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General Upholstery Questions and Comments => General Discussion => Topic started by: Mojo on April 01, 2012, 05:42:51 am

Title: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: Mojo on April 01, 2012, 05:42:51 am
I am just curious as to how so many of you stay motivated. Recently I am so burnt out from sewing that it isn't funny. I have been going week after week after week sewing 6 and 7 days a week and sometimes after an afternoon snooze of 2 hours or so I sew till 10 pm. It has all been to stay up with orders and keep them going out the door. I had no choice but to sew my fool head off because I have been so backlogged.

Business has been great and the money has been awesome but I am now feeling the effects. It is Sunday morning and I have to get out to the shop and will sew till noon. Catch a snooze then get back up and sew till 8 pm or so. My problem is I am getting so burnt out I am dreading going into the shop. I have had several days recently where I hated seeing the shop, machine, cutting take and fabric. I know I will not be able to keep this schedule going once I start chemo again in June and once the dreaded poison starts flowing through my veins I will be back to very short days and 3 days a week. But until then it is going to be very busy with 6 and 7 day a week sewing schedules.

Some of you have been at this much, much longer then I have. Some of you have been doing this work nearly all your lives. So my question is how do you stay motivated ? Do some of you dread seeing the walls of your shops, your machines, fabric, thread, cutting tables  ?

Chris
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: baileyuph on April 01, 2012, 06:58:09 am
Mojo,
Keeping score is the motivation .  Everyone like association with winners and more so be a winner.  Hard work and long hours does have its woes but, when the score indicates you are winning, it takes care of a lot of problems!

Plus, always learning something is something that keeps the body going.

Everyday is a new learning experience!

Doyle
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: Mike on April 01, 2012, 07:30:12 am
Chris being. Usy is good but you just hsve to take  time off too.
Me i made a mooring cover yesterday and i installed it this morning. Because the guys leaving for the north soon a snowbird. But ill take off on a wrkday afternoon go out fishing i havnt much latly getting my boat ready but thats a strees relief also sorking on my own stuff. I dont dred  my maching and the sewing. Its the instsll seeing if it all fits unlike  upholstery  where  i can see the seat looks good now lets go put it in the bost   Canvas i dont see hos it looks till i put it on the boat and i dred it.
Just this morning i was deading the install.   Have you taken you wellcraft out  much?
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: Rich on April 01, 2012, 04:30:44 pm
QuoteI am just curious as to how so many of you stay motivated. Recently I am so burnt out from sewing that it isn't funny. I have been going week after week after week sewing 6 and 7 days a week and sometimes after an afternoon snooze of 2 hours or so I sew till 10 pm. It has all been to stay up with orders and keep them going out the door. I had no choice but to sew my fool head off because I have been so backlogged.


If I kept a schedule like that I'd be burnt out too. Sounds normal.
Rich
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: SHHR on April 01, 2012, 05:23:55 pm
Reading your posts over the years I've gathered that you do this out of a labor of love and not out of neccessity in putting the "beans" on the table every week. Also, knowing that you come from the corporate world, you have a drive to succeed in all you do and maybe at all costs. I'm not trying to be rude by any means in saying that ,but rather hoping to help out some way.
What really got to me in a good way last year was I've always worked many hours to get a job done, Many nights, weekends and even holidays. Two Christmases ago my wife got me a trip to Florida to go hunting with a bunch of guys from church who go every June. As time was nearing to go I started getting cold feet because I was busy and had to keep plugging away and had other jobs backed up. One night in church the preacher who just happens to be the one who sets up this trip, came right out in a class and said a person needs to take time to do things for themselves even if it's just to stop work for a bit and relax (and the kicker for me was) NOT TO FEEL GUILTY of doing it. I went on that trip reluctantly, but ended up having the best time. I;m looking forward to going back this June too. Since then I've started making a point to take off on weekends and at decent hours too. Oh, I still work long when I need to, but when I did take that week off with the guys guess what happened? the work was still there when I got back and customers were still nringing stuff in. I was worried about losing business or something andinstead I gained some sanity back.
Take care of yourself!
Kyle
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: lc on April 01, 2012, 06:34:43 pm

Chris I wished I had read your thread before I posted a new one just now .,it's in the same sort of category but I'm dead for business your swamped ..I envy you but I am glad your busy .

