Thats easy, Professional Fantasy Football Analyst. Im actually over qualified, Eric

Where you are, I'd look at solar PV install. Or maybe fiber optic installation and testing?

JMB, I feel the same way.  It's a very satisfying, and tangible feeling once a job is complete.  But I'm finding that when I get too pressured, instead of saying "NO, I will not have it done by tomorrow", I say, "Sure, I can do that"  and put myself in a position where I either get it done, or feel like a failure if I dont (and put myself at risk)

I was inside an over-the-range hood when it fell off a wall.  It happened in slow motion, I was on a ladder screaming for help and none came.  Luckily, there was a large enough opening in the back of the hood that it fell around me, yet I still fell with it.  I have no idea how I didn't break a leg, arm, or my back.  I was shifting the darn thing a couple of millimeters to the right, because darn it, it needs to be perfectly centered between the windows!  And instead of asking for some help, I decided to do it myself.  Once again, I was feeling rushed and was not thinking, I was just doing...I'm still reliving it, kind of like a car wreck if you've ever been in one.  Can't stop thinking how stupid I was, yet how lucky I am to still be ok.  Definitely need to look into getting some more insurance, just in case...

Jon

this subject is dear to me. i've been getting deeper and deeper into the trades my entire life all well knowing someone very close to me that has suffered roughly 30 years from an injury. of course there was no compensation or reprimand for the company that built sh*t scaffolding...

i'm going to back to school this fall. its incredibly hard to pull your head out of the trades when your really getting moving but if you don't do it... thats all you got.



he's looking for a safer job, PV install?! they do go on roofs right?

Jon,

I had a whole thing written up, as this subject hits home for me...  but I'll spare everyone the life story.

I will say that going through a career change has been one of the hardest things I have ever done, and at the same time the most rewarding.  

Don't let a college degree hold you up, if you the job you want requires one.  Now its as easy as ever to go to school online, or at night to finish up school.  Even if there is something you are remotely interested in, community colleges are a great way to test the waters.  You are only limited by your determination.  

There will always be work in the business of people -  healthcare, teaching, social work, etc.

Hey BUddy!

Glad to hear that you are physically OK.  The mental part takes some time.  For me - about two years.

It is easy for me to say .... but don't beat yourself up.

Peter

Mobile Festool franchises and training centres look to be a huge potential ... maybe more premium tools and items in the mix.

A "WorkFast - WorkSafe" theme and a bunch of you US guys get together and get a bit of sponsorship from Festool? Start part time.

Take it to school

Get traditional woodworking back into the community

Promote is as a better therapy than a shrink

Trick is to make it turn enough cash to survive

Wow, Dane's story is identical to a friend of mine.  He went from construction trades to energy efficiency and loves it.  Does assessments, training, planning, everything.  No college degree needed for that; might help if you really wanted to know how the thermodynamics worked, but then only a nerd engineering degree would have had that.

I'm a joiner and I am nearly finnished a gas course, so I can fitt it in with my work or totally change trades. It's not been easy but now I'm nearly finnished and doesn't seem as long. Good luck

Your psyche makes you perfect for being a software engineer....

So far, i have been very fortunate that i have enjoyed whatever trade/biz i have been in.  To make it short, i grew up loving farm work with animals.  Went to college to study agriculture (dairy farming and animal husbandry).  during my sophomore year, it suddenly dawned on me that i was working my way thru school by working in construction.  I quit school and built a kitchen addition for my mom and as soon as that was finished, i took 2 yr vacation with Uncle Sam, came home and started my own biz.  I was going to be a carpenter, but first job was as mason to build stone steps.  Second job>>> another masonry job.  Third job  >>> another masonry job.  I was stuck and loved it.  30+ years later, my back was gone and I had shrunk from being 7 feet tall to bumping my kneecaps with my chin.  I took stock again and got into landscaping.  Even tho my (formal) education education had not been with growing bushes and trees, i built up a library of info.  I was off and running.  When i realized my body was no longer able to do any more (real) heavy work, i got more into lawn care only. I am still going strong at that at an age of 39 (which of course, I have been 39 for a lot more years than i wasn't)

i have been fortunate to have been able to change directions to do things i really enjoyed.  I have, with every change, bought books and more books, both hard cover and soft cover to take as much advantage of other's learning as possible.  A lot of hob-knobbing with others who know more than i.  Not afraid to struggle to get started with anything. If the books are not affordable for purchase, libraries are available in nearly every town.

