A few years ago my older brother gave up the sign trade for his dream of teaching Philosophy and Art at a University.
Since I was getting ready to re-enter the workforce after raising my kids, he offered me a Roland Camm 1, an old Mac Computer with Freehand on it, and a box of misc bits of vinyl that had been "laying around his office". I accepted. Though I had barely used a computer before I was interested in learning.
And, boy, did I have a lot to learn! Thanks to his input on several occasions (for example, he taught me how to carve the edges of letters on sandblasted signs to create dimension) and thanks to help from you-all I've got a nice little part time shop going.
Here's the MONEY PART of the question:
I would like to pay him a fair price for the equipment and have no idea what used equipment like that would go for. ???Does anyone have a dollar figure guess for the used plotter and computer?
Besides the $, I plan on getting together with him so that I can verbally thank him for getting me started in a business that I never would have thought of, but REALLY ENJOY.
Here's the OTHER PART of my question:
Have you ever gotten the chance to say Thank You to a Mentor, and How Did You Do It?
Thanks for your thoughts,
Jennifer
-------------------- Jennifer Craig Bright Morning Signs 3908-190th Pl. SW, Lynnwood, WA 98036 brightmorning1@msn.com Posts: 72 | From: Lynnwood, WA, USA | Registered: Nov 2002
| IP: Logged |
We've all had folks who have given us a leg up when we needed it most.
While its appropriate to say a BIG thank you to these folks, the very best way you can repay the debt is to simply pay it forward.
You don't have to look very far to see plenty of folks who are just starting out, struggling with the little they have and know.
I try and pass on what I know from my own experience.... and when I see a need I am able to fill, doing so repays the favors bestowed on me in my starting days.
This is what Letterheads is all about.
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8739 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Jennifer, my old Camm1 cost me about $2000 some years ago, second hand, but yesterday I saw the same one on ebay for $200- it'll probably increase a bit, but that gives you a range... Old computers are similarly variable in price- a PC 386 wint Win3.1 that cost $2500 maybe twelve years ago could barely be given away these days...
Value is relative- what you have has great value to you, but negligible cash value on the open market. Saying Thank you is also similarly tricky- whatever you choose to do will be appreciated I'm sure!
I have had some mentors whose only thanks needed was to know the items were in an appreciative home and used. The story attached to them was far more valuable than the items, but together they were priceless.
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
In my case, a new motorhome would make a nice thank you...
-------------------- Frank Magoo, Magoo's-Las Vegas; fmagoo@netzero.com "the only easy day was yesterday" Posts: 2365 | From: Las Vegas, Nv. | Registered: Jun 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Years ago, a retiring sign painter gave me the contents of his kit. Brushes, chaulk, gold leaf and other items. He expected nothing in return as far as cash went, but did ask that I not let them sit around, but use them and continue painting signs. I've always felt it was something of a passing of the torch since most of the shops around here we going to vinyl and I was one of the few painters left standing.
Every time I pull one of those brushes out of my kit, I can't help but appreciate what he really gave me...tools he'd come to enjoy working with and a sense of recognition that, although competitors in the same market, he respected my efforts to improve my skills and a mutual love for this trade.
Down the road, the best way I can show my thanks is to pass them and the knowledge I've gained from him and his tools along to the next young gun who really cares about keeping the tradition of hand painting alive. Rapid
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Sometimes putting a dollar sign on a gift reduces it's value from a gift to a sale. I think the continued expression of thankfulness and appreciation is the pricetag.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6724 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Jennifer, Several years ago, after reading some inspirational piece, it said that if you're thankful to someone for something that gave you guidance or helped you in your journey thru life, you should thank them from the heart.
I made a list of family members and friends who had given me these tools. Then I got some good parchment and some simple, but attractive gold frames. I cut the parchment to fit in the frames, burnt the edges (to make them look old), and then wrote a personal tribute message in calligraphy to each one on the list.
As I went from name to name, I tried to remember what each person had done for me, and what it had meant in my life; and how thankful I was that they were there for me. I lost my father when I was four, and many others unselfishly took up some share of the slack.
Over the years, it has come back to me many times how much these little "touches" have meant to the people they were done for. I've had their kids call me and tell me how "mom had your print on her bedside table til the nite she died", or other things like that.
Just an idea, but it went farther and came out far better than I had ever imagined.
-------------------- Dale Feicke Grafix 714 East St. Mendenhall, MS 39114
"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." Posts: 2963 | From: Mendenhall, MS | Registered: Apr 1999
| IP: Logged |
![[Rolling On The Floor]](graemlins/rolf.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic