How engaged are you with your business outside of typical work hours?

[climbingmonkey24]

I guess everyone's work / life balance looks different and it depends on what you enjoy, other things you got going on and or hobbies, family, etc. You could also argue there's the physical and mental health aspects to consider.

Do you ever find yourself engaged with your business almost 24/7? Answering the phone, returning calls / messages, doing estimates, checking emails, etc. nearly 7 days a week and at all different hours of the day. Or do you try and step away over the weekend or after a certain time, operate with a more set schedule, set boundaries, etc.?

 

[96coal449]

It's easy to become fully engulfed. It will burn you out in short time. There are weeks where I still put in 7 day weeks, but only because I get less time during winter months for productive days. I use the bad weather days to do maintenance in the garage, and sometimes estimates. I try to keep most of my evenings for home life, where i can either do chores or relax.

I really don't let myself get concreted in a repetitive set schedule.

 

[southsoundtree]

I don't answer my work phone unless it's my local prefix, and only sometimes if they are local.


If they don't want to leave a message, that's okay.
I have more work than I can handle.


Is gotten easier over time.





How much are you running out of work, if at all?

 

[VenasNursery]

I don't answer my work phone unless it's my local prefix, and only sometimes if they are local.


If they don't want to leave a message, that's okay.
I have more work than I can handle.


Is gotten easier over time.





How much are you running out of work, if at all?

We’re booked until October

 

[Mick Dempsey]

Aren’t we engaged with work if we’re posting on a work related forum?
Anyway, Sunday at 11.18 here, finished the weeding of the beds, off to the workshop for a bit of sharpening and maintenance.
Impossible for me to draw a line between work and non work really, gets blurry.

 

[climbingmonkey24]

How much are you running out of work, if at all?

Not running out of work, been happy with how things are going actually and how busy I am.

I was just curious what others did.

I could never NOT return someone's call (unless it's not a customer looking for an estimate and someone trying to sell something or what have you). Even if it's not in an area I serve, I call everyone back and try to do so within a 24 hr time limit even if it's just to tell them I don't service their area.

 

[climbingmonkey24]

Anyway, Sunday at 11.18 here, finished the weeding of the beds,

That's on my chore list for today. That and cleaning out the garage of tree gear so the car can go back in there. lol

 

[flushcut]

I think if you own a small business you are always engaged in it. I can’t go to a party or somebodies house or anywhere for that matter without being asked tree questions. I will get calls and texts at 10pm some nights but I’ll return the calls during business hours.

 

[Serf Life]

We worked an 8 hr Saturday yesterday, I’m solo today finishing an island job. Behind on paperwork so probably tomorrow night catchup. Generally don’t work weekends but need to barge off the skid steers this evening with the tide. I do work stuff every day but try to keep a chill pace and not put too much pressure on it. Marathon not a sprint…

 

[Boomslang]

7:30-4:30 Mon-Fri are the official business hours. Depending on my mood and/or plans for the day I may start answering emails at 6:30 (I don't make calls before 8am as common courtesy). But I may also stop answering the phone or emails at 3:30/4 and leave things for the next day. Or I may be returning messages as late as 8pm

What little maintenance I have gets done after the kid is in bed or on Fridays, which I leave open for quotes, maintenance, rescheduled jobs, or just a day off.

 

[Serf Life]

I will get calls and texts at 10pm some nights

What’s up with that? Wish people would quit doing that

 

[Stumpsprouts]

What’s up with that? Wish people would quit doing that

In my experience, always boomers, usually on weed gummies, with a little bit of dementia beginning to mix in… You have to make your own boundaries.

I’ll answer work related questions any day of the week, but I work much more efficiently if I mark things as unread and address a half dozen things in one sitting.

 

[southsoundtree]

Not running out of work, been happy with how things are going actually and how busy I am.

I was just curious what others did.

I could never NOT return someone's call (unless it's not a customer looking for an estimate and someone trying to sell something or what have you). Even if it's not in an area I serve, I call everyone back and try to do so within a 24 hr time limit even if it's just to tell them I don't service their area.

If you're booked, be happy you're not getting every bid.




Good to respond to all calls.

 

[islandarb]

I shut off at 5 most days of week. Weekends are mine. Unless commercial work, which has to be done Sat or Sun. I refuse to answer calls at night. It can wait til the next day. Forums are my fun and do it after kids and wife asleep.

 

[27RMT0N]

My work-life balance is terrible honestly, it's rare that I go a day without doing something work related, but that is often the case being self employed. During the week I'm doing jobs or bids, in the evenings I'm cleaning tools for the next day and doing calls/emails, on the weekends I'm usually catching up on the maintenance or paperwork for the coming week. I try to take more time for myself, but am not very good at it.

 

[96coal449]

Local guy I recently started working with, delegates some maintenance to crew. One guy will blow out the engine air filter from chipper, using air compressor, inside out. Another will use same air to clean saws. Someone fills fuel up the diesel powered equipment. from storage tank. All the little tasks. Doesn't take long when 3 or 4 guys are gettin it done. Helps free up time to the business owner.

 

[27RMT0N]

That's what I'm trying to get to, but my house and shop is on one island and my work and potential employees is on another, with hours of ferry commutes in between. That's why I'm trying to move to the bigger island build a shop and house there, but it's been a very slow process. Tomorrow is literally my only employees last day before he moves to the mainland, so I'm about to start flying solo again...

 

[flushcut]

What’s up with that? Wish people would quit doing that

I’m not sure. Funny thing it was from guy who I had to chase for three months to get paid. He and his wife were probably drunk and arguing about the trees.
But I have a feeling I won’t be calling back.

 

[cory]

As Crazy Jimmy said, 'having a business is like having a pet dragon, it's always gotta be fed'

 

[climbingmonkey24]

Before working in the tree care industry, I worked as a tow truck driver where I was sometimes on call basically 24/7, had the truck with me all the time and took it home, and could get called out anytime day or night. I actually enjoyed that job quite a bit though. Got to meet a lot of people, travel around, etc. Would sometimes get some anxiety because anytime you start something not work related you worry is the phone going to ring and am I going to have to run out. Or getting called out repeatedly through the night, and not being able to fall asleep because you're anticipating the next call or getting very little sleep.

Great experiences though, and I am thankful for it because I feel like that job helped me build customer service skills and the ability to handle different types of situations and interactions with people, which naturally carries over into business.

Outside of work really the only other thing I make sure to set aside some time for is working out. Not just for physical health and or specific fitness goals, but also the positive impact it can have on mental health / mindset. For years I was getting up at 3am - 4am to workout first thing before starting my day, but this year I have switched up my routine a bit and have been working out after work.