The End Is Near !!

[nfinch86]

Thankyou everyone ; Ray, Cruizer, fjk, when I said 1/20 of before that was just a rough guess. The final montyly amount is to be determined next week !

But for sure it will be no where near what I was paying before !!!

Reggie , Don't worry your little head about me, I'll be just fine !!

Thanks Again Everyone; ............. Norm

[nfinch86]

Lessons Learned !!

Norm, glad everything is better for you. Now is the time to look at the past, and plan for the future! I know I have learned from your situation, as I bet, a large number of others have as well. I have one suggestion. Bookmark this thread so you can return and read it from time-to-time. I think it will keep you focused to remember the pain you have experienced. I still like the idea of teaching though. At my age, passing on what little knowledge I possess gives a mental boost, and could add a little to your wallet. I'm very pleased with your good fortune. warmest regards, Ray

Ray; Thankyou, Yes all this Will Never be Foregotten !!

Ray, as far as Teaching, yes I am thinking of that, Not right now, but maybe in the near future !

[arraflipper]

No Quitting

Hey Norm, I knew when you said you weren't quitting there was hope. Sounds like you have found it and I hope work comes in next. Glad you have a plan, and the knowledge behind you.

When I lived on the farm we got cattle from all over. I remember one old cowboy saying he started with nothing, and had most of it left. No one gave me anything, I have just been lucky enough to have work and be able to work. My father taught me how to work, most of what I have learned I have learned the hard way, by doing it till it was right. I really enjoy working and won't be happy till it suits me when I do something, and that means it is the best I can do! I bet you are pretty much that way, if it isn't done right it isn't leaving your shop till it is. It will come back around for you and you will be ready for it!

[69FordTruck]

Hey norm I hope you can get back to work real soon. I hate to see this happen to anyone. I feel fortunate that my work has been steady 40 hours through all this nonsense. Even though the welders just trickled in for repair, fortunately we had enough generator work to keep busy.

Lets hope everyone can get back to work soon

[kiwi]

Go norm!!!!

Hey Norm,
Your strenght is admirable. I think your attitude will get you through the tough times. All I can say is GO NORM GO...don't give up!!!!
Good Luck,
Nick

[nfinch86]

I'll Fight to the End

Thanks Guys; arraflipper, 69Ford Truck, & Kiwi, .. I don't know how to put into words, how much your thoughts and encouragement has meant to me over these last few days !!

Yes, I still have a lot of fight left in me, I will not quit, I will do everything in my power to make this business a Sucsess !!

Yes , I'm a perfectionist, my Father was an Artist, I took after him and started doing charcoal sketches when I was 8yrs. old and oil painting when i was 12yrs. old .

That mentality carried over into Welding when I was 16yrs. old till today at well I'll be 59 in a few weeks !!

I love what I do more than I can I can properly convey. I look foreward to what the comming days, weeks, months and years have instore for myself, my family and my business !!

Thankyou everyone for your encourement;

.................. Norm

[Leefy]

Norm

Good luck in the future. I'm your same age and on the other end of the welding career. Just starting out after retiring from a life of owning a commercial printing business. Business can be great and business can suck. Just have to take the good with the bad. Get up everyday and just do it. Good Luck.

[m.k.swelding]

I know what it is like not having any work And that is hard to overcome but just hold in there something will come along soon. I never belived that a few weeks ago untill I had 5 orders for trailers come in. in less that a week.

[kiwi]

Happy Birthday

Norm,
Wishing you an early happy birthday young man.
Nick

[nfinch86]

Feelin' Good!!

Norm,
Wishing you an early happy birthday young man.
Nick

Nick Thanks;

Yes, I'll be 59, with the Energy of a 29 yr. old !!

As far as work goes, I'm Totally confident it will come as well !!

