owner operator lifestyle

climbingmonkey24 said:
Most recently, I’ve started turning my email notifications off around 3pm-5pm and any emails I get can be dealt with the next morning. I may still be working at that time or sometimes later into the evening, but I allow myself time to take a step back and not have that pressure of calling customers, scheduling appointments, etc. I’ve been doing this on the weekends too. Any calls or emails after around 1pm on Saturday I will likely return on Monday (with some possible exceptions).

I didn’t always do this. As a former tow truck driver I’m used to a 24/7 work schedule.

The one thing that I do that I think helps with everything else I do is working out / fitness. Not just to stay at the top of my game physically but also because it has such a positive impact on my mental health / mindset. I think it’s important to have something that you’re doing for yourself that makes you feel good and helps you stay grounded and focused.
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I love this. Setting boundaries for the business and personal life is what is needed.
 
96coal449 said:
Levi, you still do a lot of work with your brother? If so, how about splitting some of the task work loads. Giving one another a break on a daily or weekly basis?
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yeah good call. Actually we do that from time to time, definitely helps! I was away from the business for a long period last year so I've been doing some extra admin shit. All good.
 
burtonbc1400 said:
I'm on the tools 3 or 4 days a week. My staff is Monday to Wednesday, I'll go out and do quotes or small solo jobs Thursday, quotes maintenance office or downtime Friday.

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do you just have part-timers working for you?

I am considering whether to hire a full-time employee, I would like to get to this point but I always feel swamped with all the admin work- but i keep forgetting my wife's sickness and our 2 and 4 yo kids needs has made it hard for me to get in the field more than 3 days a week. She is slowly getting better from Long haul covid, praise God!

I am also getting some more counsel on how I go about my administrative work- I am sure there are plenty of ways I could become more decisive with my estimates, recognizing where I need to delegate, etc.
-my remote accountant who does some of the budgeting and tracking work has definitely been a blessing!

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L3VI said:
I actually kind of hate working too much and would rather just sit by the river...
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Levi, whutta great post! I can totally relate.

Mick Dempsey said:
I’m older than you, 60 in a few months and I am thinking of retiring...

I’ll miss doing something that means something, being part of the universe, taking money, spending money, giving money to the government who spend it on hospitals or bombing foreign countries or whatever.

Enjoy the journey, that’s where the real flavour lies.
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But I'm exactly in Mik's boat. 65 y o looking at retirement. Mik captured perfectly the thrill of conquering the daily challenges and being part of the economic food web.

So Mik, do you have a bucket list or a plan re how to enjoy retirement?
 
Mick Dempsey said:
I don’t find it an issue, work during the day, keep on top of bookwork after a cup of tea when you get home (and before the wine)
Pricing at the weekend or evening.
Try and sort stuff when it arrives I suppose.
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Sounds like this is code for: Mick works virtually non stop, 6+ days/week
 
cory said:
Levi, whutta great post! I can totally relate.


But I'm exactly in Mik's boat. 65 y o looking at retirement. Mik captured perfectly the thrill of conquering the daily challenges and being part of the economic food web.

So Mik, do you have a bucket list or a plan re how to enjoy retirement?
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Good question.
We won’t stay here (in rural France) thats fairly sure.
We have a house on the coast 2 hours from here where we will probably spend the large part of the year, apart from that possibly Portugal, possibly the UK, or possibly find a lump one day and spend a year in front of various consultants before expiration and making the whole thing moot:)
 
3 of us, my wife, me, and 1 employee. Field work 3 days a week, one day for estimates and maintenance. Work phone is shut off at 5 every day and I do not respond to emails on my time. I'm able to go to the gym 4 days a week and my body always feels ready for work! I will never go back to 5-6 days 8-12 hours climbing. My wife and I are able to enjoy much more time together and doing hobbies compared to previous years of working as employees for others.
 
ClimberClyde said:
3 of us, my wife, me, and 1 employee. Field work 3 days a week, one day for estimates and maintenance. Work phone is shut off at 5 every day and I do not respond to emails on my time. I'm able to go to the gym 4 days a week and my body always feels ready for work! I will never go back to 5-6 days 8-12 hours climbing. My wife and I are able to enjoy much more time together and doing hobbies compared to previous years of working as employees for others.
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That's why I started working for myself, more personal time not less. Way to go!

Not disparaging the go getters either, to each their own, I just can't get myself into the workaholic mindset personally.
 
L3VI said:
That's why I started working for myself, more personal time not less. Way to go!

