Cubswork
Member
Registered: 02/22/09
Posts: 146
Loc: Northeast Ohio
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I never should have made my passion a business. Biggest mistake I ever made.
I'm so burned out. It's gotten to the point where I want to refund all customer deposits and simply retire. Hell, even working for McDonald's would be a damn sight less stressful; pays better too. Which is strange considering I am now in a position I have worked years to get to, all the opportunity in the world laid out before me, and now I want to throw it all away.
I hate the commitments. I hate the disappointments. I hate the missed deadlines and the excuses and the experiments that don't work. I hate the performance pressure and the expectations. It's so bad I can no longer derive joy or pride from my work, because it's such a pain in the a$$ to complete anymore.
I should have kept this a hobby, something to do in my spare time. But the passion got the best of me, and I made it into a full-time job. Now the dream has turned into a nightmare. All I want is a casual, free-form woodshop where I can create to my heart's content. But doing so would not make me a living, so I'd have to get a real job. But the real job would get in the way of the passion and creativity, and I'd be caught in this same cycle of burning desire to create, but no time to do it.
To those for whom this is still a hobby, I envy you.
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Cheyenne Thorne, President, CEO and Janitor
Cubswork Artistic Woodworking
www.cubsworkwoodart.com
I'd rather be a small part of something, than a large part of nothing at all
I am neither predator, nor am I prey. I am a chew toy.
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packerguy®
Still Mourning loss in Lambeau
Registered: 12/04/05
Posts: 13295
Loc: St Paul, MN
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Not everyone is cut out to be a business owner. Its rare to find someone that can be a business man, an artist and a salesman.
Dont get down on yourself. If this is really your dream, take a step back and take a job (to get you by, like a grocery store or mcdonalds like you said) and look at what your failures were. Did you have a business plan on paper? Did you look at it quarterly? Did you set obtainable goals and hold yourself to making them? Did you have enough, efficient marketing? Just a few ideas that come to mind.
I remember you saying that you made the furniture for handicapped people. Sounds like a good niche, but maybe some of the ways you were going at it could be changed. The delivery comes to mind. You arent making money or completing projects while driving across the country.
One bit of advice I would give anyone that was going to start a small business like woodworking, is to have a day job, and start out on weekends and nights. Save your money to have a nice nest egg so when you have a set back (which as you know is around every corner) you have money to fall back on. Taking as many negatives that you can control out of the situation will make it much better.
You will find where your suposta be. Just remember one thing. Being your own boss can be the hardest thing in the world, but working for someone else will have many of the same pressures and stress, but your not only being judged by the customer, but the boss as well.
Personally, I hated working for others. I have had 2 bosses in my life that I respected and enjoyed working for.
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Once Favre hangs it up though, it years of cellar dwelling for the Pack. (Geoff 12-18-07)
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KC
Honored Veteran
Registered: 11/30/99
Posts: 7347
Loc: Seguin, TX USA
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Been there, done that. I went back to a job after woodworking full time for four years. In a way, I'm glad I did it... because it was something I'd wanted to do for a long time... but in the end, I felt like a whore... because it really WAS about the money. I've been back in the 'real world' for over 5 years and I still can't get excited about building anything. In fact, I dread it. I'm willing to pay for things today that I wouldn't have dreamed of buying 15 years ago... and I struggle with that, because I know I can build them myself. And part of me knows I NEED to build them myself... but I just can't take that first step. 
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John Mihich
Honored Veteran
Registered: 06/08/01
Posts: 9532
Loc: Munster,Indiana
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I definitly understand. I'm glad I just do this as a hobby with side paying jobs. I push myself to hard to get things finished and never really happy with the results even though the customer is.
My brother has been in the business quite some time now and he seems to just love the pressure. He jobs out the $$ side of the business so he just has to deal with the customer and product. He seems really happy. I know it's a person to person issue. I couldn't do it but some people can.
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John
10/26/2010 - retirement date. But who's counting
05/10/2013 - new retirement date -
same as youngest college graduation date.
Always use the right tool for the job.
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jeffoldhouse
Member
Registered: 08/29/00
Posts: 650
Loc: Little Hocking, OH
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I was just talking to a co-worker a couple of hours ago concerning retirement and getting another job after "retirement". I have always wanted to make my living running my own shop, but I have been in this job for 29 years and just can't give it up. My plan is to retire early (in about 5 years) and then have my retirement income to fall back on. However, my biggest fear is that I'll be in the very same shoes you are in right now. Hopefully that doesn't happen, but when I read stories like this I wonder....