About the not finishing on time problem, you do the best you can.  nothing to be ashamed of.  The next time is always better so you keep plugging. 
Tinker

For a handful of different reasons, I chose to the carpentry/cabinetry/remodeling biz in my late 30's.

While I often find myself struggling financially (chicken one month, feathers the next) more so these last few years, I don't think I would leave it for anything else. I would however like to be able to "get rid" of my customers and work truly for myself. (read: house flipping) Not because I have this delusion of getting rich from it, (un-)like many of those who were flipping before the crash but more because I generally enjoy all aspects of full remods and it would help to eliminate much of the scheduling issues and more importantly, customer indecisiveness.

Jon:
Good to hear you are ok. Fear is a good thing, as long as it doesn't paralyze us, it keeps us from taking stuff for granted.

I think you've done a good job of analyzing and diagnosing the problem here. In any business the discipline and knowledge to understand when it's appropriate to dig deeper and push to finish or to stop and reset/re-evaluate is sometimes difference between success and failure.


curious... what did he (JMB) say?

Tim

Think of this: The same person that gets into the car gets out of the car. The job may not be the problem.

Hi , I am glad you are ok and didnt get a serious injury.
I  fell through a badly erected scaffold last year and landed on a scaffold pole on my neck! It bled on and off for two days and my jaw clicks everytime I eat! So I know where you are coming from when you say you want to leave the trade and do something different.

I hope you stay.....but its a personal choice. I became a site mananger "off the tools" a few years back and it near drove me insane not to be working with the lads on the job. That taught me a valuable lesson so I packed it in straight away and got back to being a regular carpenter/Joiner.

Having a trade is a dangerous profession, but all the accidents I have seen over the years (and there have been many) were human error. One time a guy was taking out an exterior door frame with a long pry bar and I stopped him and advised him to cut it in several places with a handsaw or recip only to be told I was an idiot. He proceeded to use the bar and slipped....fell backwards into a load off windows leaned against the wall and got stuck in the broken panes. When he got out he was bleeding like something off a freddy kruger movie!!!

So my point is simple, take your time and get help when you need it. No heroics anymore. Its just not worth it. It would be a shame to leave something you love doing.

Harry, you've got some of my favorites quotes.

You shouldnt do it to your self.   I dont know how you work price or day rate but either way it takes how long it takes as long as you think you have worked as hard as you can (within reason) and made the most of each day,  then if it takes longer than the client thinks it should of done then thats their problem.  You tell them its another day or two  or what ever and if they dont like it then you tried your best.  

I dont really do rushing I always make mistakes when I rush.   I had a little accident jumping up and down some steps because I thought to my self this is taking longer than I thought it was going to, next thing the steps fell over and I landed on my bottom and my head missed the skip which was just behind me.  I felt like an idiot and it did hurt but man it wud of hurt if I had smashed my head on the skip. After that I lifted the steps back up and slowed down.   I was kinda annoyed with my self but crap happens lol   oh I also felt like smashing my steps up but kept my calm lol

JMB

Had to have 4 good sized rooms painted over a weekend while the client was away.  I worked 30 hours in those two days to get it done. 

I almost fell asleep on the freeway while riding my motorcycle home at 2am.     ... to have his rooms painted   

This is an unembellished very long account.   The humor in it was real.  In September 2003 I was replacing siding on a chimney of a two story home.  I had a ladder set up on top of a shallowly pitched roof and had been going up and down all day.  As I started to step up on the roof with the last load of concrete board siding the ladder slipped on the roof and threw me off balance.  With a load of siding under my arm I went down headfirst landing on a set of wooden steps attached to the deck before rolling onto the grass.  I was amazed to find myself conscious.  I slowly got up, noticed my toolbelt was totally empty and took it off.  All the contents were scattered around me.  I went to a neighbor's house and when he answered the door asked him to check to make sure nothing was sticking out of my back.  He checked me out and declared me impalement-free.