For your own sanity and from what sounds like you have a struggle enough with just your health,,you said kemo which doesn't ring nice to me so my advice is please for the sake of your health alone take your weekends off and enjoy your life !
Your customers can wait ...your just some Joe labourer to them they all want it yesterday . We can't make everyone happy as much as we all try to do but we need to make ourselves get back to earth and get out fishing or whatever it needs to smell the air and listen to the water the birds singing.
I couldn't catch a fish if you paid me but I absolutely love fishing ! It takes my mind totally off work ! We all have to do that and if you don't you'll burn out and won't be good for anybody.
Take time to enjoy the life that's left in us ., we are all mostly an older bunch ..life's to short.
Take care buddy!
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: Mike on April 01, 2012, 06:56:57 pm
I forgot to say chris from 1991 till i left Nh i worked 7 days a week to make as much as i could cor the year
To survive customer came to me on the weekens and i did the work mon to fri.  I ised to hate seeinf everyone having fun in the lake iutside my shop  getting the bedt spots for the fireworks ion the lake early 4th kf july.
Winter was filled with selling bait for ice fishing.  Till i decided to  vacation a few months in florida. And forget the. Ice fishermen.  They went elsewhere.  I was out on tera cieva bay  one day in febuary. Sun shinh on my back and i started feeling guilty as i never was on the water fishing.  I should be working.   So i ended up heading  north that year early. And affer i got gome inwished i had not left early. 
That when i decided to move and  not have to work 24/7.
Aftrr my stroke ive come to learn to take time for me 
As i layed in the hospital. The work was waiting  and was still there after
Just wensday i was out in my boat in the afternoon.
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: lc on April 01, 2012, 07:05:10 pm

Yep life can be good if you let it . Mike my daughter is 34 and she had a stroke ..affected her motor skills slightly and her memory has dwindled but she isn't going back to her stressful job . she decided to stay home and  look after her girls ., she quit smoking a year ago . I noticed such a big change in her without that stress in her life...she can actually laugh more
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: sofadoc on April 01, 2012, 08:27:46 pm
In my 20's,  I would get up in the middle of the night sometimes just to in to the shop and knock out a job. Partly because I needed the money, mostly because I just couldn't wait til morning.
Sometimes I'd tell my wife the next morning "While you were asleep, I made $300". That changed when we had kids.
I was 30 when my first kid was born, the second one when I was 33. I never missed a minute of their growing up. Now that my kids are grown, I wish sometimes that I had the fire that I had in my 20's.
I still love what I do, but the 4 walls of my shop do close in on me every day. I hear some of you talk about how you don't answer the phone while you're working. And you won't take customers without an appointment. I WELCOME distractions!
I think that if I just had a huge stack of orders, and nobody to talk to, I probably would give this career up.
Chris: If you needed the money to pay bills or put food on the table, you'd have all the motivation you need.
Personally, I consider it a blessing that I've reached a point in my life where I'm not as motivated as I once was.
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: lc on April 01, 2012, 08:37:30 pm

It can get lonely working on your own but we make the best of it and at times I like to be on my own. I can concentrate more.
I did in the past not  answer my phone , now that I am slow I wished I had answered each and every call now.
We do need to slow down a bit though
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: Mojo on April 01, 2012, 08:52:51 pm
I am not rich by any means. I have a decent pension, medical and dental from my employer where I retired and my wife has a good job with a decent salary. We have numerous assets and we have made it a point not to get deep in debt so we have no problems with monthly bills. But still, we are not rolling in dough. We have what I would say is a comfortable life.

