Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: ftp on February 12, 2009, 03:54:50 pm
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I seem to have lost mine!
If you see it post it back to me please.
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Popped in for a pee at three and to check on my ibc filling and couldn't be arsed to go back out - didn't start 'till ten either, :-\
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Tis the lack of sun, Dave. You wait till them daffys spring into the air. You'll be like cows let out for grass, jumping & joshing with everyone. So hold tight, tell yourself each day sees you gettin better & more resourceful! Well, it works for me.
Kevin.
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I think i've hit a two year wall. I used to have sporting hobbies and would go flat out - totally obsessed for around two years then get bored and start another. Window cleaning has unfortunately replaced all my sports and has been my only interest for two years solid - how sad is that?
I know i'll buy a new pole made from costabombnium that'l spark my interest for a week or two.
Got to keep going though - corned beef this Sunday! :o
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Same here ftp...been going around 2.5 years and getting a little 'worn down' the thought of going to work does get me down a little and I think working on my own for this time does get to me.....
Dave.
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funny enough it was allways after 2 years working as a carpenter i would allways move on, 2 years was enough, i was lucky as people move on, i would stay in touch and then give them a bell and ask if they had any jobs, they would allways go and speak to the boss and tell them about me ( i know it sounds big headed, but i was allways in demand as i was a top notch chippie ) they would allways phone back and say, start next monday ( i didnt even need interviews most of the time )
ive hit this point with window cleaning a few times, you just need to aim for something, with me, its ALLWAYS a holiday ( which works for me )
you need a new hobby, as you have turned into a sad window cleaning geek now ;D ;D ;D
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costabombnium
What a cracking word, I love it.
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i have been lazy to this week but just getting over the flu next week i will be like a man possed still the on tuesday picked up a few houses will frow friday in on a cream job for morning then of to a nice village for rest of day
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Tis the lack of sun, Dave. You wait till them daffys spring into the air. You'll be like cows let out for grass, jumping & joshing with everyone. So hold tight, tell yourself each day sees you gettin better & more resourceful! Well, it works for me.
Kevin.
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February is always a difficult time; we've had months of cold, dark, wet weather! The build upto Christmas isn't that bad; it's a fun time of year and you're motivated by the thought of paying for all those presents and some time off.
Then come January you get stuck in; you've been well rested and you're skint; but still motivated; then comes February and you're well and truly hacked off with the British climate!
We always just make a point of surviving this month, but Spring is just around the corner.
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im struggling to do a full day after all the time off recently, its snowing again which doesnt help
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Seem to be repeating myself. Seem to be repeating myself. Seem.....
Sorry chaps..
Kevin
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When I so get blue, out comes the iPod & I listen to audiobooks. Nothing like a good thriller. I even find I don't stop for breaks cos I'm on the edge!
( can't recommend comedies as somencusties get weird when they see you looking in. Their windows, laughingbyour socks off!)
Kevin
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Isnt your mortgage and self pride a big enough motivation?
Dean
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I seem to have lost mine!
If you see it post it back to me please.
It's the time of year Dave & tough times with all this bad weather n'all. It's this that sorts the men from the boys & the pro's from the beer brigade! chin up old boy. ;)
Tony
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The weather is rubbish, dont know where you are ftp but in manchester today it was nice, but im down at norwich at relatives now and its really heavy snowing :(
My motivation is my hardest thing to cope with (or without i should say) i really fight in the morning to get out, today i was up and out for 7 but back early with injury :) But usually i struggle to start at ten sometimes, but once im there im fine, - its getting out the door, i have to sit there thinking about why i need to go - ie more money, go on holiday, etc, maybe setting yourself a reward for hitting realistic targets will work ie a holiday or new toy etc, im trying that but other than that wait till your skint and the baillifs come knocking :) you will soon be sticking some hours in :)
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I'm Ok when working a good distance away, it's when I am working my own estate I struggle, just too easy to nip home for coffee.
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it's when I am working my own estate I struggle, just too easy to nip home for coffee.
Noooooo! You must've realised that once you get home, it's almost mission impossible to get back out again.
Don't do it! ;D
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Hi ftp,
Seems though you have lost the focus of why you started window cleaning 2 odd years ago? What were the reasons you started? Have your circumstances changed? Think about what has improved since then and what has got worse - only then will you be able to evaluate and re-align your enthusiasm. Setting goals has always motivated and worked for me in the past in almost everything I have done. Its a real nice feeling when you acheive a goal and it makes the bigger goals seem even more acheivable - just my thoughts
Ian
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I started window cleaning as a desperate career change. I don't mind the work at all to be honest. It's just that i get sidelined lately, stop for a chat and a cup of coffee. If i have to pop home for a pee or whatever then i just can't be bothered to go back out.
