I don't know how old you are but I am 57 and ran my own business after the crash in 2008 when I got laid off.?ÿ At that time I was fortunate enough to have connections to a few very wealthy land speculators and other former clients that all assured me that they would keep me busy as soon as I was incorporated and had the proper insurances.?ÿ
It didn't take long for me to accomplish and they held up to their word.?ÿ In a matter of a month I went from working 9 to 5 to working 18 hours a day, 6 days a week doing all of the proposals, boundary and layout calcs, answering the phone, doing payroll and shaking the trees to collect money.?ÿ
That went on for 4 years until I was burned out and needed a break.?ÿ Once I made my mind up, I found an established Engineering firm that has been in business for close to 100 years, took a salaried job, brought my people that wanted to follow with me and got back to 9 to 5 with far less responsibility.?ÿ I left that job after 3 years for the opportunity to start a Survey Dept. for a small Engineering firm that made allot of promises to me in writing, it's been 6 years and, they have, by far exceeded the promises they made me.
I sit here today, on a Friday, was done working at noon and never do more than 8 hrs, making more money than I ever dreamed but still have no idea what a vacation is, more than a long weekend.?ÿ?ÿ
Moral of the story, find an LS who can assume your role and treat that person well.?ÿ You can then reap the benefits of cash flow and retire or simply consult.
I'm old enough to have forgotten whether or not I've already contributed to this thread, so this may be redundant, but:
I started in both business and fatherhood relatively late in life (40 and 45, respectively).?ÿ My business plan, such as it was, was to make a decent living as a surveyor rather than a survey manager, so I intentionally kept the business small.?ÿ I never had more than 1 employee at a time, and about 5 years ago I went 100% solo.?ÿ The first couple of years were a little lean, but then things settled into a general pattern of increasing income.?ÿ I probably averaged about 40 hours a week most years, but I was able to bike my son to school and back (until he got too old to want to be escorted, sometime around 4th grade), and attended almost all of his baseball games and practices (until I was banned from varsity practice for the same reason as the biking thing).?ÿ We always spent a week hiking in the High Sierra, even after he went to college.?ÿ (He's now in grad school in Michigan, so may not make this year's Yosemite trip.)
Now that we're empty nesters and the boy is no longer on the payroll, I still work around 40 hours a week ( I think), but I typically work 4 out 5 hours in the field, take a couple hours for lunch, do a little office work, grab a quick nap, work out on the Stairmaster, then goof around in my shop for a couple of hours before a shower and dinner.?ÿ?ÿ
In addition to the annual Yosemite trip, my wife and I will travel a bit in the fall for our 25th anniversary, visiting family and some national parks.
Although I'm well past traditional retirement age, I just don't see any reason to hang up the data collector yet.
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Jim I feel the same way, as long as I continue to work I am a surveyor, if I were to retire, I don't know what I would be then, except for a has been.?ÿ I work now because I enjoy it, not because I have to, as long as I am able to work, then I don't have to worry about retirement.?ÿ I have had several clients in their 80's and 90's tell me the worst thing they ever did was to quit working.
Ed
I can't thank you enough for posting that cuz I'm 50 and I'm still working my way to license.
This too will cease but I am retiring in May 2022.?ÿ
This profession has been the essence of who I am, personally and professionally.?ÿ
Today I??ve about come to my witts end. I??m tired. Really tired. I haven??t had a real vacation since 2012, save a 3 day weekend. I??m so tired of jumping through the hoops that my clients set up. My motto has always been, under promise and over deliver. ?? to what end, my death or worse, my divorce
don??t get me wrong, I enjoy what I do, but the last several years have been really rough. I can??t handle the demand anymore of my small firm. I turn down more work than I can do. It??s been overwhelming for so long now. There??s no help out there.?ÿ
Does anybody want my company ?
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Don't give up mate, have you thought of looking at a business development consultant who can give you tips on getting out of this rut?
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