Working for a living

I wouldn't say I enjoy it but I don't hate it and I count myself lucky on that count because I know how it feels to hate a job.

 

Re: Counting down the days to retirement

I know somebody seriously considering investing all of their redundancy money into a franchise, can you tell me why you advise so strongly against it. I'd like to warn him as so far everyone is telling him to go for it and that its all very safe.

 

The bosses must be sexist, racist and ageist.

But happy!

 

Re: Counting down the days to retirement

Its hard to say whether myself or my other half are in the better position. My missus is 10 years older than me and due for retirement in 3 1/2 years time. However, she completely detests her job these days and is literally counting down the days. She is trapped by her pension - it would take a big hit to finish early and at least she will still be retiring at 60 which is young in comparison to what will be the norm in future - it is a prospect that I have no hope of emulating.

I on the other hand am unlikely to see complete retirement for another 18 years. But even though I have much longer to go, I enjoy my job. I work bloody hard, on the road covering the country, and often putting in 15 hour days working or driving onto the next job. But the variety is still there after 16 years in the job, no 2 weeks are the same, it's stimulating, gives me job satisfaction, not much in the way of day to day stress related pressure, no micro managment, good company to work for and I get paid well. The odd day is shitty but on the whole I don't dread Monday mornings and don't find it a struggle to get up on a morning and face the day. I count myself lucky.

I've often thought that one day I'll not be able to face the long hours on the road any more and pack in what I do and get a "normal" job instead, but I can't think of anything else that would interest me in the same way that I am qualified for, and think I'll end up just doing the same job but on a part time basis as I re-adjust my work life balance leading up to full retirement. Besides, I'd probably earn more doing this job part time than a "normal" desk job full time.

 

Re: Counting down the days to retirement

Well, I may have been just unlucky. The first franchise I went for cost me £8,500, and they laid it on heavy about how much you could earn etc etc. They even had other franchisees present at the presentation telling you the same. Well, every other franchisee I met was struggling to earn any money, let alone a living. Then I heard that the company had been wound up by the DTI for fraudulently selling franchises. Even the "franchisees" at the presentation were just mates of the directors. Luckily, because I had bought the franchise with my credit card, I could claim the whole lot back from my credit card company.

Thinking that lightning can't strike twice, I bought another one in a different area of work. Similar thing happened - no business, no living. In fact, one franchisee has taken the company to court and won £85,000 in damages. He has never been paid, as the company changed their name and (illegally) sold their assets to the new company (same director). I am considering contacting my credit card company again..........

Your mate should ask him/herself could I set up this business on my own, without the need to buy into an expensive franchise? What competition is there in the area? What evidence is there of advertising and marketing of the product by the franchise?

I know some people who spent all their savings in buying a franchise and they just could not do the job, and the training they received was woeful - they should never have been allowed to represent the brand as the brand then got a really bad reputation for substandard work by poor operatives.

Franchises are tempting ready made packages, but in my experience they lack substance and the owners/directors are often in it just to make their money by selling the franchise package. No business venture is "safe".

Hope that helps, as a previous poster used to say.

 

Just starting working for myself after years at the drudgery mills and it's better though precarious.

 

I have hated jobs in the past, seriously hated them...but not I don't. I certainly don't love my job, and would love to follow up on my many other passions - but I feel it's a necessary evil to let me live the life I desire (when not working).

The pay is reasonable, although I could earn a lot more elsewhere - but the work-life balance, holidays, sick pay, pension, opportunities etc more than make up for the lower pay. I have a genuine loyalty to the organisation as they do their best to be fair. I suppose it could be a lot worse, so I think of myself as lucky.

 

Re: Counting down the days to retirement

That is really helpful, I will pass on the details you have presented so they can put the brakes on things a little bit and apply some caution before he hands over every penny he has.

 

Love it. But I work for myself. No job security, no pension, no paid holidays but total control over every aspect of my life. Would never, ever go back to being employed.

 

I work for myself. And I only work 6 months of the year. But I still hate it.

 

What's your gaffer like, mate? Is he always drinking wine, whilst missing his favourite cyclist riding past in the Tour de France?

 

Re: Counting down the days to retirement

Good luck to your mate in whatever he/she decides to do.

If they are interested in a particular franchise, I would seriously suggest that they look into entering that industry on their own without having to buy the franchise, as this can then be done much more cheaply. And they would be their own boss without being dictated to by Head Office, and without having to pay monthly management fees that drain your finances even more.

Look at the competition in the area. I set up a lettings agency (not a franchise) and discovered I had about 45 competitors in Cambridge!! I should have checked before, but I didn't lose any money, only time (but had seriously considered buying a lettings agency franchise).

Advertising/marketing costs can cripple you. Be wary, as you receive no end of phone calls offering to part you from your hard earned savings - eg to get your website to the top of page 1 on Google (which I did myself).

 

He's a workshy moaning wino, mate.

 

Couldn't agree more! Add to that working 24/7.

 

Pah!

He's not in the same class as me when it comes to being a workshy wino!

 

It sucks.

 

Have you considered starting a family?

The results are amazing.

Your home becomes an assault course of discarded toys and any train of thought lasting more than 5 seconds is pierced by the sound of screaming children. You go years on end without an undisturbed night's sleep and everyone wants all your attention and all of your money, all of the time.

Without any change in your job or work circumstances whatsoever, you suddenly find yourself looking forward to going.

 

I've never particularly enjoyed any job I've had. But I remember being unemployed/redundant etc, and that was worse than any job I've had.