Could easily have done another half a dozen today but got talking, thought to myself - they can wait 'till monday.
Maybe that's what this job is all about - chilling out and enjoying life.
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Maybe that's what this job is all about - chilling out and enjoying life.
;)
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Maybe that's what this job is all about - chilling out and enjoying life
Once the bills are paid that's the beauty of this job! I like to sit back & think of my mates sometimes, on 12 hour nights @ 8.50 an hour!!! ;D ;D ;D AND they think they're on good money!
Although many posts just lately on here are about earning top money, big business, big vans/systems etcetc ::) It's also essential that you do what suites you & your lifestyle first! No need to feel guilty for knocking off early if that's how you felt, It's a job, only one where you make the rules. ;D ;D ;D
Tony
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I disagree with matt and macmac. I know that both do okay, and work fairly hard, but they are wrong about this.
Your round is governed by what is sustainable for you. That is why some guys can only earn a certain figure even after many years, and others smash every ball into deep cover.
This is not a lifestyle choice or a hobby. You do this to earn money and it's a numbers game ftp. Don't lose sight of that just because you gab for twenty minutes, or a customer turns you away, your system breaks, or you have a complaint.
Forget the niggles. You have reached a plateau, albeit quite a comfy financial one, but you need to push for the next stage otherwise you may be stuck there for a while. Don't look back and think, i could have made a go of that, but i opted just to earn a living and have an easy life. The so called easy life could mean you working on the tools for the next twenty years, and i don't see anything chilled out about that.
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This is not a lifestyle choice or a hobby. You do this to earn money and it's a numbers game ftp. Don't lose sight of that just because you gab for twenty minutes, or a customer turns you away, your system breaks, or you have a complaint.
It can be a lifestyle choice and there's nothing wrong with that.
People come into this 'game' from all walks of life and at all different ages. They may have already achieved what they set out for and now want a less stressful life - or they may not be particularly 'materialistic' in their wants.
The ideal balance between work, money and leisure is different for different people.
I enjoy walking along the promenade - which costs me 'nowt', and surfing, and pottering about in the garage, etc.etc.etc.
I want to do these things NOW. If I can afford to live from 3/4 day's work and have the option to do whatever I want for the other 3/4 days - that'll do for me!
Mike
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I disagree with matt and macmac. I know that both do okay, and work fairly hard, but they are wrong about this.
Your round is governed by what is sustainable for you. That is why some guys can only earn a certain figure even after many years, and others smash every ball into deep cover.
This is not a lifestyle choice or a hobby. You do this to earn money and it's a numbers game ftp. Don't lose sight of that just because you gab for twenty minutes, or a customer turns you away, your system breaks, or you have a complaint.
Forget the niggles. You have reached a plateau, albeit quite a comfy financial one, but you need to push for the next stage otherwise you may be stuck there for a while. Don't look back and think, i could have made a go of that, but i opted just to earn a living and have an easy life. The so called easy life could mean you working on the tools for the next twenty years, and i don't see anything chilled out about that.
I do agree with that, i dont wanna clean at 50 !!! I know some of you guys do , but id rather be sending out 10 vans each day than going cleaning!!
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The thing that keeps me motivated most is the recurring nightmare I have of being back in my engineering job.
I have this dream every few months, even after all these years window cleaning.
I would absolutely hate to be taking orders from some pratt who was suffering from cranial rectitus.
Been there, done it, never again.
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This is not a lifestyle choice or a hobby. You do this to earn money and it's a numbers game ftp. Don't lose sight of that just because you gab for twenty minutes, or a customer turns you away, your system breaks, or you have a complaint.
It can be a lifestyle choice and there's nothing wrong with that.
People come into this 'game' from all walks of life and at all different ages. They may have already achieved what they set out for and now want a less stressful life - or they may not be particularly 'materialistic' in their wants.
The ideal balance between work, money and leisure is different for different people.
I enjoy walking along the promenade - which costs me 'nowt', and surfing, and pottering about in the garage, etc.etc.etc.
I want to do these things NOW. If I can afford to live from 3/4 day's work and have the option to do whatever I want for the other 3/4 days - that'll do for me!
Mike
from one mike to another
i could not have put it better myself
happy surfing 8)
mike
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I disagree with matt and macmac. I know that both do okay, and work fairly hard, but they are wrong about this.
Your round is governed by what is sustainable for you. That is why some guys can only earn a certain figure even after many years, and others smash every ball into deep cover.
