Soul Searching

Status
Not open for further replies.
ctherose

ctherose

New Member
Oct 13, 2006
503
111
0
Milford
www.specialoccasionsflowershop.com
State / Prov
NE
How do you know that a move you've been considering for a long time is actually the right thing to do when the time comes to actually make the decision? (Could I be any more vague?):)

Wouldn't it be nice to go home from work and not have to think about work?

Wouldn't it be nice not to ever be on call?

Wouldn't it be nice to get a real paycheck?

Wouldn't it be nice to be relaxed during a holiday?

Wouldn't it be nice not to have to pay two sets of bills each month?

Wouldn't it be nice not to have to worry about how to pay the heating bill?

Wouldn't it be nice to choose your next vehicle based on what you really want vs. what will fit a candelabra in the back?

Wouldn't it be nice to come home from work when your kids are done at school and be off with them during the summer?

Those are just some of the pros for now....
 
Amen sister. But I'm having a rough couple of days. I go through phases where I'm like WHY did I have to have a frickin' flower shop???? UGH. Then other times I feel great about it. Maybe when it starts to pick up. At this precise moment it is not fun and not enhancing my life and feels like a really stupid idea. Like I said, "this too shall pass". I am not gonna give up yet. Thanks for the post and for letting me vent.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ctherose
Jenny,
I was faced with this very dilemma last fall, when I was approached to sell my shop. All of your pros are the reasons why I chose to do it. The sale didn't take care of all the bills as I had sank a lot of personal investment into building it up, so now there's a whole other set of worries. But at least only ONE set, not TWO.
We have had another storefront business for two years and have recently decided to close it because of the cost of overhead. Luckily, all of the music students want to continue with their lessons from our home. Meanwhile, I need to find a job! I've never been dependent like this ever in my life so it's a mental/emotional adjustment for me.
I had no time to plan ahead for 'life after the flowershop' and because I was out of the workforce for five years, it's like starting at Square 1 all over again. Factor in that wretched change of life thing we women have to go through and, well, you can imagine the emotional mess I have been for several months....
Only thing I can suggest is that if you're contemplating a major change (ie. closing/selling your shop), try to have a new plan formulating in your mind so you don't get 'lost' for longer than need be. I'm finally finding my way back to a more positive outlook, but it's been a rough road.
Good luck in whatever you decide and best wishes for a positive new beginning.
~ Dorothy
 
  • Like
Reactions: ctherose
For the last 25 years, I have asked myself those question, whether working for someone or owning a shop...it is the nature of this beast...

I have been out of work for extended periods over the last 25 years and the fact is I always yearned to be back in a shop...the holidays were too quiet and having a pristinely clean house just makes you feel sterile...I just am not complete unless I am in a flowers shop...You will always feel these feelings, but you need to learn that when you need time for yourself, it is ok to not answer the cell phone and let the machine pick it up, or don't forward the phone and have a machine at the shop and just say the florist is closed until Monday at 10 please call back then...it is OK for us to take a day, hard to do but people will understand....
 
  • Like
Reactions: bloomz and ctherose
Everyone has those days. I am sorry you are going through it...as I am sure we all have. My own personal strategy for dealing with a difficult period is to do something about it. I can't get out right now if I wanted to, without devasting my family's finances. So, I am "stuck" in business for at least 3 years. And not that that is a bad thing. I love this business, but sometimes it doesn't love me back!

So, I sit down and do a hard analysis over what is going right, what is going wrong...and develop specific strategies to deal with things that need improving. If it is sales, I figure out what and how to market...if it is productivity, I look at the employees I have and sit down with each of them to discuss their future and what I need from them if they want to continue their work for me. Then, I begin to implement those strategies so that I am doing something to hopefully positively impact my shop's future. And, so far, some new thing or change has worked well for me every time and I become encouraged and energized about being in business all over again. I am a "do-er" so activity helps clear my cluttered mind. It may not work for you, but it does for me.

Sending hugs and good wishes your way.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Connie, ctherose and elmo
I had all those questions and more 2 years ago. I worried about what to do "after"and if I would be OK, retired etc. I also worried about my employee and what would become of them. I think the key is to have a plan for the "after". A detailed plan A and plan B, because nothing goes the way you think it will. I can say that retiring was right for me , I've had two wonderful years and probably 10% of the stress I had before.(and it's 10% because I have a "problem" child, lol) I did do my best to help each of the employees secure another position either with the folks who bought my shop or somewhere else, which made me feel much much better.
 
SpringCity said:
Amen sister. But I'm having a rough couple of days. I go through phases where I'm like WHY did I have to have a frickin' flower shop???? UGH. Then other times I feel great about it. Maybe when it starts to pick up. At this precise moment it is not fun and not enhancing my life and feels like a really stupid idea. Like I said, "this too shall pass". I am not gonna give up yet. Thanks for the post and for letting me vent.
Click to expand...

Robin this is exactly the way i feel sometimes. Most of the time and thats a good 99% of the time i feel great and in control and then sometimes when i am sooooo tired (like now) i wish i could book holidays like my friends and just chilllllll.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SpringCity
Robin, it does sound like you have already made your decision. If that's the case, move on and don't look back.

On thought though, a lot of people with those jobs working for someone else are scared to death that they will be layed off and not get another one. In California, even government employees are taking the hit. In other words, not very many people are immune from the stress going on right now.

Good luck with whatever you do.
 
  • Like
Reactions: roysecityfloristand gifts and CHR
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom
Back