Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: jay moley on March 03, 2023, 06:38:49 pm
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Anyone left the trade and gone on to do something else and be happy?
I'm so fed up with the actual work. Just brain dead aint it.
I'm not close to getting off the tools. Could potentially get someone to cover the work and get another job.
Big doubt is whether I could ever work for an employer after being my own boss.
Anyone left and happy? Anyone left and not, or come back to window cleaning?
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Anyone that’s left to become a lifeguard on bondi beach ain’t gonna come on the window cleaning forum and tell you how life was sooooo much better getting up at 4am in January working in the cold putting up with poop we put up with ,Bad drivers,not today please , slow non payers , traffic wardens ulez speed cameras fines for going over 20 mph here in London and so on .
the grass is always greener but then I am on bindi beach surrounded by busty babes no worries and then I woke up at 4 am again
Never mind good while it lasted
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Anyone left the trade and gone on to do something else and be happy?
I'm so fed up with the actual work. Just brain dead aint it.
I'm not close to getting off the tools. Could potentially get someone to cover the work and get another job.
Big doubt is whether I could ever work for an employer after being my own boss.
Anyone left and happy? Anyone left and not, or come back to window cleaning?
Absolutely not!I still love the job even after 30 years!
In fact i love it more now than I ever did due to constant refining, short hours and getting rid of every single ladder job or anything I don't fancy doing anymore like certain roof jobs,etc....
When you ve spent 17 years on the ladders( just about breaking even most of the time) and even more years collecting to how my round is cleaned today its like a different job!
With the advances in technology the job is easy these days....I also usually have one Samsung earbud in listening to podcasts,music,audio books or the radio.....its so free and easy! 8)
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You could open a 5 star hotel near Manchester. Just sayin’ like….
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I'm so grateful every day,for my round,the money i earn and the relatively stress free job I've managed to create over many years....
You can never be unhappy with a grateful heart....👌
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Yeah it’s a crap, mundane repetitive job that does your head in.
But then most jobs are. I was a printer for thirty years and that was on a par, good money, boring but stressful. Scrubbing windows is a dull as factory work but less stressful, no shifts and amazing holidays.
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I'm enjoying it more as I prune my round. I have great chats with customers. It's good exercise too.
Chatting to a 92 year old widow for five minutes today. She was evacuated from Filton ( big target for German bombers ) to a big house in Devon with her little brother. Picked up by a chauffeur in a Rolls-Royce when they arrived off the train near Westward Ho!
Another widow in her 80's was in South-America with her engineer husband. Telling me about the expat life.
Yet another graduated as a chemist when there were very few women at Universities.
Another chap owns a big farmhouse and is a knight of the realm. Has the whole loft boarded out with a scale model of Derby railway station in the days of steam.
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Some days I find tedious, some days I find quite enjoyable. Depends mostly on the particular jobs Im doing that day and the weather. Warm, sunny weather really helps; even on crap work.
Pressure washing and solar panel cleaning is ace these days. No boredom or tedium there.
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It is braindead but simply couldn't even contemplate being told what to do by an employer, im now unemployable :)
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Same here.
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You only get out of it what you put into it.
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It is braindead but simply couldn't even contemplate being told what to do by an employer, im now unemployable :)
Exactly....and the flexibility is fantastic.you can't beat it!
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Anyone left the trade and gone on to do something else and be happy?
I'm so fed up with the actual work. Just brain dead aint it.
I'm not close to getting off the tools. Could potentially get someone to cover the work and get another job.
Big doubt is whether I could ever work for an employer after being my own boss.
Anyone left and happy? Anyone left and not, or come back to window cleaning?
Get yourself a job in a warehouse and stick at it for 2 weeks of 12 hour days…….
You’ll absolutely love window cleaning and being your own boss by the end of those 2 weeks.
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Anyone left the trade and gone on to do something else and be happy?
I'm so fed up with the actual work. Just brain dead aint it.
I'm not close to getting off the tools. Could potentially get someone to cover the work and get another job.
Big doubt is whether I could ever work for an employer after being my own boss.
Anyone left and happy? Anyone left and not, or come back to window cleaning?
I’m asking the same questions myself. I have set myself targets for this year. But also keep toying with adult apprenticeships in engineering. Wish I had done it out of school. Hey ho. My business is going well and taking care of my family. I do also count my blessings
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Some days I find tedious, some days I find quite enjoyable. Depends mostly on the particular jobs Im doing that day and the weather. Warm, sunny weather really helps; even on crap work.
Pressure washing and solar panel cleaning is ace these days. No boredom or tedium there.
Pretty much sums it up for me too.
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Anyone left the trade and gone on to do something else and be happy?
I'm so fed up with the actual work. Just brain dead aint it.
I'm not close to getting off the tools. Could potentially get someone to cover the work and get another job.
Big doubt is whether I could ever work for an employer after being my own boss.
Anyone left and happy? Anyone left and not, or come back to window cleaning?
You'll feel better when summer comes.
From my own experience, it's an age thing. When you get older it's harder to keep going.
Energy can come from a new challenge, but for how long?
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Anyone left the trade and gone on to do something else and be happy?
I'm so fed up with the actual work. Just brain dead aint it.
I'm not close to getting off the tools. Could potentially get someone to cover the work and get another job.
Big doubt is whether I could ever work for an employer after being my own boss.
Anyone left and happy? Anyone left and not, or come back to window cleaning?
You'll feel better when summer comes.
From my own experience, it's an age thing. When you get older it's harder to keep going.
Energy can come from a new challenge, but for how long?
It’s been a long winter as well, I don’t mind it, but must admit this year I’ve got a bit fed up of the cold and damp.
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I find what helps a lot is having some kind of escape plan.
For me it is investing money through Sipp and Isa. It is a long term thing, but I am near the end now after 34 years of window cleaning, and it sometimes has given me a focus, and option to retire at 60.
If I thought I had to keep working until I was no longer physically able, I would be depressed.
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Yesterday I helped my daughter move house, it’s the hardest shift I’ve had in a long time. I actually woke up through the night with cramp in my hamstring😭. I couldn’t imagine doing removals for a living, it’s too much like hard work. It’s when you do something like this that you realise just how easy window cleaning really is.
