Self-Employment VS Working a Job
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 พ.ค. 2024
- You are not alone if you are thinking about a career change. I've been there too...and I have
a few things for you to consider before you do anything drastic. Cutting wood soon?
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I spent just about the last 10 years working construction for other people. Different trades but mostly carpentry.
I was working the last year for a timber framing crew.
So last this last December right before Christmas I just dipped, with the full support of my wife who is a stay at home mom, and decided to work for myself. Started advertising around town and got some jobs. Then I decided I was done doing anything but carpentry and woodworking. So I started turning down any job that wasn't just working with wood. Now things have taken off. I'm becoming known as the woodworker. A specialist and I'm getting jobs left and right.
My point is you don't always need to be scared. Sometimes you just need to believe and get after it.
We have three kids and about $200 to our name when I made this decision. I never let myself doubt that we wouldn't be provided for. You are always provided for if you do what God is telling you to. You are living in the land of abundance. Let it pour on in.
You have all my respect. I am older more than 55.. and being self employed for the last 3 years I struggle. My trade isn’t essential like yours. So not sure if I will last. Bravo anyhow.
Just recently quit my Facility job and this will help me a lot Pal. Thank you.
Out of curiosity, what did you do to advertise? I am looking towards making the leap in the next couple years. I feel my skills are at a level where I can start doing solo jobs in my field (trim carpentry), but I am in the ugly valley where I am way too busy at work to take side jobs, and not at all confident in my ability to scare up work if I go out on my own.
How do people get their name out there to start doing work? what sort of ads are people placing to get established as a new company?
@@timmietimmins3780business cards leave them in short stacks or on peg boards cork boards take on small jobs on the weekends give your card to homeowners take small add out in your local paper good luck if your good and fair priced you will succeed don’t make promises you can’t do better to overestimate the time it will take then to run over
The most important part is that you have to have the skill to do what you want. Some people don't have the skills to do things like this and regardless of how hard they work at it will never have the skills to do it.
Some people think they have these skills, but don't and ruin everything they touch. Most of these kinds of people are on youtube showing people how to do things wrong and getting thanks from people who don't know any better. TH-cam is generating a whole generation of incompetent handymen.
I would really suggest anyone that wants to be a general contractor/superintendent.. first,, actually build something. Actually wear the same tool belt and experience life in the shoes of the people you want to boss around. As a carpenter, I can’t tell you how many project managers I’ve come in contact with that have the glimmer of big money and building someone’s dream home with the false catharsis that they’re building something special .. meanwhile you shake their hand and can instantly tell they’ve never swung a hammer in their life. Those are always the most nightmarish builds for everyone involved.
You can't say that enough
Goodness….
@@PatrickFarrell_KJV goodness what?
@@24karatCC goodness, that there’s GC’s out there that have not experience. Very believable though. Just ridiculous.
Have a good one.
@@PatrickFarrell_KJV Yepp, all you gotta do is take the 12 hour class and you’re “certified”
I've been in construction 40 years, a master plumber for 30 years. Self-employed 21 years. Gave it all up 5 years ago to become a city inspector. Best move I ever made. Holidays, vacation, retirement, good pay, and great health insurance. Every weekend off, less stress, its been great.
What do inspectors make?
@CharlieTheCarpenter well, that's hard to answer. You're not going to get rich. In my area of North Texas, if you have ambition and get ICC certifications, you can work your way up to Building Official and make north of a hundred thousand. If you just want to go to work, come home, and nothing else, you'll average 52 to 65 thousand. I currently make about 75 grand a year with a 3% raise each year. I'm in my 5th year, and I expect to be at around 100 thousand a year in another 5 years. 13 paid holidays, 3 weeks paid vacation (started with 2 weeks). Medical, dental, and vision are completely paid 100% by the city. Weekends off, no overtime. I have to put 7% into my retirement. The city adds an additional 14.25%. Then, the 3rd party retirement group in Austin garauntees another 5%. I can draw retirement till I die, and then my wife can draw 100% of it till she dies. I do other things on the side to earn more. When I retire, I plan to draw my retirement check and go back into business. I'm a master plumber in Texas and Oklahoma. It's not for everybody, but it's been good to me, and I enjoy being around construction. I have a great relationship with our builders. My total package with insurance and everything is valued at 104, 000 per year with what the city provides in addition to my salary. They also give me 1200 per year in a health savings account to help with copays, on dr visits. I get a physical and full blood work once a year free to me. Plus, other checkups. All on their dime. I'm not micromanaged, and I have my freedom all day. You can do this type of work and make very little, or you can do very well, monetarily speaking. Like anything, it depends on the person.
I was told by a city inspector to get my icc certs and apply by I feel like I haven’t paid my dues to the trade. I’m only 21 but he said it didn’t matter but I feel like cheating out guys with more experience
Thats great bro make sure those shower pans dont leak!
@@startingtech3900 that's like saying I'm a plumber because I can glue pvc.
"People don't quit jobs, they quit bosses" This is worth repeating! But I suppose also, just because you don't like your boss, doesn't mean you want to be your own boss, I've seen many people make that mistake, when all they really wanted was a job with a better boss.
