Founded in 2008. The Landscape Juice Network (LJN) is the largest and fastest growing professional landscaping and horticultural association in the United Kingdom.
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Replies
seriously though...................... its tough and customers attitudes say , they dont want to pay highly anymore...
im enjoying eating, just had my hot choccy and lie ins. i deserve it , but a month or 3 off and thats £1-3k down..............................and its a slow start march till june when profit comes back in ...
do customers realise we dont get HOLIDAY . SICK PAY . OVERTIME, BAD WEATHER PAY / PETROL OR PENSIONS.............................. i can work on my property and save £150-£250 a day (because thats what labourers charge me) !! its just cost me £23,000 for a double garage/workshop with electric&water...
The Garden Co said:
ROWLY HILL said:
Being a farmers son, my dad was at work most of the time and if not at work he was at the pub. I was lucky that i could see him whilst he was at work - sometimes on the farmstead or in the fields. Summer holidays i lived in the fields with him riding in the tractor and when i was old enough driving a tractor myself. I am determined that i will not be like that and plan to spend plenty of time with my wife and son. You wont catch me working weekends anymore. Sure we will have a bit less money but money is'nt everything. In fact greed is a sin - i try to remind myself of this from time to time.
I'm not criticising anyone, we are all different. Sorry if this is a bit off topic.
I make enough money to live and for my business to survive. I have no interest in growing the business to the extent of having to employ someone. My overheads are cut to the bone. What do you expect from a farmers son from yorkshire! I have learnt over the years to look after kit, make do and repair machines myself. In fact i have built some of my own tools and equipment - attachments for countax ride on spring to mind.
I have none of the following - employees, business debt, sign written fancy vehicle, website, advertising (never have done), business stationery, tool insurance, uniform, yard/premises to pay for
As far as fuel and vehicle costs go i hardly ever travel more than 4 miles from my house, use fuel economically and service/repair my fourtrak where possible. If i get offered work out of the 4 mile zone i usually turn it down unless it is for a friend/family member or can be done in jan/feb.
Keeping things local and by word of mouth is the key to the running of my business and keeping costs low. Being in a rural area and being well known in the community have helped with this. I've lived here all 38 years of my life and the family has farmed here for hundreds of years.
Some people may think my attitude is a joke but to me my business is a success, enjoyable and does not rule my life - its everything i want it to be.
Regards, stu
Certain personality types fit single person businesses, other personality types fit running businesses.
Nothing is wrong with either.....
What is wrong is when one section snipes at the other, or they complain and then when offered help -it's ignored or trashed or the ideas thrown back.
I have a simple view - I want everybody to be sucessful at what THEY want to do.
If I can help someone with my experiences over the years (not said in arrogant way), to me that's a real result.
Jackson's Landscape Design said:
The problems occur when work, work, work affects other people - is your wife truly happy that you are working all the time? Do the kids wake up and go to bed when you are at work? In this case working all the time is probably only pleasing yourself and to be quite honest is nothing short of selfishness. Maybe your wife and kids dont mind never seeing you or actually dont like you - in which case just carry on working all the time and divorce once the kids have grown up.
Things are never this simple, i know. Some people have to work all hours just to pay the bills which is rather sad but possibly a result of their own overspending.
I think the bottom line is over working can effect the people close to you and usually not in a good way.
Me, I work 7-8hrs a day, 5 days a week, occasional Sat morning and the few hours during the evening do quotes, correspondance, admin etc
Running a business entails more than normal 37.5 hrs per week, If I were not prepared for that I would be better off employed - turn up at 7.30, leave at 4.00 - no problems.
I think that if you want to create something else or extra (call it what you will) it will always mean additional effort past the traditional british working week.
Me I get a kick out running a business & creating work and employment for a number guys who can work the normal week and go home with a salary and no work related concerns - but I guess that is why I do run a business but understand it is not everyones cup of tea (which is what I am drinking at the mo out on site on a beatiful, clear but v v cold sunny day...)
Yeah, i've worked too hard in the past. Two ill parents (both have had near death ilness), a wife and baby son have changed my views a little. I used to work 8 -7 six days a week when daylight allowed and 8-4 five days through winter. There is of course paperwork to do and other after hours stuff .
Apart from being knackered all the time my wife was very unhappy and when my son came along 10 months ago things had to change. I've never been happier even though i have less money .
Now i work 8 til 5 five days a week leaving evenings and weekends for family stuff and general relaxing/enjoying hobbies. Paperework gets done on rainy/snowy/very cold days instead of running over in to family time.
We never know what the future might bring and i dont want to miss out on time spent with my parents whilst they are still around. Also i want a good relationship with my wife and son. I want to see him grow up and not realise that i dont know him when he gets to adult hood.
I am pleased that you are happy and wish everyone on LJN the success they deserve.
stu (watching my son throw food around as i type)
he did about 60k a yr / shows and odd demo on a saturday / washed 2 cars (1 jeep) by hand, we had a generator (no electric grid)...
spend sunday afternoon in pub and nearly every night ........... )he took us to odd car races, oulton park & pub sometimes ,, did his best ...
but till the Divorce came at 50 (both parents seeing other people) i never spent time with him or knew him..
ok we did have odd holiday to france and wales/sailing so no bad at all.... but
sounds a bit like the lad who's dad was a farmer in many ways on other thread !!
- i think if you have kids you should share Time with them.... ok he had 3 boys lol , then a girl later and wife to support : i think he realised at 50 what was important /balance.............
Stuart Brogden said:
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