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I find what helps a lot is having some kind of escape plan.
For me it is investing money through Sipp and Isa. It is a long term thing, but I am near the end now after 34 years of window cleaning, and it sometimes has given me a focus, and option to retire at 60.
If I thought I had to keep working until I was no longer physically able, I would be depressed.
I'm the opposite.i want to keep working until I physically can't do the job anymore.id be depressed not being able to get out and do some work.
1.It gives me a sense of purpose
2.it gives me a structure and a certain self discipline
3.fresh air and exercise should not be underestimated
4.i like chatting to some folk as I'm out and about cleaning
5.i am of course keeping myself financially comfortable and adding to my savings.
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Anyone left the trade and gone on to do something else and be happy?
I'm so fed up with the actual work. Just brain dead aint it.
I'm not close to getting off the tools. Could potentially get someone to cover the work and get another job.
Big doubt is whether I could ever work for an employer after being my own boss.
Anyone left and happy? Anyone left and not, or come back to window cleaning?
Absolutely not!I still love the job even after 30 years!
In fact i love it more now than I ever did due to constant refining, short hours and getting rid of every single ladder job or anything I don't fancy doing anymore like certain roof jobs,etc....
When you ve spent 17 years on the ladders( just about breaking even most of the time) and even more years collecting to how my round is cleaned today its like a different job!
With the advances in technology the job is easy these days....I also usually have one Samsung earbud in listening to podcasts,music,audio books or the radio.....its so free and easy! 8)
Hi dazmond,
glad your keeping well, just wondering what Audio books service you use.
Thanks
Larry
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For my tuppenth....I enjoy working the part time best,and my lad helps a couple of days..
As I have a health condition (Crohn’s disease) I just count my blessings that I can do what I like on a day
By day basis as this bar steward of a disease can be tiring ☹️...no employer would tolerate the haphazardness of me working one day and not the next..so I appreciate the flexibility...be under no illusions
It’s your health...either physical or mental that’s important nowt else👍
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I find what helps a lot is having some kind of escape plan.
For me it is investing money through Sipp and Isa. It is a long term thing, but I am near the end now after 34 years of window cleaning, and it sometimes has given me a focus, and option to retire at 60.
If I thought I had to keep working until I was no longer physically able, I would be depressed.
I'm the opposite.i want to keep working until I physically can't do the job anymore.id be depressed not being able to get out and do some work.
1.It gives me a sense of purpose
2.it gives me a structure and a certain self discipline
3.fresh air and exercise should not be underestimated
4.i like chatting to some folk as I'm out and about cleaning
5.i am of course keeping myself financially comfortable and adding to my savings.
Overall I quite enjoy working, but in 18 months time I will be 60. As the years go by i physically cannot do as much as I could and having to work for a living beyond 60 for me is not a nice idea.
When I get to 60 i may continue but will feel under no pressure to have to.
Give it another 10 years or so Daz and you may change your tune.
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I did leave window cleaning for a while to set up a hot air ballooning business, but it never got off the ground. Quite a let down really.
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" You can check out any time you like
But you can never leave" "
I get to drive around the beautiful countryside in the South West, listen to music and comedy shows, get to meet some interesting people, drink tea, get to see some really cool places, get paid well, have found a legitimate use for and get to drive pickup trucks and from time to time, actually clean some windows.
It was either this or proofreading.
Can't ever see myself doing anything else that I would enjoy more.
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1677944401_1111.jpg)
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I'm 70 this coming May and still going strong allbeit I am a lot slower now than I used to be which suits me fine as it looks good to customers not doing a SPLASH and DASH lol.
The other day I did about 10 houses window cleans and went on to clean 3 conservatory roofs and that did finish me off on that day.
I think I will most likely carry on for as long as I can as I do enjoy my job regardless of the weather.
I know one day I will have to retire but hopefully not for a couple of years yet.
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I'm 70 this coming May and still going strong allbeit I am a lot slower now than I used to be which suits me fine as it looks good to customers not doing a SPLASH and DASH lol.
The other day I did about 10 houses window cleans and went on to clean 3 conservatory roofs and that did finish me off on that day.
I think I will most likely carry on for as long as I can as I do enjoy my job regardless of the weather.
I know one day I will have to retire but hopefully not for a couple of years yet.
That's a very solid day's work at any age!
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I'm 70 this coming May and still going strong allbeit I am a lot slower now than I used to be which suits me fine as it looks good to customers not doing a SPLASH and DASH lol.
The other day I did about 10 houses window cleans and went on to clean 3 conservatory roofs and that did finish me off on that day.
I think I will most likely carry on for as long as I can as I do enjoy my job regardless of the weather.
I know one day I will have to retire but hopefully not for a couple of years yet.
That's a very solid day's work at any age!
Some days I only manage 3 houses but they are the equivalent of 10-15 old houses or 30 new builds . I'm slowing down too. Part timer now and even bigger part timer in two years as army pension will kick in, hooray!
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" You can check out any time you like
But you can never leave" "
I get to drive around the beautiful countryside in the South West, listen to music and comedy shows, get to meet some interesting people, drink tea, get to see some really cool places, get paid well, have found a legitimate use for and get to drive pickup trucks and from time to time, actually clean some windows.
It was either this or proofreading.
Can't ever see myself doing anything else that I would enjoy more.
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1677944401_1111.jpg)
Is it Exmouth?
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" You can check out any time you like
But you can never leave" "
I get to drive around the beautiful countryside in the South West, listen to music and comedy shows, get to meet some interesting people, drink tea, get to see some really cool places, get paid well, have found a legitimate use for and get to drive pickup trucks and from time to time, actually clean some windows.
It was either this or proofreading.
Can't ever see myself doing anything else that I would enjoy more.
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1677944401_1111.jpg)
Is it Exmouth?
Lyme Regis looking East towards Charmouth and Golden Cap.
You’re not far out at all 👍
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Im fed up of it, have been for a while but i dont help myself, take on far too much work and end up weeks behind. 20 first cleans last week, another 40 on the horizon next couple of weeks. Ive been busting a gut though last couple of months to build the round up. Supposed to be taking on a new lad monday, heres hoping it works out this time ;D Either need to employ or really cut back and find something else.
