I've owned my own business for 5 years now, and for 4 of those years I've been able to make a pretty decent living. After the economy meltdown, the last year necessitated that I get a "real" job with a steady paycheck, and so I got on board with a small local company. I worked my way up (quickly, I might add... 5 weeks after hiring me, the owner told me he wanted me to run the place so he could retire). I like what I do, but dammit if the pay sucks. I was hired as a full time temp. I expected my job to last 4 weeks. It lasted a lot longer.

Now, there are only 3 employees at the moment, and I don't think the owner is in a position where I could ask for a raise...... but he has said that I'm "at least 60% undervalued" (his words)

If I were to quit, it would free me of a huge stress load, 2 hours of commuting per day, but also of my $600/wk paycheck. It would also allow me to get back into building my business which has started to ramp back up again. (working 2 full time jobs is another stressor)

But I can't pull the trigger. I have the feeling that if I do, I'll miss out on a lot - huge bonuses, the opportunity to telecommute, doing what I like, aka easy money.

ohh, gee...I feel SOOO bad for your hours

Try hauling yer ass out of bed at oh-stupid-30 because Habib blew up a slush drink machine, and the entire universe is going to end if isnt fixed before the morning school-kid rush.........

Pansey.....

I don't do the 9-5 thing exactly, mostly 8-4 unless there is something pressing that needs done and extended hours are needed or I need the extra money so I put in extra hours. Friday I worked 8-6 and today I went in for 5 hours I normally wouldn't have because there was work I needed to get done.

However, I am self-employed so I can vary my hours however I want to as long as I meet my obligations.

Gee........ 23 years of working retail hours (10-6,12-9 or 10-9 monday - Saturday and 12-6 on Sundays). Hard to feel sorry for a 9-5 time schedule.

Follow your heart.
Money & jobs comes and goes, but dreams are the stuff.........well, the stuff that dreams are made of!

quote Originally posted by Boondawg: Follow your heart.!

" Easy for you to say, Boondawg, " said the Tinman.

quote Originally posted by heybjorn: " Easy for you to say, Boondawg, " said the Tinman.

Well yeah, it ain't MY azz on the line!
But ain't that the way it goes with all advice?

It's how I got married!

[This message has been edited by Boondawg (edited 06-18-2011).]

quote Originally posted by ryan.hess: I've owned my own business for 5 years now, and for 4 of those years I've been able to make a pretty decent living. After the economy meltdown, the last year necessitated that I get a "real" job with a steady paycheck, and so I got on board with a small local company. I worked my way up (quickly, I might add... 5 weeks after hiring me, the owner told me he wanted me to run the place so he could retire). I like what I do, but dammit if the pay sucks. I was hired as a full time temp. I expected my job to last 4 weeks. It lasted a lot longer. Now, there are only 3 employees at the moment, and I don't think the owner is in a position where I could ask for a raise...... but he has said that I'm "at least 60% undervalued" (his words) If I were to quit, it would free me of a huge stress load, 2 hours of commuting per day, but also of my $600/wk paycheck. It would also allow me to get back into building my business which has started to ramp back up again. (working 2 full time jobs is another stressor) But I can't pull the trigger. I have the feeling that if I do, I'll miss out on a lot - huge bonuses, the opportunity to telecommute, doing what I like, aka easy money.

and of course... who could forget this movie...

[This message has been edited by 82-T/A [At Work] (edited 06-18-2011).]

I usually get to work at 7:20-7:30 and leave a bit before 6. If I'm in the field, I work anywhere from only 4 hours to up to 20 hours a day.

But when I'm in the office from 7:30-6 Monday through Thursday, I get Friday as a half-day and leave at noon so I like it.

quote Originally posted by theBDub: I usually get to work at 7:20-7:30 and leave a bit before 6.

On average, that's how my days goes as well... though, I have blown through a couple 20 hour days when necessary. I think my longest week came out at 74 hours and I left early on Friday.

If I could get a 9-5 gig that paid as well as what I'm doing, I think I would take it - too bad my experience is elsewhere and none of the jobs I have any skills for work those schedules.

I often times see the excuse for a business failing is always "the economy".

quote Originally posted by Wichita: I often times see the excuse for a business failing is always "the economy".

wtf? Who said anything about a business failing?

quote Originally posted by theBDub: I usually get to work at 7:20-7:30 and leave a bit before 6.

quote Originally posted by skuzzbomer: On average, that's how my days goes as well...

