Soooo.... After 10 years of building cars I shut the doors today for business... In the last year I've been stuck with 5 cars, along with parts and materials going up and less money floating around for old cars... I still own my garage so I'll keep it for personal use, but not sure if I will reopen... On a side note... I currently have 3 ot muscle cars for sale... And my '62 c10 to play with... Interview with UPS on Thursday... Welding, fabrication, powder Coating, custom paint, lead work... Took my logo off of my avatar and changed it to my last customers vehicle...
Sorry that things didn't work out for you. Hope you will get a new job that will give you some flexibility in working on your own cars s time goes by.
You gave it your best shot and you can pat yourself on the back for that. You still have old iron around, your still in charge and your doing what you have too...all positives. Good on you...
I know how you feel. I closed my shop 3-1/2 years ago after trying to hold onto my dream and not admit defeat. I was offered a great position in a John Deere dealership by a good friend. I should have made the change years earlier. I am now just getting to the point of having the desire to start building a personal ride. I too still have my shop and equipment. I hope to start a build thread of my 42 Plymouth business coupe in the near future. I am sure you will find your future uplifting and you too will get back in the shop building for yourself, regards; Rick
King ford you are right... It's just sad and an odd feeling going back to work for someone again... Thank you everyone... Back to getting some ideas for the c10...
I like this quote and use it on my Ford Barn profile,it just seems appropriate here. HRP ‘When one door closes, another opens. But we often look so regretfully upon the closed door that we don’t see the one which has opened for us.’ Alexander Graham Bell
you're in the perfect position now. you can pick up the occasional side gig for money for your projects and keep the fun in your hobby. I ran a shop for 3 years then went back to a desk job. I've been doing "side" work for 10 years now. Best of both world. Good luck!
A couple months ago I passed 30 years as self employed. Probably wouldn't know how to act if I had to go to work for someone else. But, on the other hand, there's still times when I miss just walking out the door and forgetting it all until the next day like I could when I worked for a big company. Sounds like you decided to give it up while you were at least about even, or a little ahead. That's a smart move. I've known several guys who started borrowing and feeding money into a business when they should've closed the doors. One kept feeding a losing proposition until he eventually lost a house that was 2/3 paid for, along with most everything else he owned. Worst part was, he's an engineer who could've gone out at any time and gotten himself a $75K/yr job within a month or less. Don't know if its pride or whatever that causes some people to do things like that, but it sure causes them and their families a load of problems. Good luck in your interview.
I closed up when it became too much hassle, hurt at first, but in the end, best thing I ever did. Building is fun again, if I feel like it, I'll sell what I've built, make a little, work at my own pace, get up in the morning when I want.....the only boss I got is mrs. troll, she's tough as nails, been with her for....36 long miserable years, best choice I ever made.
tough call but, ya gotta do what ya gotta do. maybe while working elsewhere that you will stumble across a really great opportunity for a position at another shop.
I think that you will find life more relaxing now and enjoy cars more as a hobby. All things happen for a reason and you may find life at UPS far less stressful and in the end probably better for your health too. Since I teach and no longer work as a welder in the field I find I also enjoy life and hobbies more than before. Good luck.
Faith will get you through this transition. Not necessarily religious faith (that's your personal business), but faith that things have a way of working out. I don't even know you and I have faith that you will be just fine. Good luck going forward.............Don.
Sorry you had to shut down. Very few of us ever get to work for a living at our passion. Just because you can't bring in the bacon at this hobby it doesn't mean the end of the world. When you find something to pay the bills, you might be able to go back into it a little bit at a time here and there. Good luck. PS Be careful about a job with UPS......you never see anyone working there over 45, makes me think they have a way of getting rid of you once you are past your prime. Jus sayin'
Hey there @Ebbsspeed get out of the way I thought about it first. @summersshow your decision must have been difficult. It may be the best thing for you though, when you are doing something for a living and especially if that living is not so good it really takes the fun out of it. I am real big on fun here, I have nothing to show for it but grins, but I have probably had more grins than most. Many, many more grins for you my friend.
Good luck on the UPS interview. Just think of all the problems you won't need to deal with on a daily basis. You can always start back up if you get the itch.
If its not fun or you are not making enough money quit. Life is too durn short to waste your productive years just marking time. Ive been self employed quite a few times. And luckily I knew when to quit. And being a experienced heavy equiptment operator and truck driver I could always find work. I the end I spent my last working for another man years driving truck. The Scrap got high and I quit driving and went to selling my hoard for scrap at high prices. And I still have plenty left.
Unfortunately not an uncommon story in today's business world. Good luck to you.. and best wishes.. Also agree on the above post of one door closing opens another..
I used to work for UPS and liked it alot. Tried to go back a few years ago but they wouldn't hire me cause I was a previous employee. Confused me.