Working for yourself will be the hardest thing you ever do, if you can pull it off you are extremely talented.
Working for someone else is the easiest thing possible, just realize it's not yours, and you will be cut loose with no notice when you are used up.
Working for someone else, as others have also said, can vary between very positive/easy and something so hellish that it'll inflict lasting maybe permanent harm on your body and mind (I have lived experience on the latter...). If you are in a field that's got demand for your skill, and especially if your skill is portable, and you have or think that you might have or be able to learn the talent to 'surf' all the crazy mix of being solo or running your own business that might include other people, you are in the best position imaginable. If you've got 'that toolbox' then good employers will want to keep and reward you and will know that you could rocket out their door unless they do well by you. Bad employer, light the jet and rocket out the door for either a good employer or launching your own endeavor. And even if you go out on your own, but latter in life want to shed some of the 'round the clock' dimensions of running your own show, there might be companies or government organizations that'd love to have your decades of broad perspective and real world experience. My son, mid 20s, just gained his first credentials in a very dynamic skilled trade. I wish I'd gone into a skilled trade instead of the academic/professional route which overall kinda left me a lot worse for wear because I'm bad at enduring bullshit and the resulting stress of being a non bullshit oriented person in a hurricane of "org chart bullshit" literally aged my body and mind severely & prematurely. But when I was in my teens, etc., everyone in sight including many in the skilled trades, steered young people away from the skilled trades. Now we are in a 'new golden era' for skilled trades and I hope that everyone with that interest/skill grabs your dreams and make them come true!
Sorry my friend working for myself has been by far the easiest thing ever. Things go so much easier, no fuss no mess with me in charge. Very smooth, flawless operations. I sleep well at night now no worries no problems. The only time I get frustrated is when I have to deal with others. People are irrational. People are emotional. People are annoying. Just me working on my own there is none of these huge negatives.
Working for yourself also means you are free to work 24/7...
I just up and quit. I have time, but I need money.
I've been on both sides of the fence. Worked for people who didn't have a clue what side was up. And I've also started or bought 35 different businesses. And managed to get 2 engineering degrees in my spare time. And I still haven't figured out what I want to be when I grow up. I retired at 55 but haven't stopped working on things I enjoy doing. I hope I can continue for another 30 years at least. I still have a lot of things I need to do!
sure
The freedom of being self-employed is hard to give up.
Even with all the challenges.
Feast or famine is a rough life, though.
Its a strange 'job' of working 80 hours for yourself to avoid working 40 hours for someone else.
What is strange is to get up every day of your life and drive to your job to work for someone else’s benefit. And always know that you ARE disposable. When you work for yourself you are permanent and never disposable. It’s much better for your state of mind.
But at the same time you make your self irreplaceable to any one else and you will get rewarded trust me. Try to take on more responsibility than your co workers and a lot will change for you. It’s just a mind state that’s all. Try not to let the bosses phone ring constantly
That's where I'm at right now, 3 years on my own doing rig welding. Very hard!!
@@daye3371if these lay offs have shown us anything when you work for someone else you will always be expendable.
I started out in high school as a glazier’s helper, then worked for a remodeling company for almost 4 years after college. I spent 2 years in management at the remodeling company before going out on my own three months ago. I got kicked out the door when my employer found out that I was preparing to do side projects on the weekend. My plan was to do the side hustle thing until I had enough business to leave. My employer didn’t like that notion. He kicked me out the door. And that was a gift. I quickly built a client list and I have more work than I can personally handle, I’m making more than twice the money I was making, and I just got back from camping with my family last weekend. I thank God that I can say this, but it was honestly easier than I expected. Once I got kicked out the door, it all came together quickly because I had all the skills to acquire clients and complete projects. Last week I got a very large job under contract. In five weeks, I will make a third of what I made last year as a W2 employee. Thank you, Jesus!
well done
Even the WORST day I've had while self employed as a mason was still a trillion times better than my best day working for someone else. I might have to give up being self employed someday, but for now, I am happier than any person I have ever met or even heard of.
How long did u work as a mason until running ur own business
I can't begin to tell you how much appreciation I have for you and the wisdom that you have shared in this and all of your past videos. Thank you so very much.
I actually went from owning a business to working for a company last year.
A lot less stress and weekends are back!!!
What kind of company? I'm 57 , been a framing contractor for 25 years. I want to do something different.
I was a one man remodeling company for 5 years doing mostly water damage repair and painting. Last year we closed down and I took a maintenance supervisor job at an apartment complex. The money is ok, weekends off, benefits . At 54 my back, shoulders and knees are done. Now the heaviest thing I do is move a washer/dryer with a helper.
A great topic.
My younger days were a long slow, low paying process that had adventure and carefreeness and also a poor way to learn everything the hard way.
After reaching around 30yrs of age, I was fed up with that kind of uncertainty and was ready to return to school, and get a degree and enter the workforce indoors in an office environment.
After about 3 years of that I was getting very sick of the routine and started feeling like something had to change. It took another 3-4 years, primarily because I had no real idea what I should do next. One day I found another job, designing kitchen and bath type CAD work. I got all my ducks in a row, spent the next 4-5 weeks transitioning out of a job I hated, a company that wasn’t going to fire me, and joined one that seemed like a great place.
