[jay moley]

Ive completely had it with this job. I posted a recent thread about it and have tried to soldier on but I really can't go on.

I'm having dark thoughts while out cleaning and to be honest I'd say im depressed.

I need to make a change but don't want to lose the business as it has good potential.

Does anyone run the business and do another job too?

I have no idea what else I could do either. My previous experience is in sales but part time sales jobs are paying £10 an hour.

Feel properly *&%(!~~~

[zesty]

Hi Jay,

You’ve got to be really sure it’s this job that’s making you down, because if it isn’t, you’ll feel the same or possibly worse in another job, particularly as window cleaning is very much a stress free job.

Important to get to the root of the issue, find out what’s getting you down and begin to deal with it...

All the best mate .

[jay moley]

Hi Jay,

You’ve got to be really sure it’s this job that’s making you down, because if it isn’t, you’ll feel the same or possibly worse in another job, particularly as window cleaning is very much a stress free job.

Important to get to the root of the issue, find out what’s getting you down and begin to deal with it...

All the best mate .

Thanks for the reply.

It's definitely the job. I love everything else about my life.

Only thing I can think of is getting someone in to do the work and just canvass to grow to a second van. I enjoy canvassing and growing the business. Ive added 95 new customers this year mainly through canvassing after work.

[Arnold Palmer]

I'm part time international man of mystery, the pay is shyte but the martinis are great.

[Richard iSparkle]

Hi Jay,

You’ve got to be really sure it’s this job that’s making you down, because if it isn’t, you’ll feel the same or possibly worse in another job, particularly as window cleaning is very much a stress free job.

Important to get to the root of the issue, find out what’s getting you down and begin to deal with it...

All the best mate .

Thanks for the reply.

It's definitely the job. I love everything else about my life.

Only thing I can think of is getting someone in to do the work and just canvass to grow to a second van. I enjoy canvassing and growing the business. Ive added 95 new customers this year mainly through canvassing after work.

was listening to Jordan Peterson talking about people working extremely hard can massively benefit from taking 4 day weekends every month or couple of months. he said in general they end up earning more than previous as a result, and are happier.

if you have been cleaning and canvassing hard i'm not surprised you are feeling down mate.

i wonder how much is depression and how much could be run down or burnout. they are pretty similar, but if you say you love the rest of your life that doesn't sound necessarily like a depression. im not an expert though

for me it very important that i see a future in window cleaning. if i feel i am just running around cleaning windows that is not enough for me. however much money i might be earning. so i need to see growth and development of the business, so staff, turnover, a smoother running machine... emptying staff in good jobs, whatever it is... i need to feel i am doing something 'significant' and stimulating for me

i spent most of last year convinced i was planning my exit from this business, but with the help of a really experienced entrepreneurs and now that i am in a small group of likeminded window cleaners... i feel motivated and energised about iSparkle again.

good luck

[jay moley]

Hi Jay,

You’ve got to be really sure it’s this job that’s making you down, because if it isn’t, you’ll feel the same or possibly worse in another job, particularly as window cleaning is very much a stress free job.

Important to get to the root of the issue, find out what’s getting you down and begin to deal with it...

All the best mate .

Thanks for the reply.

It's definitely the job. I love everything else about my life.

Only thing I can think of is getting someone in to do the work and just canvass to grow to a second van. I enjoy canvassing and growing the business. Ive added 95 new customers this year mainly through canvassing after work.

was listening to Jordan Peterson talking about people working extremely hard can massively benefit from taking 4 day weekends every month or couple of months. he said in general they end up earning more than previous as a result, and are happier.

if you have been cleaning and canvassing hard i'm not surprised you are feeling down mate.

i wonder how much is depression and how much could be run down or burnout. they are pretty similar, but if you say you love the rest of your life that doesn't sound necessarily like a depression. im not an expert though

for me it very important that i see a future in window cleaning. if i feel i am just running around cleaning windows that is not enough for me. however much money i might be earning. so i need to see growth and development of the business, so staff, turnover, a smoother running machine... emptying staff in good jobs, whatever it is... i need to feel i am doing something 'significant' and stimulating for me

i spent most of last year convinced i was planning my exit from this business, but with the help of a really experienced entrepreneurs and now that i am in a small group of likeminded window cleaners... i feel motivated and energised about iSparkle again.

good luck

The business growth and canvassing really excites me.

