Partial Retirement ?

[RhodyRams]

So 6 months ago I decided to scale down my remodeling business . No more whole house renos or big siding jobs. I let me employees know back in January that the end was near and to start seeking employment elsewhere. Well, none of them did and I laid them all off before I went on vacation the end of March. My "dream" was to have some reliable guys to do the work on big jobs while I went and handled little things that I was always turning down because I was too busy. Well that didnt happen as I couldnt find anyone reliable enough, coupled with the fact they didnt get shit done while I wasnt there.


So over the last month or so I have been doing small 1 or 2 day jobs, only for repeat customers, taking days off whenever I wanted to and loving life ( and my job) again. No more stress of keeping 4 guys busy, no more estimating jobs and putting in 40 hours a week on site and another 20 or so doing estimates, contracts, ordering etc.

Well the word has gotten out now in my area ( 10k full time residents) that if you have a small job, then call me and I will get it done. Now I find myself trying to schedule shit for 2-3 months ahead again, and it's driving me crazy !!! I have 1 customer who just got back back into town Weds. after wintering in Florida, and they called me today to start planning their kitchen for next fall when they head South again !!!


I'm close to saying fuck it and just quit altogether and get a job at Walmart for $15 an hour !!!



sorry for the rant but thanks for reading

 

[Loyal]

So 6 months ago I decided to scale down my remodeling business . No more whole house renos or big siding jobs. I let me employees know back in January that the end was near and to start seeking employment elsewhere. Well, none of them did and I laid them all off before I went on vacation the end of March. My "dream" was to have some reliable guys to do the work on big jobs while I went and handled little things that I was always turning down because I was too busy. Well that didnt happen as I couldnt find anyone reliable enough, coupled with the fact they didnt get shit done while I wasnt there.


So over the last month or so I have been doing small 1 or 2 day jobs, only for repeat customers, taking days off whenever I wanted to and loving life ( and my job) again. No more stress of keeping 4 guys busy, no more estimating jobs and putting in 40 hours a week on site and another 20 or so doing estimates, contracts, ordering etc.

Well the word has gotten out now in my area ( 10k full time residents) that if you have a small job, then call me and I will get it done. Now I find myself trying to schedule shit for 2-3 months ahead again, and it's driving me crazy !!! I have 1 customer who just got back back into town Weds. after wintering in Florida, and they called me today to start planning their kitchen for next fall when they head South again !!!


I'm close to saying fuck it and just quit altogether and get a job at Walmart for $15 an hour !!!



sorry for the rant but thanks for reading

Just when I was gonna call your for a little job on a French Chateau...


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfP0Cc3lr9A

 

[Merlin]

Hire a new crew. Take your time and add conscientious workers and grow one of them into a leadership position then back off and let him run the crew while you do the scheduling.

Also you might want to make the manager permanent and the others temporary so they understand at the outset the work isn't guaranteed, since that seems to cause you stress.

 

[Selassie I]

So 6 months ago I decided to scale down my remodeling business . No more whole house renos or big siding jobs. I let me employees know back in January that the end was near and to start seeking employment elsewhere. Well, none of them did and I laid them all off before I went on vacation the end of March. My "dream" was to have some reliable guys to do the work on big jobs while I went and handled little things that I was always turning down because I was too busy. Well that didnt happen as I couldnt find anyone reliable enough, coupled with the fact they didnt get shit done while I wasnt there.


So over the last month or so I have been doing small 1 or 2 day jobs, only for repeat customers, taking days off whenever I wanted to and loving life ( and my job) again. No more stress of keeping 4 guys busy, no more estimating jobs and putting in 40 hours a week on site and another 20 or so doing estimates, contracts, ordering etc.

Well the word has gotten out now in my area ( 10k full time residents) that if you have a small job, then call me and I will get it done. Now I find myself trying to schedule shit for 2-3 months ahead again, and it's driving me crazy !!! I have 1 customer who just got back back into town Weds. after wintering in Florida, and they called me today to start planning their kitchen for next fall when they head South again !!!


I'm close to saying fuck it and just quit altogether and get a job at Walmart for $15 an hour !!!



sorry for the rant but thanks for reading

Can you get me on the schedule during your next trip down here please?

 

[RhodyRams]

Hire a new crew. Take your time and add conscientious workers and grow one of them into a leadership position then back off and let him run the crew while you do the scheduling.

Also you might want to make the manager permanent and the others temporary so they understand at the outset the work isn't guaranteed, since that seems to cause you stress.

yeah.. that crossed my mind. but didn't want to deal with the stress of having employees anymore. Was paying over 15k a year just in workers comp, and that's with no claims.

 

[Allen2McVay]

I don't usually respond seriously to threads like this because I don't know enough about you, your life or business. Who the Hell am I to offer life advice? But this struck a nerve ... so here's my life advice!

Putting aside some of the most important factors, including family, health and financial stability and responsibility, how you approach work matters may be something to focus on. Consider simply being selfish.

