The Den Community Group
Pull up a chair and put your feet up. Lie down if necessary! :)
H everyone, I have not been here for a long time because I have been working the extra 14 hour/day job plus working on Saturdays for my own business for the last couple of months. I like it, it brings me some nice money but it is grueling-everything else in my life is on hold. I do this project because I like it, it makes me some nice money and things are slower this time of the year with my business. I can handle it for a few months.
I have been looking forward to mid March when I get back to my life and get back to my business. Already some things are stacking up there and I am starting to gear up into my busy season. I do custom sewing and alterations by appointment only. So I can accept jobs or not. It is a new business and i am gaining a very good reputation in town but like most businesses there are slow and busy times. Spring gears up to busy and summer/fall is crazy.
I have worked myself up in the ranks of this government education research work to now they just offered me another three month project. That would involve again a huge commitment of time and energy and I would have to basically put my own business on the back burner during that time. It would involve a lot of overnight travel or long drives all over the state. However, this would pay me more than I would make in my business during this time. They pay me mileage.
--I have not heard from son yet whether he is going to come through with his investment so making more money is important to me if I am going to get a house on my own. My car is rapidly aging and I need to think about getting a new one so the money would help me pay for that but that travel makes me nervous and I do not have time to car shop in the meanwhile. The job would involve a lot of travel so it would be aging my car faster. It starts back to back with the one I'm doing now so no time to regroup or rest in between.
I have to decide today whether to take it or not. The money would look very good for my income when I apply for a loan for a house. I am honored to be in a place in the company to be asked to do this. I like being busy..but also am missing my regular life. Trying to think how to make this work . Having a very difficult time deciding what to do. I want to go for the money but do not want to neglect or risk my business and wondering if I can handle another three months of longs days and travel. At first they said it would be about 20 hours a week in my local area. Not true. It will be more like 40- 50+ hours a week.
Anyone have any ideas to help break out of my stuck and my round and round.
I have been looking forward to mid March when I get back to my life and get back to my business. Already some things are stacking up there and I am starting to gear up into my busy season. I do custom sewing and alterations by appointment only. So I can accept jobs or not. It is a new business and i am gaining a very good reputation in town but like most businesses there are slow and busy times. Spring gears up to busy and summer/fall is crazy.
I have worked myself up in the ranks of this government education research work to now they just offered me another three month project. That would involve again a huge commitment of time and energy and I would have to basically put my own business on the back burner during that time. It would involve a lot of overnight travel or long drives all over the state. However, this would pay me more than I would make in my business during this time. They pay me mileage.
--I have not heard from son yet whether he is going to come through with his investment so making more money is important to me if I am going to get a house on my own. My car is rapidly aging and I need to think about getting a new one so the money would help me pay for that but that travel makes me nervous and I do not have time to car shop in the meanwhile. The job would involve a lot of travel so it would be aging my car faster. It starts back to back with the one I'm doing now so no time to regroup or rest in between.
I have to decide today whether to take it or not. The money would look very good for my income when I apply for a loan for a house. I am honored to be in a place in the company to be asked to do this. I like being busy..but also am missing my regular life. Trying to think how to make this work . Having a very difficult time deciding what to do. I want to go for the money but do not want to neglect or risk my business and wondering if I can handle another three months of longs days and travel. At first they said it would be about 20 hours a week in my local area. Not true. It will be more like 40- 50+ hours a week.
Anyone have any ideas to help break out of my stuck and my round and round.
I use to work 12-15 hour days....6-7 days a week....no time for fun and relaxation. I was always stressed and never had time to stop and decide what I really wanted out of life. Now a days I work several hours a week and make more money.....and it is giving me more time to find out what I really want to do with my life.
The only way you can find out if it will work for you is to give it a try (sounds like you have worked for them before).....if it makes you happy....the money will follow.
Make sure you give yourself some me time.....rest and relaxation is just as important as working (balance is good). If you are working gazillion hours a week....you have to ask yourself some important questions such as "what are you avoiding?" and "Is it costing me my health and happiness?"
Only you can answer those questions for sure.
I believe we all have something valuable to add to this life.....however, it should be something you really enjoy and makes you happy.
I wish you the best and please let us know what you decide and how it is working out for you :)
I also worry that people will not take me seriously if they know I do something else. Maybe that is a needless worry these days. Normally when I do the research project at that intensity it is only every other year during my slow time. Now both my business is growing and I keep getting promoted in the system doing these research projects. I love them both!!
This spring, if I do this, I would l be on the road 2-3 days out of the week for 6 of the weeks, and work from home the other days, then possibly an additional week in Hawaii (not vacation) I love the work and the money.