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Don’t worry that new employee will cull some work lol.
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For my tuppenth....I enjoy working the part time best,and my lad helps a couple of days..
As I have a health condition (Crohn’s disease) I just count my blessings that I can do what I like on a day
By day basis as this bar steward of a disease can be tiring ☹️...no employer would tolerate the haphazardness of me working one day and not the next..so I appreciate the flexibility...be under no illusions
It’s your health...either physical or mental that’s important nowt else👍
I once took a lad on a trial day who had crohns disease. He didnt tell me until after we had started he might need the bog. Ended up driving him to a morrisons to use their pots about 10am :D The lad was mortified he had never used a public toilet ;D Took him home at lunch time made my excuses and left it at that.
I have IBS and thats bad enough can only imagine your plight :'(
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Don’t worry that new employee will cull some work lol.
Haha hoping this time ive nailed it, he has many years wfp experience im more confident than ive ever been. Cant wait to get going tbh im 2 weeks behind and 670 customers ;D towing my b******s off on my own
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Yeah I hope so for you m8 I’ve heard all the toilet talk before start day how hard can it be I’ve done for years etc 💩,yet to meet anyone that comes close to the job I can do pole or traditional.
I had a bloke once when he went inside to clean windows they used to get their carpets cleaned for free at the same time.
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Don’t worry that new employee will cull some work lol.
Haha hoping this time ive nailed it, he has many years wfp experience im more confident than ive ever been. Cant wait to get going tbh im 2 weeks behind and 670 customers ;D towing my b******s off on my own
I know it mostly seems to work for you but having that volume of low value customers would absolutely drive me nuts. No wonder you are always fed up with it.
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Don’t worry that new employee will cull some work lol.
Haha hoping this time ive nailed it, he has many years wfp experience im more confident than ive ever been. Cant wait to get going tbh im 2 weeks behind and 670 customers ;D towing my b******s off on my own
I know it mostly seems to work for you but having that volume of low value customers would absolutely drive me nuts. No wonder you are always fed up with it.
My round is for the most part how I like it small houses than take less than 10 minutes a pop.
The numbers of customers are high because my round has now tipped to about 60 percent 8 weekly
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Don’t worry that new employee will cull some work lol.
Haha hoping this time ive nailed it, he has many years wfp experience im more confident than ive ever been. Cant wait to get going tbh im 2 weeks behind and 670 customers ;D towing my b******s off on my own
I know it mostly seems to work for you but having that volume of low value customers would absolutely drive me nuts. No wonder you are always fed up with it.
My round is for the most part how I like it small houses than take less than 10 minutes a pop.
The numbers of customers are high because my round has now tipped to about 60 percent 8 weekly
So are you saying approximately 400 are 8 weekly ? And the rest are 4 weekly ? If so that’s a doodle especially if they are small houses and less than 10 muinits per house you should easily be able to do that on your own and have spare days to build further , don’t see why you need an employee?.
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Im fed up of it, have been for a while but i dont help myself, take on far too much work and end up weeks behind. 20 first cleans last week, another 40 on the horizon next couple of weeks. Ive been busting a gut though last couple of months to build the round up. Supposed to be taking on a new lad monday, heres hoping it works out this time ;D Either need to employ or really cut back and find something else.
Slow down and refine your work so that you do the work you enjoy as we all have our favourites. lose the ratty customers and awkward access ones and the PITA ones and you might start appreciating the freedom of this job. Employing can be more stressful than it's worth if you ain't motivated by greed. The grass is always greener on the other side until you get there and realise it really isn't.
Got to enjoy what you do, or at least appreciate the benefits of this job otherwise move on into something else with no regrets but be prepared to be an employee with all the fun that comes with not being in charge of decisions, good luck with that one.
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So are you saying approximately 400 are 8 weekly ? And the rest are 4 weekly ? If so that’s a doodle especially if they are small houses and less than 10 muinits per house you should easily be able to do that on your own and have spare days to build further , don’t see why you need an employee?.
No I was a bit out just checked its 335 8 weekly and 308 4 weekly but I've got about 30 to add to cleaner planner so maybe about 355 8 weekly and 318 4 weekly roughly.
It's about 1600 quid a week x 52 weeks of the year.
Obviously I don't work 52 weeks more like 47 and I don't normally work Fridays either and I like to finish by 2 or 3pm at the latest. ;D
So yes whilst technically it might be possible on paper to do 350 a day 5 days a week there no way I can keep it up ive tried before. When you factor in bad weather and red hot summers I would have to be an absolute machine to do it.
Anyway besides all that I dont want to do it that's the thing. ;D
I have about 83k on the books I think now so I a great position to employ I just Nedd to find someone quick before I collapse under the pressure ;D it's lots of customers already asking where are you lol
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So are you saying approximately 400 are 8 weekly ? And the rest are 4 weekly ? If so that’s a doodle especially if they are small houses and less than 10 muinits per house you should easily be able to do that on your own and have spare days to build further , don’t see why you need an employee?.
No I was a bit out just checked its 335 8 weekly and 308 4 weekly but I've got about 30 to add to cleaner planner so maybe about 355 8 weekly and 318 4 weekly roughly.
It's about 1600 quid a week x 52 weeks of the year.
Obviously I don't work 52 weeks more like 47 and I don't normally work Fridays either and I like to finish by 2 or 3pm at the latest. ;D
So yes whilst technically it might be possible on paper to do 350 a day 5 days a week there no way I can keep it up ive tried before. When you factor in bad weather and red hot summers I would have to be an absolute machine to do it.
Anyway besides all that I dont want to do it that's the thing. ;D
I have about 83k on the books I think now so I a great position to employ I just Nedd to find someone quick before I collapse under the pressure ;D it's lots of customers already asking where are you lol
No wonder you are sick of your job running yourself into the ground.
Pick your best work, sell the rest and go have a holiday.
Come back to a refined round, easier, best paid, more life/work/rest balance .........makes all the difference.
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I’m tired just thinking about that sort of workload😳...are you also not into vat territory?
