Well she was a little, and a small little at that, nicer when we were discussing my career. I recently moved from 8 years in retail mobile electronics where I worked my way up to the top shop in my area. After 3 years there I had an opportunity to take a corporate job with benefits. The biggest benefit has been time with my family, but day to day it's a slower pace. (So slow at work I'm going insane) So last night we were talking about my passion for cars and desire to do what we all love on the HAMB for a living. The gist of where it all went was, either do what you need to do to make it happen or move on. (Which I know she is right) As I’m sure the years and years of not pulling the trigger one way or the other has gotten to her. So I know for a fact I don't have the complete skill set to just go out and start my own shop. What I'd like to bounce of you guys is: what is the smartest/best value way to get there. I see two sides of it right now, either start buying up the tools and a project and build/learn and sell (repeat) or Classes/Tech Institute. The last seems a little out off as I will still need to support my family of 4 so really the option there is evening or weekend classes. So lay it on my guys, what do you suggest. I'm sure I may catch some flaming for this one as some may say this has through been covered in some post I didn't find in my search)<o></o> <o></o> Thank you for you thoughts and advice.
Keep the corporate job with benefits that allows time for your family. Do all your car shit as a side job....
"So I know for a fact I don't have the complete skill set..." I think best approach there, along with the classes, would be partnering with another person with complementary skills...bringing yourself up to speed while still working is great, but you might discover you're 82 years old by the time you're ready to fly. Once you have made the jump, both can learn a lot faster working with the other and solving real problems under time pressure.
Think it's tough in retail......it's bad and getting worse in the car biz!!! The only folks spending money on car builds now are folks that have large amounts of disposable income. Do what Chaz says and stay where you are....the only thing I would add is get some tools and equipment, teach yourself how to use them. Maybe when things get better you will have the skillset to follow that dream!!!!
So true, Chaz. Maybe you could find a shop somewhere local to you and spend some time there as an apprentice. Perhaps enroll your regular employer to allow you to work four ten hour days and spend Friday at said shop.
yes , keep your job and do it on the side to start . if you haven't already , build something for yourself to hone your skills and so people can see what you can do ..no one will hire you until they see your work
buy a beater to fix on for a while and flip after the fact. stick with it, tool up as you go, learning as you go, and sell for a profit...(hopefully)
Start small, do it on the side, in your spare time. When you get too busy to to both, then make the decision...
stay where you are at and keep your hobby as a hobby....can't tell you how many friends of mine went into the car biz thinking that was their dream job,only to find out that after doing it many hours a day,some seven days a week...deadlines,keeping customers happy,fighting over bills not paid,other workers,on and on...they could not enjoy their hobby that they loved and ended up abandoning their own projects and just burning out.
Don't give up your day job. Take night classes, get in with builders. If you are not rolling in dough you will have to have those skills needed.
I started my own business two years ago this month (not auto related) and have been very successful. My suggestion is to build your new shop on paper first - that is what I did. What I mean is that you should put together an honest business plan (assuming you need to make money). It will bring all sorts of things to light that you might not be thinking about…..insurance, business license(s), accreditation, taxes, workers comp, liability, cash flow, shop rent, equipment cost, marketing, competitors, customers, location, suppliers, etc……I wouldn’t pull the trigger until you have full answers to these things. If it doesn’t work on paper, it probably won’t work in actuality. One thing you might try is doing both jobs. Being bored at work can allow you to think through all that is required to start your own shop and give you time to get started. You can start it without leaving the corporate world. Lastly, there is something ever so special about following your dream and seeing it to reality. Taking risks makes life ever so much more rewarding, so don’t take my response as trying to talk you out of starting your own shop. I spent several years….yes YEARS…preparing to start my own company. There was very few “surprises” when I finally pulled the trigger. It has been very rewarding (both emotionally and financially). Mike
Keep your corperate. There are 4 of us in the shop and we all try to build a car a year to sell for extra funds.
This isnt the time to go chasing the rainbow....give it time. There arent too many people throwing cash out the window for their cars. Keep the gaurantteed money for awhile. Im a out of work porn star. Ive been unemployed ever since I got into this carreer but I keep my construction job for bills. ahhaha no Im fiull of shit but seriously stay where your at chances are after 5 years your going to start hating building cars for people.
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence till you get there , really think about it , Tools don't make a mechanic
That's part of why I'm taking the down time in the economy to line up/start learning the right way. Well I can see the general consensus is keep my day job for now (was already planning on doing). I’m more so wondering which do you feel is the best investment in time and money: home project and build up on tools and skill or take weekend/night courses?
Of course it's not something I can just buy tools and be, I know it will take alot of time and mistakes to learn.
Hey I've got a 40 plymouth coupe you could hone your skills on. hit me up. It'd be kinda cool having a local hamber that was trying to get started. Whatever you decide remember the economy sucks right now. people are making very hard choices about what they will and won't pay for. Trying to get something going right now. would be difficult. But I don't want to discourage you. I've always admired the builders who demo there skills through there own cars and who do the job right. Training to pick up the skills you need can come in a variety of ways but the best way is probably just to do it. Maybe wrong and may not be prettiest and cleanest way but definitely will give you the ultimate learning experience. Like I said hollar at me if you want something old and ugly to work on....LOL
Shrek, if you are really serious, I would consider taking a job as a mechanic. In my case, I started my own firm doing what I had been doing for others for about 20 years, so I knew my industry backwards and forwards. I think you might benefit from working for someone else to “learn the ropes” . Mike
All very good advice I have seen here. Bad Rod has a GREAT idea with the business plan. They suck, but you will find it isn't as much for anybody else as it is for YOURSELF to figure things out. Stay out of debt if at all possible. Keep overhead low. Cash flow makes things turn and allows you to work. Debt and bills that must be paid before YOU or your employees get paid can kill you quickly. I did a side business for many years. It gets old quickly as a 2nd job. I made a lot of mistakes, learned a lot of things. It was worth it. Long term I figured out having someone else do the grunt work was my best way. You don't make as much per piece but you have time to do the business side of things. Most think is is 90% work 10% paperwork. Flip those #'s around and you will be close. You only get to bill for work though. I would do the business plan first, then start to build a customer base before I quit my full time job.
I agree that you should keep your hobby a hobby and retain your job. Unless you have enough money put back to live for two years without income you aren't in a goo dposition to walk away from your job. Besides, if spending time with your family is important to you don't become self employed. Just my 2 cents worth.
I've read this somewhere and it has stuck with me: "Nothing kills your love for a hobby than making it your living." Also, the benefits you receive from a corporate gig (medical, retirement, etc.) are huge. Fooling with cars is great and unless you have mad skills, are an astute businessman, and disciplined enough to also save for retirement. If not you could be putting the life your family of four currently know at risk. Ultimately, you need to do what makes you happy. I think you can also find a do-able balance between the two. Once we make the choice to have a family (wife & kids), our own personal joy may be tampered for the overall needs of the family. Sorry to be a downer but, sometimes the truth hurts.
Taking on work without having the skills to do it right is a quick way to build a bad reputation. Something that could haunt you forever. Work for somebody else part-time to get the skills and see if it is really all you think it will be.
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