Lawncare Boredom...

[Charles]

Been a very busy money making year so far. But what usually happens this time of year is that I am bored out of my mind with the same ol routine day after day. I dream of a more exciting carreer. I use to have a parttime winter trucking biz that at least got me out of town regularly to interesting places. But could not drive the 15 hours straight they required without great risk and on call all the time.... Oh well, anyone else got the mid season lawn care blues?

[southside]

Drive a tow truck. It worked for me. Few weeks of that and you'll
be begging to get back on the mower.

:blob3:

[powerreel]

Well, it could be worse.....You could sit in a cubicle all day.

[MOW ED]

I feel for you. I had the same feeling when I was working in Chicago in an office. Same old thing. After I got hired at my job in WI. I vowed never to do something inside an office again.

Its human nature for us to get bored with the same tasks on a day to day basis but look at the future. I try and set short term goals that are attainable and some long range goals. Some are, cutting time off of jobs by working smarter, others are to increase my customer base in certain areas of work. I also got a little boared with the mowing aspect and expanded to fertilizing and pesticide applications. It gave me a renewed interest. I have other business ideas that I want to try.

You also have to take the time to get away from it completely. A vacation as simple as a weekender recharges the batteries. I also like to golf(ok I like to try , I golf a 60 -- for 9 holes;) )
If you golf just dont look at the greens and think you could mow them better!

Try and remember the Pre-season when you are just waiting for it to warm up. It all passes. Good Luck to you.

[dhicks]

I have been tired on many days but I have yet to become bored with the business. For some reason, I like getting up and making the equipment ready for the day and hitting my first cut. I guess that after working in an office environment for 30 years I prefer being outside.

[thelawnguy]

Charles' complaint is for real- - especially if you are a social person by nature.

Speaking for myself, this season has been worst than most, attitude-wise, maybe its the screwy weather, maybe my advancing years (lol). Several long-time customers have either passed away or moved to assisted-living centers leaving me to fill the slots with newbies who still need to be conditioned to the "new way" of lawn care (i.e., mine)

For the first time since starting my biz 8 years ago I am seriously considering putting it all on the block and changing careers.

[CSRA Landscaping]

I think powerreel hit the nail right on the head. I work three days a week right now, so I get lots of time to use how I choose, mostly with my family. I'm leaving those other two days open for any other jobs that I get, like retaining walls, etc. So I guess I do try to go for variety too. But an office cubicle? Uh-uh, no way!!

[deason]

Charles, looks like you are "burning out" a little. Can you turn loose of the biz for a week or 2 and take some time off? Maybe go wet a hook somewhere? Your attitude will influence your work, weather you realize it or not. And if you keep this up, you may loose some business. Take care of yourself (first).

[jimbob]

that is the reason i have backed out of the business somewhat, bringing my son in helped

[lawrence stone]

Originally posted by thelawnguy

For the first time since starting my biz 8 years ago I am seriously considering putting it all on the block and changing careers.

Do you want me to head on I-84 east and come to CT and straighten your attitude?

For I am a motivational speaker and live in a van (1977 Dodge maxi camper van) down by the river.

[roscioli]

Lawn guy, I am on my way! Where in central conn are you? I am up in Sturbridge MA.

[Toroguy]

Lawnguy,
Dont let Matt Foley, I mean Stone over to your place, he will destroy your coffee table.

Charles,
I have a mini-drought that has given me a vacation this season right in the middle of the summer. I was also feeling the dull routine getting old. The break has helped my attitude by focusing my attention to the rain. I want to reduce my customer base over the next two years and have more time to goof around.

Good luck.

[thelawnguy]

Originally posted by Toroguy
Lawnguy,
Dont let Matt Foley, I mean Stone over to your place, he will destroy your coffee table.



Last time he was in my area, we had lunch at a local all u can eat Chinese buffet. Last week I stopped in the restaurant and was surprised to find Mr Stone's picture (apparently taken from the security cam) taped up behind the register with a red circle and slash thru it.

Must be an honor to be banned from a buffet. :rolleyes:

(j/k)

[lawnboy82]

charles, i feel your pain. i too earlier in the year was feeling rather burned out. couldnt sit still, didnt want to work, etc. then i cut back the days per week i worked, found some more good employees, and whatever. but i dont think that was what helped me. i think that what burned me out was last year working by myself for the most part, and mostly just cutting grass. this year i always have at least one person with me when i work, and we only cut gras one day per week. now i do more landscaping, and tree work. and when i do tree work, that is where my alternative self comes out, the nutty me. it keeps me busy, and entertained. i would much rather be thinking about how to keep this 14" branch from destroying the roof of a barn, as i take it out. as opposed to how to keep my stripes straight on a 200 foot long run. find work that interests you, maybe gives you a thrill every now and again, you dont have to do it on a regular basis, but find some work like that for when you get bored and just go do it.