How old are you? I just like an amble me ...definitely no racing around unless it’s for the carsey of course 🥴
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Don’t worry that new employee will cull some work lol.
Haha hoping this time ive nailed it, he has many years wfp experience im more confident than ive ever been. Cant wait to get going tbh im 2 weeks behind and 670 customers ;D towing my b******s off on my own
I give 3 weeks before your back on your own...
Many years of experience = problems - can't be shown things - work their way (usually slowly) - full of bad habits ;D
Good luck tho
Darran
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I’m tired just thinking about that sort of workload😳...are you also not into vat territory?
How old are you? I just like an amble me ...definitely no racing around unless it’s for the carsey of course 🥴
Same.
I’d bet in reality he’s nowhere near Vat threshold as even though work planner has £83k of work he’s always weeks behind so actual turnover is far less than the £83k. Am I right Stoots?
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So are you saying approximately 400 are 8 weekly ? And the rest are 4 weekly ? If so that’s a doodle especially if they are small houses and less than 10 muinits per house you should easily be able to do that on your own and have spare days to build further , don’t see why you need an employee?.
No I was a bit out just checked its 335 8 weekly and 308 4 weekly but I've got about 30 to add to cleaner planner so maybe about 355 8 weekly and 318 4 weekly roughly.
It's about 1600 quid a week x 52 weeks of the year.
Obviously I don't work 52 weeks more like 47 and I don't normally work Fridays either and I like to finish by 2 or 3pm at the latest. ;D
So yes whilst technically it might be possible on paper to do 350 a day 5 days a week there no way I can keep it up ive tried before. When you factor in bad weather and red hot summers I would have to be an absolute machine to do it.
Anyway besides all that I dont want to do it that's the thing. ;D
I have about 83k on the books I think now so I a great position to employ I just Nedd to find someone quick before I collapse under the pressure ;D it's lots of customers already asking where are you lol
Ok , but it’s a big difference between what can be done and what you want to do , I don’t blame you not wanting to work 8-5 5 days a week but that amount of work can easily be done by one person working full time hours , however I don’t blame you wanting to take time out , as has already been said either price much higher with all new jobs and sell off or dump cheaper stuff , or employ I know you have done this before and had problems the key factor is getting the right persons , asking the right questions at interviews and a long trial period 2-3 months see how they get on , also offer a decent bonus if certain targets are achieved, there are decent employees out there you just need to find them . But with VAT looming you need rapid growth up to and over the 100k mark
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That's 24 houses a day.
That's a lot isn't it? Day in day out. Day after day. I would've thought trying to do that with two people would be a friggin' nightmare. You spend more time dodging and excusing each other. It might be a bit different if your round had larger properties but knocking out a shed load of poxy 3 bedders like that, no thanks.
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That's 24 houses a day.
That's a lot isn't it? Day in day out. Day after day. I would've thought trying to do that with two people would be a friggin' nightmare. You spend more time dodging and excusing each other. It might be a bit different if your round had larger properties but knocking out a shed load of poxy 3 bedders like that, no thanks.
If it’s compact work it’s easy we do 40 plus 3 bed semis per day per man without breaking into a sweat , might be dull and boring but very profitable
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If you’re not bored of window cleaning after a couple of years, there’s something wrong with you.
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If you’re not bored of window cleaning after a couple of years, there’s something wrong with you.
It pays better than most other jobs with minimal hassle, might be dull and boring but most people don’t enjoy what they do for work , I would rather earn top money and be a bit bored that stack shelves in Tesco
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That's 24 houses a day.
That's a lot isn't it? Day in day out. Day after day. I would've thought trying to do that with two people would be a friggin' nightmare. You spend more time dodging and excusing each other. It might be a bit different if your round had larger properties but knocking out a shed load of poxy 3 bedders like that, no thanks.
I do 24 on my own fairly comfortably, maybe 6 hours work. with 2 people i would aim for 40 houses. I prefer doing lots of 3 bed semis to the bigger house. I do have a day where i do about 15 houses, its in the best part of town all 4 or 5 bed detached and its my least favourite day, lots of reching over connys, velux windows etc. That day i fond more draining on the body than doign lots of small house swith my 18ft pole.
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So are you saying approximately 400 are 8 weekly ? And the rest are 4 weekly ? If so that’s a doodle especially if they are small houses and less than 10 muinits per house you should easily be able to do that on your own and have spare days to build further , don’t see why you need an employee?.
No I was a bit out just checked its 335 8 weekly and 308 4 weekly but I've got about 30 to add to cleaner planner so maybe about 355 8 weekly and 318 4 weekly roughly.
It's about 1600 quid a week x 52 weeks of the year.
Obviously I don't work 52 weeks more like 47 and I don't normally work Fridays either and I like to finish by 2 or 3pm at the latest. ;D
So yes whilst technically it might be possible on paper to do 350 a day 5 days a week there no way I can keep it up ive tried before. When you factor in bad weather and red hot summers I would have to be an absolute machine to do it.
Anyway besides all that I dont want to do it that's the thing. ;D
I have about 83k on the books I think now so I a great position to employ I just Nedd to find someone quick before I collapse under the pressure ;D it's lots of customers already asking where are you lol
Ok , but it’s a big difference between what can be done and what you want to do , I don’t blame you not wanting to work 8-5 5 days a week but that amount of work can easily be done by one person working full time hours , however I don’t blame you wanting to take time out , as has already been said either price much higher with all new jobs and sell off or dump cheaper stuff , or employ I know you have done this before and had problems the key factor is getting the right persons , asking the right questions at interviews and a long trial period 2-3 months see how they get on , also offer a decent bonus if certain targets are achieved, there are decent employees out there you just need to find them . But with VAT looming you need rapid growth up to and over the 100k mark
You are right it could be done, but i think that more the kind of workload you would give an employee, what sole trader in his right mind would want to work 9 til 5 x 5 days a week ? you only do that if you have to ie: you are employed.
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That's 24 houses a day.
That's a lot isn't it? Day in day out. Day after day. I would've thought trying to do that with two people would be a friggin' nightmare. You spend more time dodging and excusing each other. It might be a bit different if your round had larger properties but knocking out a shed load of poxy 3 bedders like that, no thanks.
