Like everyone, I had lots of reasons for making the decision to go solo, but being my own boss is one of the biggest. A few incidents with former employers always come to mind. Here's one:
While working as a party chief (and PLS) I was sent to survey a triangular shaped lot of about 3 acres in a rural subdivision. The client ordered the survey so he could build a fence. Found the two front corners, and a couple of adjoining corners. Everything checked. Traversed to the back and found that the rear corner
had been hit by a tractor, so I reset it. You couldn't see from the front of the lot to the back, so I put about 3 line stakes on each side line to aid in building the fence. Job completed. The client called the survey manager and thanked him for a good job.
I arrived back at the office and the survey manager called me into his office. He told me the client called him and said he was happy with my work and told him what I did. Frankly, I was expecting an "atta boy". Instead, I got chewed out for setting line stakes without being told to. I told the survey manager that if I had not set them, the survey would have been useless for the client's purposes. He had no issue with the extra time (which was minimal) and did not question the correctness of anything I had done. He said we were taking on extra liability be setting line stakes for a lot survey to build a fence. I didn't know what to say.
I still get upset every time I think about it.
That's my gripe for the day.
I know everyone has stories like this. Let's hear yours!
I was accused once of stealing a farmers dog. And by the next employer, of intentionally hitting a turkey with the survey truck as it was flying across the highway. I told the owner, "you're an engineer, calculate the reaction time I would have to have in order to swerve & hit a flying turkey crossing the highway while traveling 65 miles per hour. That shut him up.
Too many idiotic accusations to try and remember while enjoying a friday evening.
Most days I'm very thankful for my current butt-headed boss.
I was expecting the "laths cost money" argument. Rediculous.
> Like everyone, I had lots of reasons for making the decision to go solo, but being my own boss is one of the biggest. A few incidents with former employers always come to mind. Here's one:
>
> While working as a party chief (and PLS) I was sent to survey a triangular shaped lot of about 3 acres in a rural subdivision. The client ordered the survey so he could build a fence. Found the two front corners, and a couple of adjoining corners. Everything checked. Traversed to the back and found that the rear corner
> had been hit by a tractor, so I reset it. You couldn't see from the front of the lot to the back, so I put about 3 line stakes on each side line to aid in building the fence. Job completed. The client called the survey manager and thanked him for a good job.
>
> I arrived back at the office and the survey manager called me into his office. He told me the client called him and said he was happy with my work and told him what I did. Frankly, I was expecting an "atta boy". Instead, I got chewed out for setting line stakes without being told to. I told the survey manager that if I had not set them, the survey would have been useless for the client's purposes. He had no issue with the extra time (which was minimal) and did not question the correctness of anything I had done. He said we were taking on extra liability be setting line stakes for a lot survey to build a fence. I didn't know what to say.
>
> I still get upset every time I think about it.
>
> That's my gripe for the day.
>
> I know everyone has stories like this. Let's hear yours!
What liability? I'm of the opinion that if you're going to survey you should go on your own.
BML1969...Change your avatar please, thank you. ?
BML1969, please change your avatar. Some of our users have found it offensive.
Thank you for understanding. :-$
Administrator Angel :angel:
My assistant was taking the time sheet I was filling in and he was adding his quad there every day (charging his quad to the client). The point was that we newer used his quad on the project.
I told the project manager, and the branch manager - they did not care, field crews supervisor told me - this is your problem.
We were almost fighting with my assistant, it lasted for weeks. When shift came to the end I left the project because they were not going to replace the guy with somebody else. I thought I will just leave for Ukraine, and that would be end of my another winter surveying season in Canada, but when I came to town they fired me and told will newer hire me back.
It was end of Feb 2011, but still pisses me off when I think about that.
It must be good to be your own boss even if you do not make as much but you have freedom of your choises.
Like Rodney Daingerfield said "don't get me started" cause I've could talk all night.
Let's just say that there have been a c... load of false promises come my way, I'll just call them lies by some professional liars.
They were all reasons to go solo or crew of me and a few helpers thru the years.
Best reason to go solo is cause you love your work and want to do it your way, the right way every time.
B-)
If you're attempting to apply your professional knowledge toward a surveying task and, instead, you're second guessing your employer or supervisor....it's time.
I applaud my crew chiefs for going that extra little bit to make sure the work is understood and visible.
The client deserves your full attention and abilities.
BML1969...Change your avatar please, thank you. ?
i find it quite offensive and enjoyable at the same time
the best way to flick someone off is with all of your fingers, that way you get four times the satisfaction and they don't know what you are doing.
BML1969...Change your avatar please, thank you. ?
> i find it quite offensive and enjoyable at the same time
>
> the best way to flick someone off is with all of your fingers, that way you get four times the satisfaction and they don't know what you are doing.
Unless they are Italian.
😉
BML1969...Change your avatar please, thank you. ?
> Unless they are Italian.
>
> 😉
And Angel IS Italian. B-)
Sounds like your survey manager is an idiot.
There is only one reason to go solo.
Because you can!
When I went solo, I only had a total station, then I purchased an L1 system (locus), I walked most jobs, now I have a robot, RTK, a nice ATV and most every tool a guy needs.
But then comes the office work, late late nights and very early mornings so I can get the invoice out has taken its toll.
After 10 years being mainly solo, in one year, I will have my youngest son out of college and have a partner in the business. It will take some time before he gets his license, but the college degree is the biggy here in Texas.
He has worked for me since he was out of diapers and is going to make a heck of a land surveyor one day. He just gets it.
Solo was fun, challenging and all that, but being in my mid 50's, I am ready for some help on a daily basis, not just when school is out for the summer.
He has dreams of expanding one day and I hope it comes to fruition for him.
Randy
Just to be clear, I've already gone solo. I've been on my own for a little over a year. The incident I described happened some time ago.
Randy, it sounds like I'm heading the same way you went. I'm leasing my total station and data collector and I bought a used truck. I got a inexpensive atv and I purchased a Locus gps system with three receivers from a member of this board. I don't have RTK yet, but I hope that will be coming soon.
I don't have a big client base yet, but with plenty of effort hand help from good friends thing are working out ok. I hope things keep improving for all of us!