That can be a tough thing to do, especially for someone who is used to being responsible towards others.
You kind of alluded to a little selfishness in your original post when you wrote:
"So over the last month or so I have been doing small 1 or 2 day jobs, only for repeat customers, taking days off whenever I wanted to and loving life (and my job) again."

You have done enough ... you have earned it ... time to enjoy life while you can. It's about you.

My experience was different because my career and situation were very different. However, I kind of did exactly what I am suggesting about thinking and approaching things with a selfish attitude ... What do I want to do or not do here? What will make me happy? No explanation or justification needed.

Over the final 5-6 years of my work career. I became much more selfish about work-related matters. My time, energy and attitude were too valuable to me. I decided how to allocate them in ways that worked best for me. Work was more about me than the work itself or the people involved.

I did not screw anyone but I was careful to not give more than I got back in return. Tricky but it mostly worked. The final 5-6 work years were easier and more enjoyable ... For Me!

I'm not suggesting doing jobs poorly or becoming unreliable ... That's where it can be tricky ... but it's doable.

For example, just say No to the guy about the new kitchen. Sounds like he is enjoying his life, wintering in FL.

 

[Dodgersrf]

My Brother was in the same situation.

He did it all himself. He only took jobs he could do on his own.
The calls kept coming, to the point 7 days a week wouldn't be enough.
Many of his clients we're elderly, return customers and he had a difficult time telling them no.

He burnt himself out and went back to working for a previous employer.

 

[RamFanWA]

So 6 months ago I decided to scale down my remodeling business . No more whole house renos or big siding jobs. I let me employees know back in January that the end was near and to start seeking employment elsewhere. Well, none of them did and I laid them all off before I went on vacation the end of March. My "dream" was to have some reliable guys to do the work on big jobs while I went and handled little things that I was always turning down because I was too busy. Well that didnt happen as I couldnt find anyone reliable enough, coupled with the fact they didnt get shit done while I wasnt there.


So over the last month or so I have been doing small 1 or 2 day jobs, only for repeat customers, taking days off whenever I wanted to and loving life ( and my job) again. No more stress of keeping 4 guys busy, no more estimating jobs and putting in 40 hours a week on site and another 20 or so doing estimates, contracts, ordering etc.

Well the word has gotten out now in my area ( 10k full time residents) that if you have a small job, then call me and I will get it done. Now I find myself trying to schedule shit for 2-3 months ahead again, and it's driving me crazy !!! I have 1 customer who just got back back into town Weds. after wintering in Florida, and they called me today to start planning their kitchen for next fall when they head South again !!!


I'm close to saying fuck it and just quit altogether and get a job at Walmart for $15 an hour !!!



sorry for the rant but thanks for reading

Sounds like you ran a very successful business. Good on ya!!
While I haven't run my own business, I have been an IT consultant (where you are basically pimped out - and re-sell yourself over and over) and I am now watching my wife and daughter manage a non-profit (501c3) and for-profit LLC's.... Self employment can drain ya!
I tried to be the best I could be, while working - as is my household. I am sure that you do the same. Repeat business, loyal clients - mad props right there! Something went right!
At some point, there needs to be an exit plan, because (as I see it), you have earned it.
Good luck figuring that out.

 

[oldnotdead]

When I retired I gave the retail business to my GM who was my first employee ever. I just gave it to him with my gratitude for his standing by me good times and bad.

I did the same thing with the service business I was also running concurrently with the retail. I believe in passing things forward. Both of them IMO earned it through their service and loyalty to me through the years. It's nice knowing what I built is still supporting a lot of people.

As I told my former MIL that being a millionaire was not my goal. I enjoyed being my own boss, doing things my way. If I wanted to take a long lunch I did. If I wanted to go home early I did. I had good employees that I trusted. Those two people I gave the businesses to made it possible to live that way. The last 3 years I worked Tues, Wed,Thurs strictly 9-5. I made enough to live comfortably.

I didn't live to work....I lived to enjoy my life and work was the means to that end. I had a nice home in La Costa on the hill behind the resort when my neighbors were coyotes and a very curious mountain lion.

 

[RhodyRams]

quick little job today..3 hours labor and quart of paint.. came to 231.25... homeowners gave me 250


stopped at local flag store.. wanted a flag pole for the yard... total came to



you guessed it..231.25... then had to buy bag of concrete for $6.00

profit for the day..$12.75

 

[FaulkSF]

quick little job today..3 hours labor and quart of paint.. came to 231.25... homeowners gave me 250


stopped at local flag store.. wanted a flag pole for the yard... total came to



you guessed it..231.25... then had to buy bag of concrete for $6.00

profit for the day..$12.75

If you're repairing drywall, you'd make buck out here. Most houses are sitting on loam that used to hold rice fields. Earth shifts, expands and contracts from drought and wet seasons. It's the first thing to go. A plus if you do stucco.