A great post. I enjoyed reading, and I certainly got a sense of the background stress, in times past I've put myself under similar stress levels (as a decorator, not a window cleaner)
Massive jobs. tight timescale, the stress of it brings you to tears, you go to sleep eshausted after working a 15 hour day and wake up two hours later just wanting to go back to work and get on with the job.....shudder!!!
And you have to pay the wages, chase bills price new work...it's endless!
I'm older now and I'm finally in almost a perfect position for myself.
I'm only a sole trader, but I'm earning decent money and I've got the balance of domestic and commercial work just about right, cash flow is good...I'm in a good zone at present.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not earning a fortune, but I have money in the bank, I can pay my bills and I can afford holidays....
It's taken a long time to get here, and it is only since Christmas that I've actually realised that I've arrived!
But you also cannot stand still
So I'll continue on in the same vein as I have done for the past 3 years, but hopefully I won't over extend myself, if I end out having to employ again it'll mean a concerted drive to obtain more work and the increasing stress levels that go with it
Whatever...I'm in a good place at the moment and I make sure I sit back now and then and savour the moment....I may not always be able to...
Ian