If I closed my shop tomorrow it wouldn't make any difference in regards to how we live. Most of the money I make is for extras in life. These are all things we could do without. So maybe that is why I am lacking motivation lately. I think the other reason why is because I have had no ME time. I have a boat sitting out back with no interior in it. Its all done but I have not had time to put it in the Gulf.

I have been a workaholic all my life. I have worked this schedule since my late teens and I know nothing else. I get guilt feelings if I am not busy doing something. Even when I am on chemo and drugged out of my gourd on pain killers I still find odd jobs around the house to do ( ones that I wont kill myself while doing them ). On my good days ( and many times on my bad days ) while on chemo I sew. It is an excellent therapy and when my bone marrow is giving me loads of pain, sitting at the machine and focusing on sewing helps manage the pain. I refuse to sit around and wallow in self pity...........poor me. I have leukemia, those are the cards I have been dealt so get on with life and don't whine.

Everyone else ( my wife and kids and other family members and friends ) think I am nuts. They think I should just lay back, take it easy and enjoy the days I have left. But something inside me prevents me from doing that. I just have this need and urge to work......at something....anything. I told my wife if I ever quit sewing I will probably volunteer my time somewhere like the SPCA or humane society or maybe work with disabled people.

My wife gets pissed because I wont take a day and just relax, watch some movies and grab some down time. But I feel lazy as hell whenever I do that. Maybe I need a shrink. :)

I think my problem lately and my lack of motivation is because I have been so slammed with business. I am so frigging sick of seeing orders for slide toppers and window awnings that it isn't funny. I am hoping things slow down for the month of July and August. I can then get into my woodshop and do some projects I have been wanting to do not to mention finish off my boat and splash it for the first time. :)

I really appreciate your input everyone. Thank you.

Chris
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: lc on April 01, 2012, 09:10:06 pm

I hear you Chris .
we do get wrapped up with what we do ...just remember whats special to you...when your wife gets upset your working too much take a bit of downtime for her too she is number one , business is number two your own life is foremost the ultimate to protect.
Your an icon in the work society many an employer would love to have you on their team.
I can tell that you work your problems out by doing what you do...that I agree is therapy in itself...we all know where that comes from we use our work to escape......still '' try to take out a bit of time for your family.
Your a proud man ! awesome !
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: scottymc on April 01, 2012, 10:01:36 pm
Quote from: Mojo on April 01, 2012, 08:52:51 pm




I think my problem lately and my lack of motivation is because I have been so slammed with business. I am so frigging sick of seeing orders for slide toppers and window awnings that it isn't funny. I am hoping things slow down for the month of July and August. I can then get into my woodshop and do some projects I have been wanting to do not to mention finish off my boat and splash it for the first time. :)

I really appreciate your input everyone. Thank you.

Chris


One way to slow down work, 50% price hike, surely you wouldn't feel lazy finishng the boat off and using it. Listen to the Missus Chris, you know she's right, don't work yourself into the ground, you don't need too
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: lc on April 01, 2012, 10:12:46 pm

I cannot believe I am up so late but the price hike sounds like a good plan ...less time more money. Go for it chris.
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: Mike on April 01, 2012, 10:52:00 pm
One thing when my son  was young i Regret working so much im sure it had ill
Effects. Too.bad your  so far id lend a hand on the interior  and show you a good sandbar.
Gou have to take time doing shat you like
Heres a vid i took of heading gome while playing hookie wensday afternoon for me

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy102/Mike8560/IMG_0279.mp4
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: Mojo on April 02, 2012, 04:31:30 am
Mike: Oh Man does that make me want to get out on the water and do some fishing. :)

Scotty: My wife cannot be right. I have never met an Aussie that's right.  8)