Not disparaging the go getters either, to each their own, I just can't get myself into the workaholic mindset personally.
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We're similar in that! Realistically if I could not work I would, but I need to so this is the best option, to do something I love without grinding my body to dust.
I would burn myself out and end up hating it if I went the workaholic route personally.
 
I struggle with balance. I struggle with being happy. It's either so busy I hope for a rain day or there's nothing. When there's nothing I'm worried about not having work. My business is tanking this year. What I did to try to maintain my sanity is to get myself in a financial place where I don't have to panic if I don't have any work. I also put myself in a place where I can make the choice to lower my rates and get work or keep the rates and not work. I have enough capital I can stop working today and not have to sell the truck for about 10 months. Maybe a year if I cancel my insurance and just cover the truck parked. Work limps in and rite now the goal is to cover all the expenses. I've been able to do that except for FEB MAR APR. I lost money all 3 of those months. As long as I dont have to dip into the account to cover the bills I'll let it ride out and see what the future holds. If it comes to the point where I'm loosing a lot of money every month then I'll have to decide if I wanna sell the truck or not. If I do, I have no idea what I'll do. I'm not the climber I was 6 years ago. My skills and knowledge are way surpassed by the next generation of climbers. I'm old and fairly grumpy. I don't know anybody that would hire me and that I'd be willing to work for. I have no desire to grind hard. Really I just wanna do crane work as a climber. Its so strange. Not having work makes me not wanna work when I have work. I hate the time off but dread having a full week of work. Up is down, left is rite, nothing makes sense anymore. I have to say this is the most strange and confusing time I've ever experienced in my own personal journey. SO much internal dialogue. I'm not sure I'm the one I should be hanging out with all the time. LOL. The balance thing is a common bond but manifests in so many different ways. I think, for myself, the best effort I can put in to not give a shit and just let the universe guide me, might be the most sane approach for now. This business pattern has broken the mold from what I've experienced in years past. Thanks goodness I get a retirement check from the FD to help.
 
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Steve Connally said:
I struggle with balance. I struggle with being happy. It's either so busy I hope for a rain day or there's nothing. When there's nothing I'm worried about not having work. My business is tanking this year. What I did to try to maintain my sanity is to get myself in a financial place where I don't have to panic if I don't have any work. I also put myself in a place where I can make the choice to lower my rates and get work or keep the rates and not work. I have enough capital I can stop working today and not have to sell the truck for about 10 months. Maybe a year if I cancel my insurance and just cover the truck parked. Work limps in and rite now the goal is to cover all the expenses. I've been able to do that except for FEB MAR APR. I lost money all 3 of those months. As long as I dont have to dip into the account to cover the bills I'll let it ride out and see what the future holds. If it comes to the point where I'm loosing a lot of money every month then I'll have to decide if I wanna sell the truck or not. If I do, I have no idea what I'll do. I'm not the climber I was 6 years ago. My skills and knowledge are way surpassed by the next generation of climbers. I'm old and fairly grumpy. I don't know anybody that would hire me and that I'd be willing to work for. I have no desire to grind hard. Really I just wanna do crane work as a climber. Its so strange. Not having work makes me not wanna work when I have work. I hate the time off but dread having a full week of work. Up is down, left is rite, nothing makes sense anymore. I have to say this is the most strange and confusing time I've ever experienced in my own personal journey. SO much internal dialogue. I'm not sure I'm the one I should be hanging out with all the time. LOL. The balance thing is a common bond but manifests in so many different ways. I think, for myself, the best effort I can put in to not give a shit and just let the universe guide me, might be the most sane approach for now. This business pattern has broken the mold from what I've experienced in years past. Thanks goodness I get a retirement check from the FD to help.
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See my other post, brother.
 
In the AM I’m taking down a crispy one up against a (vacant) house, tiny driveway next to a busy highway. Had a brilliant idea of getting my dump trailer backed in there late night while there wasn’t traffic….. 11PM hooked up to it, found a flat during the walk around…. Hour and a half later of fucking around got the trailer backed in. Big bid early in the AM before the takedown too. Didn’t have these problems when I was an employee… but it’s worth it.
 
