[LT carpet cleaning]

Can't help I'm afraid I'm bored senseless same as you really. The excitement is building a round gaining, work. Now I'm bursting at the seams it's just a job.

Coming on here is addictive and a complete waste of spare time. Always someone to laugh at though. 

Yep, usually you.

 

[Stoots]

What you have to remember is most people don't like their jobs. That's why it's a job. Unless you are one of the few who are doing what they really want to do you're not going to be jumping out of bed every morning. When I was employed I didn't like my job and there were days I really had to force myself to go but go I did because if I didn't eventually I would get sacked. When self employed there isn't that threat forcing you to go so motivation is harder.

When employed my mind was occupied by thinking about what I was going to do when I get home or on the weekend, plotting the next holiday or purchase etc.

Since becoming self employed all I seem to think about is the business. Hours and hours per week thinking about work.

Life shouldn't be like that. Maybe streamlining e the business, work 3 or 4 days rather than 5 and refine your customers to the very cream profitable work. Use the other days to explore various hobbies or look into other areas of business, there's thousands of other ways to make money out there maybe explore them.

But it sounds to me you are depressed and if this is the case the job is irrelevant it will follow you whatever you  do.

[Smurf]

What you have to remember is most people don't like their jobs. That's why it's a job. Unless you are one of the few who are doing what they really want to do you're not going to be jumping out of bed every morning. When I was employed I didn't like my job and there were days I really had to force myself to go but go I did because if I didn't eventually I would get sacked. When self employed there isn't that threat forcing you to go so motivation is harder.

When employed my mind was occupied by thinking about what I was going to do when I get home or on the weekend, plotting the next holiday or purchase etc.

Since becoming self employed all I seem to think about is the business. Hours and hours per week thinking about work.

Life shouldn't be like that. Maybe streamlining e the business, work 3 or 4 days rather than 5 and refine your customers to the very cream profitable work. Use the other days to explore various hobbies or look into other areas of business, there's thousands of other ways to make money out there maybe explore them.

But it sounds to me you are depressed and if this is the case the job is irrelevant it will follow you whatever you  do.

Good post but you missed out the bit of working all your life and just peed off at the thought of doing any more work.
A good motivator is my wife drives me nuts and also has a big stick to prod me out of the door 

[windowswashed]

Life is never greener on the other side. All about attitudes and motivation.  Don't appreciate what you have now until you lose it. 

Take a good self assesment from time to time. Figure out what you want in life and set realistic goals or dreams or lower your expectations. Make short term plans in whatever gets you inspired and try to commit yourself to reaching it. Keeping in touch with reality can bring you back from a slump. 

[supernova77]

This is a good thread with some really helpful advice.

I've been window cleaning 10 years now and have been through lots of highs and lows...

Last year I came to the realisation that I wanted to do something else business wise part time away from window cleaning... I have a guy who works for me (window cleaning) 4 days a week out of one van - I work 3 - 4 out of the other van and spend the other time (1 to 2 days) on my new part time business ... I'm really enjoying the balance.

Andy

[Leeds]

Learn to enjoy the process of making money.

You'll never be bored then. I'll tell you now.

[SeanK]

Dave I was in the same boat for a while and nearly called it a day, the thing is I have also found that I no longer get job
interviews that I used to get with ease, don't know if this down to age (53) being self employed for the last 9 years or even being a window cleaner not that it matters.
So like yourself I now accept that this is my lot and have to make the best of it, the thing now that I'm not thinking about the grass
being greener elsewhere I have started to focus more on my business and I am starting to enjoy/tolerate it again.
The hardest part is getting out in the morning so I follow the advice I got from Dazmond which is make sure everything is ready
to go the evening before so its just a matter of jumping into the van a driving off, I also take plenty of grub and a flask of tea/coffee with me so as I'm not tempted to go home for lunch which usually ended up as the end of the working day.
As somebody has already said very few enjoy their work so the best that we can do is look for ways to make it more bearable.

 

[dazmond]

i might have to give it a miss today!im all organised and ready to go as usual but the weather is AWFUL!ill give it another hour and if it doesnt improve im sacking it off til tomorrow.

i seriously cant remember the last time i suffered from lack of motivation or real boredom.even though the weathers bad im itching to get out there and get my scheduled work cleaned.i think its down to the hours i work.i think id be absolutely sick of it if i had to work 6 days a week,10 hours a day with no time/energy for hobbies/other interests etc.

i reckon 30-35 hours a week is my sweet spot without it becoming a daily grind.

i dont faff about while im working either.i work at a steady,brisk pace and know exactly what work needs doing.of course i will stop for a brew and a quick  chat with a customer or fellow windy sometimes.

i find my working days fly by and never "drag" EVER.

[dave f]

I must say I thought it was only me that got peed off with job I get fed up with bad payers weather etc changing jobs aint an option I'm 53  so its a bit difficult in a small town but hey ho  when the money comes in  happy days  I do have a couple of hobbies  which dose help a bit I think it must be the male menopause cant wait until july  I'm off to montego bay

[ChumBucket]

i might have to give it a miss today!im all organised and ready to go as usual but the weather is AWFUL!ill give it another hour and if it doesnt improve im sacking it off til tomorrow.

i seriously cant remember the last time i suffered from lack of motivation or real boredom.even though the weathers bad im itching to get out there and get my scheduled work cleaned.i think its down to the hours i work.i think id be absolutely sick of it if i had to work 6 days a week,10 hours a day with no time/energy for hobbies/other interests etc.

i reckon 30-35 hours a week is my sweet spot without it becoming a daily grind.

i dont faff about while im working either.i work at a steady,brisk pace and know exactly what work needs doing.of course i will stop for a brew and a quick  chat with a customer or fellow windy sometimes.

i find my working days fly by and never "drag" EVER.