I hope things work out for you and that you can someday get back to the enjoyment that this hobby brought you from the beginning.
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Bill_de
Honored Veteran
Registered: 03/30/05
Posts: 10021
Loc: Delaware
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Years ago I was being encouraged to make photography into a full time profession. I was doing a little on the side, but when the jobs coming in got to the point they would interfere with my regular job, I had to make a decision.
I decided that work was work and hobbies were hobbies. My attitude was that I work to be able to do the things I want to do. I made it clear at work that when I could afford to do what I want without working, I would stop working. Almost 5 years ago, at 55, I quit working (retired) and feel it was a good decision ... at least for me.
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Bill
ATHEISM IS A NON-PROPHET ORGANIZATION
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fredhargis
Member
Registered: 08/21/03
Posts: 2276
Loc: Waynesfield, Ohio
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The reasons you cited are the ones in the back of my mind about trying to make money at this. I can get by without extra income, and so have decided not to try...but your note has confirmed, for me, the risk of ever trying.
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I long for the days when Coke was a cola, and a joint was a bad place to be..... (Merle Haggard)
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measuretwice
Member
Registered: 11/29/05
Posts: 439
Loc: Columbia MO
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I'm in sales and derive a lot of my income from commissions. I also co-started another company that now has more than 20 employees so I do have some expertise in what you are feeling.
This is a normal feeling. There are ups and downs in dealing with people. Some days you actually go backwards, some days you jump two steps forward. If you think your situation is worse than that, you might get yourself checked out by a doctor. I've had friends that were doing exceedingly well all of the sudden had the straw that broke their back.
One thing about business, you need to price your projects to make money. My opinion is that people buy almost all things out of "want" and not need. Price is somewhat independent. It's the mantra of BMW, Rolex, Mercedes, Powermatic etc. Learn to take advantage of it. Who cares if the BMW cost $1000 more? Not a BMW buyer. Who cares if Cubsworks charges 10% more? Not your buyer! They are doing it because they WANT it.
For instance, if I remember right, you were doing delivery as an additional service for basically gas. You should realize that people are already purchasing things and the labor you need to get paid for. Sorry if I got this detail wrong, we have a lot of posters on the forum - but it makes a good point.
For anything that's not commodity, heck even commodity items (Starbuck's is a good example) you should charge enough to make you happy enough to want to do it.
As an example of price negotiation...Watch that show "Pawn Stars". The guy in his late forties is great at negotiation. He very easily explains what his costs are and what he needs to make to sellers that are in the need to sell stuff. Once they understand him and his need to not provide a service for free, they readily do business. Of course, they don't always show the deals that don't work out... But you may be trying to make people happy that can't be made happy no matter what.
In my own experience, which may not apply to you, if I'm winning 1/2 of all the jobs I quote out, I'm priced about right. If that's not enough money, I need to market more to get more quoting activity. If I'm wining more than half, I'm too cheap.
If I'm doing something more than the initial agreement, I need to get paid. Make sure to follow this rule as well.
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Eoddave
Member
Registered: 01/27/06
Posts: 1770
Loc: Bel Air, MD
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I can understand how you feel. I have had my own furniture business for about 3 years now. I made the full time not that long ago. What I did to make sure I can handle it is I kept my day job full time for a while then when I felt comfortable I went part time with my day job and full time with my furniture making. The one big benefit is I am able to maintain benefits but still get to do what I love. Another thing that helped the transition is I was a physical scientist up until two years ago for the government and mad a move to a government shop as a woodworker/model maker. Granted I sometimes work 80 hrs a week but I am loving every minute of it and am more passionate about my work now than ever. Maybe you should think about finding something part time just to take some of the pressure to produce off. It is also a big help when you are able to start picking and choosing your jobs. All I do now is period furniture which is where my passion really lays.
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David Diaman
www.Diamanwoodcrafters.com
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TheBenchDawg
Member
Registered: 08/20/09
Posts: 74
Loc: Charlotte, Mi
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Great advice so far.
If I could add one thing....before you make a decision on where to go with this, take some time away from your business and think about it. Maybe a long vacation where you can really get away and consider all options. It may not change your mind but you can go forward knowing that you did not make a snap decision.
Good Luck
Keith
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Keith
www.julyswoodworks.com
www.TheBenchDawg.com blog
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