If it’s compact work it’s easy we do 40 plus 3 bed semis per day per man without breaking into a sweat , might be dull and boring but very profitable
yeh mines not compact enough to do that many, mines pretty much all 1 house then move the van.
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Take on too much work, run yourself into the ground and burn out trying to achieve it all within the duration you set. Customers start complaining over the following months you're behind and start looking elsewhere.
One thing you can guarantee is that really good work that likes prompt, regular cleans will leave and look elsewhere whilst the lowest priced work you have will remain with you forever and a day as they realise they have a bargain at them prices.
I would rather have a round I can easily get around on time that I enjoy, than run myself like a busy fool trying to over do it, keep losing good work and replacing it over and over. Just a nice trickle of selective work coming in to replace lost work from natural causes, moving, selling up, the usual stuff.
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So are you saying approximately 400 are 8 weekly ? And the rest are 4 weekly ? If so that’s a doodle especially if they are small houses and less than 10 muinits per house you should easily be able to do that on your own and have spare days to build further , don’t see why you need an employee?.
No I was a bit out just checked its 335 8 weekly and 308 4 weekly but I've got about 30 to add to cleaner planner so maybe about 355 8 weekly and 318 4 weekly roughly.
It's about 1600 quid a week x 52 weeks of the year.
Obviously I don't work 52 weeks more like 47 and I don't normally work Fridays either and I like to finish by 2 or 3pm at the latest. ;D
So yes whilst technically it might be possible on paper to do 350 a day 5 days a week there no way I can keep it up ive tried before. When you factor in bad weather and red hot summers I would have to be an absolute machine to do it.
Anyway besides all that I dont want to do it that's the thing. ;D
I have about 83k on the books I think now so I a great position to employ I just Nedd to find someone quick before I collapse under the pressure ;D it's lots of customers already asking where are you lol
Ok , but it’s a big difference between what can be done and what you want to do , I don’t blame you not wanting to work 8-5 5 days a week but that amount of work can easily be done by one person working full time hours , however I don’t blame you wanting to take time out , as has already been said either price much higher with all new jobs and sell off or dump cheaper stuff , or employ I know you have done this before and had problems the key factor is getting the right persons , asking the right questions at interviews and a long trial period 2-3 months see how they get on , also offer a decent bonus if certain targets are achieved, there are decent employees out there you just need to find them . But with VAT looming you need rapid growth up to and over the 100k mark
You are right it could be done, but i think that more the kind of workload you would give an employee, what sole trader in his right mind would want to work 9 til 5 x 5 days a week ? you only do that if you have to ie: you are employed.
Staff generally want to work 35-40 hour weeks , I cannot find anyone who wants part time hours , when you are your own boss it’s easy to start late and finish early and obviously that’s why most choose to work for themselves, but if you were an employee you would be working 9-5 or what ever . I know many sole traders that do those hours as they want to work that way , but there is no right or wrong it’s down to what each person wants to do and how much they need to earn .
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That's 24 houses a day.
That's a lot isn't it? Day in day out. Day after day. I would've thought trying to do that with two people would be a friggin' nightmare. You spend more time dodging and excusing each other. It might be a bit different if your round had larger properties but knocking out a shed load of poxy 3 bedders like that, no thanks.
If it’s compact work it’s easy we do 40 plus 3 bed semis per day per man without breaking into a sweat , might be dull and boring but very profitable
yeh mines not compact enough to do that many, mines pretty much all 1 house then move the van.
Ok guess ime lucky we have estates of houses ware we have 3 vans working for a week at a time and only move half a mile all week we have runs of work with 25-50 houses without having to move the van do one side of the road then cross over and work back . That’s how we manage to di the volume of houses per day per man it’s easy to do 4-6 per hour depending on size
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Totally agree - when I was on the tools I would do 8 to 4 everyday - longer when there was s/f/g work through the summer - and when employing I was first in - last home
even now I'm not on the tools I am in at 8 am to check in all is ok
Darran
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That's 24 houses a day.
That's a lot isn't it? Day in day out. Day after day. I would've thought trying to do that with two people would be a friggin' nightmare. You spend more time dodging and excusing each other. It might be a bit different if your round had larger properties but knocking out a shed load of poxy 3 bedders like that, no thanks.
If it’s compact work it’s easy we do 40 plus 3 bed semis per day per man without breaking into a sweat , might be dull and boring but very profitable
yeh mines not compact enough to do that many, mines pretty much all 1 house then move the van.
Ok guess ime lucky we have estates of houses ware we have 3 vans working for a week at a time and only move half a mile all week we have runs of work with 25-50 houses without having to move the van do one side of the road then cross over and work back . That’s how we manage to di the volume of houses per day per man it’s easy to do 4-6 per hour depending on size
Yeh i have nothing like that ive a few stops where i clean 2 or 3 and i think 1 stop where i clean 4 but 99% of my round is 1 job then move the van, a lot of the time its just onto the next street with a 2 man team ive always done about 40 houses and on my own about 25 that working say 8 till 3.
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1st day with new guy went well. He knows what hes doing didnt need to teach him anything apart from slow down a bit. He was used to doing 30 a day so was a bit fast! Only did 30 jobs today between us but 15 were first cleans and we were done for 3pm. Will put 40 maintenance cleans on for tomorrow and see how we get on.
So much better than having to train someone from scratch.
Need more work now ;D
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Then there’s the extra Tax etc and the fact that you are now saddled with having to go in most days for the foreseeable,bye bye those summer days off for this years then Stoots.
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Then there’s the extra Tax etc and the fact that you are now saddled with having to go in most days for the foreseeable,bye bye those summer days off for this years then Stoots.
Nah i wont be working with him for more than a month, theres really no need he can clean windows and has worked on his own for years using cleaner planner so as long as he sticks around and i can get the extra work then i should be in a position to buy another van and get him out on his own come april.
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Why is he working on the cards for you and not for himself?
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Why is he working on the cards for you and not for himself?
thats the 64 million dollar question...
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If you’re not bored of window cleaning after a couple of years, there’s something wrong with you.
I don't think there's many jobs that pay 50k a year for 20-25 hours a week with time off when you want and the stress free freedom that window cleaning brings....I also have around 5 or 6 weeks off per year too these days.... :)
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Why is he working on the cards for you and not for himself?