This is not a lifestyle choice or a hobby. You do this to earn money and it's a numbers game ftp. Don't lose sight of that just because you gab for twenty minutes, or a customer turns you away, your system breaks, or you have a complaint.
Forget the niggles. You have reached a plateau, albeit quite a comfy financial one, but you need to push for the next stage otherwise you may be stuck there for a while. Don't look back and think, i could have made a go of that, but i opted just to earn a living and have an easy life. The so called easy life could mean you working on the tools for the next twenty years, and i don't see anything chilled out about that.
You must realise that many guys (as you put it) CHOOSE to work at the rate that they do. This is because this is what makes them happy while still earning a very good living. Indeed, a much better living than any normal job would give them. What's wrong with that? For some, all this "pushing, pushing, I must get bigger, I must do better, I must always strive for much, much more" IS infact what makes them misserable!!
Work to live, not live to work. you only have one shot, it's no dress rehersal. ;)
If going balls out every day & all that makes you happy, then that's fine too but at least understand that any thing other than that IS NOT failure!! :-*
Tony
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Very true young Tony, i've been there and done that, i've done the treble shifts, the Saturday and Sunday overtime, the sixteen hour shifts - even did a twenty four hour shift once. I was a lot younger and hungry then, never saw my son grow up really and have no memories of his childhood. I've got a young daughter now and taking her to school is a delight not a chore. Fair play to the budding businessmen on here but for me there is no point in pushing so hard anymore. Just need a bit more motivation to do a few more jobs before i turn for home at three thirty. ;D
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Very true young Tony, i've been there and done that, i've done the treble shifts, the Saturday and Sunday overtime, the sixteen hour shifts - even did a twenty four hour shift once. I was a lot younger and hungry then, never saw my son grow up really and have no memories of his childhood. I've got a young daughter now and taking her to school is a delight not a chore. Fair play to the budding businessmen on here but for me there is no point in pushing so hard anymore. Just need a bit more motivation to do a few more jobs before i turn for home at three thirty. ;D
Young?, Oh you flatter me David! It's just part & parcel of the whole package of window cleaning my friend, I usualy but a new tool or something when I get like that, or new work clothes. Failing that I come on here and b*tch my arse off!! ;D ;D ;D
Tony
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A good way to motivate yourself is to set a daily financial target, Just tell yourself that today you are going to earn X amount ( Obviously it has to be an achievable figure ) usually about a fifth of what that week is worth :)
Then tell yourself that as soon as you've hit that target you can go home.
Its surprising how you don't stop chatting to custies, decline the odd cuppa have a few minutes for your dinner instead of half an hour.
Hey presto, its now 3pm, you've earned what you wanted to and now you can go home, self satisfied that you've earned a good wage and can now spend the rest of the day with the family..... or whatever else you may enjoy doing.
To motivate yourself further you could then remind yourself that if you worked an hour extra you could finish at dinner time the following day and have even more time enjoying the fruits of your labour.
Its a loada carp but it works for me ;D
Dennis
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I work with people who earned a vgood living off three days. Some. especially those that took over dad's business have never done more than three days in their life. It helps if the wife pulls in a good wage or you are going to cop for a large property when parents expire. But is this living a proper life?
If you fall into these catergories good luck, but i've been skint and i know what it's like and it's not nice. I've been trapped in a low paid job too, and that's not nice either.
If you are given a chance in life, take it, you don't get many. A three day week and the school run is pretty much house husband country with a part time job thrown in, don't try to pass it off as some kind of enobleing life style choice and then whine that you can't make your tax bill, or spend time bodgeing harris poles.
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Everybody's needs are different - that's why they have different outlooks and behave in different ways.
Some people might need/want to be told to 'get their arse into gear', others might need/want to be told to 'slow down'.
It doesn't matter whether you (need/want to) work 3,4 or 5 days a week - being happy/content with youself is what matters.
8)
Mike
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or spend time bodgeing harris poles.
eh :o :o :o :o
bodgering and harrassing poles
i think you have the wrong site mate, you need ww.i-like-kracow-action-with-poles.co.uk
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or dogging-in-the-uk-with-poles.co.uk
loads of specialist sites on the net by all accounts
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I work with people who earned a vgood living off three days. Some. especially those that took over dad's business have never done more than three days in their life. It helps if the wife pulls in a good wage or you are going to cop for a large property when parents expire. But is this living a proper life?
Possibly.
If you fall into these catergories good luck, but i've been skint and i know what it's like and it's not nice. I've been trapped in a low paid job too, and that's not nice either.