Its the actual window cleaning that I hate.

I agree its not proper depression but its starting to affect the rest of my life including my relationship with the missis as im so miserable. It can't go on.

Feel like going all in - employing someone 5 days a week and just hitting the canvassing hard to get a second van. Big risk tho.

[NWH]

If you suffer with depression it will be nothing to do with cleaning windows it wouldn’t matter what job you did,all a new job would do is perk you up initially but how is it going to get rid of you’re depression.
You go out you are you’re own boss I take you make a good enough living or enough,a solitary job won’t give you depression it will just bring it out in you seek help it’s out there m8.

[Matt.]

Nice NWH.... good to see u throwing some advise his way

Jay ....... we all get like that every now and then mate, some days are better than others so take a few positive things in ur life and focus on them.

Employing people can make things worse if they arnt good at there jobs an it can be a nightmare employing.

I struggled for a bit once my kids grew up as I always worked hard to provide for them now they moved out an I was like wtf is going on ere I all of a sudden am like cba. 

This was before covid and my work is all commercial so as u can imagine I have 3 vans and more bills than money coming in for last year.
Am back out full time now and I feel all pumped up an ready to take on the world again.
For me personally I think not having my kids to provide for took the pressure away, which I thrives on and I was thinking what am I working all these hours for now if they av moved out an getting on with there life’s.

Like said above take a long weekend off go for a walk with ur Mrs and talk to her about how u feeling mate.
U av just got urself in a little rut, an this is probably coz u earn enough to pay ur bills and just going through the motions weekly.

If u go work for someone u will be on less money and more stress.
Hope tomora is a better day for u mate and just take it day by day
Matt 

[jay moley]

Nice NWH.... good to see u throwing some advise his way

Jay ....... we all get like that every now and then mate, some days are better than others so take a few positive things in ur life and focus on them.

Employing people can make things worse if they arnt good at there jobs an it can be a nightmare employing.

I struggled for a bit once my kids grew up as I always worked hard to provide for them now they moved out an I was like wtf is going on ere I all of a sudden am like cba. 

This was before covid and my work is all commercial so as u can imagine I have 3 vans and more bills than money coming in for last year.
Am back out full time now and I feel all pumped up an ready to take on the world again.
For me personally I think not having my kids to provide for took the pressure away, which I thrives on and I was thinking what am I working all these hours for now if they av moved out an getting on with there life’s.

Like said above take a long weekend off go for a walk with ur Mrs and talk to her about how u feeling mate.
U av just got urself in a little rut, an this is probably coz u earn enough to pay ur bills and just going through the motions weekly.

If u go work for someone u will be on less money and more stress.
Hope tomora is a better day for u mate and just take it day by day
Matt

Problem is mate that Ive been on a steady decline since the start of the year: doing less and less, having sick days if you can call them that because I can't face it.

I don't think time off will solve this, that's my gut instinct.

I've started letting customers down (saying im coming and then not turning up) and this week two have called up out of the blue asking where I am.

Also find it hard to talk to the missis about as Im embarrassed by my behaviour.

[Jay Le Huray]

Jay, you mentioned you enjoy canvassing so why not consider doing this and making a business out of it, I'm there are many window cleaners in your area that would be glad to have you working for them especially as you have the experience.

BTW where are you located?

[jay moley]

Jay, you mentioned you enjoy canvassing so why not consider doing this and making a business out of it, I'm there are many window cleaners in your area that would be glad to have you working for them especially as you have the experience.

BTW where are you located?

Funny that you say that as I thought about that yesterday.

Based in Surrey.

Thing is I doubt Id be as motivated doing it for someone else.

I average at least one new customer an hour canvassing. If I went full time canvassing and say did 5 hours a day 5 days a week Id be laughing. Big risk to take tho. Obviously hard graft too.

[dazmond]

Ive completely had it with this job. I posted a recent thread about it and have tried to soldier on but I really can't go on.

I'm having dark thoughts while out cleaning and to be honest I'd say im depressed.

