I did what I said I wouldn't do.

[Ματθιας]

Long ago I said that I would not work for someone else and/or work for friends or family.

I'm self-employed and I haven't really had a whole lot of money coming in nearly two months. (I'm a flipper, people aren't spending money and who knows when they will.) What I money I have, I'm burning through. It wasn't getting critical, yet, I haven't touched my savings, but, it got me thinking...I could either wait for something to happen or take the first opportunity that comes up and see what happens.

So when I ran into a childhood buddy, he asked me if I knew anyone who needed a job as his company couldn't find anyone who could pass a background check, a drug test, and show up to work regularly - I asked him to consider me...He did. There's my opportunity and me going back on a promise I made to myself - I'm working for my friend.

Passed all the pre-screening and I even have a bald spot from the hair follical test! I dusted off my steeltoes, hardhat and safety glasses from my warehouse days and started on Monday.

So, basically, I'm a landscaper, a laborer, on the bottom rung. I'm the old man, (I'm in my 40s) of the operation working with a bunch of whiny millennials. And it's an outside job. Everyone is masked up. I absolutely hate it. HATE IT! I knew all that going in.

The job does have a few things going for it. It's an essential business. It's part time, we're usually done by noon/one-ish, I'm not around too many people and I have a more than fair boss. And it's outside. But most importantly, I have some money coming in. Right now, that's all that really matters.

At least, I've stopped the bleeding, for the most part, and that gives me time and money to figure out what I'm going to do with my business as the economy plays out over the coming months.

 

[Bro. Dave]

It is more difficult to break a promise to oneself than to others, but I want to commend you and encourage you in making a sensible and pragmatic decision. It sounds to me like timely provision for you and your family.

My best advice is: Wear sunscreen.

 

[Protocall_Design]

Sometimes you just have to do whatever it takes to keep the food coming in and the bills paid. Very wise not to let the savings run out before taking action. Been there, done that lots of times. Just think of all the money you're saving by not having to pay for an expensive gym membership !

 

[Dougaz]

Good on ya and good luck on your future. I wish you well with many successes in your future!

Psalms 111:10

 

[Onomea]

Smart move. Respect.

 

[rubiranch]

My best advice is: Wear sunscreen.

 

[Ματθιας]

Thanks. I was sore in muscles I forgot I had...

Earlier this week I turned down a warehouse job that was full time, more money and was something that I had done for years. But the hours, 50+ (probably closer to 55+) was just too much. I'm a care giver to my elderly mom and I want to be there for her for part of the day to do whatever she needs to get done, like Doc Apts., and most importantly, eat at least one meal a day with her. At 50+ hours, plus OT and Bennies, it's a much better job on paper, but money is not as important as being there for mom. That, and I really didn't want to be around a whole lot of people. Warehouse people are notorious for showing up to work half dead with some sort of illness...brown bottle flu.

While this landscaping job isn't ideal at all, it's the best one for my current situation.

 

[misswired]

As a general rule you nevyhire someone whom has worked for themselves. You’ll soon tire of clock punching and go back on your own. Make sure to thank your buddy for bending over when you leave.

 

[Art Doc]

I believe I have broken every promise I ever made to myself. I keep the ones I make to others, but the ones made to myself.

You do what you gotta do. I remember some female friend of a friend putting her nose in the air and sniffing "I would NEVER work in a minimum wage job!"

I replied "You've never been hungry."

 

[Farmer17]

When I was about 40 I thought I had it made. I had my own construction business and things were going great, built a big house on an acreage in a beautiful gated neighborhood, boat, motorcycle, pool, 37 guns, and had no debt other than a small amount on my house. Then at 50 my wife wanted a divorce so I lost over half my money and had to pay alimony/child support for 11 years, four figures a month. At the same time the great recession hit and I had several new houses built that I couldn't even give away and the commercial construction business dropped off 90%. I cashed in mutual funds, IRAs, kids college funds, and finally had to get a job for another construction company. It lasted about 3 months then they were out of work and let me go. Then I went to work for another company and it was the worst job I ever had, working 55-70 hrs a week in high stress and getting further behind every day and my boss yelling at me to get more done. Everyone at that company HATED their job but I kept working there to feed the family and it was a miserable 4 or 5 years but I then started my construction company back up and things started taking off. I remarried and business is great and life is great but looking back on the hard times makes things seem even sweeter now.

 

[old bear]

I did what I said I wouldn't do.

Sir, I doff my hat to you, for many reasons. The taking of a job you needed, but did not want and for taking care of your Mom. Best of luck to you and yours.

 

[Camster]

I believe I have broken every promise I ever made to myself. I keep the ones I make to others, but the ones made to myself.

You do what you gotta do. I remember some female friend of a friend putting her nose in the air and sniffing "I would NEVER work in a minimum wage job!"