Chris
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: mike802 on April 02, 2012, 07:05:15 am
Chris:  I have to agree with the price hike.  I remember reading some where if you get the majority of jobs coming into your shop your prices are way to low.  You can always reduce prices if work drops off to much, at some point you should be able to find a balance between pricing and work flow.  Burn out in our profession can be personally dangerous, because we offer a creative product that demands a great deal of ourselves goes into each item.  I once had a brochure with a quote on the front that I was famous for saying to my employees  "When we deliver handcrafted, or reupholstered furniture we are delivering part of ourselves."  This quote came out of the anguish I used to put myself through every time I made a delivery. I would like to say I have risen above that today, but on occasion I still get the jitters and would rather my sons do the delivery when they can.  Sometimes I like to ponder the question, why am I doing this?  The answer is so I can earn enough money to enjoy time with my family and that helps put things into prospective.

I was once so burnt that it took three years to get over it, during that time I took a full time job managing an upholstery and seat weaving dept. of a large handcrafted furniture maker.  Yea I was basically doing the same thing, but I did not have to deal with the business end of things and it was a whole different ball game.  During this time I also keep my shop open part time, maybe that's why it took so long to over come the burn out, but I just didn't feel secure having all my eggs in one basket.  Today I do not work weekends, I close the office door on Friday and the phone can ring off the hook for all I care, also I do not answer the thing during the week unless it is during business hours, I do not answer the door unless its during business hours, this last one is much harder for me than not answering the phone, but if I let someone slid soon my home would be filled with people wandering around the property at all hours, I know because I have lived through it before I made up the rules, people think  "Oh, he lives right their he wont mind."

Since my business is located on my personal property it is difficult to make the separation from work time to home time, for that I wear a work uniform, nothing special just dickeys and a sweat shirt, or a tee shirt with my company name on it, but changing brings about the mental shift from work to home and it makes a big difference.  I hope my ramblings help in some way Chris, stay healthy buddy.
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: Mike on April 02, 2012, 09:08:03 am
I was thinking it over adter i slept. You sound like s guy chris who is a perfectionist who like to succede at what you try.  And  it sounds like you have.   And  to quit now would be eould be loke failure. 
Perhap tou should try to slow it  down with a price hike and try somting new to perfect maybe to tour bost up sweet snd give bowts a try it would be somthing new. Perfect. And use your bost as sn example to get started  oviously you enjoy seeing  and it might just be the motivstion in your life you are looking for  gouce perfected the RV  buisness. Maby furniture or your old car?
Well i have to get up off my lanis and go get more boat seats of a boat.
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: sofadoc on April 02, 2012, 11:33:06 am
I think the others have the right idea about raising your prices. I know that for me, there's no greater motivation than more money for less work. ;)
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: lc on April 02, 2012, 01:46:32 pm

See Chris
Easy peasy !!!   we all agree !
if your in that much demand you'll have no problem even when you raise your prices ., you sound like you have a great reputation so aim high with the price and hopefully you can slow down and enjoy life a bit more .
We're all unanimous on this with mega support behind you.
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: scottymc on April 02, 2012, 02:23:39 pm
Quote from: Mojo on April 02, 2012, 04:31:30 am
Mike: Oh Man does that make me want to get out on the water and do some fishing. :)

Scotty: My wife cannot be right. I have never met an Aussie that's right.  8)

Chris


Mate your livin on the edge, I hope you haven't told her that or she can't read this.

Let the urge to go fishing take over, be addicted to the hunt.
Your making money that you say you don't need, making products for people you don't know.
I know that the measure of success is how busy you are and the money you are turning over, but at some stage the measure of success changes and if a buddy calls you up and says let's go fishing/surfing/golfing 9 out of 10 times you will say yes.
I wish I could retire , but I have been semi retired since I was 23, meaning 8 out of 10 times I would pick surfing. I clean the park of all the litter at daybreak every morning for $20 an hr, the dog loves it.
The beauty about earning minimum wage or below, is that your not really losing that much financially when you play hookey, so sometimes you have to ask "what is success?"
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: scottymc on April 02, 2012, 02:26:03 pm
Quote from: scottymc on April 02, 2012, 02:23:39 pm
Quote from: Mojo on April 02, 2012, 04:31:30 am
Mike: Oh Man does that make me want to get out on the water and do some fishing. :)

Scotty: My wife cannot be right. I have never met an Aussie that's right.  8)

Chris


Mate your livin on the edge, I hope you haven't told her that or she can't read this.

