Dear sign people, about 5 years ago, a freind of mine quit the sign trade to become a sheriff's officer. I asked why, and he said because of the stress. He said the first stages (training, etc.) were difficult, but now he likes it. So now it's official, being a sign person is more stressful than being a cop on the street. Wow. It took me years to figure this out: it requires alot of knwledge to do this trade der old vway, ja. (I'm of German descent, so it's cool man, it's cool.) probably the new way too, all the inks and laminates, software and plotters...The business side requires less knowledge, so I think I would give it less effort. But I was deceiving myself, it requires every bit as much diligence. Being diligent there reduces stress. Speaking of bussiness, what's the sign painter's version of "the check's in the mail"? Well it's like this: "I've got this big job going, and as soon as it's done I'll... become a resident. Oh wait did I already plan on spending that money to join the John Birch Society? Man, decisions, decisions. There you have it folks, today's right wing blather, sincerly, Radar Murdok.
Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
Stress in the sign business? I have never encountered it...but then I love what I do and would do it everyday for no pay.
The only reason I charge for it is I like to eat, stay warm, and travel.
I have been stressed from time to time over the years about money matters... but never have I encountered "stress" creating.
Posted by cheryl nordby (Member # 1100) on :
Being self employed is stressful. Not necessarily just being a signmaker, but every aspect of being your own boss can be hard. You have to worry about getting paid on time....(the check is in the mail isn't always true). Your taxes have to be paid...supplies....all the while also paying your mortgage and household bills. The sign business in particular is known for being up and down. You can be busier than you ever have one week, and the next...hardly anything will be going on. It requires alot of self discipline to be self employed. And some people find it much easier to go to work for somebody else. I have often thought a regular paycheck would be very nice! But then you wouldn't have the freedom either.
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Your job (and your life) is only as stressful as YOU choose to make it.
This is why at only 26 years old, I like to consider myself semi-retired. I have already taken measures to reduce my responsibilities, financial obligations and stress levels. Heck I even live in a popular town for migrating retired people.
If I have to go two months without a single job, no biggie. Naturally I'd use that time to create, promote or develop something new.
Of course I had to work like a dog to get to this point, but having dug myself out of tens of thousands of dollars of debt over the past 3 years, I really don't care that I did what I had to do to get here.
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
As Mike said:
quote: Your job (and your life) is only as stressful as YOU choose to make it.
Just remember...the Sun will come up in the morning...even if you don't get that job done!
If you don't enjoy this biz...then it's time for a career change!
Just my very humble opinion!
Posted by cheryl nordby (Member # 1100) on :
It also depends on if you have two incomes. That certainly makes it less stressful. Alot of people on the BB have a significant other who helps pay the bills. (in some cases probably pays ALL the bills!)
The sign business is a great career. I love my job. It is just not for everybody. And that doesn't make them less tough....less talented....they just choose a different path.
Posted by Dana Bowers (Member # 780) on :
Every job has it's stressful moments. And sometimes the job is a little piece of the big stress picture - combine little bits of stress from job, family, financial responsibilities and it all adds up.
Yes, your job is as stressful as you let it be, but there are times when it IS stressful, no matter how hard you try to not let it get to you.
There's pressure stress and emotional stress. If you would like a lesson in stress, especially the emotional kind, try working at the SPCA for a week. Emotional stress can be very draining, affecting other parts of your life.
The cool thing about the sign business, is that it is also a creative outlet. Alot of people that work in 'normal' jobs, come home and have creative hobbies. Fortunately in the sign business, there are times when a job falls into the creative outlet catagory. That, in and of itself, can be a big peaceful outlet.
Currently I am helping out designing some stuff for a new program at work. They are doing up a display case and needed some signie stuff. It was fun after a long absence from doing that!
I am REALLY stressing out big time at work. After seeing what been put up in the display case so far, one of the gals at work told me, "I can see how you're frustrated here because you aren't using your talents."
You make choices in your life and you need to deal with what comes with them. Sometimes its great, sometimes it sucks.
I think thats why God invented chocolate... Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
When I had a crew of 20 or more, it was at times quite stressful. Keeping that many people happy & productive and my bosses happy was a chore at times. But thinking back it was the days we had to negotiate new contracts which stressed me out the most, there was just so much riding on the situation, for me and the crew. Once past that we had a great time and I looked forward to working with the crew!
I purposely did a lot of fun things through the day with them just to de-stress the atmosphere. And I think they picked up on my stressful times too and helped me get over them. But that was a very rare once-in-a-lifetime crew.
And on some construction sites things got kinda hairy... mostly from other contractors not giving us the space or time to do our job properly. That can build stress in a hurry, especially when you have a large crew waiting.
When we weren't financed properly or I bid poorly(both my fault) it has gotten a little stressful at times.
