I've been at this job for about 14 years now. Working for myself, business is still growing. But the past couple of years at this time of year, I start to lose motivation. I pull up to a job and sit in the truck not wanting to get out. Give me your pep talk, guys! Help your pal out.

I hear you Mark, I get that feeling sometimes as well.

You obviously take pride in your work, and this time of year is tough to see the immediate impact. Think ahead to the next year, knowing that the work you put in now WILL pay dividends next year.

I got nothing. Lol

Completely understandable Mark. Things must tail off by about the first of Nov. or sooner. So maybe think about the three months coming where the grass don't grow. Hang in there.

I keep a picture if my wife wedged into the speedometer. I also keep this little card she gave me, in my wallet.
There are days I definitely am not feeling it, or wanting to start another day of the repetition.
I look at that picture, and read that card. All the motivation I could need.

I think I should stop grading jobs. Some I pull up to and say "this one sucks" and I should probably stop that.

Thanks for helping!

I also work for myself and find myself dragging a little on Sunday, not wanting to deal with Monday. One motivator is that I have an appt. setter who called on Sat. to fill up my Monday. If I blow those appts off, I still have to pay my setter and I'll probably never get back in to see those people who originally set on Sat.

But the biggest motivator is when I'm doing paperwork from home and get to listen to the amazing amount of corp. BS Mrs. Lee has to deal with in her W2 job. Nothing but Zoom and Skype calls from dawn to dusk, corp. Dilbert BS and jargon with some political correctness thrown in. They pay her enough to put up with it, but it ain't enough to make me put up with it. I'm never going back to that world. And so I have to go out and run my appts today.

Yeah, I know the feeling.

Coming up on 22 years owning and operating a small business, supplying "steam cleaner" carpet cleaning machines to hardware stores that act as my rental agents, for the do-it-yourself customers.

I am getting on in years, health is not what it used to be, and just on the basis of time in the business I am burned out.

Where I used to look forward to the days that I visited the stores to re-supply them and do the billing, I now have to make a real effort to drag my narrow ass into the truck on those days.

Definitely past time to retire.

You should take solace in the fact that while you are serving your customers, you are working for you!

quote:

Originally posted by mark123:
I've been at this job for about 14 years now. Working for myself, business is still growing. But the past couple of years at this time of year, I start to lose motivation. I pull up to a job and sit in the truck not wanting to get out. Give me your pep talk, guys! Help your pal out.

Been there, got the T-shirt, just understand that it's normal, we all have those days, sometimes a change up in schedule helps move the routine around so every day isn't the same if you can.

Several posted motivational ideas, all good, change the radio, find something that gets you cranked up be it talk, news, local morning drive, whatever gets you going...

There are a lot of reasons why, but I loved every minute running my own business.

That's why I kept at it well into my retirement.

Welcome!

quote:

Originally posted by SpinZone:

I'd rather dip my face in acid.

quote:

Originally posted by mark123:
I've been at this job for about 14 years now. Working for myself, business is still growing. But the past couple of years at this time of year, I start to lose motivation. I pull up to a job and sit in the truck not wanting to get out. Give me your pep talk, guys! Help your pal out.

I don't know the exact nature of your work. I am guessing it is part of a service industry. I hit that wall a few times, and honestly it was difficult to work in that state.

I moved past, by decided before I got out of my truck that I would do one thing better in this job than I had in every job prior.

Sometimes I failed at that due to one reason or another, but I worked at it. I was able to use those little bits of success to build my confidence that I can like what I do again.

Finding those little moments and things you can take pride in is part of the joy of being in the service industries.

quote:

Originally posted by mark123:
I'd rather dip my face in acid.

And just like that, the suck factor goes down a few levels.
It is all about perspective.

I think it's going around, brother. I've been in the service for just a little over 11 years and between COVID and everything else I'm having a hard time finding the fun in it these days.

Of course, we're getting ready to go back on exercise rotation, so I'll be back doing what I enjoy and probably come home happy.

[shrug] Nobody has 1000% enthusiasm every day of the week buddy. Just hang tough til you remember why you enjoy what you do.

I am self employed. To keep myself motivated, I set weekly, monthly and yearly goals. I also set goals to replace or upgrade equipment.
That keeps me focused and moving.

quote:

Originally posted by mark123:
Give me your pep talk, guys!

Living in a cardboard box is OK until it begins to rain.

I love my job but there are occasional days when this is my motivation to go to work.