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I think back to the weekend at Shane Durnford's workshop in April tht everyone there had a lot in common. One that really stuck in my head is that everyone there had a fork in the road in their careers! Well my has taken a turn hopefully for the best.
Yesturday before quiting time my boss came to me and informed me that they will have to lay me off. Wow what a shock to the system when it's suppose to be our busy time of year which we are always very steady to busy. So my fork in the road had come to an end! Everything happens for a reason/purpose. Now instead of part time doing my own signs now I can fully concentrate on doing my business full time. I have also been recently accepted to a graphic design course - long distance education so I'll have more time for that as well.
Right now I'm still gathering all the inforamtion in my head from what happened but once that information gets settled in there I know that I will be very successful. I'm just in that state right now "what I'm I going to do for money?" But I know deep inside that everthing will work out! I'll have to keep my head held high and do my best! I know each and everyone of you started out the same way. Is there any good advice out there to help me through this time?
-------------------- Pam Edmunds Just For You Signs & Design 64 Bruce Road 17 Tara, Ontario Posts: 68 | From: Tara, Ontario | Registered: May 2008
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Take a deeeeep breath! Great opportunity (once the dust settles:-) Best wishes, and GO FOR IT!
-------------------- Catharine C. Kennedy CCK Graphics 1511 Route 28 Chatham Center, NY 12184 cck1620@taconic.net "Look at me, Look at me, Look at me now! I't's fun to have fun, But you have to know how!" Posts: 2173 | From: downtown Chatham Center, NY | Registered: Feb 2004
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Whe your road has a fork in it, grab a knife & a spoon & make a nice meal out of it!
-------------------- "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
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Charge enough for your work. Try to give the customer a little more than they expect. Always return calls promptly. When starting out, don't take the small pain in the arse jobs for granted. They can lead to bigger jobs. Now this one may cause some controversy but it worked for me. When breaking into a new area or type of sign, do a few (not many) jobs below your normal price to get a good example of what you can do out there for people to see. In my area, many years ago, there were no sandblasted signs here. I did a few nicely designed signs where I covered my cost and labor, but left off the profit. Sandblasted signs became 40% of my business in just a few years. I always explained why they were getting a good deal, and what the full price should be, and would appreciate it if they didn't pass on the discount info to anyone else. If someone asks what they paid for the sign, I'd suggest that they tell them that he gets around $XXX for a sign like that. That way the next guy won't expect the same discount. It worked when I introduced sandblasted signs, and it's working now for gold leaf.
Good luck.
Edit: I forgot to mention, make some nice samples for your wall from basic to fancy. If you don't have a display area, make miniature samples that you can carry with you.
[ July 31, 2008, 08:18 AM: Message edited by: Dave Sherby ]
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5397 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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New beginnings always follow absolute endings. What an exciting time for you. It was once told to me you cannot find new shores if never leave the one you're on.
Letterville will be a nice grounding point to gather a ton of information.
As I remember when I started my own business, I was on unemployment and our economy was in the toilet. Sometimes when your back is against the wall, the only direction is forward.
[ July 31, 2008, 10:48 AM: Message edited by: Bob Rochon ]
-------------------- Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA 508-865-7330
"Life is Like an Echo, what you put out, comes back to you." Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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I'm sure it's not what you were expecting to hear that day, but I'm sure there is a reason for everything.
I remember talking with you at Shane's about branching out on our own, and after getting to know you and your positive spirit, and seeing the work you do, I'm sure you will be a success.
Looking back in a couple of years from now, you will say to yourself,.."that was the best thing that could have happened."
My suggestion would be to work hard, continue to build a top notch portfolio of the work you want to do, built around confidence and craftsmanship. The work will take care of itself.
Surround youself with positive people, and don't forget to balance all of this with the most important things in life.
I am sure great things will come of this.
Peace, Bob
-------------------- "The 3-4 minute mark of "Freewill" by Rush.
Bob Kaschak Artisan Sign And Design Peru New York Posts: 1873 | From: Upstate NY | Registered: Jul 2002
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Hi Pam, you had been balancing on the fence for so long saying you needed a push... well there you are. You will do fine, you're an excellent sign-artist with the energy to climb mountains.
At this early stage is where your character and reputation will be forged. Will you want to be known and remembered as the bargain in town or as the best product available around.
It's always hard to sell something you don't beleive in, so you must beleive in yourself and this way, you'll be able to walk in any place with the confidence to offer the best product for your client at the price it is supposed to go for.
Remember also that you have made a bunch of good experienced friends that will gladly help you with business advise, design tips, etc... Use this knowledge to get the jump start you need.