On day 10, the boss told me that it wasn’t working out.
My second child was born a few weeks earlier, this employer knew this when he encouraged me to make the move. Yet after literally 80hrs into the job he complained that because my hair was too long (I’d actually had very long hair before I met him, I cut it short, like insanely short, the weekend before actually meeting him) but it was not long. It had grown (my hair can take a year to reach my collar when it’s an inch above, it grows insanely slowly) barely 1/4” probably in the month since I’d first met this guy.
Anyway. The next 5-6 years, this was 2005-2011ish, I struggled to find anything. Working at sandwich shops, grocery stores, even doing road survey work for the WisDOT for a year. Stress caused my marriage to suffer. Our first child was discovered to have severe developmental difficulties and epilepsy. This furthered the difficulties finding a job. No employer was interested in a new employee that told them his infant daughter was in the hospital 4-6 times a year, for a week at a stretch. My wife was a high school teacher, a masters in education, so her job was the bread and butter and insurance etc.
I was a stay home dad. I never wanted to be a parent. I loved my children, but having kids was never anything I’d dreamed of. Having a disabled child was everything I ever feared about having kids!
One day our marriage counselor suggested, after my wife had informed him that I was mechanically capable and could repair nearly anything, I’d also learned construction skills to some extent, particularly electrical.
He suggested I merely advertise my skills, handyman. $25/hr. I scoffed. I’d been begging for $12-14/hr for so long, less than I’d made at the job I stupidly quit, and to imagine anyone giving me $25hr was unthinkable.
But after a few months of denial I wrote an ad and posted it on Craigslist.
30min later I was called.
I replied a storage shed door at a small used car dealership. I made $150 for a 5-6 hour job.
That was 2012.
The first couple years were tough. I didn’t know how to represent myself, but I persisted.
These days, I charge (I don’t work hourly, ever) per job, set fees generally, but everything is always negotiable.
Most days I’m working for well over 100/hr and I turn away more work than I can accept.
Hundreds of repeat customers, many of whom kept me reasonably busy through the pandemic!
I do pro bono work when the situation seems it a good thing.
My daughter’s now an adult, still disabled and epileptic. My wife has divorced me, primarily because the stresses of everything involved in our collective lives having a child who is extremely difficult to handle, but her teaching career was diminished by the GOP, the pandemic, the hatred of being an educated woman who was perceived to be a rich white lady, by the people whom were in her classrooms who could say anything, and the administration would not step up in support of their teachers. Kristin was the most dedicated advocate for the children she cared enough to teach, yet them and their trash parents made her ultimately have a couple nervous breakdowns in the classroom shortly following the return to in classroom teaching.
This topic today, at least today for me, speaks volumes about the importance of finding yourself and your place in a better place in the working environment.
Thanks for this as well as every single one of your other videos.
great comment thankyou for sharing your experience
The bottom line is it needs to be a calculated risk, not a blind jump. Even so, there will be some element of risk and you never know if you have one foot on the dock and one foot on the boat. Get someone who has some business background who can do a breakeven analysis, and income versus expenses. As he points out, there are advantages and disadvantages either way, just depends on where you're at in life!
Godbless you, sir, for being an honorable man and doing what you had to do for your family. This world needs more men of honor whom are not afraid to do what is right I am sorry for all your troubles but god will remember you. Thank you for sharing your story with us godbless and good health.
age 73-45 years in business and still counting. with a ladder rack and a 72 F-150. from hanging gutters and roofing to stadiums, art centers to GC. it's a hard road and not for everyone. a few people a long the way were a huge help. find those ppl. pick what you do best and hoan that skill or biz model. minimize your mistakes-support your community. ALWAYS-be honest-Chief
Thank you for the advice.
Psalm 122:6-9
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
7 Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.
8 For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.
9 Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.
I'm a blood bought, born again, King James Bible Believing Christian. If you're willing, I want to share the Gospel with you.
The Gospel is 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures
It's how God shed his 🩸precious blood🩸 for you on Calvary, was buried, and rose again the third day for Jew and Gentile.
Hebrews 9:22 states, "...and without the shedding of blood is no remission."
Jesus paid for my salvation in his blood, and he did it for you too.
Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Is your faith in that🩸precious blood of God, the Lord Jesus Christ🩸?
m.th-cam.com/video/VHCFJtHt_1Y/w-d-xo.html&pp=ygUUcm9iZXJ0IGJyZWFrZXIgZmFpdGg%3D
And for further study on how God has unfinished prophecies with Jews/Hebrews/Israelites(they are all the same as pertaining to the flesh) check out Brother David Hoffman's verse by verse through the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews.
m.th-cam.com/play/PLHvhXjwFrTLtJGHJTzOAdABDMTbXy-fcF.html
I want this man and mike rowe on joe rogans podcast to talk about the trades would be a great conversation on a massive platform
I started as a framer right out of high school for 2 yrs, worked 18yrs for another contractor doing all phases of remodeling then going on my own 8yrs ago. Starting my own business was the best decision I ever made, better money, choosing jobs I want to do, flexibility, and overall happiness. Anyone out there thinking about it I say go for it you won't regret it.
