Think im getting burned out... kinda OT

Hey guys im a fairly new member here and im needing some advice. I started a small shop about 3 years ago and have loved it until recently i noticed im getting burned out. Its not that i dont like it but at the end of the day when its time to work on my own projects i just cant bring myself to work on them. Im a little scared that i chose my hobby as my profession. What are all your guy's day jobs or what would be some good alternatives to automotive work? Im probably going to get flamed pretty good for this post, im a fellow car nut in need and would love some input. Thanks guys, Brandon.

 

My hobby turned into my job 25 years ago, I'm still motivated to work on the hot rod because its more fabrication and back to basics, not fixing jap crap.

 

you are gonna get that in any job, i have been wrenching on cars for 34 years. you just go through times when its just not much fun to work on your own stuff. i alwaysa try to keep something late model for my daily driver, that way i don't put myself in a position of being forced to work on my hobby cars. it keeps the fun factor in it for me

 

Autos were only briefly my "career", but has always been my hobby and interest. I always thought I would like to work on special cars for a living. Maybe you are just a little tired right now. Hold old are you?

 

Yeah i know where you guys are comming from, but i also think i just jumped in a little too quick and i need to explore options a bit more, i realize how lucky i am compared to some and most would love to be in my position, i just dont think that its for me. Or at least right now, im a little younger than most on here.

 

i have been doing this about 35 yrs, and 12 yrs this stint at this location, my house ... do your self a favor and go home at a predeterimined time every day set aside a certain day or days to work on your own stuff and stick too it, just like if you worked at nasa or something...if you stay and work onyour shit it just all runs together and you can get pretty down . you need some away time if only for a couple of hours then go work a couple of hours on yours stuff. i know what you are saying. I do this and then in the winter i spend little more time at the shop but i enjoy it then ... just dont give up on your dream and get your priorities in order

 

Dude, if things were not so Chaotic life would be easier!

 

hot rodding is my relief from normal life and work. Work gets stressful so I got out in the garage or go for a cruise.

best of luck man.

 

Well im 23, dont claim to be the best, probably wont ever be, but work to be. I made the mistake of building an apt on the shop. I dont have the room for all my projects. But i graduated wyotech under brickster about 4 years ago now i think, has a cool shoebox member on here...Been painting for about 7 years, i know theres more talent here than i could ever wish to have. And most would kill to do what i do. I just think i need out before one of the things i love most in life becomes extinct. And im thinking of a location change. Its just got me in a rut right now and im not happy with it.

 

wow your only 1.75 hours from me.. wish I could have found you before you felt this way. or earlier in the summer and hung out.

where are you thinking of moving to? what do YOU want to do next. There is always future man. and your 23. im 25 and let me tell you... life is short and we have a long time left to do what WE want!!

maybe we can meet up and knock one back sometime.

JC

 

Try going to some car shows and some races. That might get you going again......

Spinout

 

hell its not even that far, its only about an hour and fifteen mins away. Never know how its gona go. Im usually in the quad cities every couple weeks for the QCSA auctions. As for the knockin em back, usually get plenty of that done. Sounds like a good plan.

 

I've found sometimes you just have to back off...take a break...sell something..buy something..go to a car show..make new friends..we all of go through this... not only with cars...but everything...its human nature

 

It used to be my way out of reality and stress. Now its the center of my stress.

 

Go an get laid , It works for me

 

Stick with it, I closed my shop of almost 10 years plus this year because of the same thing. I did get a better job... Now I am Dean of a College, but you know what? I am selling off really, really fun projects because now I don't have time for them... and I do miss what I loved. Keep at it, it is only a phase of growth in your business... face it we all have to work, so why not be it at something you love?

 

Man my advice is from the perspective of someone who loves it, and does it for a hobby only. I work to make enough to afford all I do with motorsports, its way cheaper than therapy is my take.

1. Slowdown
2. make lists and prioritize not just projects "Paying" or "Yours" but what you want 1 year from now? 5 years? 10 years?
3. It was said but, drive a daily that doesnt require the "love".
4. Set a "SET" work schedule, and stick to it. Time "down" is a reward you need, to make time "ON" quality.
5. I would say leave your work at work, and keep your life seperate, but since you live at your shop. Get away at the quiting time you set for yourself. I mean walk out the door, lock up and go somewhere then come back to your apt. later. Suggestions: workout, GF's place, buddies, restraunt, library???? Workout is the best though its good for ya, it gets your mind off everything. (I need to take more of my own advice on this one though)
6. Take a break from your stuff. Maybe sell, maybe just tarp it, forget about it for a few weeks, months etc...

 

If you think it's bad after only 3 years, then I say get out now because it is only going to get worse. To do anything, and be succesfull you have to have a drive, and a passion, and if your losing it after only 3 years you'll never make it for 20 or 30 yrs.

I know alot of guys that build cars for a living, and this is not an easy occupation by any means. The biggest thing to make it with your own shop; you are going to have to put in alot of hours early on, and make alot of sacrifices...alot.

Did I stress sacrifices enough? I don't think so.

As for your personal projects...yea they will suffer if you are really trying to make it. Not enough time, or money, or both. Most likely the later. I know alot of guys that do good work and are very legit and most dont have a finish car or even one at all because ..."it can wait, I got this customers car that...".

As for making any money yea forget that too. Add up the hours you spent and what you got paid after several jobs, and you'll want to quit right then. Even when you get to the point that you can charge a rate that you think you can make money at you still are not really making any money. Add overhead, tools, utilities, electric, and all the other stuff and you wind up making $5 bucks an hour. I'm not kidding!

