how long can u keep it up?

[bobbygedd]

hola folks, i ran into a guy i know yesterday while out cutting, we are both solo operators, though i have a guy whos been helping me out lately. ive been in this 7 yrs, and my body is aching every day, hes been in 13 yrs, and seems to have the same problem. my goal is to build and add employees with time, his is to remain a solo operator. the only thing is, if u feel this run down from this type of work in your mid 30s, how the heck u gonna do it at 45, 55, 60? i guess what im looking for is opinions on what the average lifespan of a solo operator in this business is. i just cant see my self being able to handle it solo when im 45, 55.

[awm]

hi bobby. its good you realize this now. theanswer for me
was. well first let me say at 47 i was about to give up to chronic
pain from arthritus ,plus because of that i was over 225 and carrying all right out there in front. im ashamed to admit it but
i finally called my doc one day, and told him i wasnt sure i wanted
to stick around for much more of this. it scared him and he started me on a med called ultram ,plus nonsteroid anti-inflamatory meds.they helped but that night i decided nobody was going to get me out of this mess but me.
i began to walk to music rythm then . 5 min at first.
the most important rule was always quit while you still feel like doing more.this leaves a positive subconcious about exercize in your mind.that is the secret.
i wont tell you what i do now 6 yrs. later but I DONT HURT MUCH ANYMORE. two things to remember throw the no pain no gain theory out the window.thats for training for sports or something . next always quit while its still fun. and last
you are doing it for life which is another reason to make it fun.
your choice of light exercice doesnt matter long as it gets the heart and lungs going.sorry for being so long winded bobby but ive been there and decided i didnt like it.

[Pauls Mowing]

You may want to visit your Doc for a tune-up. I'm 46, work a high stress 40 hour a week job, then put in about 20 more hours a week mowing. I feel great!! Mainly right now it's my wife and I, her son helps out from time to time. My wife puts in about 5 hours a day in the mornings, them we both go out for a few hours after dinner. It's been a steady schedule since the end of May, only a few days off through the summer. we are looking at expanding with more equipment yet this year, another tractor in the spring, and another tractor the following year. Business is great!! I'll keep up the pace as long as possible, Good Lord willing.

Paul

[bobbygedd]

wow awm, im glad to hear u were able to work it out. im not in terrible shape , need to lose a couple pounds, nothing major. its just that i think the natural aging of any person would limit them as time goes on. being a solo operator u need to do a certain amount of work , and all by yourself, to make a good living. can one still do 50-70 lawn a week solo when they are 55-65? i havnt seen any older solo lawn guys that look like they r doing that well money wise. is it that they made so much money when they were young that they dont need to work anymore ? or is the solo operator doomed to retirement at 55? being solo in this business is not like any other job, u cant work yur way up the ladder so u have an easier job down the road, the work becomes more physically demanding as time goes on, and u still need to do quite a bit to maintain a decent income.

[65hoss]

A guy around the corner from me has been in this biz for over 35 years. I don't know how many lawns he has but he had a steller year last year. He has a helper or two in the spring when mulching and cleanups are in full swing, but the rest of the year he is by himself. He has some big commercial accounts and some residentials. I know for a fact he is high. He works less and makes more. I know he is never hurting for money.

[Allyn]

I am 42, and I heard of a guy in SLC that is a solo like me. He is over $100,000 a years. Of course he is killing himself, but it is only 6 months of the year.

I hope that I will be able to retire in 10 to 15 years. It takes disipline with the money. Get all the equipment paid for. And save if you can 10 to 20% of you income. I a few years it will build fast.

I live pretty cheap. Other than a house I am debt free. Four more years on child support and I will be making some money. But I only what enough to live on. I thing about 2 or 3 thousand a month would work easy.

Allyn

[lawnworker]

bobbygedd I think another thing to think about is if you might really not want to do this bussiness that long mentally that is as well as phisicly .I need spell check. I find myself getting bored out of my mind some times with lack of interaction with others working solo and at times the work itself can be boring.I am 36 and i dont feel like working as hard as i used to but this is a hard line of work for anybody in it .To stay in it much longer i will have to deversify into spray certification fertilization as well as hardscaping/Landscaping so i can have someone to work with.On the other Hand if you onley Mow and Fertilize Owning a Z rider that would be easier on a solo operater.Where I live we are saturated to the max with grass cutters .I am thinking of getting an associats degree in eather electronic /cumputer technology are management Just in case the market gets any worse for lawn care . Life is full of choices ther just tuff to make

[TJLC]

I'm 42 and work solo. I admit sometimes during the long hot summer days I feel like I'm 62. LOL. I hang in there because I know winter will be a nice relief and this is the best money I will make down here. Plus there is no better feeling than owning and operating your OWN business. I just try to take one day at a time. To me life is short, enjoy it now.