Stop by on your next trip to the "Valley", I'll be more than happy to help you out with anything.
You can do this..... just go out there and kick some a$$ !!!
After the initial shock wears off, you will be on your way to a new adventure.
30 years ago I was terminated from my job also. If I hadn't been let go I would probably still be there sitting at a drafting table!
I was "pushed" into the business that I love to this day and never looked back!
Good luck!!
-------------------- Tony Vickio The World Famous Vickio Signs 3364 Rt.329 Watkins Glen, NY 14891 t30v@vickiosigns.com 607-535-6241 http://www.vickiosigns.com Posts: 1063 | From: Watkins Glen, New York | Registered: Sep 2001
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It's scary isn't it. Especially when you have family that will be depending on you. I think the most important thing right now is to take the time to sit down and work out your game plan. By knowing what you want and how you want to get there, you will be able to keep on track. Use your resources, Shane has offered free consulting for a year after his workshop and Rene has a great deal of experience in the field. Stay focused, keep good records, charge well for what you do. Build a network of suppliers of services like digital printing, routing services, sandblasting blanks, etc. and keep that information organized and within easy reach. Set up a project recording system and keep records of each job you do with information as to colours, materials, time spent etc. It will save you a lot of time if you need to do repairs as well as give you adequate information on how much time something takes, how certain methods work etc. Never procrastinate because of uncertainty. That is the quickest way to get overwhelmed. Learn to make timely decisions and break things into parts. This business is so filled with variables that can make or break you. Allow yourself mistakes and failures, learn from them and let them go. Your customers are NOT your enemy, treat them with respect and courtesy, don't allow your ego to get in the way of their needs. At the same time, evaluate their wants and educate them to what will work best for them. This isn't a business for the faint of heart, but I think I saw a pretty determined spirit under that gentle personality. Keep your chin up and a positive attitude and it will make the journey so much easier. If I can be of any help, either business wise or just moral support by all means call. Good luck Pam, It's your time to shine girl.
Now I think I'll go and take some of my own advice.
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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This is exciting! And probably just the break you needed.
Now the adventure begins. You know much of the theory and just have to put it into practice.
You have the design skills and have the equipment too.
Start by lettering up that big old truck of yours. Make your showroom one that makes it easy to upsell with great examples on the wall.
Its can be a little scary at times but you'll do just fine.
Feel free to call those around you. me included, who have offered support and encouragement.
This is going to be a wonderful and exciting adventure!
-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: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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You are starting off exactly the way I did. I was working for a sign company that let me go. I found another one within a week that got me into autographics and they let me go too! So while on employment benefits, I went back to school and worked my biz in the evenings. When schooling was over, I pounded pavement for only 3 months before return biz started hitting. I've never hunted for work since.
Bust your butt the first little while! Your rewards are waiting for you.
posted
When one door close, another will open....it's just that wait in the hall that drives you crazy.
Opportunities come to us disguised as hardships many times. I'll just bet that years from now you'll look back and say that this was the best thing that ever happened to you.
Good luck...although "luck" has little to do with it.
Striking out on your own is never easy, but if it were easy everyone would be doing it.
[ July 31, 2008, 12:46 PM: Message edited by: Raymond Chapman ]
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Like others said, you've already cleared your first major hurdle by having a positive attitude. If anyone asks how business is, don't cry the blues and never let 'em see you sweat. It's an up and down business even for those of us who've been doing it a long time. You already know the value of continuing to learn and improve, so try and get to some Letterhead meets - we're always here to help......
-------------------- www.signcreations.net Sonny Franks Lilburn, GA 770-923-9933 Posts: 4115 | From: Lilburn, GA USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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I don't know how the law is in Canada, but if you have unemployment compensation, apply for it immediately. It'll get some money rolling in while you explore your options. Around here, they wait three weeks to give you your first check and then you get all three weeks.
Twenty five years ago, I got laid off by a company I started eleven years earlier (I had sold controlling interest a couple years before I was shown the door). When I met with the unemployment people, they told me I had specialized skills and didn't need to take the first offer that came down the pike and that if I was going to go into business for myself, I'd still be covered as long as I didn't make a profit or work forty hours (they considered that full time employment even if there was no money made).
I logged my time and quit after 39 hours each week and plowed everything back into buying equipment (it's a good thing Sophie had a job). I collected unemployment for about three months until I sold a large job that was definitely going to bring a profit. At that time, I told them I didn't need it any more.