I went back to my tools, actually packed them back up into my truck and trailer along with my ladder.  Honestly I don't know how I did it.  My neck and wrists were killing me and I felt about 12 inches (305 mm) shorter.  I called the manager of the community and let her know what happened and she offered to take me to the hospital.  I had no insurance and declined because I didn't want my equipment trapped there.  Because rain was forecast for that night I told her that she needed to get someone to protect that chimney which was open to the elements and asked if that person would please save my Multi-Master that was trapped up there.

On the 30 mile drive home I called my wife at home and asked her to call my chiropractor.  She was freaking.  The chiropractor was at a conference.  I asked her to call another one who was on my way home.  He was also at a conference.  So much for needing a chiropractor on a Friday!

I managed to get home and found my wife really freaking.  So much so that she was unable to drive me to the doctor.  So I changed vehicles and drove the 6 miles to a place that I had visited once before that had an x-ray machine.  

"Can I help you?"   Yes
"What is wrong?"  I fell off a roof
"Where did you land?"  On the ground.  On my head.
"Are you in pain?"  Yes.  Otherwise I wouldn't be here.
"Where did this happen?"  About thirty miles from here.
"How did you get here?"  I drove.
"Would you like to see a doctor?"  Why else would I be here?

Now I am in the examination room and a nurse enters and from 5 feet away stares at me like I have rabies.  Another one enters and stands next to her.

"Can you tell us what happened?"  I fell off of a roof.  I landed headfirst with my wrists breaking my fall.  I picked up my tools, drove home, changed vehicles and came here looking for medical help.

"Can you move?"  Yes.  As I said, I got here by myself.  But if you want proof...      I then flapped my arms like a bird and moved around the room.

A doctor then entered the room.  

"I see that you fell off a roof.  Are you regular patient?"  I try not to be, but I was here once before when I tried to cut off my finger and then had to prove it to you by taking it out of the ice  and let it dangle for you.

"I remember you."

A quick examination followed and the recommendation was to have x-rays taken.  Really?  Trouble was that their x-ray technician was at a class.  But their other office 15 miles away did also have an x-ray machine and a technician on duty.

Into my truck I went - now barely able to move.  I drove those miles, had 19 x-rays taken, waited 3 hours, and then found out that they didn't have anyone on duty qualified to read the x-rays.  I drove away ticked and sore.  I spent the weekend scoffing down anything in the house that could relieve pain.  On Monday I visited my chiropractor and upon hearing my story he laughed.  A treatment that day and the next and I was able to move pain free.  Every day since that day has been a bonus!

I had to stop doing work for that client because of the memories.  At one point that client accounted for 90%+ of my business.  I could not get on a roof for about two years.  To this day I am less comfortable on a roof than I was before it happened and am more likely to say no.

Morale to the story:  If you have to have an accident, have it on Tuesday.

Peter

You are a lucky guy.  I used to do dumb things up on ladders.   

I know two people who fell off a roof.  One broke his neck, the other was perfectly fine. 

The second guy fell off of a roof, about 15' high, standing right next to me.  We were BSing, then he just slipped and was on the ground in a blink of an eye.  It was like a cartoon.  He got up, and was perfectly fine.  He didn't even have a bruise.  I also think he was still drunk from the night before.   

Hey I did that around 5-6 maybe…except I slide upside down on the pole supporting it. Was a very tall slide…and I let go from about 5-6 feet up. guess i was near sited….ground looked closer lol.

Other than getting shot in the hand with a paslode, small cuts and scrapes nothing electrical tape couldn't fix, driving a cordless drill with a philips bit through my thumb knuckle shredding the joint and having plastic electrical conduit wrap around my legs and trip me tearing the tend/ligs in my knee I have been pretty lucky….Knock on wood.