Yup.
Up at 5am, bed at 11pm.

[This message has been edited by Boondawg (edited 06-18-2011).]

quote Originally posted by Arizona85GT: wtf? Who said anything about a business failing?

I've owned my own business for 5 years now, and for 4 of those years I've been able to make a pretty decent living. After the economy meltdown, the last year necessitated that I get a "real" job with a steady paycheck, and so I got on board with a small local company.

[This message has been edited by Wichita (edited 06-18-2011).]

Thats a tough one. The economy could be on the rise and your buisness could pick back up or it could be the dead cat bounce.

If he told you that you were under valued then ask for a raise. Sit down and explain it and see if he will make it more attractive to stay where you are. I personaly couldnt work for myselt. The boss would be too much of an ass.

6am-5pm t-f, -11 m, 4-10 sat

It's always good to find out how others are living, working, etc...

The past 15 years,
I've worked at a bunch of different shifts, and different types of work - self-employed, contract, and full-time.

Best commute/work experience was a four day work week, 10 hours per day, and a Towncar home every night.
worst one was 150 miles a day from NY to NJ.. (blech)


I'd sit for a spell and lay out your gameplan. Then go out with the guy,maybe fishing or some other 'away' thing men can do... and let him know what you want. No BS. No 'games'. You tell him your lifeplan (or this portion f your lifeplan), where you want to be in five years....whatever How much you want to be paid, now that he knows your worth, and your plan... See what he says.

...and let him know during your 'hang out' that you enjoy working for him, but your pay would need to at least X(or whatever amount you decide) for you to stay... if the conversation goes that way...

I wouldn't quit, especially if he is basically letting you run the show...and he isn't an a$$... maybe he'll partner with you or something like that...or at least give you a raise...

good luck, CoyoteGuy

[This message has been edited by FieroRumor (edited 06-18-2011).]

I'm kinda with Rumor on this. He knows you, you know him, AND his business. Sit down and say, "Look, I know there isn't enough cash for raises right now. But when? Or, what cash flow level will it take?" Or, can he give you "other compensation" now? Time off, flex schedule, titles, whatever.

And, whenever someone says working 9 to 5 sucks, I say, "It beats the Hell out of unemployment."

[This message has been edited by Zeb (edited 06-19-2011).]

Go ahead and retire------you'll find out what real work is and never have a moment of rest.

[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 06-19-2011).]

lol speek for your selves... i do the whenever i get up to 11 hours later when i get back to sleep..... thats if im only driving that day

I had my own business before the economy crapped. So I got a job. Part time, pay wasn't anything special. But I hustled and gave them more than they asked for, and gave it my best. When they said they wanted to hire more people to do my job (we have territory to cover), I lobbied hard to get the work. They let me and the other guys take up the slack as their business grew, and then we got near full time work and they decided to give us bennies.

The reason why I'm telling you this is that you never know what could happen. I've had my own businesses before. In these uncertain economic times, a regular paycheck can be a really good thing. Working for a company that is growing might mean more opportunities and growth for you. Don't discount it. My wife works 5 part time jobs, but one might develop into a full time management position with good pay and bennies. You never know.

Something to be said about going to work, putting in 8 hours and going home.

I work in IT and I'm salary. I'm working now. Some days it would be nice to walk out the door at the end of the day and not have to think about work. Never happens, between the VPN and Blackberry I am at work all the time now.

Monday-to-Friday, 9-5, 8-4, 7-3.... Sounds good to me. I despise working weekends.

quote Originally posted by Jake_Dragon: Something to be said about going to work, putting in 8 hours and going home. I work in IT and I'm salary. I'm working now. Some days it would be nice to walk out the door at the end of the day and not have to think about work. Never happens, between the VPN and Blackberry I am at work all the time now.

Its always been that way in IT, but before it was a pager and you had to drive back into the office. Being able to do stuff from home is a wonderful thing.

And i agree 9am - 5pm sux.. due to traffic headaches and that some of us hate daytime in general. ( i go in at 7 to avoid traffic )

quote Originally posted by Wichita: I often times see the excuse for a business failing is always "the economy".

Some industries have not yet recovered from the recession.

