Wonderful World of self employment

[podzol]

I give 2 weeks notice at my 9-5 job tomorrow!!!

I decided my sanity was more important than the almighty dollar.

I am now accepting all the good luck wishes you folks have to offer!

[U-Turn]

Good luck, Blakester! :)

[podzol]

Good luck, Blakester! :)


THANKS!! So glad you saw this post and were first to reply. Coming from you, it means a lot!

[Chrashing]

Best wishes to you on your endeavors. Any plans?

[bugman]

Good luck with that. To me, there is no other way. So what is your new business? Love to hear about it!

[JJuggle]

Good luck. I'll bet Bear is happy.

[habbywall]

You should totally learn the art of dumpster diving.
It is amazing what you can pull out of dumpsters. Especially retail ones.

[burjzyntski]

^ A friend of mine found a fully-functional brand-new camcorder in one once.

[habbywall]

Yeah, they throw away brand new stuff all the time.
I would reccomend dumpsterworld.net
But when posting about dumpster diving don't use the real names of the stores.

[podzol]

Thanks everyone!!
I do dumpster dive. :)

I will do whatever I can retaining my dignity. I have lots a skills from rehairing cello bows to carpentry; forestry and soil science. I can carve styrofoam in to large sculptures (real useful, huh? I made a living at it for years!!) and I can make fountains. I can also dig holes well.

Crazy, but I am leaving work with no hard and fast business plan. It is just time for me to leave though. Some things you just know.

I used to run my own studio. It's a better road for me.

Dr. Bobo also does birthday parties. he he

[csuko]

self employed is the way to go. I've been doing it for about 7 years now. It does have its problems though, like dealing with lazy employees and occasionally losing money on a job rather than making money.

What ever you do don't get into one of those pyramid marketing schemes, like quickstar. They almost never work out like promised.

[Borges]

Good luck with your new buissness whatever it may turn out to be.
I decided my sanity was more important than the almighty dollar.
Crazy, but I am leaving work with no hard and fast business plan.
And good with finding sanity by being crazy ;)

[podzol]

Good luck with your new buissness whatever it may turn out to be.


And good with finding sanity by being crazy ;)

If I were already there, I wouldn't have anywhere to go, right? :p

[monkeyman]

So does this mean we'll be seeing you around these parts more often?

Good luck with the drywalling/foam carving.

[yoopers]

Be bold! Be strong! Go Blake, Bo!

Congrats!

[podzol]

I may be around more. I have been taking it easy on the fora. I made a few grumpy posts and decided it was time to lay low for a while. :rolleyes:

Glad to see you are all well.

My boss is slippery! I was going to give notice yesterday afternoon and she escaped before I could. Same thing this morning. I went to rinse my coffee mug and GONE!

I am bouncing up and down in my chair I'm so excited.

This is a big move for me. I can't tell you how many of my friends (you folks included, of course) have rallied to support me with their encouragement and confidence. Take care of your friends because when you need them, they'll be the ones looking out for ya!

[maestro8]

Best of luck in your entrepreneurial ventures! Let us know how you get along... I'll be living vicariously through your stories of independence and success, whilst I sit in my office, making someone else rich. :P

Take care of your friends because when you need them, they'll be the ones looking out for ya!
...and we'll be looking out for your unicycles, too, of course. Gotta keep the family rolling!

[unisteez]

awesome, goodluck!

I have alot of respect for you!

[ThisGuyIKnow]

My boss is slippery! I was going to give notice yesterday afternoon and she escaped before I could. Same thing this morning. I went to rinse my coffee mug and GONE!

I am bouncing up and down in my chair I'm so excited.

This is a big move for me. I can't tell you how many of my friends (you folks included, of course) have rallied to support me with their encouragement and confidence. Take care of your friends because when you need them, they'll be the ones looking out for ya!

You need to find a way to get laid off so you can be eligble for unemployment for awhile to help ease the transistion.

[bugman]

Thanks everyone!!
I do dumpster dive. :)
I have lots a skills ...forestry and soil science... I can also dig holes well.


What do you get when you dumpster dive? Any interesting places to frequent?

Do you really need a degree in soil science to dig holes?;)

You can chase the almighty dollar w/o loosing your sanity, just do it on your terms. It's good you have the confidence to go out on your own with no real plan. It sounds like you have some skills that are very marketable as a small business. Hopefully you can take your creativity and turn it into a good steady and growing income for you and Bear.

Think about these things...
1. Continues to produce income, even when you are not there.
2. Has a residual income.
3. Has flexibility in work hours.
4. Isn't dependant on a particular location.
5. Whether or not a business partner is a benefit/hinderance.

