[TheForge] RE: pricing and making life work while making work life

[Grover.Richardson at gtri.gatech.edu]

Just now getting a chance to catch up on emails.

I do side work, and much of my value is my ability to respond quickly at
most any time.  The bosses are understanding, and professionals (instead
of individuals who are inconvenienced<G>), and we both value the
relationship.  I do my best to fix the rectifier or heater that has shut
down their line in a timely manner; and they do their best to schedule
me for maintenance so that this doesn't happen often.  So far (after
about 15 years) it has worked well.

Yes, there is a delicate balance between working and starving.  The wife
and I decided years ago that we would work hard enough to be
comfortable, and then a little bit more so that we would have something
to fall back on if things got tough.  Either you work all the time and
have no time to spend the money you earn; or you have plenty of time to
do stuff, but can't afford to do anything.  We try for a balance.
Doesn't always work.  But usually.  Like a gas tank, always err towards
enough gas to keep moving<G>.

On the other hand, I suspect greatly that the main point here is that I
can bust my tail all day and sell things at a loss, or I can spend the
same amount of time sitting on my bum scratching my cat behind the ear,
or chasing the wife<G>.  I am better at making things, and the wife (not
my equal by any means, but instead my peer, and a hard worker by any
right) tells me if it looks ugly, or what it may sell for in $$.  I have
made many things that I will not make again, because once the task was
completed it was determined that it wasn't worth the effort.  Took too
long.  

We (her work and mine) can't compete against China.  So we have found a
nitch.  We, the snail darter of the blacksmith world, except we don't
get the government protection or grants<G>.

On the other hand, I make about one special item a year, and take it
around to show off.  It won't sell, costs too much.  But it draws
attention.  And while the bees buzz around my flowers, I lead them into
the temptation of items of lesser expense in which they might find
interest.

All the Best
Have a most excellent weekend, anyone reading.
Woof

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Bob Ehrenberger
Sent: Friday, March 28, 2008 7:56 PM
To: theforge
Subject: [TheForge] RE: pricing

I had a friend that had a handy-man business. He said that some of his 
customers would call him for the smallest little thing and didn't care
what 
it cost. He finally quit because they kept calling on his days off, late
at 
night, and holidays.  He just couldn't seem to get the point across that
he 
wanted to have a life too.

Robert Ehrenberger
Shelbyville, Mo.
eforge at centurytel.net