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Sound off on forums.... ;-)
Badly, if I'm honest....
Sounding off on forums is usually good, although it might be worth changing names and places...?!
In all seriousness, I went back to gardening to get away from the stress of a being in the advertising business in a recession. I then started employing people and going for larger contracts, and discovered more stress....
If you can afford it, as it's not going to make you millions, being a one-man operation is as stress-free as I've ever been. Work is plentiful for one person, and there is so much less paperwork. If you need to get to a dentist's appointment, you just work around it. Too much rain? Go home and stick the kettle on. Cashflow? Let the clients buy their own plants or compost, and keep below the VAT limit. :-)
I've just had to sack my full time employee last week for lots of unexplained time off and 'sick' leave, really i should have done it weeks ago. The absences sent my schedule haywire and put me really behind.
Despite this i took a day off and went surfing. I felt like a new man and got some much needed perspective.
I am fortunate i had one very understanding client who was booked in for a 2 week job and they are happy to wait til november instead and this week I am in a blissful daze enjoying simply working on my own again for good clients.
My advice, take an afternoon off and do something that you love and relaxes you. You may have to let someone down but customers can be more understanding than you think.
If not, there are always others but only if you are still physically and mentally healthy enough to work.
"One other serious point is that it makes life so, so much easier if you have a partner or family members to discuss the issues you have with. Problem shared and all that."
I think that's the key Rowly.
There are times though, even if you've got other people around, that business can feel lonely.
Rowly Hill said:
My feelings exactly Paul being a one-man band myself. I started to take on any customer for any work a few years ago and stagger home at the end of 10 hours nonstop work..the stress was building up so had a rethink ...there's ample work about so now just pick the "good" customers, if there's work I don't fancy, I recommend someone else (eg a returfing job I'll pass on to local firm where thats all they do) and stick to 8 hours a day max with a bit of spare time for odd extras/rainy days etc. Of course, some of us really do need get the maximum income possible and unfortunately thats when the stress creeps in. ......
Paul McNulty said:
If ever in a tailspin, I stop, sit down and practice 5 mins of 7/11. Breathe in for a count of 7, breathe out for a count of 11, repeat until mildly comatose, works a treat for me.:)
As a fellow one-man-bander, I fully agree with Paul and Geoff, but only because, I assume, we're all lucky enough to no longer have the added pressure of the big mortgage/rent/young family to support.
I struggle in that I'm still ambitious to grow the firm, but reluctant to pay the price in making that happen, ie the additional stress and worry involved. Don't need it, so try and strike a balance.
I also agree with Phil, this choice of work can often be very lonely, and that in itself can prove quite stressful at times.
"this choice of work can often be very lonely, and that in itself can prove quite stressful at times."
This is one of the things that motivate me to maintain Landscape Juice Ian:-))
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