Why does anyone work as an employee ? theres millions of them out there
maybe he will work for himself one day or maybe he wont, no point worrying about it really
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Totally agree - when I was on the tools I would do 8 to 4 everyday - longer when there was s/f/g work through the summer - and when employing I was first in - last home
even now I'm not on the tools I am in at 8 am to check in all is ok
Darran
Sod that!i would be truly miserable working them hours....
Part time is just the best of both worlds for me..
I work better and more effectively working shorter hours
No burn out or getting fed up as I'm home with feet up before it gets to that stage and I have time and energy for hobbies,leisure/family time,etc
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Why is he working on the cards for you and not for himself?
Why does anyone work as an employee ? theres millions of them out there
maybe he will work for himself one day or maybe he wont, no point worrying about it really
There will be a reason, you’ll most likely find out that reason with the next week or two ;D
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Totally agree - when I was on the tools I would do 8 to 4 everyday - longer when there was s/f/g work through the summer - and when employing I was first in - last home
even now I'm not on the tools I am in at 8 am to check in all is ok
Darran
Sod that!i would be truly miserable working them hours....
Part time is just the best of both worlds for me..
I work better and more effectively working shorter hours
No burn out or getting fed up as I'm home with feet up before it gets to that stage and I have time and energy for hobbies,leisure/family time,etc
yes Daz in at 8am - quick word with the lads home by 8.45 - job done ;D
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Sod that!i would be truly miserable working them hours....
Part time is just the best of both worlds for me..
I work better and more effectively working shorter hours
No burn out or getting fed up as I'm home with feet up before it gets to that stage and I have time and energy for hobbies,leisure/family time,etc
Your lifestyle Dazmond allows you to work partime.I imagine your out goings are minimal no wife or kids, no mortgage and the van and car are leased.
Every ones different.Some people want and need to earn more.
You would also be surprised how many are on good money.I personally know people on 100k = a year and work in an office with holiday pay, sick pay and a pension.
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Daz’s earnings have gone up by at least 5k this year without putting his prices up! Amazing.
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Sod that!i would be truly miserable working them hours....
Part time is just the best of both worlds for me..
I work better and more effectively working shorter hours
No burn out or getting fed up as I'm home with feet up before it gets to that stage and I have time and energy for hobbies,leisure/family time,etc
Your lifestyle Dazmond allows you to work partime.I imagine your out goings are minimal no wife or kids, no mortgage and the van and car are leased.
Every ones different.Some people want and need to earn more.
You would also be surprised how many are on good money.I personally know people on 100k = a year and work in an office with holiday pay, sick pay and a pension.
Not many will be earning 100k a year working part time.theyll have to bust a gut for that....
And that's the whole point for me....I don't want to work full time hours.never have really
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Daz’s earnings have gone up by at least 5k this year without putting his prices up! Amazing.
I'm just starting to put prices up this month.not lost any yet but tbh I don't really care.id be happy to earn the same money for less work but we all know that never happens so itll be more like an extra couple grand over the year... :)
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@Dazmond
Not many will be earning 100k a year working part time.theyll have to bust a gut for that....
And that's the whole point for me....I don't want to work full time hours.never have really
[/quote]
Fair play it works for you.100k is full time but they still don't break a sweat.
is the 50k for part time turnover or profit after tax,n.i and expenses?
Thats's good going if its 1k a week take home for 4 hours a day plus 6 weeks off.
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50k a year is the new 25-30k it depends how you live but 50k a year won’t set the world alight these days,what about November and December I think when people say 50k a year they include the whole year in their heads so add another 10k on top of that 50 in reality.
If you employ full time you want to X that by 3 at some point at least if it’s going to be worth while once everything is factored in expenses just keep coming,PAYE 1/4 Tax and Nat Ins to pay van bills you’re own Tax etc waste of time employing unless you can do certain numbers.
Stick on your own Daz 🤣🤣
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Waffle
People include November and December because they work and earn in those months too. Only fairies like yourself who don’t work in rain/wind/snow shouldn’t include the winter months.
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Lok knew you’d be along waffle 🤣🤣🤣 50 bags a year ain’t S**t m8 not down South and if you employ you’ll go broke in a matter of months,rich wife and potato 🧇 waffles needed m8 end of 🤣🤣
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2nd day 42 houses cleaned finished at 3pm ;D
will try for 50 a day next week
tomorrow supposed to be minus 2 and thursday snowing so that might slow us down :-X
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Get your shorts on. You will have to work faster to stay warm.
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Lok knew you’d be along waffle 🤣🤣🤣 50 bags a year ain’t S**t m8 not down South and if you employ you’ll go broke in a matter of months,rich wife and potato 🧇 waffles needed m8 end of 🤣🤣
What does any of that mean? Waffle.
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@Dazmond
Not many will be earning 100k a year working part time.theyll have to bust a gut for that....
And that's the whole point for me....I don't want to work full time hours.never have really
Fair play it works for you.100k is full time but they still don't break a sweat.
is the 50k for part time turnover or profit after tax,n.i and expenses?
Thats's good going if its 1k a week take home for 4 hours a day plus 6 weeks off.
[/quote]
No that's turnover but I can easily live on that up here in the North West plus the missus runs her own business too and when I move in with her no mortgage or rent as she will have paid it off by then!
Happy days.... 8)
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@Dazmond
Not many will be earning 100k a year working part time.theyll have to bust a gut for that....
And that's the whole point for me....I don't want to work full time hours.never have really
Fair play it works for you.100k is full time but they still don't break a sweat.
is the 50k for part time turnover or profit after tax,n.i and expenses?
Thats's good going if its 1k a week take home for 4 hours a day plus 6 weeks off.
No that's turnover but I can easily live on that up here in the North West plus the missus runs her own business too and when I move in with her no mortgage or rent as she will have paid it off by then!
Happy days.... 8)
[/quote]
Just be careful she doesn’t dump you for a younger more virile specimen 😂😂😂😂
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@Dazmond
Not many will be earning 100k a year working part time.theyll have to bust a gut for that....