And there is your motivator SB.
If you are given a chance in life, take it, you don't get many. A three day week and the school run is pretty much house husband country with a part time job thrown in, don't try to pass it off as some kind of enobleing life style choice and then whine that you can't make your tax bill, or spend time bodgeing harris poles.
A 3 day week, time with the family and being a house-husband can be more enobling than "running ten vans" being eaten up by an "I must do more or I'll be selling matches on the corner and die in poverty" mentality.
I've been a director of a company (different line to wc), house supporting the business, wife doing the accounts, with ten vehicles and sixteen staff from the ages of 29 to 37, didn't see my kids before they went to bed. Stress and a sedentary lifestyle - too mentally exhausting for me.
Now, self employed with occasional sub-contracting, pushing 50 and I will happily do this on a reducing basis until my sixties and (all things being equal) have the bonus of seeing my kids and possibly their kids grow up.
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Matt
When you start back i'll be interested in who sticks by you and who doesn't. It can either confirm what you already thought or make you question it.
Malc
I was talking about market traders. Things are tighter now and many wish they had clung on to a bit more loot while it was easy or worked harder.Your vignettes of character are often very insightfull, but is it possible you do not fully grasp your own. Oh if i could see myself as others see me..
You've still got time, get back in the game, do it all again but this time do it better.
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Matt
When you start back i'll be interested in who sticks by you and who doesn't. It can either confirm what you already thought or make you question it.
the snow has helped me on that cause i hope ;) ;) afterall they will not expect me in the snow and freezing temp
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Malc
I was talking about market traders. Things are tighter now and many wish they had clung on to a bit more loot while it was easy or worked harder.Your vignettes of character are often very insightfull, but is it possible you do not fully grasp your own. Oh if i could see myself as others see me..
You've still got time, get back in the game, do it all again but this time do it better.
So true and I take on board what you say - but I did alright financially out of "the game" - and it allowed me to put something towards my long term savings pot/property first time round - but it wasn't worth the cost to me emotionally and for my stress levels. So I sold out my share and went self employed 12 years ago. Personally I do work 4/5 days a week but take my hat off to those who do three because it suits their plans more than I do to those who work 6. My "game" now is different and better for me and mine - but not better or worse than anyone else's on here.
I think my background has shaped me as well as you say but I try and keep doing the good stuff and reduce the bad - and these are not the same for each person. Smarter, not harder, eh?
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Matt
When you start back i'll be interested in who sticks by you and who doesn't. It can either confirm what you already thought or make you question it.
the snow has helped me on that cause i hope ;) ;) afterall they will not expect me in the snow and freezing temp
it will show your loyal customers, and you have had it easy with the weather we have been having of late.
What motivates me is MONEY, I do this for my family and myself, I want nice things I want to have a nice life and want my kids to have a helping hand when i kick the bucket, it all reverts back to money because without them I cant do what I want.
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Health first, then kids and wife, then maybe work and money third for me. Material things don't mean much at the end of the day.
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Health first, then kids and wife, then maybe work and money third for me. Material things don't mean much at the end of the day.
You missed off world peace!
If you won the lottery how would that windfall affect the first 3 things on your wish list? Or would you give it away because it doesnt really mean that much at the end of the day?
Mark
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Yes but you don't slog your guts out to win the lottery. If you don't have your health a lottery win will save you will it? So money won't have much affect on the first item.
A point was made of looking back and thinking i could have earnt more. Don't think that'll bother me too much to be honest when i'm at the end of my life, more like i wish i had spent more time with the family and not been so wrapped up in striving for buisiness sucess.
It's all about balance - too far either way isn't good. ;)
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Yes but you don't slog your guts out to win the lottery. If you don't have your health a lottery win will save you will it? So money won't have much affect on the first item.
A point was made of looking back and thinking i could have earnt more. Don't think that'll bother me too much to be honest when i'm at the end of my life, more like i wish i had spent more time with the family and not been so wrapped up in striving for buisiness sucess.
It's all about balance - too far either way isn't good. ;)
If you dont have your health the lottery may not save you, but the money will give you access to getting the best help available, and lifes is all about having the best chances. Its what you do with those chances that really count.
I wish you well mr DJW
Mark
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“No man on his death bed ever looked up into the eyes of his family and friends and said ‘I wish I’d spent more time at the office’ “
Nice one!
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“No man on his death bed ever looked up into the eyes of his family and friends and said ‘I wish I’d spent more time at the office’ “
Except the guy who got shot by his wife, for playing around when he should have been at work.
No, fare play Ewan, I agree with you. ;D