[HOMER]

Eric is my inspiration!

I feel better now than I did when I was 29, I'm 39 now. Of course I get tired and a little burnt out at times. My reality check is going through the parking lot of the old factory I used to work at. After 3 years of being on my own I still see some of the same vehicles that used to be there, these folks are in a rut! I see their faces sometimes when I pull up beside them, not much happiness. I think over half of the American workers aren't happy with what they do. I know I couldn't go back in a plant or an office, if I quit this I'll be doing something where I can move around, get out and mingle with people.

Can I do this when I'm 50?

I'll let ya know then.

[trimmasters]

Homer, I always though you were older. I guess it's that dress, It just dosen't do your good looks justice. :)

[bobbygedd]

gosh, what a tough decision im gonna have to make. i have a job now and run my business part time, ive had this job 18 yrs, and the money and bennies are real nice. i dont do half as much(physically) at my job. somehow when i bust my a** installing a few ton of stone , its not that hard cus its for me, i would never work that hard for someone else. kids will be in school in 2 yrs, and the wife and i were thinking i may be able to go full time lawn maint., and she will get a job for bennies and a few extra bucks, its a big move to leave my job, but i want it bad. its just wierd how when i talk to others that are full time lawn maint., and i tell them im thinkin of leaving my job they say are u crazy?but..... i dont see them giving up the lawn biz to work for someone. ill need to carry 60 lawns that average $28 a piece, plus leaf cleanup, 20 fert accts, and at least $10, 000 in extras to take a crack at this. seems my pals envy me, but i envy them(dont tell them though). im just so freakin tired of working inside, putting up with the same crap, same environment, same 4 walls, every stinkin day. and, the only way to make more money is to work more hours, seems like im chasin my tail sometimes. ok now, this second can of beer is really goin to my head, later guys

[cclllc]

i'm solo too.been doing it since about 1985.also work at an automotive factory fultime. i average about 40-45 hrs at work plus another 25-30 mowing.i have no life.surprised to have lasted this long.if it wasn't for striping with a dixie i doubt if i would be doing this now.i'm almost 42.

[whitleys]

Good Thread. I have same questions. I'm 51; work an exec job ~ 50 hrs week; good benes; very flexible schedule; I mow with my boys evenings and weekends and sometimes take off an afternoon, morning or full day to mow, plant a new lawn, etc. Probably invest another 20- 25 hours mowing. Would like to do it full time because I love the work but 1) worry how long could I keep a tough physical schedule; and 2) will my small town market allow me to expand enough to feed 6 mouths. My observation is those doing it solo or with just 1 or 2 helpers are using big "z's" and working larger properties. Eric, I think your the MASTER! Talk to us!

[awm]

wo there , bobby i didnt realize you were in that situation.
unless your job is real hard on you ,and especially if it pays good. id wait until next yr to make the change ,or mabe the yr after. you probably got a lot of years left so wait until you are sure you want to do it. my advice would be different if you were
talkin about trying a full service with plans to grow into a
several employee type operation.im not talkin you into that its just a different deal than solo.good luck TM

[HOMER]

Bobby,

Sounds like you were talking to a guy that might have been a little burnt out himself. If I get around negative thinking people then I tend to get a little down. If I stay around those that are posotive about life in general then I feel better about what I do. Your mental attitude has a great affect on you physically. To think now, in your present situation, that you would not be able to handle the physical aspects of the job if you went full time cannot be done. You first have to understand how you will feel mentally when and if you lose the chains that are around your ankles. I'm in no way telling you to quit your job, I am speaking from experience though. Before I quit mine I was feeling much the same way. Depressed, tired, ready to blow my top. The decision is very tough. I got myself into this business and became somewhat dependant on the extra money. I knew I could do better on my own and I'm sure with time you can too. My feelings are this. If a man wants to make it he can, if he is inherently lazy, he will fail. You are abviously not the lazy one working 2 jobs. I was in a fix, I couldn't grow working my F/T job and I wasn't applying myself at it either. In May of 98 I took the plunge.................nobody has gone hungry yet. We ain't rich but we eat every night and every day. The bills are paid and we have time off in the winter.

