|
Post by theevan on Jul 4, 2015 14:21:02 GMT -5
That's about where I'm at. If I can sell it, or turn it over to someone to manage I can retire at 60'ish and have money coming in from 4 places. I think my big fear 10 years out is whether technology is going to make our methods and practices obsolete and if so will I have the cash and brainpower to get with the times with only 5 years to bagging it. Alan - all I was trying to say is unless it is an unfixable sucking hole maybe don't shut down the current business until the other one is up and running. I spent the first 8 months when I bought this business living in a rental and commuting back 3 hours on Thursday night and returning here on Sunday night. It can be done. I think you had some security breach and may be concerned but maybe you could digitize the key documents of a job file and put them on a server. Maybe have a master to do list form in each file that the employee fills in when completed with any notes....you could call it something like "READ THE ****ING SCOPE!!" and monitor it from afar. I'm at 60ish now. I'm talking 70-75ish for an exit. It's something to shoot for anyway.
|
|
|
Post by Marshall on Jul 4, 2015 14:25:43 GMT -5
. . . , Maybe have a master to do list form in each file. . . , A lot of biz goes that way now days. A checklist for everything. It's helpful and a pain in the ass at the same time. Yeah, I was thinking more along Steve's line. If the old biz is not a drain, then keep it going somehow. Cash flow is cash flow.
|
|
|
Post by Marshall on Jul 4, 2015 14:31:11 GMT -5
I have a smoldering anger at myself for not preparing better for retirement but other than having 20-20 hindsight I don't know that I could have done anything different. With a business there are so many outside factors that you have no control over. Looking back, I could have done much better if I had known.... but. I sure can relate to all of it,but since I'm doing even worse than you at figuring it all out,I have no advice. That's the thing about this hindsight thing: At the time when changes might have been the most effective,they were also the very least indicated. Few people, if any, would change course while at their peak of success. That's probably what separates us plebes from the Bill Gates of the world. They're never satisfied and always reinventing themselves and their biz. Always looking beyond the here and now. Most of us peak and think we've arrived and this is the way things are supposed to be. But that's the start of our demise. Nothing stays the same. Momentary success is just that; momentary. The forces that come to bear to make it happen just as quickly can and will change. **sigh**
|
|
|
Post by John B on Jul 4, 2015 15:41:36 GMT -5
That's probably what separates us plebes from the Bill Gates of the world. That and his father was very wealthy, able to provide Bill Jr. with plenty of startup capital and a safety net if things didn't work out (and Harvard probably would have taken him back).
|
|
|
Post by millring on Jul 4, 2015 16:19:23 GMT -5
That's probably what separates us plebes from the Bill Gates of the world. That and his father was very wealthy, able to provide Bill Jr. with plenty of startup capital and a safety net if things didn't work out (and Harvard probably would have taken him back). It would be interesting to know which is a bigger determiner of fate between a leg-up beginning or a beginning devoid of external advantages.
|
|
|
Post by sekhmet on Jul 4, 2015 18:27:10 GMT -5
Holy shit Alan. Wow. Think on the bright side? You didn't spend your life playing music and have sweet eff ay to show for it. Right? You have lots of options and it sounds like you have the energy to work with them. Things will be better and worse. I'm sorry to hear that stuff sucks quite this much. Sometimes stuff does suck. hugs from us.
|
|
|
Post by Cosmic Wonder on Jul 4, 2015 23:12:34 GMT -5
Alan, just wanted to say I'm wishing you the best. I wish I had some good advice but I do think it will work out eventually. I hope you don't have too much stress before things get better.
Mike
|
|
|
Post by Hobson on Jul 5, 2015 9:50:18 GMT -5
Orlando may be booming, but nothing lasts forever. For what it's worth, my son in law has been spending summers building houses near the Bakken oil fields. Great money until now that the demand for housing has dropped. He's glad that he never gave up his business in Phoenix and never moved his family.
If your kids are in Orlando, can you stay with one of them until you get settled and figure out just how much work you'll have? Not an ideal situation, but it would be temporary.
|
|
|
Post by Marshall on Jul 5, 2015 11:46:01 GMT -5
That and his father was very wealthy, able to provide Bill Jr. with plenty of startup capital and a safety net if things didn't work out (and Harvard probably would have taken him back). It would be interesting to know which is a bigger determiner of fate between a leg-up beginning or a beginning devoid of external advantages. I think having an ornery attitude and a belief that you know more than those around you are more important than family background. However you get to that mental state is not important. You just have to be "all-in." Now, it may be family security that gives you the courage. Or it may be having nothing-to-lose that fires your attitude. But all that matters is having the attitude and the drive and the vision. And never being satisfied.
|
|
|
Post by millring on Jul 5, 2015 11:54:13 GMT -5
It would be interesting to know which is a bigger determiner of fate between a leg-up beginning or a beginning devoid of external advantages. I think having an ornery attitude and a belief that you know more than those around you are more important than family background. However you get to that mental state is not important. You just have to be "all-in." Now, it may be family security that gives you the courage. Or it may be having nothing-to-lose that fires your attitude. But all that matters is having the attitude and the drive and the vision. And never being satisfied. Well,a wailin' song and a good guitar are the only things that I understand, poor boy,the only things that I understand.
|
|
|
Post by Marshall on Jul 6, 2015 8:01:52 GMT -5
And sing what must be sung !
|
|
|
Post by AlanC on Jul 6, 2015 12:25:30 GMT -5
I thought I posted earlier but it got lost in the ether somehow. What it said was that I appreciate the responses, several of which have been very helpful. Another opinion or experience- even though not exactly the same- is helpful. I am in Orlando at a motel working. I went to the job site early this AM and fussed at my son and sighed at my partner (who had not done what he said he would do the last time I was here). It's not a biggie but might be a warning sign; I need to pay close attention. Anyway, happy Monday from Mickeyland.
|
|
|
Post by majorminor on Jul 6, 2015 12:32:34 GMT -5
How big a deal is it to get licensed in another state?
|
|
|
Post by AlanC on Jul 6, 2015 20:29:04 GMT -5
In Florida it is- to quote the V.P.- "A BFD". One has to have a bachelors degree in surveying or civil engineering for starters. In fact, the degree is no longer referred to as "surveying", it's "Geomatics". Anyway, Florida license will never happen for me. I don't have a degree. I'm one of the dinosaurs that passed the test without a 4 year college degree.
|
|
|
Post by epaul on Jul 6, 2015 21:02:28 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Village Idiot on Jul 6, 2015 21:20:08 GMT -5
In Florida it is- to quote the V.P.- "A BFD". One has to have a bachelors degree in surveying or civil engineering for starters. In fact, the degree is no longer referred to as "surveying", it's "Geomatics". Anyway, Florida license will never happen for me. I don't have a degree. I'm one of the dinosaurs that passed the test without a 4 year college degree. That's frustrating. Any such thing as a grandfather clause down there? I'd take experience over a degree any day of the week. You know a whole lot more about what you're doing than any young pup with a degree that's just been at it a few years.
|
|
|
Post by Marshall on Jul 7, 2015 10:39:02 GMT -5
The Grandfather clauses refer to anybody already in the state and practicing. Coming from out of state is like coming from a foreign country, as far as licensing requirements are concerned.
PS - After talking to j these last couple of days, hearing both he and Paula are PHDs, made me realize that before I exit the planet, a mere 4 year Bachelors is not going to be enough for entry into a professional career.
|
|
|
Post by majorminor on Jul 7, 2015 11:11:05 GMT -5
There's always the door biz. They'll let anyone in. Master the whole right hand left hand thing and be able to identify 5 or 6 different species of wood and you can run the place.
|
|
|
Post by Doug on Jul 7, 2015 11:21:09 GMT -5
The Grandfather clauses refer to anybody already in the state and practicing. Coming from out of state is like coming from a foreign country, as far as licensing requirements are concerned. PS - After talking to j these last couple of days, hearing both he and Paula are PHDs, made me realize that before I exit the planet, a mere 4 year Bachelors is not going to be enough for entry into a professional career. I have Bull Shit and More Shit twice I"d like Piled Higher and Deeper but just because I'd like to be Doctor Doug. You can teach with just a BS but the MS was a 20% increase.
|
|
|
Post by patrick on Jul 7, 2015 11:32:24 GMT -5
I have Bull Shit and More Shit twice I"d like Piled Higher and Deeper but just because I'd like to be Doctor Doug. You can teach with just a BS but the MS was a 20% increase. I got Bull Shit, More Shit AND Piled Higher and Deeper, plus some other professional certifications. But there's no guarantees for anyone out there anymore. Alan I sympathize with you. That's a tough spot to be in and a whole lot of difficult choices to make.
|
|