[Rob_Mac]

What are your aspirations for your business and yourself in the future. What would you like to achieve in 5 years, 10 years.

When would you like to retire?

What are you doing to achieve your dreams?

What are your sticking points that will stop you getting to where you want to be?

Rob

[Tim82]

 I dunno really... I'm still building up my work (got enough to keep me and wife going but trying to build up a better quality). Enough steady flow of income from good quality well oiled work to support myself and wife's income comfortably,  maybe enough work to employ a couple more people. Not thinking of retiring at any point. I want to be able to have a comfortable bit of work when I'm old. The only thing that'll stop me getting to where I want to be is to stop putting the effort in.

[Busby]

Hi rob,

just wondered where the best place to look would be to find out how tenders arise,

Thanks & hope your ok mate, 

Chris
07788 503775

[Rob_Mac]

Chris

Just popped into the office, up the unit - going down to Hayes - Middlesex. I will ring you next week and have a chat

Rob

[ronnie paton]

i apsire to have 3 vehicles on the road in three years iv been going three years now and i have one full time employee.

I would like to semi retire(not be so hands on) in the same period, i will still be covering holidays doing paperwork and quotes ect ect.

I work hard have some good contacts and good determination, im new to business so im always lkearning and i think ill always be learning but hard work and determination is just has important.

I would like to get some big contracts and big tenders but if that doesnt happen im sure i will sontinue to grow at a very good rate.

Rob tender advoce fro my self woyuld be appreciated too

[Tosh]

I reckon I'm too old for all this 'go getting attitude' stuff.

I'll still market myself, and just mince along, taking on better paying work and getting rid of stuff I'm not so keen on; I came into this business because I wanted a less stressful job than my previous vocation.

In five years I'd like to be able to cover all my monthly bills, food excepting, in five days; and I'd like to get a sailing boat (again; my first wife flogged my old one for £50); it currently takes me about two weeks, unless we have a bad stretch of weather.

In ten years I'd like to be able to cover the monthly bills in 3 days; and do more sailing.

[Count Phil]

Get through the recession with a round.

[Ian Lancaster]

I reckon I'm too old for all this 'go getting attitude' stuff.

How old's that then?

Like most people on here, I was more than content to cruise along year after year, earning a decent living without having to worry about anything.

Then age began to creep up on me.  I looked into the future and saw retirement in poverty.  Old age pension - £90/week (ish)  Private pension that I've been paying into for the last umpteen years - £20/week (if I'm lucky - pension values are falling like lumps of lead)

I decided to do something about it and devised my own version of a franchised business.  I took on my first franchisee two years ago, and I've just signed my fourth.

I need a minimum of two more before I can give up the physical side entirely, then I'll only have to deal with enquiries and general maintenance of the business (supplying spares, advising and helping etc), my partner Lise does the office admin.

So that's my aspiration.  I turn 65 in December of next year, and I reckon I might just make it in time

I could start thinking:  "What if I'd done this years ago???"  But I didn't, and I never regret anything.

Window cleaning has been very good to me, and I'm hoping it will continue to do so long into my retirement.

[pingu]

What are your aspirations for your business and yourself in the future. What would you like to achieve in 5 years, 10 years.

5 years to be able to achieve my 8 weekly monetry target in 6 weeks...10 years ...mmm perhaps achieve the 8 weekly target in 5 weeks :-)

When would you like to retire? 60

What are you doing to achieve your dreams? plodding on and focusing on the here and now whilst keeping an eye on the short and mid term numbers.

What are your sticking points that will stop you getting to where you want to be?
No sticking points but I am starting to find this job very boring.

Cheers
Dave

[Moderator David@stives]

Mine is simple.

I want to get to a million pound turnover.

I will either achieve it or die trying

[windowwashers]

my goals are:

Get more vans out on the road

have 2 holidays a year

retire by 55 or less has always been my goal (cant see me not working at all as I cant help myself but needing to work I do not want.

own 6 houses before I retire and use the rent to live life and maybe travel.

I have a list of things as long as my arm that I want to do, working through them is great 

Short term goal is fill new van to capacity within 6 months.