Stay away from negative thinkers and whiners, they have a way of altering your mood!:cry:

[CLM1103]

I am 62 years old and working solo. I have de-generative arthritis and have neck vertebra fusions. Five years ago I could not walk over 100 yards even on heavy pain medication. Today I mow 91 accounts (small yards on a year round basis here in Florida) and have never felt beter in my life. I am healthier than I have been in 25 years. I retired as a State Certified General Contractor doing heavy construction work and putting up with as many as 120 employees. I use WB mower only. During winter months I do pressure washing for approx. half of these customers plus any new ones I pick up. I live in retirement park and pull all my equipment with a golf cart...all accounts are within a 1/4 mile and I have lots of 6-8 yards next to each other. No need for truck or trailer. I do quality work and could get many more accounts but do not want the hassle of putting up with employees. For me, it is an ideal situation and I love it.:blob3:

[Premo Services]

Iseem to ask myself this often. I love what I am doing, but with the heat, humidity this year. I an really worn out.
I started this season really burnt out( none of my customers knew this though). I didn`t want to do anything with this kind of work, and I truged through the burnout.
I have started to enjoy doing this again and know that I could never make this much money or have the satisfaction of accomplishment working for the man. I have given serious thought about keeping the 2 best days, and getting a nite job, for the benifits. I believe this would be a cakewalk because I have never worked as hard as I do for my own business. But for now, I try to start putting resumes out, but cannot let the dream of my own business go.

CLM1103 KEEP ON TRUCKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

[bobbygedd]

clm, u r the man! thanx for all the positive feedback guys. it is real tough to get the clientell that i need to expand and go full time, becauase im working at the other job. seems everytime i pick up a couple new customers, i lose one or two others cus i just cant keep up. not only am i not expanding, im getting the "reputation", im sure, of being unreliable, and that is not good. what to do, what to do. somehow i see a light at the end of this tunnel. when i was a little boy, i wanted to be a fireman when i grew up, now, when i grow up, i want to be just like clm. and homer u r so right, negative thinking people just drain the life out of me, thanx again.

[awm]

I SAW A GOODLOOKING LAZER 52W 22KOH GO FOR UNDER 3THOUSAND ON EBAY RECENTLY. YOU OUTA BE ABLE TO KEEP UP
WITH THAT MACHINE.after seeing the difference i dont ever plan on doing without one. course i admit i got lucky buying used .
hows your rabbits foot.

[mowerman90]

I turned 51 yesterday (18th Aug) and have been operating solo since 1989. I currently have 70 accts and usually work 5 days per week mowing then Saturday for trim jobs and landscaping. I've found that with age comes wisdom. Meaning that I'm more selective about the accounts I now do. In other words, I make more doing less. I don't turn the difficult jobs down, I just refer them to someone just starting out. This in turn makes me a hero to these startup companies and if I get in a spot where I need a helping hand on a particular project they're always willing to help. It also helps if you love your work. I find this much less stressful that my previous job as an outside sales rep for a large company. Here in central Florida it's in the mid 90's from June through September. So I am thankful when November finally arrives and I can go on my every other week mowing schedule.

[1MajorTom]

Mowerman,

I'm surprised to hear you are 51. I guess I take an interest in people that are/were from the Pittsburgh area as you were, and I remember you posting a pic before. I think it was of you in the bed of your truck filled with water?
I guess my mental image of you was that you were in your late 30's.

Oh well, I guess I was wrong :laugh:

[lawrence stone]

Originally posted by bobbygedd
how long can u keep it up?

With or without help from modern medicine?

[lawnworker]

I think if you love what you are doing thats all that matterrs. If you happen to make a little $$$ then thats even better. Life is to short to be unhappy all the time thank god for all the oppertunity out there in the usa.




THE lawnworker:blob3:

[Rooster]

Ed,

Belated :bday: :bday: :rolleyes:

[Lee Homan]

HRT! Hormone replacement therapy. It will put a kick back into your stride. I have never been tested for it but my dad was and started on the testerone shots at 55 years of age. He started on testerone shots once a month than went to the patches because they released the hormones more evenly instead of the peaks and valleys the shots caused. He was amazed how it made him feel. He said he felt stronger, his mental attitude was sharper and his sex drive stronger. He said he hadn't felt like that since being in his twenties. Of course I think it wreaked havoc on my step mom. Where I'm at they send coupons all the time for so much off on lab work. Think I might go in for a check up myself.

[awm]

NOTHIN WORKS LIKE A GOOD LOOKING WO- OOPS
sorry eric