After frequenting this board for a few years, I can't help but notice the underlying thread of how incredibly busy we all are. This here is my story... not to elicit any sympathy... just to maybe help someone who could be on the verge of the same thing.

2005 has been a rough year. We were driven close to bankruptcy by an ex-partner who lost all care for the business and went into mid-life crisis. Getting rid of him was a good thing but then one of my best techs left because he wanted to concentrate on college and felt he could do this business for 20 hours a week and make major bank by being a trunkslammer. These things happen... we all go through downs. My response was to try and replace those two jobs and my own by increasing my hours.

Being gone for sometimes 100 hours a week has left my wife on edge (luckily she's still supportive but I've seen the posts from some of you who have lost your marriages). It's taken me from many milestones with my kids but most of all its had a profound effect on my health.

When I get really busy I, for some god unknown reason, forget to drink water. This was a hot summer by Washington standards and all of this dehydration led me to form a bunch of really large kidney stones. This last month, when my business really needed me, I've been either passing stones or in surgery to remove them. It's been a real bitch!! I'm also carrying over 200 pounds on a 5'8 frame which is the result of the "fast food three times a day diet"... really healthy (and attractive too... i'm sure it helps with sales).

The bright side is this forced time off has made me sit back and reflect on whats really important. Clients have been understanding as to why we haven't been there but that hasn't stopped some of them from going to my competitors. I guess its going to be an uphill battle for a while.

So... the advice... for those of you in a similar strung out position... it may be time to do your own reflecting and figure out if your own health is being taken care of... all it takes is a little hiccup and things can really be thrown for a loop. If my post makes you think then I've done my job. Good Luck to Y'all.

Good advice. Thanks for sharing.

No one wants their headstone to read: Here Lies (fill in the blank), He Worked Hard.

I used to put in insane hours trying to move the business forward. It is still hard work, but much less so. While we are all committed to what we do, it is a job and a career and NOT A LIFE.

Nothing is more important than family and health.

I'm sorry for your recent difficulties, having had partner and employee problems of my own. Take care of yourself; your customers will wait until your kid's ball game ends.

This message was edited by Theaterworks on 11/05/05 15:38 ET.

TOP 10 INDICATORS THAT YOU ARE A STRUNG OUT INSTALLER:

#10 - You eat behind a steering wheel more often than you eat on a place mat...

#9- You feel stressed if you're wife calls because 'it will only set you back further".

#8- what day is it and where am i at ?! your not my family.....

#7- You remember the FedEx guy's name, but forget your wife's birthday.

#6- fed ex guy remembers your wifes birthday

#6-You've convinced yourself you can get a 10,000 square foot prewire done by yourself on Saturday morning, as that's the only time you have available.

It is hard for me to differentiate between work and personal life, because of the nature of my work, if I didn't put in some sort of controls, I would work my life away. The way that I have personally dealt with it is not to necessarily cut back on the dedication that I have for work, but to make sure that I add things that help balance me out and keep me from becoming a machine. Those two things for me are surf and travel, often times going hand in hand. Luckily for myself and the people that hire me, surf sucks on the east coast, so it doesn't cut into my time too much, but when the swell does come...

Last year I've been to Hawaii, Europe, and all types of places in the U.S., including a cross country road trip. I made the committment that damn it, I'm going to enjoy myself, and make these trips happen. If you have a family, take them camping, go on a canoeing trip, hell, anything that gets you outside and out of the normal day in day out activity of your home life. Even your family needs a break. Going to restaurants and movies and stuff only goes so far. I firmly believe that spending time in nature is a necessary component for eveyone, to balance the mundaness and dysfunction of urban/suburban living.

This message was edited by tsvisser on 11/05/05 18:24 ET.

ok sympathy for you all but lets not get to serious in here.....we all have problems and we all deal with them differently......

its saturday for christ sake.....enjoy

go get your drink on...i am

alumni club.... tonight schamburg il...me and my wife with her brother and fiance....gonna get f'ed up.....

#5 not another all nighter...i thought they closed on that house in 2 weeks

#4 you've submitted bid after bid, and not gotten any.... your total income for the year (on Feb 1) was $12 and 2 free bus rides from doing jury duty...


<--- in medical school now... screw this, I'm going home.

#3 you goto work just to find a nice comfy wiring closet to nap in

There was a time when the only way I knew the day of the week was if I would take time off to watch the Jets play. Now I try to schedule work on Sunday so as not to endure watching them play. This business attracts workahalics and those who prize chaos. What is different about this trade than most others is the amount of abuse one takes from egomaniacal clients and self entitled designers. It is hard on families and family life. If I am home am I not working on software, doing proposals, playing on these sorts of web sites, or talking to the notorious Kangis. Who but in AV would tolerate a schedule of waking at 6am working till 8pm, spending time with the family and then working on software till 2am and then do it again. Once I weighed 165 pounds and could run forever. Lord knows what I weigh but I am certain I guzzle too much sugar and far too much coffee. I don't eat fast food only because I refuse to eat a meal. My definition of a vacation is to send my wife to Israel for 4-6 weeks so I can work 20 hours without having to deal with the complaints.

Alan