Took the plunge

[Dennis]

OK I finally got the nerve to quit my FT job of 20 years. Today was my last day,Scared??? Dang sure am. but I was tired of being stressed every day!!
Wife is ok with it, EX, is ok with it, we got about 4" of rain today,all good signs?? Hope so.
But just in case, CHUCK, can I sue L.S if I fail?? It's only cuz of this site that I quit.
OK thats a joke.
anyway I'm FT lawn man now..so move over and make some room....Please.
Dennis

[HOMER]

Thumbs up to ya Dennis!

It takes a lot of nerves, faith, and just plain gonads to leave the security of a 20 year headache. I left after 16 so you got a few more in than I did.

What part of Ga. is you from?

[kris]

congrats dennis .... best of luck to you!!

[Fine Lines Lawn]

Welcome to the Lawn Care Mob Dennis :)

[Russ]

I'm still scared ,--Ships in harbour are safe-But that is now what ships were made for. Welcome to the party, your going to enjoy this show.

[KD'sLawns]

Good luck to you Dennis. Hope that you don't think that all the stress will be gone. You just inherited a new type of stress. I think you will do fine and love it though.

[Mowingman]

Congrats Dennis,
I quit my "real" job last year to go mowing full time. It was pretty scarry, but I love it. Next week I am hiring my first fulltime employee. This makes me about as nervous as quitting my job did. I hope this year is a good one for you.:D :D

[jeffyr]

Congrats Dennis,

One question:

If you were tired of being stressed for the past 20 years, do you think running a landscaping business will be stress free? LOL

I thought it would be a simpler way of life--less technology, etc. I think I just naturally worry about things that others may not, but thats also what keeps me on top of things.

Good luck

jeffyr

[Mike (MLC)]

I quit my full time job last year in the summer. I was really nervous when I did it. Kept thinking to myself am I going to make enough money will I have enough clients?? It took me a few months to finally decide to do it. My business took right off. I have been doing great ever since.

[syzer]

My brother just quit his FT job of about 8 years just a little over a month ago, I cant wait to do the same. Looks like I will be waiting until next season for me to go and looking forward to it. He is doing awesome!

HE too was scared but loves every minute of it.


Good Luck, things will work out no prob!

[Dennis]

Homer
I'm from the Heart of Ga. MACON, been here all my life except army time.

Thanks for all the congrats and well wishes...and YES I know there will be stress, but now I will be worried about my Buss. and not the big mans.. so it will be more worth it.

My wife still works for the same co. and is carrying the Ins. so that part is still ok.

Only bad part is..I have just lost 3 accounts in 2 weeks,, not my fault,just bad timing.

anyway thanks again, I'll keep you all posted.
Dennis

[KD'sLawns]

Dennis, the stress of your own business is well worth it. Sorry to hear about the accounts. As we always say on here though: ( for every account that you lose, there are three better ones you will pick up). So don't take it hard. Since I have worked for myself, I could never go back to working for someone else. I have a smile so big on my face every morning that a rake couldn't wipe it off!!!
Best of luck.

[Greenkeepers]

Congrats and good luck.... I envy you!!!!!!!!!!

[Lawnshark]

Welcome Dennis!!
This is a great business to get into. It is the ideal business. If you mess up in the grass with stripes, wait a week and you can try again. MOW THE YARDS! mow them right and your yards will be your business cards. Get some high visibility accounts in heavy traffic areas, then ask that while you're mowing if you can put a sign in the yard. Take it out when your done and then you're advertising while you're mowing. Be honest, mow the yards as if they were your own. It is very simple to make it in the lawncare business. People don't like to be cheated, so don't cheat them, make them say, "Man! I get what I pay for!" This will start your word of mouth and bad news travels faster than good news. Probably things you already know but get a catchy name and good accounts and take off!
Good Luck
If you need anything don't hesitate to ask these guys. They know what they're talking about.

[Skookum]

Dennis, Oh Man did you screw up!

Just kiddin. Nothing like being your own boss!

Good Luck!

[mowahman]

Dennis,
I too took the plunge a long time ago...was working FT and was shoveling roofs in the winter months, had 26 lined up. Wife called work and told me the weatherman just said that "if you haven't had your roof shoveled, better get it done". After that, I had 56 roofs !!!! So, I packed my stuff, said good bye, went to work...for myself. Next day, signed contract to maintain Town cemeteries and lawns, had 46 clients before snow melted....to top it off, we were expecting our 3rd child 2 weeks AFTER I left my FT job..took the wife 1 week to figure out I wasn't going to "work" and asked what the heck I was doing to bring $$ into the house. I showed her a stack of checks and she was OK with it..just didn't want to stress her out any further....years later...all is well with kids and Business. One word of advise...don't sweat the small stuff, by the way, it's ALL small stuff. Do good, honest work, be straight up with people. Above all, take some time out every now and then to come back to reality and sanity.

[evergreenlawn]

Way to go Dennis!

I am thinking of doing the same within the next 30 days. I've had my business for 10 years now PT and it's getting to the point I need to leave my FT job to grow my business even more.

Just found this site today and love it already.

Scott

[eggy]

And to think i am heading back to work for someone else affter doing this for sometime...hmmmm :blob3: :blob3:

[Mike Nelson]

Congradulations Dennis.Good Luck on your new venture.:)

Mike Nelson

[leeslawncare]

Best of luck to you. I've been PT for 8 yrs.got a lot of nice equ a new truck an such but ...crossing that bridge is still hard .I hope to to it soon but good luck to you !!

[AB Lawn Care]

Hope it works well for you!

Here are 3 free tips of advice for you!

1.Do a great job and you will see your business grow.

2.Don't over/under spend.....it's a fine line somtimes,but just ask your self...do I really need this?

3.Don't under bid,low ball,cheapskate or bottom feed.It took me years to figure this out....don't make the same mistake!

I hope you like the business,if you need any advice or have questions just email me at freshcut@mail.com I would be more than happy to share my 7yrs of experience in the business with you!

[yardsmith]

:blob2: Congrats Dennis;
Lately this year I've been hit with growing pains, & man do they hurt!!!!!!!
You think you had stress then? Now you'll be getting it from both sides! I've been pulling my hair out lately. But I still wouldn't trade it back for the mundane workaday world. No way.
Expect trouble & trials to come-they will. Just be thankful LS is here! Couldn't ask for much better of a mentor-of-sorts.
Good luck.

[DAN NELSON]

OK Dennis !!!! I did the same back in April. Just got tired of the
same old sh-t every day at my so called good job, and believe me
I had a gravy office job supervising a medical distribution center for a very large corp. Don`t miss it one bit. I like being my own man and yes it is a little scary but hell you only live once and you can`t take it with you!!! Best of luck to you!
:blob3:

[MATTHEW]

DENNIS. I WAS A TOP CHEMLAWN SPECIALIST FOR 10
YEARS, THEN 2 DAYS B4 CHRISTMAS, THEY LAID ME
OFF AND TOOK AWAY MY INSURANCE BECAUSE OF THE
BUDGET AND MY HIGH SALARY. WELL NOW ONLY 2 YEARS
LATER, I AM MAKING DOUBLE MY OLD PAYCHECK.I JUST
BOUGHT A SWEET NEW TRUCK AND I AM GOING TO STOP BY
THE OLD PLACE ONE DAY TO SAY "THANKS!!!!!":blob3: