Thinking of making a life change!

if you are over fifty I'd say take the job and benefits. time is the most precious thing you have and it can never be regained so spend as much of it as you can on yourself and your family!

my father always said "it's not important what you do during the week, but what you do on week-ends."

now you can make furniture, bird houses, dog houses, wind whirlygigs, carve mantles, totem poles, clocks and decoy ducks, invent a tile stretcher or stretch out on a hammock.

toss a line, catch some crabs, learn to cook, read a book, or volunteer to build homes for the homeless. teach at night, build a hot-rod, play guitar, grow string beans.


the young bucks on this board will not understand this...but they will.

mnjconstruction said:

Sell the buisness and take on the job.

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Just how much do you really think the business is worth?


The answer is more of a riddle:
Can you live [happily] on the 48k?
[....and of course, the revenue from side project of bird houses and picnic tables]

mnjconstruction said:

I have owned a contruction company for 15 years now. And am now starting to get a little burnt out. Dont get me wrong. I love building but I miss the days when it was just me and my old van full of tools. Having employees and all the paoperwork, etc etc is starting to become a bore. I do all my own estimates, bookeeping, payroll. Most days I am only at the jobsite for a hour or so and off I must go.
I was offered a head of maintence job today. Pay is 48k a year with full beni package. 48k a year up here in northern maine is considered really good money. So I am tempted. Sell the buisness and take on the job. Of course I would be making alot less money but not as many headaces. And I was thing if I took this job I could open up a shop were I could build and sell things like picknic tables, sheds small decks, stairs, well houses and so on. I know of a building i can rent for 250 a month. nothing fancy but its big with a large over head door, would be perfect for what I want it for.
Am I stupid for even considering making this life change. I mean alot of people would love to own a successful contruction company. but for me its just not like it use to be. Its becoming "work" I just dont love it the way i use to. Any thoughts would be great, thanks guys!! :thumbsup:

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Become a building inspector and show HO and hacks what makes guys like you burn out :thumbsup: or take up golf and move in to Adult community, get an old van and tools and do some handyman work :thumbup:

Its a hard desicion, probley the hardest I have ever had to make. I'm still young enough were I could take this job and put in 15 years or so and have a decent retirement. As for the job it sounds like a good one. I'll be able to run the dept. my way, i'll have 6 full time guys under me. Some part-timers in the summer also. Great benefits, decent pay. The last year or so I have been slammin money on all my loans. Paid off my house, wifes car, equipment loan etc. Really the only large bill I have right now is my pickup which is 500 a month. So even though I will be making less money I will not struggle! My wife has a great job also. I told the guy I needed a few weeks to think about it. He said to take my time, no hurry. the current person doing the job is getting done this fall. So at least I have plenty of time to decide. I might see if i can go there for a few days and see what I think, im sure they would let me do that.

All of your comments are helpful, keep them coming. I value the thoughts of fellow contractors, thanks again!!!!

Your gonna be running someone else's shop, still stressful.... I thought you were gonna get away from things. sounds to me like your tired of chasing the money and spinning your wheels, all normal stresses of running any business by the way.

This move will give you temporary relief, you'll be able to "clock out" at the end of the day. But money is a huge part off why we are all in business for ourselves, sure budgeting and the fact that the old lady has a secure gig helps... but if your anything like me it will start to bother you if you depend on someone else's income to make the ends meet.

I'd like to say that this IS a very personal decision, making a pros & cons list is a very good idea, and so is talking it over with the wife and family. The greatest things in life are health and family and if your losing in on either one of those things right now, is time to make a change...

In either the way your business is currently run, or your Business all together, either way don't second guess your final decision, stick to it and don't look back or else you'll never be satisfied with any choice you make.

Good luck!

The job offered was a head of maint. dept for a housing complex. I am unsure of how many apartments there are but I would guess somewhere around 100. This is a state job with state benies. And that is why I am considering it so much. Some people have said i will miss the money I currently make off the company. Well I built this company from nothing. And when I say nothing I mean that. I had started with an old van. And charged about $1000 worth of craftsman power tools at sears to get started. I have grown slowly over the years, but it has worked out very well for me. currently have 4 vans all setup. And of course lg.inclosed trailer for the big jobs. Plus I have my van setup and my pickup. We have 1 dumptruck, couple beater work trucks, and so many tools. Its amazing how many tools we get over the years. The salary I will be getting is more than enough for me to live very well. Plus we also own 4 rental units that bring in a little extra income. If I did get out of it I would sell most of the stuff and only keep my personal old van, my pickup and a couple sets of tools. Only thing is now I go on 3 vacations a year. new years eve in vegas. vegas in july and usally a cruise in sept or oct. If I take that job I will not be able to do so many trips every year. So that is a downfall. Wow what alot to think about. I'm leaving for my july vacation on the 10th. Maybe being away for a couple weeks will let me clear my head and start to think of what I want.