And that's the whole point for me....I don't want to work full time hours.never have really
Fair play it works for you.100k is full time but they still don't break a sweat.
is the 50k for part time turnover or profit after tax,n.i and expenses?
Thats's good going if its 1k a week take home for 4 hours a day plus 6 weeks off.
No that's turnover but I can easily live on that up here in the North West plus the missus runs her own business too and when I move in with her no mortgage or rent as she will have paid it off by then!
Happy days.... 8)
Just be careful she doesn’t dump you for a younger more virile specimen 😂😂😂😂
[/quote]
Did somebody call?
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Look out here comes Martian 606….
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Anyone left the trade and gone on to do something else and be happy?
I'm so fed up with the actual work. Just brain dead aint it.
I'm not close to getting off the tools. Could potentially get someone to cover the work and get another job.
Big doubt is whether I could ever work for an employer after being my own boss.
Anyone left and happy? Anyone left and not, or come back to window cleaning?
Do you work on your own or have staff?
Are you working long hours?
How's your sleep?
How's your diet and exercise routine?
Do you smoke?
Do you drink excessively?
How's your mental health?
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If your tired,run down,sleep deprived and not in the best of health then it doesn't matter what job/occupation you do, you ll hate it esp if working full time.
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I sold up over 7 years ago to go full time on my other career choice which was still self employed working from home on the computer. 6 years i spent in the office not seeing people and putting on weight. last year i have started on the windows again. 3 days on windows and 2 days in the office. i now have the perfect balance between two jobs
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I think for me the perfect balance would be 2 days on the windows and one day in the office.
Trouble is I only ‘know’ window cleaning so wouldn’t have a clue in ‘ the office’ 😆
T
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Mines just 3 or 4 days of 5 hours👍👍👍
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I quit in 2011 to become a teacher. When I got to the top of the pay ladder as a normal teacher (now 44K) after 9 years of graft and a training year, it still wasn't as much as I earned in 2011 cleaning bird poo off windows. Worse financial decision of my life. I wanted meaning. Trust me, I learnt so many skills I never would have, but got a butt-load of stress. The first day in the classroom learning to be a teacher on 1st September 2011, the sun was shining, the birds tweeting and I was stuck inside. I knew I had made a dreadful mistake. I had sold up though and used the money to fund the training year.
I've only really over the last year or so owned up to myself I made a big mistake. I used to start at half 8 unless I had a commercial, finish at four and always had money in my pocket.
Trust me, school holidays in no way compensate for the stress and hours you put in in the school year. If I could turn back time.
Starting from scratch now. Don't do it unless you can equal the money and the hours.
My mate is in IT and earns what I would be earning if I had stayed on the glass. But he has stress on another level. I would have one or two blokes working for me and be chilling if I had stayed on the glass.
Don't do it. Braindead yes. Get a hobby, join a club, retake maths GCSE, use your brain outside of work. Learn a language. Don't depend on work to stimulate you. Most jobs are braindead after you initially build your skill set. Even teaching was just the same old crap after a few years, your brain soon sends the task to your subconscious and automates it and you just plough through in a state of boredom.
Don't quite the glass. My opinion of course. Other outcomes are possible.
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Viscount, is your name Matt?
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Viscount …….. takes the biscuit.
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Viscount …….. takes the biscuit.
That is a mint joke.
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I quit in 2011 to become a teacher. When I got to the top of the pay ladder as a normal teacher (now 44K) after 9 years of graft and a training year, it still wasn't as much as I earned in 2011 cleaning bird poo off windows. Worse financial decision of my life. I wanted meaning. Trust me, I learnt so many skills I never would have, but got a butt-load of stress. The first day in the classroom learning to be a teacher on 1st September 2011, the sun was shining, the birds tweeting and I was stuck inside. I knew I had made a dreadful mistake. I had sold up though and used the money to fund the training year.
I've only really over the last year or so owned up to myself I made a big mistake. I used to start at half 8 unless I had a commercial, finish at four and always had money in my pocket.
Trust me, school holidays in no way compensate for the stress and hours you put in in the school year. If I could turn back time.
Starting from scratch now. Don't do it unless you can equal the money and the hours.
My mate is in IT and earns what I would be earning if I had stayed on the glass. But he has stress on another level. I would have one or two blokes working for me and be chilling if I had stayed on the glass.
Don't do it. Braindead yes. Get a hobby, join a club, retake maths GCSE, use your brain outside of work. Learn a language. Don't depend on work to stimulate you. Most jobs are braindead after you initially build your skill set. Even teaching was just the same old crap after a few years, your brain soon sends the task to your subconscious and automates it and you just plough through in a state of boredom.
Don't quite the glass. My opinion of course. Other outcomes are possible.
Are you still teaching? Did you take the plunge back into window cleaning?
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My name isn't Matt...
I'm transitioning over into window cleaning, starting from scratch.
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My name isn't Matt...
I'm transitioning over into window cleaning, starting from scratch.
Are you sure? ;D
Matt must still be teaching then.
Good luck with it, Sir.......I mean Viscount 👍.
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Good luck to Matt :)
I'm a Phil.
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A trans windowcleaner. Blimey!
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Anyone left the trade and gone on to do something else and be happy?
I'm so fed up with the actual work. Just brain dead aint it.
I'm not close to getting off the tools. Could potentially get someone to cover the work and get another job.
Big doubt is whether I could ever work for an employer after being my own boss.
Anyone left and happy? Anyone left and not, or come back to window cleaning?
Do you work on your own or have staff?
Are you working long hours?
How's your sleep?
How's your diet and exercise routine?
Do you smoke?
Do you drink excessively?
How's your mental health?
I work with one lad. Hate it on my own.
No more than 8 hours a day usually 6.5.
I sleep fine.
Don't drink at all or touch drugs. No smoking.
Mental health very poor as I have bipolar.
I think the only thing I could so is start another business.
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Have you thought of having the 'lad' work your round with another and you manage it?
How do you think your mental health will improve by leaving window cleaning?
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Have you thought of having the 'lad' work your round with another and you manage it?
How do you think your mental health will improve by leaving window cleaning?
Usual problem: he doesn't drive.