[lawnboy82]

hey stone, i got a few friends, maybe you 3 could get together and form a resteraunt mafia, "pay us to put your competition out of business"

1) is known as "fat boy" or "the deli raider" he is a big boy.

2) is known as "big fat" or "gordito" "fat man" etc. he is a big boy as well. i am suprised that he has not been banned from the chinese buffet yet.
guy tells me that one time he went into one of those places, when he left, the people were crying that they had been ravaged by a beached whale.
another time a friend bet him that he couldnt eat 8 big mac's in 40 minutes. well he didnt. he wound up eating them in under 20 minutes. after that whatever he wanted was on his friend. (luckily not me) i think he said he had another 7 big macs, 7 or 8 large diet cokes, 3 large fries, i think 4 apple pies, and 3 or 4 sundaes. these guys are both landscapers too. maybe they are stone's long lost siblings or something?

[kutnkru]

Charles - I hate to say it but I hear ya completely.

This season has been phenominal for those of us mowing and such up here in NYS, but I still have not been able to get into the groove that lets me rip thru the season.

I subbed out our shearing and pruning because I had NO interest. If I could do the same for mowing, I probably would do that too.

Bill - We have had to fill more slots than usual. The market was not selling much and this year we had 10 houses sell, 6-7 passing clients, and several lost jobs by clients.

I can empathise with you about the rigors and frustrations of trying to re-train the new so that they can follow suite with the old.

Kris:rolleyes:

[Charles]

Thanks for all the input so far. I been doing jobs and my mind is so far away that I am finished before i realize it. Daydreaming all day long lol. I think it is at this time of year that I realize that I am not going to get rich doing this. DUH! Bought more equipment that will have to be paid off and ate up any vacation money.
Lawnguy that is a big part. THE TURN OVER every year. Customers I really liked--dead or moved. You really get some where with the customer base and POOF! Some of them are gone and its back to the drawing board.
And too I see all the new competition out the and most of them are sporting 1, 2, 3 lazers and they are all in my way of growth. And with lazers they all have a good chance of surviving even if not hit the bigtime.
I just would like a more exciting and easier job. I rarely notice I am outside anymore except when it is over 95 degrees. I guess you just got to do this for over 10 years to realize what I am talking about.
Coming out of a 3 year drought plays a major roll. Most of the money made now is making up for the past years.
I have goals I want to reach every year. But drought and/or the influx of newbies/ equipment replacement are big obstacles to overcome.
There are certain inside jobs that would be exciting. Owning another type of business might be fun.
The trucking biz was fun sometimes because i got to bounce around the country and see new sights a meet new people. But it had a big downside to it too LOL
trapped like a rat

[thelawnguy]

Charles the local dairy is hiring for drivers. Give yourself a week with an unbaffled 9000 gal tank behind you and idiot drivers acting like your rig is a big moped and you will get over the trucking bit real quick.

[Charles]

Thats true Lawnguy, I try to remind myself of the downside of that business everytime i see a truck. I was on call 24hrs 7 days a week(in the winter breaktime). Running emergency freight. The snow storms, trying to stay awake, showers in truckstops, the road rage people, the boredom of waiting on the next load etc. I liked it because it was like camping out and the travel and the rush of a deadline to meet. In the summer I did it parttime and rushed home to cut grass,--- now that was insane. But more interesting the just grass all day

[Bob_McNaughton]

Hey Chuck,

You got the ole "Grass is Greener" syndrome.

No matter what people are doing, they see someone else, and think "God I wish I was doing what that guy does, he's got it made!!".

The truth is, your lawncare customers that have phat executive jobs for Fortune 500 companies are VERY envious of you. You don't have a big boss starring you down, you don't punch a timeclock, you're outdoors, and you seldom work winters. Ahh the good life they think.

I feel for you. But at the same time, i'm working 50-55 hours a week right now, working for "the man", and making only 30-35k a year. I got a jerk District Manager, calling me daily complaining about sales. I got lame employees that call in sick all the time, making me work extra hours, and I got pathetic tasks such as inventories, checking shipments and then to top it all off, I have to deal with jerk customers all day screaming about the battery in their cordless phone, or a fuse that blew.

So who has life better? I'm miserable my friend! I'd love nothing better to do than walk away from it all. But right now, the insurance is good, the pay is regular, and why not stick it out until I start up in lawn maintenance?

You got it good man. It may not seem like it, but you do! I'd trade shoes with you, and give you a few weeks doing what I do, to see how crappy it really is out there.

