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colley614

  • Posts: 1557
Not been on for a while, thought I'd say Hi!
« on: October 25, 2011, 02:01:53 pm »
Hi Guys,

Not been on for a while, when had a read of a few posts but not really posted.

Been working for a large cleaning firm for a couple of years now since giving up working for myself and to be honest think it was the worst mistake I've ever made. I used to love the fact that I was able to take holidays and the other perks of being employed but being expected to work 10-15 hour days through the week then all weekends most of the time has really started getting to me. Also trying to explain that its impossible to clean all windows, soffits, facsias, guttering and conservatory including roof in an hour on a 4 bed detatched house is annoying me also.

I own a car with roofrack, 3 sets of ladders, 6 foot a frame, full traditional set up including 4 squegees and applicators of different sizes. I'm starting to think about going for it again and building myslef a decent little round up from scratch. The only problem is I'm on the breadline now and with no spare time as it is I would find it hard get out of a weekend to build a little bit up. I'm thinking of buying a round but most seem to be over priced. so I'm finding myself in a bit of a pickle.

Tom White

Re: Not been on for a while, thought I'd say Hi!
« Reply #1 on: October 25, 2011, 03:26:26 pm »
It's tough starting off when you've got a family (I'm assuming you have) to support, and this time of year isn't the time to be doing it either, IMO.

But if you're determined, I'm sure you'll find a way to do it. 

And welcome back.

dave f

Re: Not been on for a while, thought I'd say Hi!
« Reply #2 on: October 25, 2011, 03:51:44 pm »
take it you are at home  now, ;) if you are get out knocking doors while you are posting on here you could be building a round all the best

rosskesava

  • Posts: 17015
Re: Not been on for a while, thought I'd say Hi!
« Reply #3 on: October 25, 2011, 07:59:29 pm »
If that was me, I'd throw caution to the wind, pack the job in and let the devil take the hindmost.

If you're working 10 to 15 hours a day for someone else, in one week, just how much work could you get working 10 - 15 hours a day for yourself? It's a question of motivation and belief in yourself.

A few years ago I was in a similar situation. The stress and tiredness of working like that creates a cloud of apprehension that makes the decision to do something about the situation very difficult. I got a job with a national company doing cradle work and on paper, the wages looked ok but in practise, the goals they set were not achievable and as 50% of my wages were finishing on time..... I stuck at it for 5 long months and like you, I worked 7 days a week.

Then one morning at a job the area manager turned up and started telling me about the need to work faster, etc, etc. All I wanted to do was batter the c... but instead I picked up my gear and walked away.

For a few months after, to say that the missus and me were skint was an understatement. It's amazing what you can do without if you have to and actually, it was in a way refreshing as well.

After the craddle work I made another daft decision and was doing subcontract window cleaning work abseiling but I packed that in earlier this year, not due to the wages but due to the amount of driving and incredibly long hours I was doing, and went back to doing houses and shops. It took me about 3 months to get full books. If I can do that, so can you.

If I was you, I'd dump the job tomorrow and just go for it. All you need is to do is a lot of leg work with leaflets.

(Also, you can get working tax credits and other benefits if you're on low income.)
Just chant..... Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. It's beats chanting Tory Tory or Labour Labour.

colley614

  • Posts: 1557
Re: Not been on for a while, thought I'd say Hi!
« Reply #4 on: October 25, 2011, 11:42:59 pm »
Thanks for the replies guys. Don't get me wrong I'm fully aware of what the path ahead looks like. I have been thinking of plotting an area around my house and picking an area each day for 20 days so I have specific areas each day to canvass on a four weekly rota.

At the start of spring this year I started doing a few domestic jobs at the weekend to build something up that I could expand on but the second time they were due I was ordered to work three weekends in a row in which time my domestics had phoned me and told me to leave them.

I've been thinking of getting a canvassing company in to build up a few days work for me or trying to buy a little work but can't seem to find anything in my area so I think it's going to be a case of knocking doors

rosskesava

  • Posts: 17015
Re: Not been on for a while, thought I'd say Hi!
« Reply #5 on: October 26, 2011, 01:13:37 am »
If you're thinking of using a canvasing company, life can't be that bad can it?

I hardly had enough money to put diesel in the tank let alone pay anyone to canvas.

Sounds like maybe our views on 'no money' are very different.
Just chant..... Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. It's beats chanting Tory Tory or Labour Labour.

colley614

  • Posts: 1557
Re: Not been on for a while, thought I'd say Hi!
« Reply #6 on: October 26, 2011, 01:21:46 am »
I don't mean to use a canvassing company as a long term solution as there's no way I could afford that I mean as a one off to get me something I can build on. If I could afford a canvasser I wouldn't have started this post. I was thinking of using my owed holiday pay to get a little work in as a start but to be honest I would be hard pushed to afford a few thousand leaflets.