I mention these things because if I ever change what I am currently doing it would need to meet these criteria. Although some of these are currently being met, flexibility and location are somewhat limited. Not entirely, but if I were to change either, it would likely mean a reduction in business.

I am currently doing some part time consulting for a couple of other business owners, and really enjoy that. It seems I have a talent for seeing why others businesses are not reaching their potential.

If you have any ideas you want to bounce off someone send me a note, I would be glad to listen.

[podzol]

You need to find a way to get laid off so you can be eligble for unemployment for awhile to help ease the transistion.

She won't do this... I begged. Oh well. They may use me as a consultant by the job, I can work at home to ease the transition for me and them. Sounds okay to me!

And Bugman: Great ideas, great advice. Thank you. I'll let you know as things develop! Sounds like you are a great resource. You should go into enterprenurial consulting. Wait maybe that is what you do...

Yes you ned to be licensed to dig holes in some places. I am a vigilante shoveler. I dig where I feel justified, not where the law dictates.

Dumpster diving?
Countless things over the years really:

30+ typewriters (I used to collect them, now donated to a theater)
A new ladder
Many springs from a vending machine (I kept them for years, I "knew" they'd have a use!
A toaster with a short... I was just a kid.
$200 worth of empty washed diet coke bottles (10cent MI refund)
Cabinets for my kitchen remodel
Cement board for my kitchen counter tile installation
2x4s to make workbenches for my studio
piano action
Centrifuge
vacuum pump
anvil


I could be a pro...

[ThisGuyIKnow]

She won't do this... I begged. Oh well. They may use me as a consultant by the job, I can work at home to ease the transition for me and them. Sounds okay to me!

One thing you could do is get another short term job that has a known out date. After that you have a legitimate unemployment claim. I work in TV and it's always short term jobs with known outdates, and I've never had a problem getting unemployment between jobs. Even Tom Cruise gets unemployment when he's not working.

[steveyo]

Wow - big move Blake. Best of luck to you!

I have a sole-proprietorship (http://home.nycap.rr.com/rduhan/delmardogbutler/) with very flexible hours and very low start-up cost, if you're seeking any more income-production ideas. It needs only some nearby middle-to-upper class suburbs to work.

Edit: Impressive dumpster diving resume.

[Gilby]

One thing you could do is get another short term job that has a known out date. After that you have a legitimate unemployment claim. I work in TV and it's always short term jobs with known outdates, and I've never had a problem getting unemployment between jobs. Even Tom Cruise gets unemployment when he's not working.
Grrr... is that where my tax dollars are going?

[ThisGuyIKnow]

Grrr... is that where my tax dollars are going?

Unemployment funds do not come out of the general tax dollars. When you are working for a company they pay into unemployment on your behalf, when you are no longer working for said company due to reasons outside of your control, they pay you back some of that money in order to keep you from having to go onto public assistance, etc. It actually saves you Taxes because it keeps people off the more costly public assistance programs.

It's also there in case you might ever need it. It's like an insurance policy.

[Borges]

Just out of curiosity. What was the job you're leaving?

[unisteez]

also, i feel like i should bring this up(mostly since my dad is a consultant for them) if you are interested in starting a franchise but arent sure exactly what you can handle financially or personally franchoice.com offers free consulting over the phone. It is a big help when making the big step to work for yourself.


(i feel like i should write pitches for them..ha)

[podzol]

Just out of curiosity. What was the job you're leaving?
Check PMs

Not good to talk specifics about work in public fora.

[underdog]

Way to go! We all have the power to choose what we do with our lives. So many people get caught up in the 9-5 grind and are afraid to make a change. Best of luck to you.

[cathwood]

Sometimes you just have to jump into the great unknown and hope that it will be a soft landing. I did when I left my job as a nurse to persue psychology.

Having said that, I also think there is probably no problem you cannot overcome if you are creative enough with your solutions.

[timbob1907]

hooray self employment!

[patmoore]

I've kind of been forced into self-employment. My company was sold and I was among the 500+ who were "right-sized" into unemployment. That was six months ago. I've discovered that the job market for 60 year-olds (even ones who ride unicyles) is grim.

Now I'm committed to pursuing a few other avenues on my own. Fortunately the kids are out of the house and the wife has a good job.

Who knows, this could be the best thing that ever happened to me. :o :o

[podzol]

It's a done deal, there was a little back and forth between me and my boss; she was absolutley shocked and visibly shaken. she wanted a day to kind of digest things.

It worked out tht I gave official notice today. just about an hour and ten minutes ago!