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Steve Connally said:
I struggle with balance. I struggle with being happy. It's either so busy I hope for a rain day or there's nothing. When there's nothing I'm worried about not having work. My business is tanking this year. What I did to try to maintain my sanity is to get myself in a financial place where I don't have to panic if I don't have any work. I also put myself in a place where I can make the choice to lower my rates and get work or keep the rates and not work. I have enough capital I can stop working today and not have to sell the truck for about 10 months. Maybe a year if I cancel my insurance and just cover the truck parked. Work limps in and rite now the goal is to cover all the expenses. I've been able to do that except for FEB MAR APR. I lost money all 3 of those months. As long as I dont have to dip into the account to cover the bills I'll let it ride out and see what the future holds. If it comes to the point where I'm loosing a lot of money every month then I'll have to decide if I wanna sell the truck or not. If I do, I have no idea what I'll do. I'm not the climber I was 6 years ago. My skills and knowledge are way surpassed by the next generation of climbers. I'm old and fairly grumpy. I don't know anybody that would hire me and that I'd be willing to work for. I have no desire to grind hard. Really I just wanna do crane work as a climber. Its so strange. Not having work makes me not wanna work when I have work. I hate the time off but dread having a full week of work. Up is down, left is rite, nothing makes sense anymore. I have to say this is the most strange and confusing time I've ever experienced in my own personal journey. SO much internal dialogue. I'm not sure I'm the one I should be hanging out with all the time. LOL. The balance thing is a common bond but manifests in so many different ways. I think, for myself, the best effort I can put in to not give a shit and just let the universe guide me, might be the most sane approach for now. This business pattern has broken the mold from what I've experienced in years past. Thanks goodness I get a retirement check from the FD to help.
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My cousin, a landscaper, just said he is going to make $8,000 today taking down some medium sized trees and piling them. I was hoping to get this person a bid as he had originally referred me to them however I am so swamped with administrative work on top of field work I have trouble fitting 30 minute trips. He went ahead and quoted it and got to go ahead. from the pictures I saw of what looked like mostly droppable trees, I'm sure I would not have quoted eight grand , maybe 4, but he has done well raking in high margins on all of his work. something to learn from.

I've found myself dwelling on what seems like I missed out, get jealous, and generally be negative- not a blessing to my wife and kids, those who see me in the daily grind. reminds me of the warnings I've read from wise people especially in the Bible about anxiety, putting hope into riches, and giftedness- I have not yet figured out how to makes such margins yet, but I can be patient and try to walk with wise people.

for now, I know my jealousy hurts people, So the following instruction helps me to shake myself out of a funk- if I will let myself listen to it, that is...
"Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you. Therefore, we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
Hebrews 13:5‭-‬6 CSB

I have worried about what I will do when I'm older as well, if I don't pull in enough margins, I'm going to have less cushion when I start to have less energy- Will try to do my best now to keep learning to be a good steward and leave the results in God's hands.

-I will say, I sure have appreciated the wiser folks who have invested in me, giving me instruction that has kept me from getting hurt, work more efficiently, ask good questions and lead people better
- this includes your folks here on the forum, really appreciate your help and camaraderie!
I hope to be able to give back in some ways

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk
 
Joster19 said:
My cousin, a landscaper, just said he is going to make $8,000 today taking down some medium sized trees and piling them. I was hoping to get this person a bid as he had originally referred me to them however I am so swamped with administrative work on top of field work I have trouble fitting 30 minute trips. He went ahead and quoted it and got to go ahead. from the pictures I saw of what looked like mostly droppable trees, I'm sure I would not have quoted eight grand , maybe 4, but he has done well raking in high margins on all of his work. something to learn from.

I've found myself dwelling on what seems like I missed out, get jealous, and generally be negative- not a blessing to my wife and kids, those who see me in the daily grind. reminds me of the warnings I've read from wise people especially in the Bible about anxiety, putting hope into riches, and giftedness- I have not yet figured out how to makes such margins yet, but I can be patient and try to walk with wise people.

for now, I know my jealousy hurts people, So the following instruction helps me to shake myself out of a funk- if I will let myself listen to it, that is...
"Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you. Therefore, we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
Hebrews 13:5‭-‬6 CSB

I have worried about what I will do when I'm older as well, if I don't pull in enough margins, I'm going to have less cushion when I start to have less energy- Will try to do my best now to keep learning to be a good steward and leave the results in God's hands.

-I will say, I sure have appreciated the wiser folks who have invested in me, giving me instruction that has kept me from getting hurt, work more efficiently, ask good questions and lead people better
- this includes your folks here on the forum, really appreciate your help and camaraderie!
I hope to be able to give back in some ways

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk
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Thank you for your insight. I've read it a couple times and will probably read it again. Jealously is something I've been struggling with. Not envy but jealousy. Its a work in progress.
 
Steve Connally said:
I think, for myself, the best effort I can put in to not give a shit and just let the universe guide me, might be the most sane approach for now.
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I appreciate your post and concerns, I can relate to it all.

Your comment highlighted above brought to mind this book which I really enjoyed and the whole thing speaks directly to that idea.

 
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