When is the right time to break away?
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johniosaif
Private Member
the moment you ask it... you have to have an exit strategy, have to have work you can get or aspire to get, you have to see that you will have an advantage by breaking away, my cousin left to do a loft 15yrs ago, I knew he was going on his own, oddly he hardly plasters now but is doing well at extensions and lofts, another cousin left as i refused to up his money,he was a hard worker but the recession in ireland sent him to australia. another left as he wanted to make big money and not be a gorilla like me, he is now skint. it needs thinking about, how much do you know, how much do you need to learn, how much can you earn, ps breaking away does not mean working for your bosses contacts, that attracts a slap
Minh
Member
It all depends on whether you have the confidence to go it alone and whether you'll be able to find enough work to keep yourself occupied. Those that have a proactive nature can find the work themselves and don't mind investing time to secure more work whereas some prefer the security of other people finding the work and dealing with the difficult customers. Think carefully before making your decision because it will be a humbling experience if you have to return with your tail tucked between your legs after a few months on your own 
I have promised myself that I would NEVER do that, I have too much respect for him.
'Push is coming to shove' in a few months as my family and I are moving 30 miles down the road! I could of course travel each day to continue working with the Boss but I see the move as a good opportunity to establish my own contacts and get a little of my own work.
I guess this is the beauty of my situation, I don't have to break-away completely I could slowly drift away?
Your boss will realize that you are trying to go on your own, and from his point of view, why would he keep you on, when he would be better off investing his time and energy on bringing through a new replacement.
Dragging out your employment with him whilst filling your boots elsewhere is disrespectful and a tad taking the piss.
Dragging out your employment with him whilst filling your boots elsewhere is disrespectful and a tad taking the piss.
The million pound question I guess.
I will have to rely on advertising whilst trying to establish contacts. The one good thing is that the area i'm moving too is a more prosperous one.
Minh
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keithuk
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johniosaif
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keithuk
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Mickyboy
Member
Over the past 15 years we used to employ apprentice ever 2 years . I liked to do this so they could be moulded into working the way I think they should. Its worked very well but you do find that when when they gain enough experience they flee the nest so to speak. The problem is in our area I have now got 3 or 4 Teams who are competing for the same work as ourselves . In know there's nothing I can do but it does pisses me off a little when I've put them through college, paid for there mistakes and taken time and effort to get them to what I call a good spread. I suppose were a victim of my own success .
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I think this prospect indeed fills my Boss with dread! He has been in the game a lot of years and many labourers/improvers have come and gone! I should add here that the Boss is not the easiest guy to get along with, I couldn't say any more on a 'public' forum.
I myself have done two 1 year stints with him.
The Boss is fully aware that I am moving out of the area in 3 months, I spend more time with him than I do the wife, we have no secrets!
He has told me that I am one of the best labourers/improvers & friends that he has had and the reasons why:
1) I'm not young!
2) I have a work ethic that is rare in the latest generation.
3) I am reliable, 4 minutes late is the worst so far!
4) He only has to show me how to do something once.
5) If he pays my wages on Friday I still have a little left the following Thursday!
The list is endless but it all seems a little self-promoting:razz:
I don't think going my own way would be taking the piss, training me has not cost him a bean other than a little time explaining, in fact I think I have earnt him a whole lot of money!
my elder sons, my brother and my nephews have all gone off to make up gangs of their own . they are peice working on building sites, something that i did not want to do. but we all give each other jobs that come in.
i just work with my yongest son he is 41 now, we have built up a good domestic and interesting projects business. whenever we get stretched i can always call on the other lads.or if there is something that they want a hand with we go and help them.
i do not think that now is the time to try to start up a new business, wait until it gets busy again.
i just work with my yongest son he is 41 now, we have built up a good domestic and interesting projects business. whenever we get stretched i can always call on the other lads.or if there is something that they want a hand with we go and help them.
i do not think that now is the time to try to start up a new business, wait until it gets busy again.
Obviously I need money but fortunately the wife brings in a few quid.
The Boss is kept in the picture on a daily basis but I think he is expecting me to price work up for him in the area I am moving to!