[Bassman]

Charles, I know where you are coming from. However, human nature dictates for some odd reason that we are never happy doing what we are for any length of time. Not many people are Harvard M.B.A.'s and make millions in the exciting world of mergers and acquisitions and fly to exotic places all over the world to finalize huge deals. I was a successful health care supply owner for 17 years and sold out because I was "burned out" from that type work. Made a couple of bad decisions with the money from the sale and ended up losing ...
1. My new business endeavor including 28 prime acres of real estate.
2. Lost my home thru foreclosure.
3. Money was gone and so did wife, (with another guy, while we were still married(21 yrs.).
I went to work for several A-Holes and barely made enough to eat. I started my LCO 1 year ago July 10 and I am getting back on my feet financially. Every time I start to think I'm bored with mowing grass, I think about being so far down I had to reach up to hit bottom. Plus, I work for myself again. It will do for a few years till I come up with something better.
Best of luck to you Charles.

[HOMER]

Charles,

When I hit the lottery I'll ride up there on my new Harley and we'll take a cruise cross country. Of course I'll buy you one too. We'll ride through all the towns and point our fingers and laugh at the poor saps out there mowing grass. We'll tell them that we're retired and enjoying life from all the money we made with a trailer and a lawnmower. We can give them hope Charles....................false hope..............but hope just the same! When we get done with the cruise I'm coming back home and looking for a house on Lake Martin, buy a boat, a gazebo, and hire some LCO to mow my grass. He better do it right too cause if he don't he's a gone ars.................I might even move Eric down so he can put them purty stripes in my centipede...........no, St. Augustine, maybe Kentucky Bluegrass..............ya, Eric knows how to mow that.

Yep.....................that's what I'll do for you Charles............if it's alright with you of course.

:cool: Livin' large

[eslawns]

When I first began this, I had people tell me one of two things:

1 You'll be your own boss. Cool! You can take off anytime you want, sleep late, nobody checking over your shoulder.

Yeah, right. Everybody on this board knows better than that. Instead of one AH boss, I have 3 dozen.

2 being self employed means working 80 hours a week for yourself to get out of working 40 for somebody else.

It's usually true, but it doesn't need to be.

IMO, it won't matter how you earn a living, you'll probably get tired of it sometimes. This business allows me to make a lot more than I ever did doing anything else and gives me some flexibility to do things I wouldn't have been able to do at most jobs. Tomorrow, I'm going to take the family to Busch Gardens. I've never had a regular job before where I'd have been able to do that. I just had to find a way that would work for me. There are lots of things you can do.

[TheMom]

Hey Charles,

Welcome a new baby into your household! That's what Jeff (CSRA) has now to occupy him -- as of last Wednesday, EARLY in the morning (2am or so). And on Jeff and Leslie's 3rd anniversary, too.

Where in SC are you? Maybe you could go hang out with Jeff for a while, he has a GREAT attitude and would no doubt cheer you up.

That usually works for me. :D

--Barbara

[vipermanz]

Buy Me Stuff Too Homer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

[SLS]

When I get to feeling tired and burned out I just remind myself that I used to have crappy 9 to 5's, idiot bosses, and a two hour commute, and that it took me a week of sheer frustration to reap what I now earn in a single day right in my own backyard. Just knowing that I'm doing it for myself instead of some unappreciative jerk and his Porsche payment is enough to keep me going... and growing.

Plus I like the 3 month winter 'vacations'.........

Chin up, Charles! :D

[HOMER]

Oh ya Viper.....................a Viper would be a must for commuting to the lake house and taking the kids to school. Saw one the other day and just fell in love with it all over again.

[TJLC]

Boy it sure does my heart good to see that I'm not the only one who feels unmotivated, tired and bored. It sometimes helps me to think that things could definately be worse. One thing that didn't help me was cutting my hand at my busiest time of year and then having it reopen after the stiches were removed. Hang in there guys, together we can make it through this. We need to all give ourselves a pat on the back for the hard work we do. Sorry if this sounds corney.

[1145JohnDeere]

Quit my government job in 1990 and went full time with my lawn business. Had all the problems mentioned in previous posts. Those who are interested can search for some of my posts and see in detail what happened. Anyway, last year, because all my friends and family told me I had to have a "real" job and I was getting to old (43) to do the LCO work I returned to my government job. I recieved an education in ten years running my business that money can't buy. I was salesman, mechanic, accountant, purchasing, human resources, quality control and problem solver. These experiences are wasted here as I come in every day to an environment that moves at turtles pace, no reward for working harder, where signing a name in the wrong box is a MAJOR crisis, and morale is so low because everyone is scared their job will be contracted out. I am MISERABLE, Its a death house for me. But..... I am afraid I have lost my initiative to return full time, I am 43 and I can't make any more mistakes. Even though I had a lot of stress on me when I was fulltime, I could control it by working more or less as the situation dictated or walking away for a little while or finally avoiding people who caused anxiety in my life. Here I have no options and I must say overall my life nor my families is not as happy as it once was, and thats a big sacrifice for a "real" job.

