SPBM

quote:
Originally posted by HOGAN

I can't wait for my 2 1/2 weeks out east!

Click to expand...


Ditto Mike!!!

Looks like we are heading out on 7/12.

When are you going out?
 
As I have mentioned before it's my 25 anniversary and while I do have boating plans they are not on my boat! I'm taking a cruise with my wife to Italy, Greece and Turkey. I'm using up all my vacation time as well as spending my vacation budget on this trip! I'm flying in my former partner to cover my business and I assume I will also have to pay him for his time so this trip is really going to brake the bank. I have promised my wife when I bought the business that although the first few years would be hard I would find to way to get away for our 25 anniversary. So I guess this year will be a light boating year, I'm sure I will take a few short trips but I won't be making it to Block this year.
 
Don't feel to bad. My wife started a new job last month and will have practically no vacation time this year. On the other hand, I have to use or lose vacation time this year. I have a week in April, may, July, and September off. All but April is centered around a holiday and we will go some where for those three days but the rest of the week will be at the dock. Still better than sitting around home.
 
WOW 4 weeks vacation that's great enjoy! I haven't had that much time off since I was still in college. As the owner of my company I feel guilty taking two weeks of and I have only had two consecutive weeks off once in the last 15 years and this was last year, I'm looking forward to doing it again this summer!
 
That is why I am not a business owner. LOL, no time off. I have friends that are small business owners in several different fields and it is the same no matter what the business is. Practically no vacation time. And they all work 70+ hours a week. And weekends. I knew when I was retiring from the military I was not going back to the 24/7 lifestyle. I was lucky to fall into this job as the benefits are as good as the pay.

I have not really taken any time off for about three years now. I few days at a time here and there. My company has a very good PTO rate, it is just hard to use it in my job a lot of times. At least until this summer roles around and my buildings are all complete. Then it should be maintenance and renovation for the next 4-5 years. I earn 32 days a year. Right now I am sitting on 380+ hours of time off. Since I am only allowed to carry 500 (oddly when we get to 500 banked we stop earning it) at any given time I had to start planning to take some off. I am planning a week in Vegas for November, a week in FL for January and the Dominican Republic for both of us next February as well. Doom, despair and agony on me.
 
I'm with you John. I can't carry over my time from year to year, but I get 53 days off every year! My schedule is flexible and Fridays are 1/2 day.
 
John when I first bought the company I was working at least what seemed like round the clock! I quickly realized I was heading down a bad path and was going to burn out fast. I hired a bookkeeper to take care of as much of the paperwork that was eating up my evenings, this has been a huge help. Now I need to hire one more full time tech which I have been trying out someone if this works out I will finally have a life again. If half of the jobs that have already presented themselves actually come to fruition then it should be a decent year! I have been trying very hard to take a step back and play a less hands on role on every job but this is a though thing to do partly due to the current help situation but this will have a positive effect on my life once I do. With a little luck by the end of this year things will fall into place for my business and I will start to enjoy myself I have already started feeling less stress! I feel happier and less agitated by the small thing that used to set me off.
I can't wait for the season to kick off! Boating is like a floating sedative I always feel relaxed when I'm boating.
 
There is no way I could use 53 days a year. Maybe if my wife had that much time off too. I think she starts off with 12 or 14 days a year the first year or so. She just started this month so it will take a while for her to build some up. My schedule is based around the construction schedule. There are times when I am working 12 hours a day and other times when I have to find something to do. Hopefully it will be like the later the next 6 years until I retire.... again. 8-)
 
In four years, I have not been able to use up all 53 days, but THIS year, I'm going to try my hardest to do so...
 
quote:
Originally posted by Audrey II

I can't wait for the season to kick off! Boating is like a floating sedative I always feel relaxed when I'm boating.

Click to expand...


+100 I find my BP goes down the moment I set foot on the dock. Thankfully the boat is only about 30 minutes away.

In the last 7 years I have been responsible for planning, coordinating and purchasing the medical equipment for two hospitals, and ambulatory surgery center and 5 medical office building in three states and DC. Plus a few dozen renovation projects. All total about $180mil in equipment. Come July the last building opens. I have one major renovation of an entire building going on after that. I can already feel the lightness in my step. As much as I like the challenge, I am really hoping we are done building for a few years at least.

My dad always told me "If you don't pay attention you will get old without realizing it" I never really understood that until recently.
 
I am an independent consultant software engineer in the financial district (the evil banks). As an independent, if I don't work, I don't get paid so I used to rarely take time off. Then one day a plane hit my building and adjusted my attitude. For years after that I didn't use an alarm clock and guess what....nobody noticed! Instead of arriving at 8am daily, I would arrive when I wanted (still usually 8-9:30 the latest). Shortly after, I upgraded from a 24'er to 28'er with twins and AC so I could cruise (thanks HOGAN). Then I turned 40 and did something crazy.... dropped nice cash on my current boat. Life is too short people!

I did get back into the grind and last May, BofA cancelled all consultants. They offered me a permanent position and were baffeled I wouldn't take it until I found a new contract (no thanks!), I was burnt out. First stop Jersey Shore for Memorial day, had plans to go to Ireland in August and in between I built an addition on my house doing plumbing/heating and GC. I had the best summer ever.

In September my Dr said you lost 20lbs, your blood pressure is perfect, you look great (felt great) what have you been doing? I said living the good life, work is overrated!!!

My current contract ends Easter weekend...perfect timing as I need to begin repairs on my boat!!!

Life is too short! Take time off, it's addicting!!!!
 
Dave,

This past September, my wife and I went on a Med Cruise to Spain, Italy, Croatia and France for our 30th. She wanted to go to Italy and I agreed to a cruise because I only want to unpack once. It was a great time and a great vacation. It is a budget buster for sure but worth doing.

Hope yours is great.

Mark
 
quote:
Originally posted by mintregila

Dave,

This past September, my wife and I went on a Med Cruise to Spain, Italy, Croatia and France for our 30th. She wanted to go to Italy and I agreed to a cruise because I only want to unpack once. It was a great time and a great vacation. It is a budget buster for sure but worth doing.

Hope yours is great.

Mark

Click to expand...


Thanks Mark I'm sure we will have a great time! I used to take cruises a bit back when I had a life:) Honestly I'm not complaining Rome wasn't built in a day and soon I will get to see it, no one builds a business overnight I was in my business for years when my partner told me he wanted out. At the time business was great unfortunately for me shortly after he left the bottom fell out of the economy and I have been rebuilding ever since. The past year I have seem a big up tick and this year is off to a good start so maybe things will be OK if not I'll sell the boat and become a greeter at Walmart. I would have a lot less stress and I would probably live longer but then not sure how long I want to live as at greeter.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top