This research project is only intense like this every other year and the spring one every four years. I've never done the spring one or two major ones back to back like this before.
money is always useful to provide less worry. You say your business is just getting started so just take that one slower. You cannot say for certain whose going to need alterations but yes prom is coming up. Money from a company is great and as you say it will look good on loan application. Take it work hard and be grateful for the opportunity
I'm looking at that schedule over and over...The research job by itself is very doable. . Doing both that and my sewing for another three months will be hard work and long hours. But they are both two things i love and am respected for. .You are right this opportunity is a for sure income. My sewing is for sure, just never know how much or when. It is prom and wedding season. i will just need to be picky about what sewing jobs I take. Maybe even try out raising my prices at bit. I've been told I'm not asking enough. I guess being "busy" could send a good message. Last summer my studio was jammed packed with wedding gowns.
This opportunity took me by surprise... my mind was thinking OK the end is near.. The four months of this winter project including 6 weeks of 14 hour days were tough. Looking forward to getting my life back and catching up with client's projects in my studio again. And talking to my friends and oh yeah buying groceries and doing the dishes and squeezing in some cat cuddles. I guess they can wait another two or three months. And my neighbor has already said she would take care of my cat when I have to be gone overnight. And hmm it would be cool to end it all with a trip to Hawaii--even if is is a working trip. If Hawaii is not on the schedule I will be done with the project early May instead of late May.
Only 60 people in the entire country were asked to do this special Spring project. ..I'd be working along side people I've been looking up to for many years and am proud that I've worked my way up the ranks to this now.
I think you've made your decision, and i wish you all the best! Please let us know how all of it goes!
{{hugz}}
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It is a real concern of mine that by doing another job it may give the impression I am not serious about my business. Or that doing something else may be a distraction. But I have managed to stay on top of it. And sneak in that other job, too. We'll see how it works in the spring. Perhaps that is the beauty of having a "by appointment only business" No one's the wiser if I take time off as long as I get their things done for them. I return my phone call within a day since I use my cell phone for business.
Today was a great day. Things winding down from winter project and I even got my at home work finished about noon today and spend the afternoon catching up client's projects that are going out the door this weekend. One more week of that, then I'll be flying to MD for training for the next one.
How's the weather over there now? It is full on spring in the PNW--seems winter passed us over over here.
Years ago when I started my small business (traveling hairdresser), I did a gig with a job agency that sent me to a factory putting labels and boxing VHS and Beta movies until my business took off. It was a bit crazy juggling the two jobs, but I managed and transitioned fairly easy.
Sounds like you have a handle on it and I wish you all the best. Keep us afloat on your venture....when you can :)
As long as i wear my flannel lined leggings under my jeans i'm OK for about 5 min. outside. Have to wear my snowsuit for anything longer than that!
Pack warm for MD! They're still in Winter mode as well.
Please stay in touch concerning your adventures! Happy trails, and all... :)
{{hugz}}
Well, this means it will be longer that I won't get to spend much time hanging out here. I miss you guys and keeping up on your lives. Thanks for letting me just pop in for my needs right now. I feel bad I have not contributed much around here.
One good thing about working every minute is I have no time to think about or interact much with the kids or have to listen to the things they say. They've been calling me and oh no, I've not been available. hmmmmmm. Truly it's I can't talk now call me in March...OK so now it will be call me back in May or June. I take Sundays off to relax and get the dishes and laundry done and may be go to a movie with a friend. My poor cat is way over due for getting his nails clipped. That will be my big outing this weekend. HA! I am not complaining. I like what I see in the bank and the work itself is fun and the people I work with are awesome.
It didn't sound as though you truly wanted to say "no" to this job. Obviously, you are at point in your life where you can do pretty much do whatever you choose. I wish you the best. Enjoy the job and people who you will be surrounded by.
Best wishes......
Yes, I did want to do this gig but was worried that I would be compromising my business as it is gong into a busier time of the year or that I would over do it because I am already tired right now. I had my mind already thinking about getting back to my normal routine when this came along. Now the latest word is it may end three weeks earlier or end with a week working in Hawaii. Either way....that would be awesome.
You all have helped with your input. I feel much clearer now and am OK with going for it. And YES, I can do what I want. I can take as many sewing clients as I want, be picky about which jobs I take now, defer the house work and hone in my time management stratagies. And will just let anybody know my turn around at this time of the year is longer than usual.....but they do not even know what is normal for me anyway.
So now, I've decided to see it as an opportunity rather than a distraction. In two weeks now instead of winiding down and taking a break, I'll be flying to MD. Oh my! Need to get out my winter clothes that I never even worn this winter because winter bypassed the PNW this year. And get out my super woman gear!
I'm excited now to see what this brings and how it all works out.