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I enjoy my work, I enjoy being self employed, I would hate to be stuck in an office or a factory day after day and i consider myself lucky that i work out in the fresh air.
Having said that there are some jobs that annoy me. There are some gardens that no matter what i do they never look good. One garden in particular i go to every week, i'd love to throw everything into a skip and start again. it is very frustrating going there.
but mostly i get a lot of satisfaction from my work, I have a good set of customers and i enjoy the challenges that the work brings me.
Not sure if your offer any sort of landscaping or not, by way this is from a novice but what about looking at that sort of work as, doing a complete transformation gives gives the satisfaction of seeing a new finished product.
Remember why you chose to do what you do? If you've forgotten, think about the bits you enjoy or the lifestyle it affords you.
My wife and I have the life we want because I work very hard at what I do, always strive to do my best for every customer (OK, yes. Definitely are those days you can't be bothered or customer is awkward) The days when you aren't enjoying, take 5, go for a coffee. Stop. Chill. Chat to some nice people. Give a little back to yourself for all the hard work you do.
90% of the time I think I've the best job in the world and work in the worlds best office.
The other 10% I'm not happy is usually down to a pain of a customer who has changed the job spec between the quote and doing the job, when I've done the same task for numerous consectutive days (ie I'm bored), or if I'm doing a garden tidy and I've got that feeling that I'm peeing into wind as the customer does not give a stuff for whatever reason.
I'm fully aware of what causes the 10% and aim to avoid it by varying my jobs and going on my gut feelings on customers before I take a job on.
I stuggled with motivation towards the back end of last year and have started making sure I have some easy days when I can do something non work at the end of it and booking at least one Friday a month off to enjoy a long weekend. I feel if you work too hard, no matter how much you love your job, you will start resenting it.
Love being self employed and the flexibility. Yes it has its down sides but overall love being my own boss.
Do I hate doing garden sometimes, yes I do as I've already said for all the reasons mentioned above!
Interesting to hear your feedback guys.
I am certainly busy enough to turn down work. Been averaging six days a week since April but as I work for property factors I have to keep them sweet by doing the odd garden clearance and it's a hell of a job on your own.
I reckon I must have done about a hundred all told in the last four years, as all my contracts needed sorting before maintenance could start.
Still, I've got a holiday in the sun planned for the end of the month, so maybe I'll come back and refreshed and raring to go. ;-)
The only time it gets me down is A. when I'm soo nakered it ain't fun anymore or B. I've overcooked it and worked too many hours and there is no time for me at all !!
Apart from that I'm quite happy with it all.
Yeah, I do Paul.
As you say costs are higher anyway but I have to a few regardless, when I'd really rather not.
Re postings about diversifying, yup it's part of the plan but I will have to wait until I have enough work for an employee as well. No time at the mo.
Paul @ PPCH Services said:
Yes, so I climb trees as much as possible! :o)
So true!
Paul @ PPCH Services said:
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