Well my business just got fired. My biggest and only real client for over 40 years has changed direction and has hired children for slave wages WITH ONE WEEK OF TRAINING to do what my business has been doing for over 40 years! I hope they go bankrupt! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG. Ok, it's all good. I'm not selling anything. I'll survive regardless. If my Keogh hadn't fallen 40% and my fixed income managed account 40% and my mad money account 50% I'd just retire and say !^c& it. But with things soooooo uncertain tomorrow is the first day of my new reality. DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE MY FORMER CLIENT FAIL! Bast@rds! Forget the new lightweight rims. The lowering springs, the cooling mods, tune, etc. Tires I have to have. Man what a bummer. One day your racing a SRT-6 and the next you don't know how to fill the tank. I do have a plan but I hate to start over. You can be sure I'll be in contact with the clients of my former client to inform them that my company is no longer providing services and my willingness to work directly, and cheaper by the way because they charge a 100% markup on my work. Jerks! Lets just say it hurts. These past 2 years I've lowered prices to 1980's levels, I've upgraded all my facilities to make them happy (huge capital investment) taken over expenses and responsibilities that correspond to them and not me and now they shoot me in the back while I'm not looking and just whistle a happy tune. Are these Obama economics? When did I become the old, antiquated, out dated, no good, can't adjust, smelly, ... old fart? I didn't. They are willing to sacrifice excellence for economy. Experience for willingness to work for food. I did sort of see this coming and I do have another client but I bill them in a month what I was billing my former client in a day. Today I let all my workers go but one. Now it's a family business again. On the bright side I did get around to replacing the damaged wall in the bathroom today. Tomorrow another coat of joint compound goes on. I also had time to buy roses for my wife. I think about buying them all the time by never get around to it. Wait a minute, she is smiling at me, what's this .... dinner? Holy cow, maybe they did me a favor. Was it the roses? MAYBE THEY DID ME A FAVOR. But I'm still going to do all I can to see their demise. It was my company that made them what they were. They will be fine for a while, but mark my words, when their clients learn who is doing the work now they won't be happy. Especially since they charge double what I do. Don't pay me any attention. This is my rant. Nothing else. I don't have to sell my car. I do have a lot of reorganizing of my finances to do and lots of appointments to make. The cream always rises to the top. Let me just say, it took years and years and years to learn what I know. I should be paid double what I was making and we all start out young and willing to work for nothing to learn. But paying customers don't want anyone learning on their projects. We'll see what happens. Have a nice day and don't spend money. Crap.

Les

P.S. Thank the lord for my wonderful woman, my wonderful dog, my wonderful only worker, my 2006 SRT-6, my lack of mortgage, my lack of debts, and all my forum allies.

 

Sorry, Les. Hang in there.

Jane

 

Sorry to hear of your misfortune.

Was it just a sign of the poor economic conditions in the world right now?


Like you say, maybe its a blessing in disguise.

Or you are the victim of the Capitalist.

Either way, pick yourself up, dust off, and make it happen for you.


And then stab them in the eye with a pencil.

 

Great attitude, Les.
Sounds like you'll land on your feet, and they'll land on their butts.
At 50% off you have a lot of leverage.
Just make it an intro offer with 20-25% off in the long run.

Hope you're smiling all the way to the bank next year.

 

Pal,

the way you can literally "smell the roses" when someone craps on you is...inspiring.

All the best my man.

 

"God bless the child that's got his own." Les, it sounds like you were prepared. I'm almost there in preparation myself......if Obama don't take it for those that have done nothing for it. We are with you, brother!!!

 

Hang in there and keep us updated. My business is 18 months into a somewhat similar situation and we are doing pretty good, considering the business climate. The company we had heavily relied on in the past is all but broke. I really wish you the best.

 

Sorry about the bombshell, but well done on the 'lack of mortgage and debt' aspect. You are one of a few to be wise enough to live that way. You'll be fine.

BTW: what type of biz do you own? Maybe some one of us may have a lead or something to offer.

All the best.

 

Les, Don't let the b@stards get you down.

That's the spirit.

good luck.

franc

 

Great attitude!
Hope that I never have to experience what you are going through.
We were just told today that the Army is moving its C4ISR testing to Aberdeen, MD. Being I'm a contractor I don't get invited to move with the government folks. That means I may be looking for a job in the near future.
At least I do have two SRTs. I could sell one and still hang with the great folks here on the forum!

I hope that I will be able to hang in as well as you are. Good luck!

 

Dastardly news Les. You're a victim of all what's going on. You've got a good attitude which will really help. As far as lowering your prices to 1980 levels, perhaps you might have raised them-perhaps they did this for lack of respect. Their ethics are probably questionable, which is why the cards are stacked against them. Partners do not do this one another-so consider yourself lucky to have them out of your life. High roading is best, others will see and respect it. Ruining them and being associated with it will give you a silent reputation. I don't think you'll go there. As you rebuild I'm confident you will do just fine-you've been doing it for 40 years, so while tiring to rebuild, it will be fruitful again. The past is a good predictor of the future. Mark

 

Les, sorry to hear about your misfortune. I am even more sorry to hear that you had to let all but 1 of your employees go, as I am sure that they were less prepared than you to deal with the situation. Hopefully, you will be able rebound quickly and be able to rehire the good people that have supported you and your business. Good luck and God speed.

 

Sorry. Hang in there and don't burn any bridges behind you. Squirrel Crusher

 

Keep your chin up Pal. You'll rebound a better person from this.

 

So, Les, when you start your new business, that puts the formal business out of business, what will it be called....LOL....opportunity my friend....seize it when you can...good luck....Oh, I know you were just venting, but when you start the new one, never mention, never now mention the former business...you are the new shining light....just some good advise from someone who has been there....

 

So many people think that, if you own your own business...

...that you have it made.
...that you are set for life.
...that you just watch the money roll in, without working for it.
...that you never will again live with worry about tomorrow.


This kinda blows that philosphy, doesn't it?

 

Hang in there, Les. As dwight and others have said, it's a very good thing that you lived as wisely as you did. It prepared you perfectly just in case something like this happened.

I agree with some of the others also in the sense that this could be a blessing in disguise. Offer your business to folks who stress on quality OVER quantity. Diligence will see you through this.

Keeping you in prayers my friend.

 

We all know that what goes around comes around. They probably changed services because the other guys had lower prices while figuring that their clients would not notice a difference in the quality of service and support that your team provided. It will be noticed and changes made again.

Enjoy the time to bring home the roses; enjoy the time with the family while you re-build and re-invent.

Your success will show them that the importance is in the value of the product and, often times that added value is not a line item on an invoice. Continued successes to you and your team.

 

Stsy positive, Les! Your attitude is certainly in the right place & attitude will get you through the hard times better than almost anything else!

 

I spent most this morning getting my "red" up and running. This weekend I'll be working on proposals .... and looking for cheap used tires. As soon as I pick up my last check from them I'm not looking back not for even a second. I've decided this is a blessing no matter how or why it happened. Even thought they still haven't even bothered to inform me.

I did find time to patch that hole in the concrete this morning. The smell of flowers in the morning is a nice touch. Took the Yorkie for a much longer walk than usual, on the beach at that. Life is good without work. Next step is to amend my estimated taxes down to 0. No more of my money for a while Mr. President.

Les