Is there much stress chasing payments? Finding a good crew to work for and with you?
@@artetaDagoat you get a feel for customers. Try to stay in nicer neighborhoods with a "richer" client base by going above and beyond. Word of mouth and referrals is how you stay in business these days. We've never had trouble chasing payments because we don't take jobs in certain cities or if the person seems like the type. We've never run out of work and it's been 6 years. Know who to turn away from.
Finding good help these days is a bit tougher. Most trades guys already have a job. The younger generation doesn't have a many folks that want to go into trades, but the ones that do are pretty good with tools and interested in learning. With a bit of guidance and some fire under their butts, they'll be worth scooping up if you come across one. (As long as you're patient and a decent teacher)
The freedom that self-employment brings has a value. It's not something you can account for on paper, but the value is there. Conversely, the responsibility of being self-employed is extremely time-consuming. Your work-life balance blends, and it very easily becomes only about work. Dont let your job become your identity, dont give up time with family, and remember to take care of yourself.
it really matters where you live, Being self-employed in some regions of America is night in day to others...
This is so true I love it
well. This video is pretty helpful. Im starting my own little welding repair LLC. I don't like getting yelled at for doing 2 shifts of work in 2 hours because there isn't enough to do. I don't much care for co workers threatening to try and get me fired because I recommended a 10/24 thread screw. Shooowee. So Lord willing I will have my little LLC up and running in about a month. I applied Monday. I can afford all my tools in cash so no loans and no overhead crap. Just consumables. I called around and not many folks actually want what I am trying to bring. Im 23 and got nothing to lose. I am keeping my currant job so I will always have income. It all started when I wanted a project truck so I would have something to do on the weekdends or after work because I dont do very much. I then found a old welding rig, then my dad was like "how about a trailer?" and now I can get my portable shop (thanks to all the tools I already own) for like 8k. My current truck has the gusto to pull it. Im not really sure what else to do with my time. Might as well learn and make money. I have no bride nor gf just time and wanting to make some money.
Hope things work out for you, if the Lord will.
Psalm 122:6-9
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
7 Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.
8 For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.
9 Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.
I'm a blood bought, born again, King James Bible Believing Christian. If you're willing, I want to share the Gospel with you.
The Gospel is 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures
It's how God shed his 🩸precious blood🩸 for you on Calvary, was buried, and rose again the third day for Jew and Gentile.
Hebrews 9:22 states, "...and without the shedding of blood is no remission."
Jesus paid for my salvation in his blood, and he did it for you too.
Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Is your faith in that🩸precious blood of God, the Lord Jesus Christ🩸?
m.th-cam.com/video/VHCFJtHt_1Y/w-d-xo.html&pp=ygUUcm9iZXJ0IGJyZWFrZXIgZmFpdGg%3D
And for further study on how God has unfinished prophecies with Jews/Hebrews/Israelites(they are all the same as pertaining to the flesh) check out Brother David Hoffman's verse by verse through the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews.
m.th-cam.com/play/PLHvhXjwFrTLtJGHJTzOAdABDMTbXy-fcF.html
$ 15 / hr to run cash register vs $ 20 for trade job with tools needed.... glad to have kearned my trade well, and it was a living but wages never kept up with expected work required.
Or as we used to say at work when janitor makes as much as me (tool& die maker) I want his job!
@gonesideways6621 the machinist trade seems like the worst.
Or how you get certified for a trades job (my case Welding), only with the expectation being that you start out at $9 or fork over large sums of cash to re-learn the skills you've certified for. So I am gonna try self employment- and if that doesn't work, I am giving up my Trade and just working a grind until I get a 4 year degree.
@@gonesideways6621 I got out of that trade.
Don’t jump out of the boat you’re in.
That’s serious wisdom right there. I love this channel.
At 38 I’m at a crossroad. At 16 I started my first construction summer job as a mason tender building houses. At 18 I was hired by a GC who built all schools as a mason tender. I worked my way through 3 GC s countless jobs concrete, carpenter, operator, ect. All the way to superintendent on 5m to 100m public projects. 2 years ago I jumped into a pm owners rep position for a construction management firm on the same type of jobs. I’m a glorified lawyer now. I’m missing the work and working with my hands when the guys needed me or I needed to blow off steam. I make damn good money but feel unfulfilled personally at the top. It’s either start a side gig or go back to the GC side. I truly think if I never attempt my own business I’ll regret it when I’m older. I think it’s time to start small and make the leap. Your channel is the best on TH-cam . I can only hope I’m still able to build and enjoy life at your age.
Interestingly I had a somewhat similar path. I started as a labourer, moved into carpentry and then started my own GC company. After a bad injury meant I couldn’t work for months I lost the business. I moved into a PM position as owner rep and really enjoy it. I still get to sites, smell the wet concrete and fresh cut lumber but I don’t have to hurt my body day in and day out to make a living. That said I have worked on many many different projects and for several different companies and I found it makes a huge difference working for the right company and the right boss as well as the right type of projects/ clients.
Now days I do side hustles of small projects to scratch the itch. This let’s me pick and choose the projects, blows off stress and also gives the old body time to recover between. You might find working for a different company makes it more enjoyable or doing side work gives you that outlet. I do miss being on sites with the guys joking around and working hard, it sure is a great feeling but sometimes you have to move on for various reasons.