Sometimes just getting paid on a job is a pain in the ass. The best advise I can give anyone is to charge by the hour. NEVER quote by the job. You will get screwed everytime. Also do not be afraid to say no. Don't take a job just to get the money, I turn down work almost everyday, and that's fine by me.

Oh, and there is always that thing called retirement. Which; forget about trying to put money up for that. Unless you got people working for you, you''ll be doing what you can just to survive, and working till your hurt or dead.

What happens if you get hurt and can't work, better have a good insurance plan.

Which brings me to...."I will hire a couple of guys to work for me, so I don't have to work, and they will make me money while they work.". Sound like a good plan but good guys are hard to hire, and alot harder to keep. Making sure the job is done right, to them not wanting to show up everyday it can always be something.

Sure there are the "exceptions" but for the most part and 95% of shop owners will tell you - if they are being truthfull - that it is not easy to own your own place.

You see these "cool" shops and all the cars, and think thats what I want to do, but it's a helluva lot harder than you might think.

I've grown up around cars and made my living with cars my whole life. I've been buliding cars full time for over 15 years. I've done the; work 7 days a week and 12 hour days were nothing for most of those 15. About 2 years ago I decided I had to slow down, because I feel about twice my age. Now that I've slowed down I realize how much I'd rather work on my own stuff, and that I enjoy cars much more.

My honest opinion...get out now get a job that pays decent, and build your own stuff before you hate cars. Hobbies and careers don't mix very well.

I'm sure someone will say how great it is owning your own place, and that I'm full of shit, but anyone that has been doing it for along time is on my side on most of if not all of my points. The smart ass ones haven't been doing it that long.

Whatever you do don't think that I'm trying to talk you out of owning your own shop, just trying to give you some real things to think about.

 

Damn I didn't realize I wrote that much!

 

Been their, done that! and at the same age as you. I thought the same as you do that i was tired of all the crap and not getting anything done on my own cars and that their must be something better. After 10+ years i closed my shop and moved to where i thought was far enough away from the rat race to slow down and get a different kind of job. Well got into heavy equipment and made great money, had some time to work on my stuff and all was going great then I got sick of the corprate garbage and got the itch to get back into doing cars. Now after 18 yrs I am starting all over again on getting another shop with my sons, then the economy takes a crap. Now at 50 I am thinking I should have kept with the shop and just put my thoughts to rest. you know what they say about hind sight! Oh yeh time flys by very fast so do what you think is best and do it! before you know it you will be like me wondering wtf was i thinking.

 

There is no right answer to this. It's different for everyone. I have had two shops of my own in my 52 years on this planet. the first one, I did race cars, muscle cars, desert racers, rally cars - you name it. During that period I was racing myself and it was good. But I also owned a small chain of music stores so it wasn't my only income source and I could pick and choose the work. that lasted for about 12 years.
The other shop I closed in January after 4 years. I was doing mostly higher end Street Rods and I burnt out, not on the work - on the customers. I got tired of the BS. And there just didn't seem to be enough more traditional type work (Jimmy at CCHR was around the corner and got most of that work! ) although I'm not sure most of those guys had the money anyway.
I went back to working for a large aftermarket manufacturer, got a small shop (Now next to Jimmy's ) and mostly play with my stuff and a few special customers. Having more fun and hopefully won't have another stress induced heart attack like I did 3 years ago.
There are plenty of guys that do this for a long time, but many of the ones I know that have done it for 20+ years don't really enjoy it as a hobby anymore. There are of course exceptions and it really depends on your personality

 

I have had my current shop for over 20 years building Jaguar show cars. Yes, we do get 'burned out' from time to time doing the same thing - how many E-Types can you wotk on at the same time with out them becoming 'just cars' - take a vacation - go out and play. Try to vary the type of thing you do and re-read insane 1 and hotroddin again. They have it right. Sometimes we start at something and learn it's not for us and that's OK too. For myself I try to have a spot for my project in the shop, but paying customers get the time and mine sits. Going through a burn out phase right now myself. Need to get one onf the customers cars done and bring mine back in! It was supposed to be on the street early last summer, but is not yet.

 

I find it best to separate job from hobby. My job pays the bills plus gives me retirement benefits such has a pension and health insurance. The weekends are free for automotive pursuits.

 

I have done automotive most of my life, actually all of it and have been 100 % disabled for 5 years
just got into rods and stuff a year ago, started building, bought a couple drivers , not much time , to get much done at this age
its therapy
but sometimes it is too much , got to take a break from it

it is bad when you live where you work, they need to be separate

 

"And im thinking of a location change."

My 2 cents worth: wherever you go, there you are. I watched my my older sister do that too many times to count; wherever she went, there she was. You can't get away from yourself by moving. It won't fix anything in my opinion.

 

I say hit up a car show to find a little inspiration. I always want to go to work on cars after going to a show and seeing some kick-ass rides!

Here's a quote for you, though, if you're getting burned out on cars: "Variety is the spice of life." Cars are amazing, and they are addicting, but we all need other things to do. There has to be more in life.

 

I three years...i doubt you have "hit your stride" so to speak. It seems that most people that I talk to that have gone on their own, in any profession, were at the end of their rope when things turned around for the better.

Hang in there.

 

Have you tried jerking off?

 

I see this alot. You have to take a moment to make some adjustments. You need to pace yourself alittle different. You need to set goals, long and short term and keep making adjustments as you go. Its always a balance to adjust your time and money too. Work 8 hours, play 8 hours, and sleep 8 hours. If you dont make a conscious decision about what your going to do, then the decision will make itself for you. Frustration and discouragment is your worst enemy, if you can tame them then its easier to deal with. Dusty

 

I know what you mean.My repair shop is at my house so it seems that you never get away from work.I leave the shop at 5:00 and try to work on the hotrod in the garadge, the change of location helps some.It will get better with time.