I am definitely happy and proud of myself. It baffles the academes. WHat? you don't want to play the game? You know of a different career path? you are crazy, this is such a sad day etc.

I used to run my own business, so it's not uncharted territory exactly, it is with a kid and a mortgage, though!!

I am resourceful, especially when I'm happy. :D

CARPE DIEM!!

[steveyo]

CARPE DIEM!!
That sums it up.

[GizmoDuck]

Woohoo! Go Blake!

Self employment is great- I've been doing it for a almost a year now- wished I'd done it a lot earlier. I end up working more hours, taking more holidays and earning more at the same time.

Ken

[wobbling bear]

I was self-employed for 7 years and those were the worst in my life:
I am unable to work well while simultaneouly search for clients, get paid and so on.
I am essentially a good employee (too bad I have sometimes bad employers! but that's too bad for them:D )

[bugman]

I've kind of been forced into self-employment. My company was sold and I was among the 500+ who were "right-sized" into unemployment. That was six months ago. I've discovered that the job market for 60 year-olds (even ones who ride unicyles) is grim.

Now I'm committed to pursuing a few other avenues on my own. Fortunately the kids are out of the house and the wife has a good job.

Who knows, this could be the best thing that ever happened to me. :o :o

Pat your right, It can be the best thing that ever happened. The service industry is a great place for motivated individuals. There are a lot of things around peoples homes that they don't have the time, skill or desire to do themselves. If you can do those things, like Podzol seems to have the skills to do, and you show up when you say you will there is no limit to how much you can make. Whatever you do, don't get a job at Home Depot. That's what my Dad did after retiring. He has been miserable ever since. He refuses to quit as well.:mad:

[wobbling bear]

I've discovered that the job market for 60 year-olds (even ones who ride unicyles) is grim.
it's time for Grey Panthers to stand up! :D
(almost all my friends are out of work because of age... "they" say : "you'll have to retire older" ... but when you answer "ok no problem, I like working" you get fired!).
For the moment I survived : I even got elected as representative of the most firebrand union I could find :cool: -which is funny for I always behave like an amiable old gentleman and the big bosses are just scratching their head :p -

[patmoore]

it's time for Grey Panthers to stand up! :D


The more I think about it the more enthused I am about going it alone. After wearing suits and ties for forty years, I'm looking forward to jeans and t-shirts. Now I just need to make a go of it.

[podzol]

The more I think about it the more enthused I am about going it alone. After wearing suits and ties for forty years, I'm looking forward to jeans and t-shirts. Now I just need to make a go of it.

That's the attitude!!

I'm wearing jeans a t shirt and the still-comfortable shoes that the dog has gnawed on.

I'm spending my day rehairing violin bows and listening to good music with a warm pot of tea... much more my speed than reading scientific journals next to a noisy copy machine while the boss howls for more data analysis!

[bugman]

That's the attitude!!

I'm wearing jeans a t shirt and the still-comfortable shoes that the dog has gnawed on.

I'm spending my day rehairing violin bows and listening to good music with a warm pot of tea... much more my speed than reading scientific journals next to a noisy copy machine while the boss howls for more data analysis!

That's all fine and dandy, but is it as rewarding/interesting as elephant dung experiments?

[podzol]

That's all fine and dandy, but is it as rewarding/interesting as elephant dung experiments?


Still doing that one. It was privately funded outside the institution (by me. :) )

[wobbling bear]

. After wearing suits and ties for forty years, I'm looking forward to jeans and t-shirts. .
I did it the other way round: I started to wear ties later in life.
So impeccabke shirt and tie with either baggy trouser or british style long shorts + trekking shoes :p
So at first glance people know that I am a "techie" (true), that I probably own a pink coloured volkswagen van (false). In a huge corporation where median age is 30 I'll probably start the "excentric old gentlemen club".

[BillyTheMountain]

That's all fine and dandy, but is it as rewarding/interesting as elephant dung experiments?

http://archives.thedaily.washington.edu/2000/012000/nA97.SensationC.html

Artist Chris Ofili created an 8-foot African Virgin Mary wearing a sequin-adorned blue day-glow gown against a bright orange and yellow background. Her exposed right breast is a smooth ball of elephant dung - about the size of a grapefruit, decorated with concentric circles of sequins and showing bits of grass that the cow had consumed. Fluttering around her are not the wings of angels but by what appears to be magazine cutouts of buttocks'.
The Nigerian-born artist defends the use of elephant dung as representative of "fertility" because dung fertilizes the soil and, indirectly, nourishes the people of Africa.