I joke that if I ever start another construction company, I'll name it 'Blood, Sweat, & Tears Construction,' with the motto, 'Our pain is your gain.' Lol!
Im 3rd generation carpenter, i became a contractor after the military for the freedom as well.
At 28 years old. Im 62 now and ive slowed down considerably.
I did mainly roofing and framing for the first 25 years. Transitioning into finsh and tile work as my body wore out. Retired this year and work a little when i feel like it.
I have been blessed enough to get into the Boston Carpenters Union at 25. By 28 I was promoted to foreman and have been happily employed with 1 company for 8 years now.
Working FOR someone, the most important factor is WHO you're working for, and I hit the jackpot in that department. However, my employer knows that I know what I'm worth and will take off at the slightest hint of bs. Competent employees have the power these days, you just need to take control of it.
The storms can be very rough and frightening being self-employed, but I can't let go of the sheer freedom that comes with it.
When people say "I wish I knew then what I know now" this is the information that they are talking about. I am not a craftsman, nor am I in the trades. I started watching this channel because I was renovating my home. I don't care if the videos are about roofing or lumber, if you listen closely and analyze what is being said, you will find valuable life lessons in every video. This is one of the best channels on TH-cam.
Find a niche few or no others do. I have reinvented myself as needed from locksmith to carpenter to contractor. I started learning locksmithing in high school which has been amazing. I worked for others learning what I needed along the way. I ended up at the top of the food chain in my 100,000 population city. I now do about anything with doors installing mortise, multipoint locks, hinging you name it. I regularly work for the millworks here repairing, reversing door swings, whatever they can't do and they treat me like gold. No advertising needed, folks call me every day for work now. I am the only person in the state that works on some locks so I can charge whatever I want, but I am not exploitive. I am 68 and happy as can be with no intention of quitting at this point. This could be good or bad but do what everyone else does, get what everyone else gets. This is hard work and takes more than a 40 hour week, thoroughness and self motivation required. The unambitious need not apply
I ve done that..quit my job in sales..borring as hell..10 years having to deal with alot of people that would ruin your day...so i left to UK..and realised i m like a wish in the water there..stayed 9 years..learned a few trades..such as painter and decorator, plumber, electrician,carpenter, builder ..and then came.back to Romania and build myself a nice house , and i thank every day to those 30 famillies plus or minus..that always kept me.busy and apreciated me..cant wait to go on a holliday and have a cup of tea with them😊
Damn i love this guy so much says everything I needed to hear, as a 22 year old starting his own hvac business while still working a full time hvac job sometimes I wonder if I’m doing the right thing but Scott’s words have led me to believe I’m on the right track and I’m so close
Nice man! Im going to take the same path, I’m 24. Us gen Z have alllllll the opportunity to take over since nobody else is worth a fuck
Except most of you are useless and have no skills
Best of luck to you, sir. I've been working in HVAC for 10 years now and seriously considering getting my contractors license and starting my own operation. Where I live, finding a decent HVAC company that pays a realistic wage for my skills and experience is like pulling teeth.
@@HonestyHVAC wrong
I was the senior operating officer for a heavy equipment company for 15 years. I left and ran my own company for 13 years. I had less freedom and made less money on my own. And had 10 times the stress. Closed it down two years ago and debating what I will do next.
The "ship" analogy is certainly the wisest way to proceed; I also brought myself to "shore" that way. It took months and months and months of reminding myself to wait until the ship was fully moored and the tide was calm to finally jump off and start my journey inland...it's proven to be a winner almost 8 years later!
I started my working life as a Toolmaker, transitioned to a fitter machinist doing all sorts of work from aeronautical to mining and everything in between. After 30 yrs I tired of daily grind and commute and employers becoming wealthy from my skills, I decided to become a handyman to help people enjoy their homes. I love the freedom, satisfaction of a job well done and relying on myself for my income. I only wish I had the confidence to become selfemployed many years ago. Better late than never.
In the maintenance field, employers seem to think that we always want maximum overtime, I had a boss at a past job that would ask me if I wanted to work Saturday and Sunday and I would tell him no and then he would go talk with the plant manager and they would just decide to make both days mandatory, every time haha 😆
The video gets a big thumbs up 👍 from me, as this is how most people feel nowadays in office jobs, with all these strict requirements and communicating in and out of traffic for hours before and after work. Majority of the time not having a proper social life during week days 👍 doing something which is satisfying, is rewarding outside of 9-5
I have been self-employed since 2007, It is the hardest thing that I have ever done in life. I would not recommend self-employment to most people, most eventually fail at it. My advice to those that are considering it is to be honest with yourself and have your ducks in a row before you take the plunge.
Nobody is guaranteed tomorrow. The career choices a person makes in their 20's and 30's can have consequences in their 50's and 60's. Learning a "trade" is a life long endeavor, best started as a young person. Be versatile, learn other trades along the way and have fun! Life is simply too short to be doing a profession your unhappy in.