[gerard mcmanus]

What are your aspirations for your business and yourself in the future. What would you like to achieve in 5 years, 10 years.

5 years, well I will be 28 so I hope I will be married and have a kid by then and just continue to establish myself and biuld be business, pos move to WFP who knows.

10 years 33, couple of employee's one or two, just take the pressure off and continue to developement of my business.

When would you like to retire?

By the sound of the pension qoute before, never. But honestly I dont know, I cant work forever I know that. When that time comes what ever age I am, I'll stop there.

What are you doing to achieve your dreams?
I think often far to far ahead and get alittle side tracked by it. Thats just me though, I tend to dive into things like a bull, but I guess I am just pulling the ranes alittle and taking my time. For now I am just biulding up my custies.

What are your sticking points that will stop you getting to where you want to be?

I dont know if anything is going to stop me, its me. I believe if you try hard enough, perservere, are determined and go like a fraight train, are unmovable and committed. Then there is no limits, so I can see myself doing not bad at all.

gerard 

[matt]

I'll still market myself, and just mince along

im sure roger mentioned you mince along aswell 

[gerard mcmanus]

What are your aspirations for your business and yourself in the future. What would you like to achieve in 5 years, 10 years.

5 years, well I will be 28 so I hope I will be married and have a kid by then and just continue to establish myself and biuld be business, pos move to WFP who knows.

10 years 33, couple of employee's one or two, just take the pressure off and continue to developement of my business.

When would you like to retire?

By the sound of the pension qoute before, never. But honestly I dont know, I cant work forever I know that. When that time comes what ever age I am, I'll stop there.

What are you doing to achieve your dreams?
I think often far to far ahead and get alittle side tracked by it. Thats just me though, I tend to dive into things like a bull, but I guess I am just pulling the ranes alittle and taking my time. For now I am just biulding up my custies.

What are your sticking points that will stop you getting to where you want to be?

I dont know if anything is going to stop me, its me. I believe if you try hard enough, perservere, are determined and go like a fraight train, are unmovable and committed. Then there is no limits, so I can see myself doing not bad at all.

gerard 

[Tosh]

Oh, at the age of 60 I'll get a Staff Sergeant's pension, with a step-up to Warrant Officer; 17 years service (out of a possible of 22 years).

Being ex-army, you're pension rate is based on your rank and length of service.

My 'resettlement officer mate' is currently earning £45K per year, but when he leaves in 3 years time, he'll get a massive tax-free lump sum and £20K per year (taxable); he's a Major.

Mine won't be anything like that, but it won't be bad either. 

The thing about service pensions are that they're paid directly from the Treasury; tax payer's money (they don't rely on a dodgy pension fund); and I can't wait to get my lump sum and monthly pension, just so I can start saying stuff like 'Woo Hoo; your window cleaning taxes are going straight into my bank account... etc'.

Unfortunately, there's no guarantees that I'm going to live till I'm 60!  

[gary evans]

I could say the same as Dave Ronnie & Window washers.

I,ve tried to expand big time, but not ready office based realy so has been nightmare. I do min 60 hrs up to 90 hrs some weeks, but, it hasnt worked out as i,ve been office based outside of my normal 40 hours working.

Looking at other areas of work have increased problems, but, i know we are good & if iget organised better i know i,ll achieve it.

Recently been involved with Rob for work & business discussions & i feel that we are good together &
could bring in some serious contracts, i have a lot a feelers out but, have missed expansion because of own busines faltering.

So in short  i would recomend that you are very organised in your office, you speak to as many people as possible, you speak to like minded people regularly to discuss work & have good financial backing.

For me it is to make more money, work less hours & do more out of work activities.

Gary

[Dean Aspects]

As a sole trader i want to turnover just under the vat threshold that will mean working 5 days a week at a minimum long term i want to keep earning just under this level but working less days the only thing stopping me from doing this is me as i could do this now if i could employ but tried that and its not for me
(this may need editing at a later date as my father in law got me p***ed and i cant see or think straight) :