It's like playing musical chairs... when the music stops, you have to sit down.
When the economy went kaput, about 2 yrs ago, we had to stop where we were. No extra cash for new equipment, same truck, no fancy new software.
I know a couple of contractors, who were caught by it. The increase in prices of materials, combined with increase in cost of living, made their once profitable jobs, a sole labor of love.
Scrap metal yards have sprung up all over. The prices for scrap metal are high, but when most of that is gone, then metal prices will truly go up.
Another weird thing, is that many of the young people have the morals of a billy goat. And, no money. This combination, makes people do strange things.
America is an odd business place, from my window. And, it makes me nervous.
I don't like it.
~ N
Sit tight is what I'm told. No major purchasing of anything and bid jobs to keep the doors open and not to get ahead. Everyone has hung themselves with rates around here, doing jobs for nothing just to get some work.
Also, the cut off is about 25 years of age and less for the non-work ethic, hands held out, not trustworthy , brainwashed young America. Unless they are raised in rural America under parents that realize that life isn't only about work and carrer building.
When is the music going to start again? I'm sooooooo tired of this sitting crap that I'm almost to the point of just throwing in the towel.
> Also, the cut off is about 25 years of age and less for the non-work ethic, hands held out, not trustworthy , brainwashed young America. Unless they are raised in rural America under parents that realize that life isn't only about work and carrer building.
>
I blame that on Vermeer and the Round Baler. When everything was square baled, the young always had something to do in the summer.
Ya know what? There is always something to whine and complain about, it's a lot harder to find something to be positive about sometimes, but that's when it's most important.
Not knowing the morals of billy goats I don't get Nate's allusion "Another weird thing, is that many of the young people have the morals of a billy goat."
I assume that it's unflattering and probably doesn't apply to any of the little helpers of his! I know that all 5 of my kids are gainfully employed, from the 15 year old up to the 26 year old...
Oh yeah, and find me a generation that didn't complain about the "youth of today."
It's kind of like whining about the lack of people entering land surveying. I've been hearing that for 30 years an have yet to see the problem...
Grow up and get your big girl panties on if you're going to try and survey in this country!
Well, Foggy, ain't you sweet.
Goats. well, thay ain't much like them.
N
Mu$ical Chairs
I will agree that the surveying work load is diminished, somewhat. However, my ability to make a good living hasn't been diminished. The secret lies in your business model.
If your overhead is such that you require an 'x' amount of work each month before you show profit then you are at risk of being a victim of the roller-coaster economy.
Build your profit into each job, keep your overhead as low as possible (pay cash for equipment or pay it off as soon as possible), and structure your organization to where you can proliferate (break to two or three crews when possible).
Lowering rates or fees to possibly increase workload is a "fata morgana" or mirage. You'll only hurt your organization and the industry in general. If there's no work, do somethin' fun like throw cards at a hat...tighten up the tripods and tribachs...go fishin'.
I never lost a penny on a job I didn't get.
> Grow up and get your big girl panties on if you're going to try and survey in this country!
I knew I was doing something wrong going commando, are you suggesting thongs or granny panties for a successful surveying business.
Yeah but..
Looking back I guess I earned my keep loading and unloading hay bales but DANG that's WORK. Running a sickle mower, a windrow rake then a baler and then loading them things in the south Georgia summer heat is a killer (even though I don't know anybody it actually killed). I do believe I'd rather cut lines for a grid topo.
Andy
