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Pro DesignerPermalink Reply by Jackson's Landscape Design on March 4, 2011 at 22:30

Oh Brigitt

 

I'm afraid i wake up in the middle of the night and nearly fall down stairs tripping over my dressing gown belt because I've had a thought and I really need to draw what i've just seen in my minds eye......In fact I've a lower draw filing cabinet full of doodles, concepts, ideas   that just require the correct client.

 

 

So in answer to your question, from me  is no I cant switch off because if I did I afraid that I might lose focas  on acheieving my persoanl goals....and todate I've acheived 50% of what I set out to do when I made my personal targets.

 

Saying that though I'm having a day off tomorrow so I can see what my rock (Lizzy) looks like....just because I'll be out and about does'nt mean I wont be looking for ways to create and play with materials....

 

I love what I do and cant help myself......the clients seem to enjoy my fire which is portraded in my gardens.

 

best

 

Kerry

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Gardens4u.co.uk on March 4, 2011 at 23:29

i can - but sometimes , its hard to switch back on again ....

 

i get going about 4-5pm some day's  ;)..................   im warmed up then !

 

i do lots ,  sailing, meals out with friends / famil(ies), listen to music, cooking .......  (doing my house up at the moment too which i sort of enjoy organizing ,  choosing products/materials/colours )

 

i love food shopping when i have 1/2 day spare and have many, many interests ................

 

working on some jobs is the most relaxing thing i do though , or my own garden. /p>

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Permalink Reply by Fenlandphil on March 5, 2011 at 6:52

I don't think you ever switch off that is why I am going to set a retirement date.

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Permalink Reply by Daniel Gillings @ DC inc on March 5, 2011 at 8:13

Never really turn off - too much to think about, new ideas, plans etc.

I have occasional slow-down time where I let other things come to the front of the mind, but then it gets overwhelmed by business again! :)

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Mick Gammage on March 5, 2011 at 8:14

to be totally focused and motivated I believe you have to think about business the majority of the time, its not just planning the job in hand and organising materials etc its the next couple of job I am planning sub consciously too

 

lets not forget some jobs have to be planned with military precision due to the location or bad access and no room to swing a cat round  ***(see foot note)

 

family time....absolutely that's the most important bit, we always make time to sit down and eat our evening meal round a table and discuss what we have done that day, we all work hard and reap the rewards of what we all contribute into our family

 

chill time.....yeah of course there is but i don't spend it chatting rubbish in a pub or getting that drunk I miss work the following day

 

most of my friends are in business and we are all very similar

 

NOTE......

No harm was done to the cat whilst writing this post :)

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Pro DesignerPermalink Reply by Jackson's Landscape Design on March 5, 2011 at 15:12

Agree there Gaynor...an hour in the morning is worth two in the afternoon.

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Anthony @ JDC Maintenance on March 5, 2011 at 16:33

I generally dont work  weekends and try and get any admin/accounts/invoicing done in the week day evenings, so yes i do relax and try not to think/worry about work, especially at the weekend but it is kind of always there in the back of your mind, ready to pop into your head just as you settle down to watch Bruce Parry or Sir David of Attenborough!

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Permalink Reply by Amanda Shipman on March 5, 2011 at 16:42

I 'work' or think about work most the time, but I don't find it a problem. 

My day is quite loose and I choose to walk the dog in the morning with my husband and we talk about what we hope to achieve that day.  This discussion time is good for both of us, each in our own businesses - he's a freelance photographer and we both work from home. Even when I'm really busy, I don't work beyond 9pm at night and always stop for a proper lunch and dinner. 

In a few weeks time I'm taking a 'holiday' to Japan, travelling on my own with a personal itinerary specifically to look at Japanese gardens and to catch the cherry blossom.  This trip is on my bucket list!  Work or play?

 

When I see clients at the weekends, I balance it by seeing friends during the day in the week. I think I work the same amount as others, but not necessarily in set blocks of time. Seeing friends and family is a great pleasure and just as important as my work.  I have friends who have salaried jobs, and they think about work out of hours as well.

 

 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Mitchell on March 5, 2011 at 16:46

No, I can't seem to stop thinking about business. Thinking about garden design is great, but I'm looking forward to the day I can start working for someone else, and not be thinking about marketing and spreadsheets at all hours.

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Rowly Hill on March 5, 2011 at 17:57

I'd say the only time you can really switch off is when you are asleep.

 

There's always something to do whether its inside or outside and the "to do" list never gets any shorter.

 

The busier you get the more the old grey matter is constantly working through all of the elements of your business and hopefully bringing some order and discipline to all of the tasks in hand.

 

Family, friends and a spot of R&R are also very important and I'll always try and find time for all three.

 

Call me a saddo but we (Mrs Hand I) are going on holiday at the end of next week and we have set aside time for some business development and planning which starts on the drive up to Scotland.

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Permalink Reply by Fenlandphil on March 5, 2011 at 18:09

I usually have a notebook to hand. One really talented blacksmith used to have one by his bed and would wake up in the middle of the night and do design sketches.

A & J Owen Garden Services said:

My thoughts are always about how to market the business, how to organise it better and how to improve profitability. I am thinking about it from the moment I get up to the moment I go to sleep but not in a stressed way. I always keep a note pad and pen so I can jot down any ideas.

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Permalink Reply by Simon@SF Landscapes on March 6, 2011 at 16:31

Thank you

 

Have only just join ljn and its turning out to be a great little site , but hearing most of you talking about not being able to switch of has been of great help, there was me thinking i was the only one, i must be strange , do other people think like me.

There was me thinking i was out there on my own with the rest of the tumble weed blowing across the plains, only to find other people talking like me.

If your not passionate and driven by your business, whats the point , yeah its good to have a bit of down time, but what's better than that buzz when you win that contract, the smile on your face when you do a great job and the customer loves it.

Ok going on a bit now, think you get the point 

 

Simon

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