Let the urge to go fishing take over, be addicted to the hunt.
Your making money that you say you don't need, making products for people you don't know.
I know that the measure of success is how busy you are and the money you are turning over, but at some stage the measure of success changes and if a buddy calls you up and says let's go fishing/surfing/golfing 9 out of 10 times you will say yes.
I wish I could retire , but I have been semi retired since I was 23, meaning 8 out of 10 times I would pick surfing. I clean the park of all the litter at daybreak every morning for $20 an hr, the dog loves it.
The beauty about earning minimum wage or below, is that your not really losing that much financially when you play hookey, so sometimes you have to ask "what is success?"
So maybe forget about the money.

Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: kodydog on April 02, 2012, 05:02:30 pm
Mojo you absolutely need to take some time off for your self. When you worked in corporate, didn't they demand you take time off once or twice a year. Gotta unwind, I can hear it in your words.

I'm not sure but isn't awning work pretty much the same thing day in and day out. I think your forte is in sales and marketing. No wonder your bored to tears sewing. I know this has come up before but how about hiring someone to do the labor so you can get out there and do what you love and do best.

And remember, a bad day of fishing is always better than a good day of work. Last weekend I set out in my kayak. 20 mins later it started pouring rain. I didn't care, I was having a ball. And after it stoped raining the fish started biting.

How do I stay motivated? Make reservations for a week of camping in the Ga. mountains. Work like hell and the whole week is paid for before I leave. Nothing like sitting around the campfire at 11:00 at night, quite, just watching the flames, unwinding.

Gotta have goals to keep motivated.
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: timtheboatguy on April 02, 2012, 08:45:04 pm
MOJO,

Thanks for starting this thread. I am going to try to take in and apply the advice offered here and i hope you do too.

Tim
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: scottymc on April 02, 2012, 09:25:31 pm
There you go Chris, you won't be able to talk to us about it shortly cause were all going fishing, if your the last one to leave turn the lights out will ya. :D
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: Mojo on April 03, 2012, 03:41:18 am
I really appreciate everyone's input. It has given me a lot to think about. My wife has been screaming about me increasing my prices so maybe now is the time. I do know that I need to slow down and smell the roses but that is easier said then done. You just do not turn off that workaholic mentality overnight. I have been like this since I was a kid.

I have days I need to kick myself in my fat butt to get me into the shop and other days I love going out there and getting lost in work. Yes, you are right Ed, the same damn slide toppers and awnings every single day. Dang it gets boring and monotonous. I do have some different kind of work coming up. I have some mirror covers to make as well as some prayer cushions.

Anyone ever seen a prayer cushion ? I make them for mechanics and RV'ers and car / motorcycle guys. I use scrap foam and vinyl and make cushions which measure 1 ft x 3 ft. You place your knees on them while working on something. When your done working and squatting on your knees you " PRAY " that you can get back up again. Thus - Prayer Cushions. :)

Thanks again for everyone's input.

