[Dave_Lee]

Ive been lazy in the marketing dept for a few years now, just relying on repeats and referrals and hardly spending anything on advertising. Even my news-letters and cards to existing customers have dried up with the increasing postage costs.
Don't get me wrong I draw my state pension and have a couple of other smaller pensions to supplement things.
We have had three holidays this year and I have had a few small breaks walking the countryside.
However workwise I find myself with too many days and afternoons off, so I'm going to pull my finger out and increase work by a minimum £1,000 per month next year. I'm confident I can easily do that and more importantly I know how I'm going to do it. That's £1,000 net. Obviously I will have to spend some on getting that extra work, but it won't be too much throughout the year.
Anyone else with similar plans?
Dave.

[*Hector*]

I'm going the other way Dave...
I aim to be only working at carpets 1 day a week at the most, and will be growing my hypnotherapy business, and introducing psychic reading shows too..... 

 

[Alby]

Why wait till 2015???
Start now..

[Simon Gerrard]

Good for you Dave. I'm 59 and have no plans to retire any time soon. I see too many retired men on my travels trimming the edges of their lawn, the same lawn they trimmed yesterday because they've have sweet fa to do
Not for me

[Mike Halliday]

An extra £250 a week, whats that 3 extra jobs? A short days work

Should be achievable but they won't just appear you need to do a bit of marketing.

I would plan a leaflet campaign of an hour to 90mins a day (consider it part of your excercise routine) a good force march around the local quality villages

[Dave_Lee]

Why wait till 2015? Because this is the busy time of year anyway up to Christmas.
Simon too true, many people are old before their time due to retiring and taking things easy - too easy, and that is dangerous, the body goes downhill fast - stay active - stay alive.
Mike, true, some marketing will be required, but not a lot. When you are working at your peak, spending much on advertising, it is more difficult to raise your game, but when you've simply been ticking over as I have been it is much easier to get things going more. As you say an extra day a week that's all I am talking about, or even a good morning job, as Ive only been averaging around three days a week and finishing far too early, so bags of potential without overdoing things.
Good luck Hector with your new venture, obviously something you are interested in - but then the human mind is interesting.
Dave.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Dave when was the last time you had a price increase? That's one way of getting nearer your goal as well as leaflets etc

Shaun

[William Sharpe]

I'm 64 now I am a  mentor to a young lad now doing carpet/upholstery cleaning on a sub basis mostly nights/week ends, still have a full diary but I am doing more and more bathroom makeovers much more interesting and challenging, so will be concentrating down that road more during 2015. Hopefully at the end of next year this youngster will be fully capable of running a business in all it's aspects  and will manage my business under my watchful eye whilst I play on my fishing boat in Turkey for 6 months of the year No lawn to cut for me

[Dave_Lee]

Dave when was the last time you had a price increase? That's one way of getting nearer your goal as well as leaflets etc

Shaun

About 10 years ago Shaun! Well maybe not quite, but you are right, they are going up too, not by much, but it all makes a difference and any extra is of course straight in the pocket (after tax).
Dave.

[Ian Gourlay]

dave   looks like all you need to do is take your own advise as in another post 

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Dave if you go and do a home visit you'll get every job, Paul Ashworth hasn't been cleaning carpets for 2 years or so and he charged £120 a suite if that gives you a starting point, I don't know what you are charging now but if it's less then this could be useful as he lived close to you.

Shaun

[Dave_Lee]

dave   looks like all you need to do is take your own advise as in another post 

Well that is the basis of it.
Shaun, I know what they charged, problem was they raised their prices quite suddenly and lost a lot of previous customers.
Anyway that's not my problem - I don't have a problem.
I was just stating that I am going to raise my game a bit to fill in those far too frequent empty days. I'd rather be working than looking for something to do.
It's not a case of needing to up things, but thought I may as well. Who knows then maybe we can have four holidays a year!
dave.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Now now Dave I'm only offering a different slant on things.

Shaun

[Dave_Lee]

Now now Dave I'm only offering a different slant on things.

Shaun

No, Shaun, I didn't mean that Paul, not in business anymore or his pricing etc, was not my problem. I meant that prices weren't my problem and that the reason I am going to up things next year was not due to a problem, it is just something I have decided to do.
Dave.

[david washbrook]

Good on you dave

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

Although I am finding the physical side harder as I get older (56) it is also spurring me to up my fitness and am now much fitter than I was 10 years ago, mainly through cycling.

Recently went to reunion and a lot of my mates seem to have ended up as accountants and we all agreed that although I had to work harder for my money I was a lot fitter than them.

Cheers

Doug

[Hilton]

Keeping fit is vitally important if you are to continue in this game for any length of time or any other business for that matter,

If you are not doing so already I would make 2015 the year to get fit, it will benefit you in so many ways especially when under a bit of stress but also to keep your head clear when building your business.

For the record I run 20 miles a week and do weight training 3 times a week (not body building) that is plenty enough for me I could do more but don't need to its just nice to 'feel' fit.

And like Doug when I meet up with old mates most are well over weight,smoke and drink too much, have a crap diet and are generally not very fit at all.

[Ian Gourlay]

The point is Dave is Super fit

[Dave_Lee]

The point is Dave is Super fit

Am I? I don't really feel super fit. However that is my objective between now and next January in time for Spine Race 2105.
Dave.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Dave also doubles up as Barry Chuckle its a side line he doesn't tell anyone about one minute he's deep clean Dave the next he's barry a bit like 'to me to you'!

Shaun