Started my new job this past Tuesday....

[Frank Z]

and quit today.

I know you all think I'm nuts, but I just couldn't deal with working for someone else. I was all fired up about the job until I actually got in my service van on day one.....I was a total wreck. I really tried to make the best of the situation I was in but it was no use. Came home on Tuesday night and was the most miserable bastard this side of the Atlantic. Deb knew something was wrong, but being the great communicator I simply kept it in and continued to be pissed about, well every eff'n thing.

Wednesday was more of the same, show up for work and have to prove that I'm not some snot nosed apprentice that doesn't know which end of the hammer to use. Get home and put on my happy face so as not to be an ass again.

Thursday morning I get to work and am given more of the same preventative maintenance stuff to do. Luckily we've had some really cold weather the past few days and I actually got to fix a few furnaces...I'm all about troubleshooting!! I thought that I'd get over it after getting a few real calls to go on, but it just wasn't happening.

I called the Service Manager and told him I simply couldn't do it, my heart wasn't in it and I just couldn't work for the company. I needed to get back to my own company and do what I loved, working for myself and my family, not for someone else. He took it really well and told me that he understood completely and that I could come back whenever I wanted too. I give him high marks on the Decent Human Being Scale!!

So....Here I am, back to running a one man HVAC/R biz. Long hours, cold nights on roof tops, hot summer days putting in A/C systems, putting a smile on and dealing with all kinds of strange and wonderful people.

I've got a lot of catching up to do and I've dug a hole that I need to get out of, but I'm looking forward to getting my shit together and learning from the mistakes I've made, and not repeating them.

I told Deb and the kids that the four best days of my life were the day I got married, the day Daniel was born, the day Rebecca was born, and the day I started my own business. I simply can't give any of those up.


We all have our dreams and sometimes we lode sight of it when we let other things cloud our vision. I'm starting fresh in the morning; my dreams won't take a back seat to bad decisions ever again.


Wish me luck folks...I'm starting a new job tomorrow.

[aaharvel]

sorry bout that Frank.
Good luck to you.

[Ricardo]

I know that feeling that you don't belong somewhere...and I too think that you need to act quickly and do what you think is best, right away.

I am sure you'll do fine.
Good Luck!!!!

Edit....the good luck wishes don't count for the football pool :)

[polkatese]

Frank, all the best! You've got it all: family support, drive, and reason. Make the best of them.

Cheers,
pt

[Frank Z]

I know that feeling that you don't belong somewhere...and I too think that you need to act quickly and do what you think is best, right away.

I am sure you'll do fine.
Good Luck!!!!
THAT'S IT!!! You nailed it perfectly. I hadn't thought of it like that, but you are 100% correct!!

[BIZILL]

frank, you owe me good luck karma. i posted best wishes for you. well, you're off the hook as you actually DID get the job that we rooted you on for. nevermind. good luck now with going back to what you know and are comfortable with. hopefully business will pick back up again for ya. you've regained a new zeal for what you may have figured you were being pushed away from.

[Dennis Gardner]

Hey Frank, you might look into contracting your skills for one or more companies on a monthly per unit basis, to keep cash flow steady. The company I work for contracts out their HVAC work for 35+ locations in a regional area to a single company. It has worked for both parties and could easily be replicated in your area. PM me for some details if interested.

[Frank Z]

Bizill,
Throwin' the love, karma, and mojo back at ya!

DG,
PM sent!

[F1nut]

Frank, good on ya. Nothing beats working for yourself.

[Frank Z]

Ain't it the truth broham!!

[sgtgto]

Hi frank:

Just a friendly word of advice. Make sure you take in more than you spend. That way your business will stay solvent and you will keep yor sanity.

Gary

[BIZILL]

gotta say with some experience to back my claim, it's hard to work for yourself. you've gotta have balls. frank, im sure yours have caused bowed-legs.

[Frank Z]

Knees haven't touched each other for years. :D

[Frank Z]

Hi frank:

Just a friendly word of advice. Make sure you take in more than you spend. That way your business will stay solvent and you will keep yor sanity.

Gary
Good advice, but damn hard to do sometimes.

[dorokusai]

Have fun.

The ppl looking at you are Pod ppl...beware.

[bobman1235]

Good luck Frank. Sounds like you've done it before, sure you can do it again.

What prompted you to leave the business in the first place? A steadier source of income?

[disneyjoe7]

Frank, you must follow your heart.

Best of Luck :)

[reeltrouble1]

In your ad--

Call Frank for ALL YOUR HVAC NEEDS

WILL WORK FOR AUDIO GEAR!!!

You are where you need to be.

Best Wishes,

RT1

[PolkThug]

Congrats on finding yourself again Frank! Wish I could talk more, but I've got to get the cover sheet filled out for my TPS report.

[McLoki]

Congrats on following your dream. Few even know what theirs is, of those that do, not many have the cohones to follow it.

Good luck to you and your family and merry Christmas.

Michael

[Frank Z]

Thanks everyone. Busy day today...busy,busy,busy! :D

[dorokusai]

Frank is a Polkie....was there any real doubt? Rock on you single letter, last name crazy man.

[BIZILL]

i wish i could be like frank so badly that i just had to add a "Z" and i to my name.

[Tour2ma]

I'm shocked... shocked that you took yourself back...

[opus]

Frank, I wish you luck.

I am a guy who everybody says should go on his own but I don't have the guts to do it. 3 kids and a wife you know. So when I see guys like you I wish them the best and hope they find all the happiness they are looking for.

So here's hoping the best for you and your family this Holiday season and beyond. kevin :)

[nadams]

Funny... the day I found out that I didn't get my job, I registered my computer business w/ the state and got a sales tax number and such. I'm thinking of trying to really kick it off. This area really needs computer people, and I happen to be one such person. I've been doing the work, just not legitimately, and with no advertising or anything. This way I can run ads, get business, and do it all myself! What do you do for health insurance, Frank?

[cfrizz]

Best of luck Frank. Hope things pick up for you real soon!

[Frank Z]

Thanks all...Polkies are like a new jock strap.... Great support right where ya need it! :D

Insurance is one of the reasons that we (I) ecided to close up shop. The cost is staggering. Right now we are without any but hope to get another policy going soon. We were paying $1400 a month with copays for medications, doctors visits, etc. Next time your employeer tells you that his/her health insurance bills are sky-high...believe him/her. Insurance cost are crippling small business and that hurts each and everyone of us. I never thought much about it until I had to provide for my own coverage, talk about a rude awakening!

[nadams]

Oh, I definately know the costs. I've been paying my own way since April. The costs are nasty, and just for a single person minimum coverage!

[Demiurge]

Grats on doing what you needed to do. I really don't think at this point I could work for anyone else. Once you work for yourself it's hard to ever drop it and go to work for someone else. You often grow a little too independent on certain things and a little too opinionated -- or use too much initiative that usually comes off as stepping on toes. At least that's how I see it. That's why I always delegate to my employees a lot, less stress that way.

Good luck. :) Listening to your gut will pay off emotionally, I think.

*edit* Good call on the insurance. It's getting completely ridiculous. Get a few employees and they often have no idea how much it cost. Not to mention the fact you have to match exactly what comes off of there check for FICA and Medicare.