Thinking back, most times I was stressed out (especially in my youth)it could have been prevented. By taking a deep breath and relaxing a little my approach to each situation could have DE-STRESSED the circumstances. But that comes from experience and age I suppose.
As much of our work is on construction sites out in the weather it has long been a source of stress, especially when the weather is bad & the deadline tight.
These days I don't have a lot less stress in my life and enjoy it too. And I am working towards building a more stressfree future at work. Plans call for a spacious, well organized shop, a place for everything and best of all a controlled environment in which to work. That would remove a big source of stress on the job.
But all through the years, the actual hands-on work of creating has not been stressful in the least. When I am in the middle of things up to my elbows in paint, or cement, or under my welding helmet or at my drawing board, the stress disappears. Stress has always come from the outside. Controlling that is the key!
-dan
Posted by Lotti Prokott (Member # 2684) on :
Mike, since you probably have some free time, could you please post the recipe to your succes? I'm thinking of some type of step-by-step. That would be nice, thank you. Posted by KARYN BUSH (Member # 1948) on :
stressed?? well yeeaah!! i wouldn't be happy unless i had deadlines and too many bills to pay. while i certainly agree most of the time we create the world in which we live..i believe there are times when it is beyond our control & all hell breaks loose...i roll with the beatings pretty good at this stage in my life and i can usually find humor (as sick as it may be)in most situations...but i don't kid myself...the sign business is no easy cake walk for me...i guess that would depend on each of us...some are happy renting, driving a sh!tbox, and barely scraping by because they don't need all the fluff in life...i, myself, could be viewed as..shallow as a puddle... i love a big house/shop, new truck, tools and everything material pertaining to my business...i do not care however, about clothes, hair, nails, going mall shopping, vacations and dining out...but don't let me loose in woodworkers, home depot or staples...all business related...see i can justify anything.
would i leave the sign business? can't see it...i love living on the edge! bring it on baby!
Posted by James Donahue (Member # 3624) on :
Karyn, I'm the guy that has old stuff, rents and so forth, there's alot of serious reasons for that, but I can assure you, having new stuff isn't all vanity. It's a pleasure to work with a good tool, get out a the vehicle after a long drive and not feel worn out. And that's aside from the MAINTENANCE issue, Ha! Monte, I sense something deeper in your reply that I should ponder. When you say "creativity", is that striving to do neat signs with blends, shadows, outlines, pictorals, and florishes,or does it include simpler signs with a "tight" layout (Mike Stevens), and none of the above?
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Lotti, I don't need much spare time to write that one out..
Identify the things that cause you stress, and eliminate them from your life. If you can't get rid of the source (like kids, or work, for example) learn to relax and let it roll like water off a duck's back.
You just can't let everything get you rowled up, it doesn't accomplish anything to get frazzled. Like Si said, the sun will give you another chance tomorrow.
Financially, the easiest way to make more money is to quit spending it on stuff you absolutely don't need and track receipts so you have proof right in front of you... McD's for lunch vs. One Shot for a job.. a pack of smokes vs. a couple gallons of gas to make a delivery/pick-up. These little things add up so fast.
Hey, I took jobs I didnt neccessarily want.. they weren't glamorous or interesting.. they were boring and frustrating as hell.. but they pay the bills and I don't have to deal with them anymore... I survived the madness.
The town I live in is a resort/retirement kinda town right along a beautiful lake and river. Things are definitely a slower, more relaxed atmosphere.. definitely my kinda speed and with the heat here, it's tough to get worked up about anything. Lots of people travel here and the tourists are easy to spot - they're the ones walking fast, driving fast, talking fast, stuck in hyperspeed and not knowing what to do with themselves.
Edit:
Karyn, I could live in a cardboard box for all I care, but as long as I have a place to hang my welding torch and to fabricate my ideas, I'll be happy.
My newest venture is a 1500 sq ft shop with some kind of attached living space, to be built by yours truly. Once I move in, I can start planning the real shop.
[ March 30, 2003, 07:01 PM: Message edited by: Mike Pipes ]
Posted by Steve Nuttle (Member # 2645) on :
The only difference between being a sign maker and a sheriff's deputy that makes a differance in the stress level is that if you are a sherrif you can carry a GUN!!!!!!
Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
James...I'm not sure I understand your question...I do any and all types of sign work all the way from sho cards to fabricated metal signs. After 35 years I have experienced nearly everything you can imagine and have enjoyed every moment of it.
Why do you ask?
Posted by James Donahue (Member # 3624) on :
Monte, when I listen to books on tape while working, I'm made aware of the fact that my time very roughly is devide in two categories: design and rendering. Design would include thinking up a logo, sketching a layout with stabilo, and so on. rendering would include painting in letters, applying vinyl, sweeping the floor. If the tapes are "intense", then I can only listen to them during render time. What I'm wondering is if your term creativty is like my design time, in that you have to shut out all else in order to concentrate on the job, thus the stress is put aside. Or is it a broader application like the saying "do what you love and the money will follow"? Thanks, Jim.