43 year ..I was an eager beaver in the beginning . Work hard and it will come ,Study hard , Become the best you can and learn as much as you can .My career has gone from the penniless pits to standing atop mountains then back down to the pits and wondering what happened . Back to the top and seemingly learned from my mistakes and back on top of the mountain , Then penniless once again , My last surge . I finally arrived and had my chess pieces in place , Then life came along and weakened me with stage 4 cancer and the only way I knew to fight it , Was go hard and climb again ,Can't climb anymore . The best advice I can give ..Fall in love with the work , Don't seek it for the money solely , Make it your love and build with love , Always give thanks for the talent you have been given . Build as if you are building for God . Glory to God
Man, this is great advice. I'm 37 and I work for a municipality. It's a very secure job that anyone could retire from. My dad was self-employed and he's glad that I have a stable job. It's hard to feel fulfilled at this job. Some guys have second jobs or side hustles, but I don't think that it's for the extra money. Everyone envies the other side. Lol
thank you!
Coincidentally, I'm on the path to becoming a fighter pilot, (hopefully in the navy or marines), a college degree is required, so while I'm in school, I'm working as a general contractor to pay my way through, best job I ever had. (Only job i ever had)
I’ve been in I.T. For the last 40 years. I’ve never really enjoyed it but enjoyed stability of the industry. I keep my sanity by talking with my wife and doing a side hustle. I enjoy refinishing just about anything. I don’t know if I qualify as a craftsman or a hobbyist. I’ve got a couple of years left to retirement and can’t wait. Keep the videos coming!
Great conversation but one fallacy is thinking that working for someone else is secure. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Being “employed “ is the lowest form of security.
Such a well put together video. Thank you. The "contact list" has been the biggest thing for me. I have the skills/knowledge and licenses to provide what my business offers, but the contacts has been the toughest thing to work out and scale the business. Thanks again.
Great episode!
Side hustle is always the way to start. Thats how i got out of welding and into selling real estate. I now weld because i love it instead of having to do it to put food on the table.
I agree on finding a good mentor/guide to the new trade or business venture.
I think having a good mindset really helps. being excited to go do the next job, to have fun doing it, and to be excited about life and all it has to offer.
God has blessed me so many times i cant count them all.
Thanks for the video!
I went through many of the struggles you are so eloquently describing. Some very tough times, especially when family is relying on you. Sometimes sick with worry. I had my own business for around ten years, and the idea of pounding away at it, and putting up with not being paid, or lack of work was extremely stressful, as opposed to working for someone. Another quandary, do I expand my business beyond working alone, and pay for workman's comp, insurance, take bigger risks ? It's a jungle out there.
I've got 35 years in IT and the healthcare company that I have worked for during the past 10 years has decided to oursource much of it's IT staff. I am looking to make a carrer change (at 60 years of age) and go into another of my interests, building and code enforcement. I've learned so much from your channel over the several years that I've enjoyed watching, and I hope that the knowledge that I already had, in addition to the knowledge that I have gained from your channel will allow me to successfuly move into this new carrer area. Many Thanks!
Just turned 50 and am a 30 year builder also getting my standard certifications to do another 20 as a building inspector.
Building inspectors that have no job experience don't belong as inspectors. Sorry but you need to know it front to back and back to front. I have a very good relationship with the inspectors and the knowledge needs to be there
Do those things as a hobby. There are no shortage of IT jobs especially in the healthcare space.
GFs friends hubby is becoming a town inspector, he’s never swung a hammer or shot a nail in his entire life, but his wife’s father is the town inspector so now at 30 plus he’s inherited a job, laughable when u think about it, kid couldn’t build a set of stairs but he’s gunna inspect homes for a living, nice guy, shouldn’t be an inspector
I was working on a comersal job. Hooking up the sewwer! Another co. Had hooked up under the street and backfield when they did it Bent the pipe to a 60° angle that does not meet code. The only way I was able to make it work was 2 45°s he the inspector cald me on it. When I told him I did everything I cood and a single 45° wouldn't work he asked me what angle it was . I looked up at the sky an started wiseling. At that point he figured out the problem looked at me and smiled then apruved the job.
He is and was a very good inspector. He understood how things worked . mucanicly.
Good advice, Scott. In the early 90's I was doing a job that wasn't very satisfying and I was whining about it all the time, wishing I would have pursued my passion. Someone in my office told me, "Life is not a dress rehearsal, this IS your life. Do what is going to make you happy". I knew right then, time to change the trajectory of my life and do what I always dreamed of doing. Never regretted it.
I hope you thanked that person
Those questions to ask yourself about the possibility of making a change are genius… genius borne of experience and wisdom. Thank you, sir.
Some serious wisdom right here. Thank you for sharing with the next generation. I don’t think I’ve heard such a thorough and balanced opinion on the subject.
My generation (millennials) only seems to focus on “rise and grind!”
There’s more to it than that, and you covered most of it. Thanks :)
As a young man at 27 years old I've felt that burning ambition to throw everything away and reach for the stars, but I've recognized the security in working a steady paying job with decent pay and great benefits. I am exceptionally thankful that I work with my managers directly to determine my scheduled working hours so that I can have the free time I need when I need it most.