Everything was handled according to the law and the weekly checks from the government really helped me through. As a business owner, I'd paid enough unemployment insurance over the years out of my pocket. It was nice to have that benefit also apply to me.
You've got loads of skills and plenty of gumption. This will work out well for you.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5084 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Thank you all so much for the words of encouragement!! Yes this is going to be an exciting adventure for sure!! The shock has worn off and I feel so happy and excited on starting this venture!! I know that I have the drive to be sucessful and a lot of friends and family to help me along the way! They know I do great work and yes I'm still working on my convidence but it's coming and maybe this will help it to come quicker! I have the passion and love for this art of signs and I'm always looking for new and old ways of doing things. My friends and family say to me that my work shows that I love what I do and I'm glad it does because I'm very proud of what I do!
I have small sample made up for my show room. I wish I had more but that will come. I do upcharge my work because I know what I can do and my clients know what I can do and they put their full trust in me. They are willing to pay the extra because they know I do good work and not take short cuts. I have a show coming up that I will be apart of. Having a little booth to show potenial clients what my company can offer them.
I am lettering the back window of my "BIG TRUCK" tomorrow. It's going to be very classy looking. I have the 22K sign gold going on so it will catch some eyes for sure. Leting people know that this is a company which produces high end stuff. I will post pics when it's done. Hopefully I can figure that out.
I'm a very organized person. On my clients work orders I have all the information from prices for the supplies and were it came from to the colours and colour codes of paint/vinyl. I write everything down because you never know right! I have been in the sign industry for 12 years now and yes I have ran into things like that when we have to redo a project and can't remembered what we used.
I have already broke into the market that I am aiming for around this area. It took me 4.5 years to do so. I introduced sandblasted, hand painted, 3 dimensional,gold leafing, higher end signs where I was working and had my samples up there so our clients can see what we can do and in the past year the company I was with was getting more and more of that kind of work.
I thank you all for the words of wisdom and the encouragement!! I also want to thank Steve and Barb for having Letterville. It is so resourceful and so many wonderful people who are willing to help each other out! It great to know that I'm not alone out there and people have had or having the same experiences that I'm having. It's wonderful to hear all your stories. It makes this turn in the road a little bit easier to handle! I will keep in touch for sure!
Thank you all again for everything. I will keep everyone updated on my adventures!!!
Rene: I do plan on coming up to the Valley soon to visit my family. I do want to stop by your shop and Noella's shop. I will be in touch when I do. Thanks for the invite!
Dan: It might take me a little longer now to come out and visit you but one day I will get there. I would love to see how everything works out there in your shop! It looks very exciting to go visit! Love your stories about Phoebe and the words of wisdom you share.
-------------------- Pam Edmunds Just For You Signs & Design 64 Bruce Road 17 Tara, Ontario Posts: 68 | From: Tara, Ontario | Registered: May 2008
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On second thought I think you should forget about starting your own business and move to Saskatchewan and work for me. It sounds like you have your ducks in a row, go get 'em girl.
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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You go, girl! It sounds to me like you will do just fine! I know the initial jolt of being "unemployed" can be a shock, but I think David had a good idea. It might give you that little boost to get started. You paid into it, why not take advantage of the help. It looks like you have lots of support here.
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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When I got canned 25 years ago, I called my brother to commiserate. He surprised me by saying: "Good! Now I can stop praying for you!" He told me the first thing to do was apply for unemployment–something that hadn’t crossed my mind. I was glad I listened to his counsel.
I was really bummed about being fired but it turned out to be one of the best things that had ever happened to me. I got to go back to being a craftsman rather than a manager. I’d have never quit the company–it was my baby since I had started it in 1972, however, the son of the owner with controlling interest wanted my job and had been making my life miserable for months. My conscience would not have allowed me to resign from the company and go into competition even though there was no non-compete agreement in place. After they fired me, they tried to get me to sign one, but I refused.
I was so burned out on the sign business, I also interviewed in other industries for a while but customers kept calling me at the house saying they had always done business with me and not my company, they wanted signs and they wanted me to build them. I decided to wait six months on any job outside the sign industry–I didn’t think it would be fair to take a job and then decide to go back into signs if I didn’t like the new job. I gave myself six months to see if the I was controlling the business or if it was controlling me. Then I would decide to get a “real” job or not. After six months, I was off my ulcer medication, Sophie was able to quit her job, I was working less hours and making more money than I had at the old company, and I was doing the kind of work I liked. I ended up with the cream of the crop of the old customers and I had not called a single one.