He's been saying he will learn and to be fair he's done lessons but he's waiting on the DVLA to change details on his licence because he filled his name out wrong on the form!
He's been with me for a year and knew from day one that I wanted him to drive. I've thought about getting someone else in but as we all know its hard to find the right person and he's a good worked when with me.
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How old is he
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How old is he
21
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Anyone left the trade and gone on to do something else and be happy?
I'm so fed up with the actual work. Just brain dead aint it.
I'm not close to getting off the tools. Could potentially get someone to cover the work and get another job.
Big doubt is whether I could ever work for an employer after being my own boss.
Anyone left and happy? Anyone left and not, or come back to window cleaning?
Do you work on your own or have staff?
Are you working long hours?
How's your sleep?
How's your diet and exercise routine?
Do you smoke?
Do you drink excessively?
How's your mental health?
I work with one lad. Hate it on my own.
No more than 8 hours a day usually 6.5.
I sleep fine.
Don't drink at all or touch drugs. No smoking.
Mental health very poor as I have bipolar.
I think the only thing I could so is start another business.
It's more likely your bi polar causing you problems than the actual job that needs changing....
If you start a new business you ll still take your bi polar with you....
I guess you take medication?
All the best whatever you decide to do but from my experience with bi polar(I had a girlfriend who suffered with it many years ago)try to not make any rash decisions and keep on top of your medication.
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Also cognitive behavioural therapy helped her out a lot if you ve not tried it before...
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Good posts, Daz 👍.
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Anyone left the trade and gone on to do something else and be happy?
I'm so fed up with the actual work. Just brain dead aint it.
I'm not close to getting off the tools. Could potentially get someone to cover the work and get another job.
Big doubt is whether I could ever work for an employer after being my own boss.
Anyone left and happy? Anyone left and not, or come back to window cleaning?
Do you work on your own or have staff?
Are you working long hours?
How's your sleep?
How's your diet and exercise routine?
Do you smoke?
Do you drink excessively?
How's your mental health?
I work with one lad. Hate it on my own.
No more than 8 hours a day usually 6.5.
I sleep fine.
Don't drink at all or touch drugs. No smoking.
Mental health very poor as I have bipolar.
I think the only thing I could so is start another business.
It's more likely your bi polar causing you problems than the actual job that needs changing....
If you start a new business you ll still take your bi polar with you....
I guess you take medication?
All the best whatever you decide to do but from my experience with bi polar(I had a girlfriend who suffered with it many years ago)try to not make any rash decisions and keep on top of your medication.
Agree that it will be there whatever job I do. Its a constant battle and so unpredictable. One day I feel great the next I'm thinking about hanging myself.
I take 5 different types of medication. Its pretty bad, I've been in mental hospitals four times.
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Best wishes with it all, Jay.
Keep posting, mate. It's not the same but there are more than a few sympathetic ears on here.
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Yes,take care Jay, thank God times have moved on and people like yourself are comfortable enough to speak about it. Mental health problems in the 70s and 80s meant suffering in silence for alot of people. As Grif says, you'll get alot of empathy on here based on previous threads when some of the boys have been struggling, your not on your own.
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Thanks chaps.
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Trouble with window cleaning is it’s so simple, so repetitive with very little job satisfaction. Suits some people but drives others nuts. The first year can be exciting, after that it’s just a job. Contact with customers helps as does socialising outside of the job. ( not necessarily down the pub!).
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Funny thing is job satisfaction. There’s very few jobs that would actually give real satisfaction imo. Personally I’m happy knuckling down for 6-7 hours a day cleaning windows then get my satisfaction elsewhere.
Can honestly say, out of my wide circle of friends, I wouldn’t swap my ‘job’ with a single one of them.
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Funny thing is job satisfaction. There’s very few jobs that would actually give real satisfaction imo. Personally I’m happy knuckling down for 6-7 hours a day cleaning windows then get my satisfaction elsewhere.
Can honestly say, out of my wide circle of friends, I wouldn’t swap my ‘job’ with a single one of them.
The grief and hassle my missus gets in her business is unbelievable.....her phones constantly ringing/messages/emails,etc even on holiday and she relies on lots of other people to make everything run smoothly
I love the straightforward nature of window cleaning and it's virtually stress free....NEVER underestimate this!
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Anyone left the trade and gone on to do something else and be happy?
I'm so fed up with the actual work. Just brain dead aint it.
I'm not close to getting off the tools. Could potentially get someone to cover the work and get another job.
Big doubt is whether I could ever work for an employer after being my own boss.
Anyone left and happy? Anyone left and not, or come back to window cleaning?
Do you work on your own or have staff?
Are you working long hours?
How's your sleep?
How's your diet and exercise routine?
Do you smoke?
Do you drink excessively?
How's your mental health?
I work with one lad. Hate it on my own.
No more than 8 hours a day usually 6.5.
I sleep fine.
Don't drink at all or touch drugs. No smoking.
Mental health very poor as I have bipolar.
I think the only thing I could so is start another business.
It's more likely your bi polar causing you problems than the actual job that needs changing....
If you start a new business you ll still take your bi polar with you....
I guess you take medication?
All the best whatever you decide to do but from my experience with bi polar(I had a girlfriend who suffered with it many years ago)try to not make any rash decisions and keep on top of your medication.
Agree that it will be there whatever job I do. Its a constant battle and so unpredictable. One day I feel great the next I'm thinking about hanging myself.
I take 5 different types of medication. Its pretty bad, I've been in mental hospitals four times.
I dunno if i have bipolar, never sought a diagnosis but i can relate to feeling great one day then next day feeling like giving up on life. Up and down and rarely in the middle, one minute want to conquer the world next minute to curl in a ball.
Not sure if the job is the issue although im sure it will feel like it is as its the easy thing to point to but i know ive felt just the same most of my adult life no matter what i was doing.
Diet and exercise helps as does being outdoors. I go fishing most weekends in my spare time and i find just being calm and watching the water gives me some escape. I also go cycling a lot and recently joined the gym , one thing ive learned is its hard to feel depressed when exercising as the mind is focused purely on the task. Of course once you get home and into the rat race you slide back into the cycle of depression.
I dont have an answer but i hope you find one.