Boy -- this is turning into a real thread jacker!
LOL
Anthony -- Not much point in "changing" something that is working for you... ESPECIALLY if you don't have a burning desire to do something "else".
I could turn this thread into a book....
Okay -- so you or anyone else that is okay doing what they are doing - but aren't where they want to be... need to think a bit outside the box. What if you became a Sub Contractor - rather then doing the actual work... or where you had some form of 'both' to get started - where you are a sub with your own employees (hourly workers) and worked for your cousin - AND some other builder... where you could pitch in and work - but maybe only work 6 hours a day - and then went to check on - run - and bid on - other jobs. You might have to do this in a different town - in order not to compete with your current situation... This might not be "profitable" until you reached a point where you can just bid and manage - rather than do any work...
No matter what - if you're paid an hourly wage to do a certain job - you're NEVER going to get 'ahead'. Whatever that 'ahead' is for you... because you have a finite amount of time per day and the job only pays "X".
Maybe that you - or anyone... when I use the "you" name - might be able to sell something on the side - on line - or as a rep on commission = to the trade that you're in. I actually inquired about buying a couple of Snap-on routes... I figured I'd buy the trucks and inventory - and let a couple of buddies drive them and do the work... But Snap-on only allows owners to work their routes -- so that was out... But I've bought air nailers and titanium hammers from a truck that came in the neighborhood to supply a house that was being built... the guy sold nails and ladders and carpenter stuff out of his van - ala a Snap-on guy. But it was his own deal not a franchise.
One guy I know went to school and got his real estate license... he doesn't cold call - he actually "supports" a larger broker in the area... he sits open houses on the weekends for her... and takes calls etc when she's gone or busy... she pays him to sit the house - and he gains experience etc while he learns and earns... if he gets someone from the open house - that wants to go see some other houses - that 'customer' becomes his.. and if he sells them something or lists there house - he pays a small percent to his "boss". This way he can keep his "day job" and still learn and build a new business.
I bought a NOS cowl hood from a guy off eBay. He was in the area so I picked it up... his house had Camaro parts in every possible place - including the living room... and he had a computer... he listed this stuff on eBay -- and boxed and shipped it himself... it took him awhile - but he told me that he was able to finally quit his job and do this full time. His house was his warehouse... so he had little overhead... he could work all night -- or all day - and as long as he had a computer - he could answer questions and follow bids etc. Was he getting rich - hell no! But he was doing what he liked - was his own boss - was home... and was happy as a clam.. so by that standard he was SUCCESSFUL. Success isn't always measured in $$ -- sometimes it's just living and doing what makes you happy. Like a priest... or a lawyer that helps indigent people pro bono...
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