Same here.

[Ian101]

Dave I was in the same boat for a while and nearly called it a day, the thing is I have also found that I no longer get job
interviews that I used to get with ease, don't know if this down to age (53) being self employed for the last 9 years or even being a window cleaner not that it matters.

Ive been at this since 2010 and prior to that was in sales and then sales management in the motor trade last job was a sales manager for a Toyota garage but every day was potential my last day as my face no longer fitted in.

about 2013 / 2014 got fed up of window cleaning and decided to sell up and go back to sales management in the motor trade ..

I struggled like hell to get an interview but the 2 I did went as follows

one interview I managed to get was by 3 owners of a new Hyundai garage who during the second interview admitted to me that they only gave me a first interview for a bit of fun. when they called me to arrange a third and final interview I told them no thanks another place a large ford dealer wanted me to be new, used sales manager, salesman and finance manger all for 20k basic ... actually laughed out at them and said errr no not for me thanks

so after this I knew this was "my lot" however was a kick I needed to change my business if its ok to call a window cleaning round a business 

so far looked at franchising or growing the residential to expand to employ pros and cons for both however been mulling this over now for about 2 years and to be honest turns out im not convinced by either or perhaps im not the right person for setting up a franchise business. ??

then about a month ago I seen the light for the direction I want to go it was like a moment of clarity ... by end of 2017 I will be 100% commercial and just big private houses £60 min charge but more in the £200 + range - I also pressure wash as a distraction from the window cleaning so will be combining this with other services and become a commercial building cleaning company along like of purple rhino / jv price etc etc. ........... because I now feel motivated the boredom is no longer an issue.

I think what im trying to say is you can stay as you are which is nothing wrong with that just the boredom will always be an issue or keep seeking out new challenges and higher earnings.

[Dave Willis]

Totally hacked off today. Get up, same breakfast, same tv, same non conversation, kids go off the same time, say goodbye to the same wife, drive off in the same traffic, every window looks the friggin same. Frigging hate this dead end boring poope life.


Pack up lunch time, then take myself out for a nice walk, river wasn't deep enough to top myself so had to come home to the same wife watching the same cooking poope programme they show every day.

Life is crap I'm afraid.

[Dave Willis]

By the way, if I earned treble the amount I do now I'd still be hacked off, the money doesn't come into it for me it's still a mind numbingly boring  job for anyone with half a brain.

[dazmond]

By the way, if I earned treble the amount I do now I'd still be hacked off, the money doesn't come into it for me it's still a mind numbingly boring  job for anyone with half a brain.

ive got half a brain and almost enjoy window cleaning dave!

mind you anyone who has suffered addiction whether its drug abuse/alcohol etc and managed to get clean and sober and deal with his demons over a long period of time(10-15 years)and has created a new life away from his old one never takes anything for granted.

i love my life/work/hobbies/friends/family etc,etc

have a great weekend chaps

[ChumBucket]

By the way, if I earned treble the amount I do now I'd still be hacked off, the money doesn't come into it for me it's still a mind numbingly boring  job for anyone with half a brain.

I can't quite work out why you claim to be bored so quickly David!!

[andyM]

Another day in paradise! 

[robbo333]

I get bored now and again, but then I think every job gets boring at times and you just have to get on with it. I usually have a chat and a cuppa with the custys but then they usually just go on about their 'Lumbago' or how many hospital visits they've had this week, or who's died recently! Naturally i'm feeling Mr Happy after all that! The bit I do like though is the realisation that this is my 'lot'. Ok it's boring but that 'lot' can be anything you want it to be. It can be big (like some of the big players on here) or small, like me, happy and contented like Daz. It can give people the valuable time they need to enjoy life and taking the kids to school. Window cleaning can be anything you want it to be (within reason) and that's gotta be good!

[dazmond]

i went out in the end today and this morning was awful weather wise.all customers paid me though bar one who was out.thats what you call WELL TRAINED CUSTOMERS!!

i nice 3 days off now with all work up to date although debt list is currently  £920 owing.

[Dave Willis]

By the way, if I earned treble the amount I do now I'd still be hacked off, the money doesn't come into it for me it's still a mind numbingly boring  job for anyone with half a brain.

I can't quite work out why you claim to be bored so quickly David!!

Cheek!

Didn't help doing four huge blocks of flats this week, all with the same layout in the same area.

[Stoots]

I think daz has it right with the 30 -35 hours a week thing.


I need time to think and organise, i could work 6 day weeks running around like a headless chicken  9-5 and it would be good money wise, but ill bet i  could earn almost as much in 4-5 days working 9-3 using the spare time to refine the round,  put prices up, canvass higher paying customers, drop lower priced ones, compact and streamline your setup and workflow. Its not all about killing yourself workwise is about being smart and maximising every hour profit wise. That then gives you the time to enjoy life.