Posted by David Fisher (Member # 107) on :
A quasi-philosophical question/post. WTF, I'll rise to that. If your mate found it too stressfull then he either: a) Wasn't prepared for the rigours of self employment. b) Was prepared but decided he didn't want the rigours of self employment.
I am not pontificating about your particular circumstances and I'm using a figurative "You". I am noting my own observations from mistakes I have made and mistakes I regularly see others make, you can disregard the ones you reckon you already have in hand.
The customer rings and says he wants the job tomorrow. You say "no worries" knowing full well that its not going to happen. Result=Stress - Cause = you.
Customer wants a break on the price. You give him/her one at the cost of your margin. Result=Stress - Cause = you.
You give an off the cuff quote on a job because you really want it and come production time its a break even proposition. Result=Stress - Cause = you.
Again, I think the reason most of us are here is to work towards a situation where we are maximising the return on our hours while providing the best possible return for our customers. If the stress levels become too high we ought to look at the reasons and look for an appropriate fix. Personally I am still looking for the perfect fix, but getting a realistic grip on my own workload and targeting my marketing has been a damn good start. David
P.S. If/when you find Nirvana, let me know huh?
Posted by Cam Bortz (Member # 55) on :
To me, stress is what happens when I have to deal with things that are beyond my control. Example: when my computer fried itself (due to a short in a faulty power supply), and I was struggling to get everything working through an older CPU that I had at home, yes, that was stressful. (Ask Bob Rochon, he'll tell you...) When I get a "the check's in the mail" story, and I'm stretching pennies to keep my shyt together, that's stressfull. Consequently I try REAL hard not to be in that situation. Again, it's a matter of either being in control, or not in control, of any given situation.
But then, here's a few things I rarely stress about: Deadlines. I primarily do custom work that requires certain proceedures that can't be rushed. Therefore, delivery dates are kept intentionally flexible, and that is made clear to clients in advance. Getting Paid: Very rarely do I do anything without specific proceedures to ensure that I will get paid what and when I expect. I've been called a hardass and worse for being very demanding and specific, but guess what? Getting dicked around is stressful. Getting paid in full and on time is not. Which is better? Working time: One of the most common complaints of sign people is the number of hours they work. We all hear these tales of 18-hour days and seven-day weeks, no vacation for two or five or ten years. I refuse to live like that. I rarely work on a weekend, and for me a late night at the shop - and it's rare - is 7 or 8 pm. I have no idea how ANYONE gets anything useful accomplished at 1 am on a Sunday. Yet there are plenty of so-called "professionals" who put in these types of hours for about the same annual salary as an assistant manager at a Home Depot. Not me. Environment: That's a combination of a lot of things. Do you live in an area where you have to worry about the security of your property and your personal safety? Do you have to lock and/or have alarms on your car, your home, your workplace? Do you have to deal with traffic problems, crowds, noise, etc. in your everyday life? All of this is a cause of a base level of stress that I also refuse to accept. Most people seem to think they have no choices about such issues; I beg to differ. It's ALL about choices, and accepting the consequences of choices.
Posted by James Donahue (Member # 3624) on :
Well so much for living debt-free. With replies like that I already OWE the money to be a resident. I've committed some scriptures to memory, I wanted to do the same for the bill of rights, now it looks like I should do the same with these replies. Ha! maybe I could talk the words onto a tape and play THAT at work. Thanks, Jim.
Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
James...I have read... re-read...analized...scrutinized and pondered your replies.
I'm sorry if disapoint you...I am much simpler than you surmize.
I couldn't spend one moment listening to tapes while I work...I enjoy the work to much to clutter it up with outside distractions.
My idea of a non stressful afternoon would be to set at the lettering bench hand lettering a design I have created and take a mental vacation to Ireland...Austrailia...maybe even Kansas or even the next town and go there with the people of my choice, then as the end of the day nears, simply slip back into reality...clean the brushes and head for the house.
Use to be called "daydreaming" and I still am capable of such an afternoon.
Oh don't get me wrong...it's still a job and I still have to make a living at it...I just can be bothered stressing about it. Partly because it wouldn't change anything, but mostly because I chose to work hard when I need to as opposed to stressing about things I have no control over.
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
What stresses me is trying to meet a deadline. Any deadline. No matter what I do or how I plan, it never fails because it is at that moment when the phones begin to ring and people start walking in and they all have to talk to me.
Its as if people have some sort of "deadline" radar. They know exactly when is the best time not to interupt and then do it.
Of course, I'm sure no one here has ever experienced that.
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