for much outdoors activity. Now we got scattered frost coming....this is May for crying out loud!! I got my new struts for the toon I want to install today but it's been raining on and off all morning. Bummer.....

 

[oddjob]

Re: Frustration is getting to me

SS you need to delagate. Hire someone trainable and if your customers value your workmanship they will wait until you can make yourself available, and they need it right away, they will use your employees. Your business is proven. So should be your designees until proven otherwise. You can turn it around.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Frustration is getting to me

SS, why don't you quit your full time job and start your own business and go to work for yourself. It sounds like the demand and pay is good enough.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Frustration is getting to me

Where are the Mexicans when ya need em? Just joking!!!! I'll just keep on keeping on like Spinner says. I gotta do what I gotta do when I can do.<br /><br />OBJ, you sure are dead on about the weather. Those out west of us are seeing high temp records while we are still under the hold of the Great Lake Cold Weather Magnet. I'm still burning wood at night to keep the house warm. Its been 8 months now of heating season. Guess that is why it seems I'm being rushed to do jobs. There just hasn't been enough good outside working days. I'll be glad when my wife finishes her nurising school and we move south. Mainly to get out of the 3rd highest taxed state in the union.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Frustration is getting to me

So for the jobs that I see taking too much of my time, I try to price my services at a high rate.

The Problem Is,.......<br /><br />The Rate Isn't High Enough.........<br /><br />Double It............................... <br /><br />Then,....... You'll Either find,... The Time for Yourself,+ Family,...........<br />Or,......<br />Enough Money Not to Care...........

 

[KRS]

Re: Frustration is getting to me

@ bondo

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Frustration is getting to me

DR, the only problem with quitting my full time job is that I don't have enough capital to carry me over when things are slow. Just can't afford to do that at this time. Once my wife gets her RN certificate, then it will be more of an available option. Besides, the side jobs is not a business that I would want to do full time. I'll be 50 this year and I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up.<br /><br />Bondo, Thanks for the tip. I guess I do need to quote even higher. The tree jobs are usually those of senior citizens and I hate to feel like I am ripping them off. One guy had several quotes for a pine tree from $500 to $800 and I quoted $900 so I wouldn't get the job.........He said I was a bit high, but would rather pay me knowing that it would be done right and not worry about any mistakes. Good thing he doesn't know about my incident with the ash tree last year that bashed me up beside my head. I think it broke the bones by my eye socket since it feels different than the other side. That is another reason I really hate doing trees. One slip and you can be done with in a hurry.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Frustration is getting to me

Sorry sir, I'm booked solid till mid October.

 

[Ron G]

Re: Frustration is getting to me

People ask me everyday to do side jobs,i tell them honestly with work and other things i just dont have the time and it would'nt be fare to you,most of the time they understand others tell me to put them on my list whenever is fine.bondos got the right idea socket it to them on the commercial jobs,but like on the seniors i end up doing alot for at cost.

 

[rottenray6402]

Re: Frustration is getting to me

Mayfloat, it sounds like you may be better off doing the jobs and hiring someone to finsh the boat. Not many people are real comfortable working up high so you have a unique skill that I couldn't do. If you charge enough and do enough side stuff this time of year it really helps with new toys, fuel, etc.