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

[Peter Fels And Phoebe Palmer]

Arf And Amen...pf

Peter Hirst wrote:
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: <Grover.Richardson at gtri.gatech.edu>
> To: <eforge at centurytel.net>; <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Friday, April 04, 2008 8:17 AM
> Subject: RE: [TheForge] RE: pricing and making life work while making 
> work life
> 
> 
> 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
> 
> 
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