What you say about having a side gig rings so true though, Scott. Just do a little on the side. Having the security of my day job has given me the opportunity to experiment with my craftsmanship skills at no risk to my livelihood. I get to gunsmith, work on and develop my fathers homestead, help friends and family fix and maintain vehicles, help with home renovations, and in general flourish to my hearts content at whichever craft I choose.
I am very thankful that others and I alike can tune in to your channel, website, and podcast to listen to your advice any time we like! Keep up the good work, and God bless!
Thank you Scott. I am a 51 yo man.Who had a successful business in Painting/Carpentry. I stopped that 6 years ago to work for a GC.Who has been very good to me and kept me busy. However there are no benefits available to me in this job.So now im considering starting a Painting business again. In the hopes of making more money. To pay for health insurance. I really do love your words of wisdom. And i think i have made up my mind. So thanks again Scott.You are a brilliant man.And i always take your advice into consideration.
I've been a software engineer for 20 years. I'm getting to the point where I'm done working for corporations in cubicles. I love doing carpentry and electrical. If my tech job goes away my next stop will be a trade school.
64 year old carpenter/ self employed contractor here. I can't say how much your experience has paralleled my own. You have explained perfectly what is needed when considering the trades, self employment and being a contractor. Being at the end of my career, the wisdom I have spent years acquiring and the time and experience honing the skills needed, there is a strong desire to share it with the youth of today. Sadly, almost no one I know has the desire, drive or ambition. It can be a hard and dangerous life but it can also be an extremely satisfying life.
I climbed the ranks, got a ton of experience in different trades and then built a side business on weekends. Eventually I booked out a few months of work and pulled the plug on the day job. Now I make five times as much money for a fraction of the labor but ten times the responsibilities.
Sir. I am actually older than you. But I have to say “You are an ICON in this crasy world.
God is good! 13 years in the restaurant business (passed) 4 years in the trades and loving it (self employed)
The EC Academy is awesome, consider it a master mind group for basically anything related to craftsmanship, building, remodeling and all sorts of technical things. The humor and camaraderie are great as well.
Also woild be interested in your take on full time hires as independant contractor loophole.
Thanks for being a great mentor. I always enjoy watching your videos!
I worked for a home builder after the military for ten years. At age 35 I noticed there weren’t many older carpenters there. Starting my own business with a wife and 4 kids was going to be hard with the cost of business insurance and health insurance. I decided to become a firefighter. For 20 years I did small jobs and built a good customer base. Now I’m retired from the fire department and I can take on larger jobs and my calendar is full.
Your videos are always so good to watch. It is refreshing to listen to someone provide the hard truth and still manage to keep it inspiring. Thank you.
Scott I so much like listening to you
Your knowledge and common sense is outstanding
I started working pretty much full time when I was 16
Worked on the farm 40 hrs / week finished high school and played jr hockey
I would have played for sleep at that point of my life
Started working for a drywaller when I was 20
Things were going good then interest rates went through the roof and no more work
I went back to my agricultural background and started driving a milk truck on farm pick up
Loved the job small pension good benefits
Just married and 3 kids the stability was what I wanted
I kept my drywall business going on the side worked 7 days a week because I needed to to provide for my family, my wife stayed at home until kids started school
4 yrs ago at 52! I quit my job and went drywall full time
No regrets probably better off financially but not having to dance to someone else’s tune has been amazing.
Am I working less maybe a little . BUT the work I’m im doing now is for me
NEVER been happier
Not much in the bank but I’m definitely happier
Always sage advice. Thanks for everything
I started my home improvement/handyman business 5 years ago. I have been scheduled out at least two months the entire time, sometimes up to six months. If you work hard, are good at carpentry and fixing things, the field is wide open. At least where i live. I work about 35 hours per week on average and make a pretty decent living. Nothing better than being self employed and free.
One of the wisest men on TH-cam
43 years old. Started as a 14year old. Been self employed for nearly 3 decades. My greatest fear in life... getting a real job.
Bless you, Scott.
Thank you. Great points.
It made my day when I saw you had a new video out today! I love your content. Have a great day!
It's always good to start your day with a sermon from Father Scott 😁 I love hering the wisdom and knowledge from you! Thanks Scott for the advice!!
A good job with good supervision is nice but hard to find. I've been self employed for 35 years. Not easy but at 62, to late to change. I was lucky I did 6 years in the USAF. I have my medical, thank god for that. While I was in I did tons of side work. I fixed everything and anything and I did ok on the side. I had a WW2 vet, a carpenter, I worked with and he told me "when you work for yourself, you're life is not your own" He was right. When you work for your self you are IT , you pay for EVERYTHING! I became very specialized in stair work, rails etc. With the advent of CNC machines and shipping costs, life has changed. You need to be ready for that and adapt. I now have a small retirement and own everything I have. I live simple. I still work and still build deck stairs for many of the local contractors. It's voodoo to people for some reason. But in the end I can say the only idiot I had to work for was me.
Keep up the good work!
Thank you for the video.