I replied "You've never been hungry."

I had a friend like that. Often crying poor mouth, but when I suggested a variety of available local entry level jobs, fast food restaurants,etc. it was the same old story."I have a college degree.What would people think of me? (To myself, I said,"More than they think of you now, for making no effort") I happen to have a degree myself, but that never stopped me from doing all sorts of dirty and hard tasks.
When I did a house reno, I offered him decent money, all the hours he wanted to work, fed him, and he never showed up for more than 30 hours a week,usually more like 20. Often showed up late, and if the day was nice, he would sometimes prefer to go windsurfing.

 

[tops]

I remember talking to an old man about the depression and people out of work and losing all they had. He said he knew people that could have worked but the wages were so low that they refused the work. He said he had a team of horses and could only get $1.00 a day for him and the horses but that would feed him and the horses so he took the work. When things got better he still had what he started with. If he hadn't took the $1.00 a day he would have lost it all. I have also done some work that people thought was below them but it helped pay my bills. Larry

 

[robrossk]

Not sure about your state but some are now offering unemployment to self employed and contract people. When I left a job several years ago I felt guilty taking unemployment (and I didn't). BUT, last job I lost I said the heck with it. I have paid into these programs for more than 40 years so I am now going to reap some of the benefit. And I would do it again if the situation arose again.

 

[wheelgun28]

As someone said, a man has to do what a man has to do!

Sounds like wise choices were made and hopefully we return to the way things were.

 

[Ματθιας]

As a general rule you nevyhire someone whom has worked for themselves. You’ll soon tire of clock punching and go back on your own. Make sure to thank your buddy for bending over when you leave.

If you're implying that I'm going to hose my buddy when I leave, you couldn't be more wrong. I hope I'm not taking what you said the wrong way.

I was up front with him, he knows my situation, (his family and my family have been friends long before I was born) and he knows this is temporary. I told him I'm still working on my business when I'm off the clock. As long as I can pass a random drug test and what I do off the clock as long as it doesn't interfere/conflict with the job he hired me to do, he doesn't care. He told me I had a job anytime and as long as I needed it. I couldn't ask for a better friend!

When he hired me, I asked him treat me as any new hire, and I was willing to start from the bottom and I ask for no favors. Our friendship ends when I'm on the clock and the employee employer relationship starts - which is why I didn't want to work for friends or family. He pays well and all he asks is that his hires preform. I have no problem with that!

He knows I don't like the job, but he also knows I'll do what it takes to get the job done. Who knows, I've only been on for a week, I just have to get used to a change and start a new routine and I might grow to like it.

 

[Wdbutcher97]

It sounds like you're on the right tract. It's getting harder to get people who are willing to work, so your Friend/Boss and you both win. Just remember that this is just temporary. Things will get better.

 

[Golddollar]

I got laid off in 2009, working in a real estate related job when the market crashed and I was too young to retire. Not exactly a time to be suddenly looking for a new job. I was able to draw unemployment benefits but it didn't pay all the bills. After 7 months of watching my assets dissipate I heard about a document review job in Baltimore. It was advertised as being for 4 weeks, but I figured at least it was 4 weeks I wasn't dissipating my assets. I was hired and when I showed up for work in October the employment agency representative said "We hope you can commit to stay on the job until the end of November." November came and went, New Year's Day came and went, and in February I received an email from the agency saying that the project was winding down and a number of the document reviewers were being let go, but the client specifically asked if I would stay on the project. My reaction was not just Yes, but Heck Yes! I was glad to find out that if necessary this type of work was something that I could do if it was what was available. I stayed on the job until the following April when I was let go. But in the meantime, a friend of mine who got laid off the week after I did in 2009 got a new job and told me about an opening. I put in an application and the senior partner called me saying he was tired of hiring people without experience and hired me over the phone. I worked at that job until I retired.

Was that document review job the equivalent to the job i got laid off from? Certainly not. Did it keep body and soul together? It sure did. Would I have stayed on the job until I retired? I would have if they wanted me to. And the lessons I learned then are helping me now.

 

[biku324]

A man does what he has to do. I never expected overseas work, but a deal came up and I've ended up in Asia, the Middle East, and the Balkans. It's been tough being away from home, but now I can step into retirement with confidence - never would have been possible in my old job.

 

[raljr1]

A number of years ago, after losing my job as VP Of a small company, I was out of work for almost 9 months. When spring rolled around that year my father-in-law came to me and said, "I don't know if you would consider this beneath you or not, but you could make some money umpiring baseball this year." I told him that the only thing beneath me was not feeding my family.

I umpired that summer and made a couple thousand dollars to help keep the wolf away. I then did 12 more seasons before moving out of town. Kept doing it long after I needed the money, because I enjoyed it.