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Replies
I've been there too Harry.
Need to make rules like,
No work on Sundays, and Saturdays if you can. Though i do client visits a lot on Saturdays, i try not to be on site working.
Book your holidays.
Know the length of your working day.
Don't take calls after Xpm. Thats what the answer phone is for. I know clients call at all sorts of crazy times but it doesn't mean you have to answer straight away. I call them back in the morning or on a break or when i get home the following evening.
Remember, the world won't end if it doesn't get done immediately.
If you can, have a hobby and make time to do it....hard one this!
You are the boss. Set the rules.
I know its easier said than done and i have mixed sucess with it myself but good to remind yourself from time to time. Partners/wives/kids are good for this as well.
Good luck
Ed
Thank you for reply, I'm going to try a few of your ideas, having a hobbie is something I've struggled with in the past simply because something always seems to come up and get in the way, I've got to be stronger and separate work from home and stick by my guide lines I reckon,
Many thanks mate,
Harry
yes it's that time of year when you get the phone calls " the sun is shining and the garden is getting out of control, i thought you might come today" personally i will work saturdays sundays and some evenings if the jobs need doing, as I am terrified of getting behind with the work...then i can have a bit of time off on a rainy day and plenty of chill out time in the winter to look forward to...due to small children i don't tend to be able to make a very early start on work in the mornings but I don't mind that
i think we all have wobbles, especially when its busy and you dont know how to fit stuff in, or a crisis of confidence when you have one awkward customer and you doubt yourself.
This year we have been so incredibly busy, that i have gone past the point of worrying about customers i cant fit in. I have more than enough who have had the foresight to book work in advance. Im sure i have lost opportunities, but i cant be in two places at once, so i have actually felt good about saying im sorry i cant do that for you at this time.
I think edward has really summed it up well. I personally dont do weekend working, although my guys do, and i certainly dont do visits for quotes over the weekend
i dont answer the phone at work to people i dont know. Its wastes time and distracts me when im working for teh client. I let them leave a message and then listen to it. when i get home i go through the messages and make the calls and answer emails in the late afternoon all in one go, and then its done. anyone calls after that and they get called back the next evening, unless i want to talk to them. the mobile and office phone both have a message saying i will call you back during normal office hours. Stick to it!
i have found making a list the night before of what i need to do helps a little bit with teh head spinning at 4 in teh morning when everything is going through your head
make time for yourself and your family.
Finally the biggest thing to remember and i have often thought this when i see threads on here about what do i do as the client has asked me for this or that and i dont fancy doing it etc, its your company, its your life. if you dont want to do a job, work for a particular client, do a certain aspect of a job, work in a certain area etc..........................
SAY NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
we are all guilty of not doing it and we should do it more. People respect it a lot more than you think
by the way harry are you married?
it's the combined pressure of the expectations of all one's clients with the added factor of unpredictable weather thrown in...at the moment its like being some kind of gardening rapid response unit lol
After 10 years in business I am finally learning to say no.. I really vet potential new customers now and if I think they are going to be manipulative/needy/over-demanding/controlling I say I'm afraid I'm fully booked up on other jobs. Much easier to not take them on in the first place than having to disentangle from them further down the line, in my experience. Best of luck, Bernie
with you there bernie. it takes a long time to have the courage to say no its not for me, or no i dont do that, or no i cant fit in with that timescale. i think its human nature, but is so important to be able to do it if you are going to avoid problems
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