Sage wisdom on a topic that most (if not all) young people will wrestle with. Thanks for sharing this. Another bit of advice I’ve given is to make a list of what you don’t want to do, including where you don’t want to do it. Make sure to think the details thru & have good reasons for everything on this list. Include your spouse in this discussion. This way when someone offers big $, or some other enticement, you don’t leap into something (or a location) that you thought thru and determined it’s not for you. My favorite line: people don’t quit jobs, they quit bosses. All leaders, or aspiring leaders, need to commit this to memory. Thanks too for mentioning the Academy. I’ve been watching your channel for over a year, and this is the first time I’ve heard you mention it. Please consider mentioning it more often. It sounds like an ideal forum for folks interested in what a trade might have to offer. Networking can be tough. The Academy sounds like an ideal venue. Yes, it costs a bit, but less than the coffee you’ll buy trying to network your way to solid advice.
Work for the city you can say i have security but we work so much no vacation i have no freedom. No chance for promotion, before the city i was a metal stud framer i thought i was sure i wanted security but security did not bring me opportunity from now on i will risk more the risk outweighs security and is a good trade for opportunity. I rather try and loose than staying in the same place. You got a 50/50 chance succeeding if you risk it, but you have 100% chance you will stay in the same place if you dont try.
Started as a Carpenters laborer at $16 an hour 4 years ago worked my way up. Now I'm job Forman of my own Crew of 3 to 4 guys. We build our own buildings start to finish with minimal subs. It's stressful at times and now I must learn to manage that stress but it's going ok. I made 63k last year with amazing fringe and with minimal overtime before my promotion. I'm excited to see what I pull this year as lead. Oh BTW I'm a 10 grade high-school drop out. I wanted to work so i went to work, took me a little bit to find the right trade but once I did I took it and flew.
Thanks so much for sharing you wisdom and experience. It’s refreshing and so helpful to listen to someone who has walked the trail ahead of me!
I tried the self employment thing. I found out I didn't like all the haggling. I'm much happier working for someone that handles sales and making deals. That's just my particular hang up but it surprised me since the work itself was never an issue.
Love your videos! One thing I just learned about the DJI mic is record internally to the mic and then sync the audio in post and you will have cleaner audio, the dji Mic has fantastic audio but if you listen closely there is a little fuzz, for some reason the fuzz goes away when you record internally to the mic clip. Hope this helps! Thanks for your videos!
Scott, you have no idea how badly I needed this video. It's been on my mind constantly and I've been battling whether to just throw in the towel or stick it through.
I've got margins and profit in my lap and going to take notes here. I'm going to give it one last effort, one sincere last effort before I throw in the towel.
I'm tired of fighting for what i should get paid. Tired of struggling to find a crew and to build this business. Because at the end of the day I probably make less than if I was just employed! So somethings gotta change.. It's me. I need to change my attitude, my strategy, my routine and most importantly my faith, in believing that this can work. That I can succeed in this business.
Thank you for creating this video at a time I needed it the most. I truly hope you read this and feel just how powerful your words are for us.
Excellent information!!!
Brilliant advice sir, thank you
Very inspiring speech, thank you !
We’ve been in residential construction, building, development, real estate for 40+ years and have been truly blessed. However, it is a very different world today and ‘as a rule’ the number one complaint we hear daily is the absolutely horrendous younger generation today.
Great video! Thanks for the tips!
Great advice.
I just found this channel and I think I’m going to love it
These videos never fail to add value to my perspective as a person in the construction industry!
Lots of dreamers out there
Ah the Sage of Roseburg speaks. I so look forward to hearing from one who understands the world of making things along with the people, processes, and knowledge required to accomplish them. Someone who tells me about them in straight forward, understandable terms. Hooray for the voice of experience. Pray maintain speed and course.
Retired military here, been out 13 years....starting a small tow truck company later this year....at 50 years old...with an old tow truck that I can work on myself and also have a great mentor in the business. More to keep me busy during retirement. Start off small and see where it takes me. Sumthin to keep me busy and active during retirement.
I needed this. Thank you. I work a high level position in a large national home builder and have been thinking about going out on my own. Good perspectives
This is great advice wow just what I have been thinking and saying to myself. I’m lucky to be where I’m at but completely tired of corporate. But the experience is well worth it and would not be possible otherwise. 25 year old diesel mechanic ranging from engines to marine to power gen I work on it all I love it. Needed this advice really makes me sit back a bit and wait for the right time still.
I’m trying to figure this out now thank you.
Good advice
Wow, so much wisdom in a little more than 14 minutes, thanks for the tips and advice, and for the invitation to the academy.
You are a good man , I try to be a good
Old man 58… my teen boys Won’t work with me… I have invested my life of realizing the built form. I have corporately built high rise all over the us and Canada. Now I build cabins by my self.. getting old and now have to build strength
I like doing hard things. Waking up early. And just love working till the sun goes down. I'm self employed now and would never go back. It's hard but man the freedom.
I Love Working For Myself Nothing But Repeat Customers The Last 5 Years :);)
23 years in the trades 19 years self employed. It’s a roller coaster ride and it takes a special person to carry the weight not only the work but the employees , timelines, commitment, and the pay. What I’ve found most important with the majority of my clients is they have No patients for quality work everything is NOW.
Ive been in the trades since 06 when i graduated. This next school year im going to be taking over the building and trades position at our school district. Pretty excited to teach and inspire our younger generation