I need to make a change but don't want to lose the business as it has good potential.

Does anyone run the business and do another job too?

I have no idea what else I could do either. My previous experience is in sales but part time sales jobs are paying £10 an hour.

Feel properly *&%(!~~~

if you really hate it you need to employ and get off the tools....its sounds to me you enjoy generating the work but dont like the actual cleaning side of it.....

im the opposite...i love being on the tools and out in the fresh air working on my own....no need for me to generate work myself as its self generating with no input/advertising from me....

today i worked 9am-230pm with 30 mins for lunch and was listening to the BBC SOUNDS podcasts on paul massey (salford gangster)called GANGSTER......really enjoyed the story of his life and it helps pass the time while cleaning.....

i NEVER feel like jacking it all in since i went WFP 11 years ago....ive got it too good in both earnings and hours worked these days.....

[Richard iSparkle]

If you suffer with depression it will be nothing to do with cleaning windows it wouldn’t matter what job you did,all a new job would do is perk you up initially but how is it going to get rid of you’re depression.
You go out you are you’re own boss I take you make a good enough living or enough,a solitary job won’t give you depression it will just bring it out in you seek help it’s out there m8.

just need to flag this not being true

depression can be linked to a specific thing you are doing.

it could be that the nature of this job can contribute to you becoming depressed for sure

it can be as simple as changing a job for some people, or leaving a relationship, that is the route out of depression

[KS Cleaning]

If you’re seriously thinking of coming off the tools and employing I wouldn’t be rushing out canvassing for more customers just yet. Just concentrate on employing someone trustworthy that will do your existing  jobs to a good standard......believe me that’s not quite as easy as it sounds. Once you have that running smoothly for around a year then you could look to expand if you still want to. If you start canvassing for more work straight away and buy a second van, what if you can’t get decent staff? The likelihood is that this scenario will make your depression even worse. Take one step at a time.

[jay moley]

If you’re seriously thinking of coming off the tools and employing I wouldn’t be rushing out canvassing for more customers just yet. Just concentrate on employing someone trustworthy that will do your existing  jobs to a good standard......believe me that’s not quite as easy as it sounds. Once you have that running smoothly for around a year then you could look to expand if you still want to. If you start canvassing for more work straight away and buy a second van, what if you can’t get decent staff? The likelihood is that this scenario will make your depression even worse. Take one step at a time.

Good post.

[NWH]

Remember depression is just a feeling most of the time it comes and goes like any other feeling like happiness or sadness,don’t think it’ll be with you forever I think we all get depressed from time to time.
The best cure for depression is talking the more you talk the better you’ll get like Kate Bush says don’t give up 👍

[jay moley]

Probably in the short term getting someone in for two days a week is the starting point.

Not sure how I'll manage the other three days tho based on recent performances.

Went out this morning and only did one job before having to come home. It's not good.

Even the need to provide for myself isn't motivating me.

I don't expect work to be great all the time and exciting etc. But I can't even tolerate doing this job right now. Every part of it makes me want to scream.

[NWH]

Do you have a Hobby at all outside work

[jay moley]

Do you have a Hobbie at all outside work

Everything outside of work is great. Their's nothing I'd change. Very content.

Im actually a happy person despite coming across as a miserable s0d in this thread.

Although this work situation is starting to make me lose enthusiasm in things like exercise and I'm just more miserable with my girlfriend.

This is one of the things that concerns me most as she doesn't deserve it and obviously it could put our relationship in jeopardy if it continues.

To be honest I don't like coming on here and baring my soul but I'm desperate.

[AuRavelling79]

Probably in the short term getting someone in for two days a week is the starting point.

Not sure how I'll manage the other three days tho based on recent performances.

Went out this morning and only did one job before having to come home. It's not good.

Even the need to provide for myself isn't motivating me.

I don't expect work to be great all the time and exciting etc. But I can't even tolerate doing this job right now. Every part of it makes me want to scream.

What do you particularly hate?

The physical cleaning?
The driving and parking?
Talking to customers who are in?
Being on your own?
The "paperwork"?
Something else?

When you go home after a short period of time for no "good" reason what do you do for the rest of the day?