Chris
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: sofadoc on April 03, 2012, 05:54:58 am
I've been approached a few times about doing some monotonous mass-produced things. The pay they offered was OK, and it wouldn't take up a lot of my time. But if I wanted to work on an assembly line, I'd go get one of those jobs.
It's true that with furniture, you're not doing the same mundane thing all day long. But even so, all couches start looking the same after awhile.
Much the same way that travelers will pick a chain restaurant because they know what to expect, my customers tend to "play it safe". So there isn't always a whole lot of creativity going on around here.
And frankly, the creative ones tend to be PITA's, so I'd just as soon prefer that my customers be conservative.
But I think that if I were just sewing plain panels together all day long, I'd go crazy (even crazier than Chris already is ;D).
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: JuneC on April 03, 2012, 06:08:35 am
Same here, Sofa.  A company wanted me to sew patio cushions - en masse.  No thanks.  I could have hired a seamstress to do it, but I wasn't really interested in having an employee either.  I referred them to Guatemala or the SE Asia.  Much better labor rates for them there. 

June
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: kodydog on April 03, 2012, 06:17:37 am
Quote from: Mojo on April 03, 2012, 03:41:18 am
You just do not turn off that workaholic mentality overnight. I have been like this since I was a kid.

Thanks again for everyone's input.

Chris


That's what I like about fishing. You can stay as busy as you want. I'm not one to just throw a line in and watch the bobber. When Kayaking there's always something to do. When I'm paddling I always have a line out back trawling. Last weekend I caught a flounder on the trawling line and when I was reeling in my casting line I caught a sea trout. Two fish at once. That's the kind of busy I like. And relaxing at the same time.
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: lc on April 03, 2012, 06:30:55 pm
This may sound odd yet maybe not , when I do contract work with mass repeated production it's nice for the final end for pay which we have to wait for most times.
I leave good customers behind on hold that will give my names to friends and their friends and so on..which is where my livelyhood comes from   not many contract people refer us and I so much agree the job can get very unstimulating. I like variety and change,
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: Mojo on April 04, 2012, 04:45:42 am
Quote from: lc on April 03, 2012, 06:30:55 pm
I like variety and change,


I do to Elsie but for some reason my wife gets pissed whenever I bring home a new girlfriend. I still cannot figure why she gets upset. Do you think that maybe its because they are all in their 20's ? :)

:o   ;D

Chris
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: sofadoc on April 04, 2012, 05:43:54 am
Reminds me of the electrician who traded his 40 year old wife in for two 20 year olds.
He soon realized that he wasn't "wired for 220". ;)
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: lc on April 04, 2012, 05:55:06 am
Maybe so Chris ..ha ha she wouldn't be able to keep up with the competition..your wife that is
and I'm sure it would kill you with all that excitement of the young ones...mind you then you'de go down happy. hee hee
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: Mike on April 04, 2012, 08:37:00 am
Thays a good one sofa!
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: Mojo on April 04, 2012, 09:20:25 am
I keep telling my wife she has 5 years to go. She turns 50 then and I am trading her in on two - 25 year old senorita's. :)

But then I always have second thoughts about that. At my age I have less patience and really do not feel like training two more women. I have a lot of time and money invested into training the one I already have............ 8)

Chris
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: kodydog on April 04, 2012, 10:56:53 am
Quote from: Mojo on April 04, 2012, 04:45:42 am
Quote from: lc on April 03, 2012, 06:30:55 pm
I like variety and change,


I do to Elsie but for some reason my wife gets pissed whenever I bring home a new girlfriend. I still cannot figure why she gets upset. Do you think that maybe its because they are all in their 20's ? :)

:o   ;D

Chris


You would think she would be happy to have more help around the house and takin' care of you. Can't please anybody, can you.  :D
Title: Re: How Do You Stay Motivated ?
Post by: lc on April 04, 2012, 11:55:27 am

Yes indeed !
To have to start over in a new relationship does not intrigue me at all...drama and guessing what is wrong and what is right and getting used to their snorts sniffles farts  etc..uhh uhh !

I do not want to go there..I always say if anything were to ever happen to my husband I will absolutely not get with anyone else...who wants to deal with puppy training anyway ? heh heh
Right now we know the ins and outs of each other and we both respect where not to tread.
Comfortably happy.
It took years and years of training each other not doing that again nope nope nope . lol