[TGCummings]

I think we all go through this from time to time, Charles. TheLawnGuy hit the nail on the head when he mentioned that this is especially common for 'social' people. For the last few months, I've been frankly lonely out there. I'm a solo op who loves the company of friends and family, so my push through the day has felt old and tired.

But this isn't the first time I've gone through this.

After six years in business I know the ups and downs, seasonal or otherwise, and I know that this, too, shall pass. Making a decision to leave it all behind at this point would be a mistake. Sure, I look through the paper and explore other career opportunities from time to time, but they always lead me to realizing how good I have it; and how good I can make it in this business in the future.

Starting next month, my wife will be joining me in this endeavor, working with me a couple days a week and making or taking calls the rest of it. She's getting laid off from her over-stressfull 9-to-5, so we'll be losing our benefits and the extra chunk of change we get from her job. We're both very excited about it! She can't wait to get out of the office politics and into the world of self-employment. She's got ideas and initiative in areas I don't have any expertise in. She's just amazing with people, and has incredible phone skills. With my good back and her sales skills, I'm getting rejuvenated about the prospects of the future.

What I'm saying is, sometimes change is necessary but it doesn't have to be an overall change. A couple of years back, I was working 7 days a week, 10 hours a day and I wanted a 9-to-5 with benefits so bad. After scanning for a new career it suddenly hit me that I can make this business into whatever I want! I want weekends and holidays off? Done! I want benefits? I got 'em! 8 to 5 work day? You bet! In the past year and a half I've been able to make my business into what I thought I wanted in the 'working world', but with better money and more personal freedom.

So, remember that you're the boss. Keep your eyes on the prize, and make this business whatever you want it to be. That feeling of dread will pass, my friend, and you'll experience the self-employment highs that those in the working world can scarcely even imagine...

-TGC

[CSRA Landscaping]

1145JohnDeere,
I know a couple of guys that are 10+ years older than you that are running circles around guys half their age. If you wanted to, you could go at it again.

[rixtag]

Charles, although I am not as big as most I too have been feeling the same, wondering if I want to keep doing this or wondering if I want to pick up another hobby. I think sometimes that it mostly creeps up on me when I am doing the same property, the same way as I always have. The look is always the same and I think " I need to change something" My wife and I have decided to try to have a child or 2 and I think about baggin' it alltogether for next season to spend time with the baby and Lisa. But then reality sets in and I realize that during the off season it takes about 3-4 weeks of no lawns that I am the most miserable SOB and I feel like I am going to go crazy unless I can cut some grass. I am seriously messed up because I love to do it and sometimes I actually consider giving it up! I only do it part time but it is my time and I love it!

That is all I have to say about that!

Cheer up spunky!!! :) :laugh:


Just one man's opinion.

Rick:laugh: :laugh:

[Charles]

I am down for that Homer! Like I died and went to heaven if I owned a Harley.
Man, what a variety of opinions. All very good and well thought out and mostly falling along the lines of how long you have been in the biz.
Thanks for all the support :)
I think it would be a better idea to keep your spouse employed in a full benefit job. That way (if possible) you stay on his/her medical plan. And they have a retirement plan and then you will have some sense of security. But even their job might not last forever.
Ma, thanks for the offer but with a GF and this job not much time for friends. I am in the upstate part of sc.
Most inside jobs/working for the man may be drudgery and hell on earth but if you retire with that job you have benefits from now to then. You dont have to worry about how high your health insurance will go and probably you have a pension plan.
The saturation of lawncare people here is serious this year with all the dreamers. Every customer you have is super important. Lose one and its very hard to find a good replacement. Unless you are in sales usually the man finds your work and you dont have to worry about that aspect. Here the customers are in charge alot of the times and they see all the competition out there and think they can push you to the limit. Because "Hey lawncare man I got 10 flyers in my mailbox this week!" Phones not ringing because you are buried in a list in the paper and the phone book. "yard starting 20$" "senior discounts" "beat any price"
Unless you have another source of income coming in to the household your lawncare biz will have to be more than a one or 2 man operation to make the big money and here you will have to be a lowballer to build the biz to support crews.. Lots more responsiblity and lots more stress.