Although it was an emotional time, I did my best to handle my end in a Christian manner and I have a clear conscience in how I did it. Any bridges were burned at the other end, not mine. Interestingly, a few years ago, the young man who got me fired tried to hire my entire company just so he could get me back as the #2 man in his current company and be his assistant. He made a tempting offer but we were caring for my father in law at the time and I needed to be home as much as possible. I also wasn’t sure I wanted to be in that much of a rat race again. I’m trying to scale back and work less, not more. My sister kept repeating: “Oh, the irony! Oh, the irony!”
I didn’t take the job and that company has since grown to a ten million dollar a year operation. We still collaborate on a number of projects. They do some fabrication for me and I do design work for them. None of that would have been possible if I torched the bridge at my end.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5084 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hey Kelly I would love to come out and help out for a bit! If I get out that way I will make sure and stop in and visit!! Your glass ideas sound really cool!!
Oh for sure I will take advantage of unemployment! You pay into it so you might of get something out of it. I know I want to sit down with them and see what they can do for me as in funding a new company and maybe doing something with my schooling.
I'm hoping I have my ducks in a row!! I know that there will be humps in the road but that's what makes it interesting!! Life would be too boring if it was a flat straight road!! There was not bridges burned that I know of. You never know what the future holds. You may need that contact down the road. I don't like having people mad at me anyway so I offered if they needed any help to give me a call. I only wish that I was able to finish my routered - gold leaf sign I started. It was going to be an award winner for sure. All I had to do is gold leaf it and it would have been done. I would have love to see the clients faces when they came to pick it up! That's the best part of it when you see their first reaction.
-------------------- Pam Edmunds Just For You Signs & Design 64 Bruce Road 17 Tara, Ontario Posts: 68 | From: Tara, Ontario | Registered: May 2008
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1986, i was working at a pontiac dealership, as a PARTS MAN. i had been doin this type of work since 1970, when the BUTLER METAL BUILDING COMPANY i was working for as a draftsman in caribou, maine bought a NAPA FRANCHISE.in maine you cant do much building from NOV-APR, so rather then let go for those months he asked if i would work in the parts store and in the spring come back over to puttin up building....I DID THIS. back to 1986.......the person who was manager, and i got hired the same day. he was 21!!!!! i figured he has some college degree, but come to find out after a couple months with him, he B.S.his way into the job, and had no real idea of what he was doin. finally one day he calles me in the office, say iam done, i asked why? he tells me iam INCOMPETENT!!!!!! now i been workin(33 yrs)more yrs then this kid has lived.....and he tells me this. we had words, and i told him it was his takin a job, he couldnt handle is where the problem was and if he made it another 2 weeks i would be suprised. THE NEXT WEEK........HE WAS GONE. since then, I HAVE NEVER HAD ANOTHER EMPLOYEER!!!!!! i had been painting signs off & on since i was 10-12. never took it seriously UNTILL 1986!!! when the kid fired me, i got out my brushes & paint, made a few phone calls to people i knew in business.....AND NEVER LOOKED FOR ANOTHER "JOB"!!!
best thing i ever did!!!!!
[ August 02, 2008, 06:23 PM: Message edited by: old paint ]
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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I have always been waiting for a push in the direction you are going, but circumstances have lead me in a different direction. Currently, I am enjoying my new job and where I am living very much, so things worked out just the way they were meant to. I'm sure it will all work out for you too.
When I started reading your post, it made me think back to a speech that I read several years ago that changed my life for the better. If you haven't seen this already, it might be a good read for you.....take care, best of luck in all you do.
posted
Thanks Dale!! You know now since you mentioned a speech that you read several years ago that changed your life I had the same experience at the CONSAC Show in toronto last september. My boss and I went to a few seminars and one was with Dan Sawatzky. When he was talking about his life experiences and how he got to where he is it was like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders when his seminar was completed. I knew right then and there that I was heading the right direction and everything will be fine! I knew what he was talking about how how he felt. It was a really weird feeling knowing that I knew that this was the direction to go. No words can explain that feeling.
I'm very happy that you are enjoying your new job and residence. I wish you all the best! Yes everything happens for a reason we just have to figure it out. That's what life is all about! Thanks for the attachment. I will read it tonight.
-------------------- Pam Edmunds Just For You Signs & Design 64 Bruce Road 17 Tara, Ontario Posts: 68 | From: Tara, Ontario | Registered: May 2008
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It amazes me how many people have been inspired and gained confidence from Dan's talks. They come from his heart and a genuine interest in helping others. Good on you Dan. I've been on the receiving end of a couple of those myself.
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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