I go into work at 7:30 and get done at 4:30 and when I say I get done what I really mean is "I leave the shop" however I still take a tow truck home with me and sit around on call waiting. I might have one call that night or ten but either way I am stuck at home unable to do anything or go anywhere.I devote anywhere from 130-192 hours a week to my work and let me tell you it SUCKS. But currently I have to do what I have to do, I have a fiance and three step kids to take care of and I dont intend on letting anything effect that. 9-5 does suck but let me tell ya it could always be worse.

When you have worked from 6am to 6pm in 100+ degree temps, for $8 an hour.. Then come talk to me.. Otherwise, quit whining..

quote Originally posted by Jonesy: When you have worked from 6am to 6pm in 100+ degree temps, for $8 an hour.. Then come talk to me.. Otherwise, quit whining..

I ate Polar Bear liver once, which contains about 100 chickens eggs worth of vitamin A, which is about 4 times the upper human limits for that vitamin.

[This message has been edited by Boondawg (edited 06-19-2011).]

I wish I could get on a 9 to 5. Mondays and Wednesdays I get up at 2:30 a.m. so I can be to work at 3 and drive around in a extremely hot, smelly, uncomfortable garbage truck till about 12:30 - 1 p.m. On Tuesday, Thursdays, and Fridays I get up at 4:30 and don't get out till around 2 p.m. Lucky me, I might be getting a new job soon that has a 7:00 to 3:30 shift.

Oh god I hope so...

Nick

quote Originally posted by spud321x: I wish I could get on a 9 to 5. Mondays and Wednesdays I get up at 2:30 a.m. so I can be to work at 3 and drive around in a extremely hot, smelly, uncomfortable garbage truck till about 12:30 - 1 p.m. On Tuesday, Thursdays, and Fridays I get up at 4:30 and don't get out till around 2 p.m. Nick

I heard the job you just discribed pays very well, though.

NOT working really sux !!! I'm glad im employed.

I work every day that I can for my employer and then I work for myself and my family at every opportunity.

Failure is not an option.

------------------
Ron

quote Originally posted by Boondawg: I ate Polar Bear liver

With some Fava Beans and a fine Chianti? Exactly who was "Polar Bear"?

Something to consider...

Gen 3:17 And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
Gen 3:18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.
Gen 3:19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

Emphasis on the bold.

mmm i wish i had a 9-5 i have a 7-30-5 job and Saturdays at work sucks on top.

quote Originally posted by Australian: mmm i wish i had a 9-5 i have a 7-30-5 job and Saturdays at work sucks on top.

When I was 20... I had an 11:00 to 7:00...

It was awesome...

I would kind of roll out of bed, totally take my time to get dressed... go to work (no traffic), work... then at 7:00... I'd leave (no traffic), and still had lots of time to party or whatever... and I'd stay out late, and not have to worry about getting up early the next morning...

2 hours of driving and only $600 a week. I mean even if you are getting 40MPG that is a lot of time and money spent. I don't know what your business involves, but I would consider only doing that job.

------------------
Fiddling knobs, touching keys, having fun with a full grown man.

quote Originally posted by Boondawg: I heard the job you just discribed pays very well, though.

Depends on what you compare it too. I grossed about 36K last year. I'm used to it so it doesn't seem like enough anymore.

Nick

Yesterday we discovered that my boss f***ed up, big time. To fix this mistake, I stayed till 10pm last night and am showing up at 6am today. 4 hours of sleep and I'm already late. In addition, he volunteered me to go back to Myrtle Beach to fix additional problems at the Skywheel. Which means working from 12pm-7am, again, for at least 4 days. In my head I'm screaming "f*** this s***". I guess it's ultimatum time.

quote Originally posted by ryan.hess: Yesterday we discovered that my boss f***ed up, big time. To fix this mistake, I stayed till 10pm last night and am showing up at 6am today. 4 hours of sleep and I'm already late. In addition, he volunteered me to go back to Myrtle Beach to fix additional problems at the Skywheel. Which means working from 12pm-7am, again, for at least 4 days. In my head I'm screaming "f*** this s***". I guess it's ultimatum time.

Myrtle Beach is pretty cool... the beaches aren't as nice as what we have down here, but it's still pretty cool...

I used to go there all the time when I was a little kid, and we lived in Virginia. I guess Myrtle Beach was the closest and best place to go for a decent beach? I've never been to Virginia beach...