Thankyou everyone; ........... Norm

[PLWeld]

The work will come

Norm, Earlier in the post you mentioned sending out flyers, business cards, etc.... Now give it some time and the work will start coming in, slowly, but surely! Also, don't just stop doing this, always talk to everyone you come across, regardless if it's welding related or not! Put your business card down at every establishment you visit! Regardless if it's Mcdonalds or the hardware store and do it everytime! I used to be a recruiter and I was very successful. I learned a lot of good "business skills" and marketing ideas in Recruiting school. Also, time management, use your time wisely. If you don't have work, build something to sell, your a weldor with a skill, put it to use and don't wait on the work to come to you. Either make the work (to sell) or go find it!!! When the customers come in, put that away and take care of the customer. You have taught me something here, too. I will definately stay away from lines of credit. Everything I have done, I have paid cash for and If I can't, then I won't do it. I put the profits away and when I need something I can afford, I get it. I keep everything documented via a log book, invoices and a database. Just like JSFAB put it, you can't just do the welding jobs, you have to manage the business as well. Also, if you don't have one, get an accountant! Mine helps keep me out of any potential messes that I could potentially get into. Also, again, the way JSFAB put it, I don't do favors, friend or not! Equipment, consumables, etc cost money. I charge by the hour and I get paid to do quality work in a timely fasion. If one cannot afford me, then I don't have time to mess with them, my time is too valuable. Someone on here mentioned diversifying, do other types of jobs. I look for awesome deals, such as cars, trailers etc that need TLC (re-done), buy them, fix them and sell them for a profit. That has worked well for me also. Good luck to you and keep us all posted on how you are doing and how the business is going.

[nfinch86]

Wise Words !!

Norm, Earlier in the post you mentioned sending out flyers, business cards, etc.... Now give it some time and the work will start coming in, slowly, but surely! Also, don't just stop doing this, always talk to everyone you come across, regardless if it's welding related or not! Put your business card down at every establishment you visit! Regardless if it's Mcdonalds or the hardware store and do it everytime! I used to be a recruiter and I was very successful. I learned a lot of good "business skills" and marketing ideas in Recruiting school. Also, time management, use your time wisely. If you don't have work, build something to sell, your a weldor with a skill, put it to use and don't wait on the work to come to you. Either make the work (to sell) or go find it!!! When the customers come in, put that away and take care of the customer. You have taught me something here, too. I will definately stay away from lines of credit. Everything I have done, I have paid cash for and If I can't, then I won't do it. I put the profits away and when I need something I can afford, I get it. I keep everything documented via a log book, invoices and a database. Just like JSFAB put it, you can't just do the welding jobs, you have to manage the business as well. Also, if you don't have one, get an accountant! Mine helps keep me out of any potential messes that I could potentially get into. Also, again, the way JSFAB put it, I don't do favors, friend or not! Equipment, consumables, etc cost money. I charge by the hour and I get paid to do quality work in a timely fasion. If one cannot afford me, then I don't have time to mess with them, my time is too valuable. Someone on here mentioned diversifying, do other types of jobs. I look for awesome deals, such as cars, trailers etc that need TLC (re-done), buy them, fix them and sell them for a profit. That has worked well for me also. Good luck to you and keep us all posted on how you are doing and how the business is going.

PL Thanks;

Wise Words, The vast majority of the things you mentioned, I've been doing for over Three Yrs., Business Cards ( almost 3,000 handed out ) Over 14,000 Flyers - mailed , handed out, newspaper inserts, and so on, Radio Ads, news paper Ads !!

Yes, I try to use my time & skills wisely, as far as a line of credit goes, It's not a bad thing. Low Interest rates, It's how you use it. In my case I started a business with almost nothing. No truck, no welder, no generator, very few hand tools Etc., Etc. ! All I had was a dream , Ideas, and a great will & drive to make this business a success !!

I still have that great will and drive , for success. I love what I do more than any words could properly state !!

Back to the line of credit , I built my business on a very small line of credit.
It's the credit cards that you want to Stay Away from, They will bury you in DEBT !!

Again PL, Thanks for the Wise Words !!

.............. Norm

[Sberry]

Also,,, being a perfectionist isn't always a great asset in business.

[nfinch86]

I Am What I Am !!

Also,,, being a perfectionist isn't always a great asset in business.

Ya, And a Zebra can't change it's stripes either !!

..... ..... Norm

[fuseblower2]

The end is near...

Hi there:
I can understand your frustration and your delemma.
You have a home that is paid for,so don't risk it by putting it into play.
I live in Cape Breton N.s. and we have been living with tough times
all our lives. I know of an older tradesman (like Myself) 65+ whohad a welding
business and it dropped off.
He told me he was practicing to do an Alberta B test and he went to Alberta
and worked for 2 years.It allowed him to keep all his assets.
I wish you all the best and I hope you are able to weather this situation.

Gary