Up to Feb 2003, I lived in Berkshire and ran my own business organising conferences and other marketing services activities. Did it for 15 years, but with the increae in commercial greed, and the increasing reluctance of anyone to accept responsibility for making decisions, my business became more & more dependent on les & ;ess reliable people. So, last Feb I packed it in. My wife left her special needs teaching post, and we started up a B&B in the west country. To supplement that, I started my handyman business last August.
I had already made the leap of faith 15 years ago when I set up my marketing business, but when I moved to the west country, I determined to go back to PAYE. But ageism is rife down here, and at 56, I appear to "past it". Loads of applications & some interviews, but no offers. So, b*ll*cks to them all, I started up this Handyman business.
I did this at the suggestion of a friend who saw that I was always negative when talking about conference stuff, but always positive when talking about DIY (in which I had become quite expert following my father's footsteps as a cabinet maker, and working on my own properties for over 30years).
I feel that I've already "earnt my place at the table" because I do what nobody else around here seems to do, and that's provide a good, reliable service, and my reputation is (apparently) already spreading. I know that I'm good enough when I see some of the other poor quality work that I have to tidy up.
The most scary moment so far was my very first job when I was in someone else's home about to take apart some of their newly-fitted kitchen. That's when I realised that I had to do a good job.
I had already made the leap of faith 15 years ago when I set up my marketing business, but when I moved to the west country, I determined to go back to PAYE. But ageism is rife down here, and at 56, I appear to "past it". Loads of applications & some interviews, but no offers. So, b*ll*cks to them all, I started up this Handyman business.
I did this at the suggestion of a friend who saw that I was always negative when talking about conference stuff, but always positive when talking about DIY (in which I had become quite expert following my father's footsteps as a cabinet maker, and working on my own properties for over 30years).
I feel that I've already "earnt my place at the table" because I do what nobody else around here seems to do, and that's provide a good, reliable service, and my reputation is (apparently) already spreading. I know that I'm good enough when I see some of the other poor quality work that I have to tidy up.
The most scary moment so far was my very first job when I was in someone else's home about to take apart some of their newly-fitted kitchen. That's when I realised that I had to do a good job.