Sorry to answer this one with a question Keith, but where abouts are you in this county? I hope i'm not going to be stealing your work:flapper:
johniosaif
Private Member
seems all fine, once you leave in a nice friendly manner and have respect for him, ps no plasterer is easy to work for, i always dogged my guys, less so now but only due to artrithis , its a tough game.all about getting it done, getting the dollar and doing it again and again, you may know a lot but you have a lot to learn still,when you work with another old spread he may think you are an upstart who needs to learn a lot still, do not take this as a slight, i have seen many who know it all but none of them were the old guys, they are attentive and thinking and taking it in on each and every job...
keithuk
Private Member
Canterbury way ,don,t worry about that mate ,spend more time helping others out ,mainly with the Monocouche work ,i am not one of those up my own **** people
Going your own way.....that's fine. Hanging around whilst you build up an order book whilst maintaining a semi permanent position with him is taking the proverbial, as you put it "slowly drift away"
I don't mean to sound condescending, but as an employer myself, I would take it the wrong way if you were to keep a position whilst lining your own pockets. 30 miles is not that big a catchment area, so be prepared to potentially step on his toes.
Jace
Well-Known Member
ive recently gone back to working for the fella that taught me all those years ago and its not too bad to be honest, its the happiest ive been at work in a long time, good group of lads most of them good spreads (one or 2 still need some work), because i used to work with him and have done a few bits for him i get the added responsibility which i like as it comes with a little brucey bonus at the end of the job, its regualr work, i can still do my own bits and any big big jobs i get i can run through his firm and still pull a pukka wage out of it again with a little bonus at the end for shareing the wealth.
working for him i get more of a variety of work aswell more screeding more rendering alot more float and set all stuff that i enjoy more than pushing pink shite up the walls day in day out, when i was on my own i did advertise that i could do all those other things but all i ever seemed to get asked to do was pink out a house or room
working for him i get more of a variety of work aswell more screeding more rendering alot more float and set all stuff that i enjoy more than pushing pink shite up the walls day in day out, when i was on my own i did advertise that i could do all those other things but all i ever seemed to get asked to do was pink out a house or room
Ok, I have mentioned above that I am not a 'young' man so I will not be doing site work or putting together any gangs!
I am looking for small works, wether that be Mrs Jones kitchen ceiling or small works for local builders.
I would be quite happy to bring the Boss in on larger jobs, in fact I have every intention in keeping in touch!
I am looking for small works, wether that be Mrs Jones kitchen ceiling or small works for local builders.
I would be quite happy to bring the Boss in on larger jobs, in fact I have every intention in keeping in touch!
Olican
Private Member
A couple of lads who have worked with me over the years are still trading well now, We stay in touch and often pass work back and forth. One lad left but in our opinion wasnt quite ready for the bigger jobs. This suits us fine as he passes all bigger jobs our way. Maintain that relationship you have with your boss, this trade is a marathon not a sprint. Another lad left us about 5 years ago, he now stacks shelves and plasters part time. Just kept burning bridges and it backfired. Best of luck to you Goldfinch, you sound like you have the right idea :RpS_thumbup:
Your right, reading what I wrote back does sound a bit 'iffy' and not really what I meant!
I have every intention of maintaining my friendship with the Boss and would always help him out if he asked.
I am not yet quite sure that he understands that me moving away presents a new challenge for me to face rather than an expansion of his business.
Whoops! We could always meet up for a cup of tea and bacon sandwich! No I won't be right on top of you (so to speak!) but I will be slightly north and on the coast, so maybe a bag of chips and ice cream?
jcrplast
Member
Your story is very similar to mine mate.
Thats all i want is small jobs enough to top up the wifes wage and live a bit more comfortable.
You going to advertise mate...some flyers and business cards ?.
keithuk
Private Member
come on which town mate ?
I think the move will present the opportunity for me to do things my way, slowly & methodically:RpS_thumbup:
I understand with what I know and the way I am, I am not going to make my millions in the game but I have found something that I really enjoy doing. I just think that if I were able to give each job a little more attention I would enjoy it even more. Does that make any sense?
WHITSTABLE. The wife is going 'home' she was born and has a large family there. Are we going to have that bag of chips & ice cream?
keithuk
Private Member
Well mate ,when i said Canterbury way ? i live in Whitstable
Got much on Keith:RpS_thumbup:
I think I will have to, to get established.
Flyers, Business Cards, Shop windows, Yell.com, local press talking with family and KeithUK:RpS_lol:
SpankySouthport
Private Member
Why don't you mention it to him, approach it head on with the distance angle and maybe he will do his best to help you out..
Flyers, adverts bla bla bla count for nothing these days, its all about contacts which I'm sure your boss has in abundance, again why not approach it head on 'is there anyone you know near Canterbury?' finders fee of course, at least you have a genuine reason for wanting to move on.
I would not want to start out again now with zero contacts so good luck to ya!
Flyers, adverts bla bla bla count for nothing these days, its all about contacts which I'm sure your boss has in abundance, again why not approach it head on 'is there anyone you know near Canterbury?' finders fee of course, at least you have a genuine reason for wanting to move on.
I would not want to start out again now with zero contacts so good luck to ya!
OH dear LOL
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