Cops get shot at or stabbed, people get hit by cars and trucks, mugged, murdered, etc..  accidents can happen to anyone anywhere so I do not really dwell on it. I really enjoy my work. The only thing that scares me is my kids 17 and 18 working with me and teaching them to be safe and conscious of everything they do. Was teaching my 18 yr old how to use a joiner last week…whew!

My Grandfather was building his house in Puerto Rico at the age of 75 and stepped on a sheet of plywood sliding off the roof 2 stories up. He grabbed the sides and surfed to the ground then carried it back up and finished.

a few years later he was roofing a house and going up a 30 ft ladder with a bundle of shingles on his shoulders. he got to the top and the ladder kicked out. Broke his hip and tore his nose up with the grit on the shingles. The next day he was on the roof with crutches hand nailing shingles.

Last year he was putting an addition on my moms house at 92 and the cement mixer fell in the footer. he tore his groin muscle pushing it out by himself. He finished but it took him awhile. lol

There are many more stories like that about him and I think I pretty much am the same way…at least I hope.

I also tell people I can get things done quicker but it takes a toll on your mind and body. I tell them now 3 weeks when I know it takes a week and a half so when I finish sooner they are happy. Other clients know I do my best and give them 110% of quality at a good price so they don't complain.

I have several work related accident stories.  Most of them happened tto me and several i have related to the FOG.  I think i have told this one before, so i will make it short (if that is possible  )
I was working for three brothers.  They were all bosses and so i was low man (boy) on the totem pole.  We were building a fairly large (for the day > 1950) ranch.  The oldest brother told me as long as i could keep the three of them supplied with shingles, they would let me help with he nailing.  I would do anything to get "to use the tools" in any trade they worked at.  I propped the ladder at an angle I could put a load (3 bundles) of shingles on my shoulder and run up the ladder, plop them within reach of the carpenters and run back for 3 more bundles.  We had wood gutters at edge of roof and they were real solid.  As I would get to edge of the roof, I would reach down and grab the edge of the gutter, flip out and land on the scaffolding plank a few feet below the soffit.  I would hit that plank with me facing the house.  There was a pile of dirt where we had not backfilled (that was one of my jobs which i worked on by hand every evening for a couple of hours after work).  I would flip backwards and spin so I would land on my feet facing away from the house and continue running to the shingle pile, grabbing 3 more bundles and run back up the ladder.  In lass than a minute, i could get 9 bundles onto the roof. 

Jim, the oldest brother would yelll at me that I was crazy.  He tried to explain (without quite clobbering me with his hammer) that "one of these days you are going to get yourself killed." Since i was 19 years old, i of course knew a heck of a lot more than all three of the brothers put together and just kept on with my exuberance.  On one of my flights from the roof, as my feet hit the soffit plank, they just kept oon heading south.  We had a scaffold set up blow the window level and my feet went tru that plank as well.  The foundation had not been backfilled yet and I continued right on down to the footing.  I was lucky I did not get killed from the fall, but i was not hurt.  That is, i wasn't hurt until all of the plank pieces caught up with me and started clattering all over my head and shoulders. That was the only time in the year of working with those three brothers that any two of them agreed to anything.  they all agreed that i was a total idiot, but they still expected me to keep the shingles coming.

I worked at just about all of the trades while working with those brothers.  i think i did something just as stupid while learning every one of the trades, but I remained friends with all of the brothers for many moons after.  I said above that i have been lucky to have enjoyed most of the jobs and trades I have worked at.  Certainly i liked most of the building trades and most of my agricultural experiences.  About the only trade I did not like was electrician.  Back then, all cable was BX.  Being left handed, i had to tie my arms into a knot to cut that stuff.  I could cut it, but it was a hastle for me. I also was not crazy about painting, but just about everything else i tried I liked doing.

Tinker

Im teaching my kids 17 and 18 but still want them to go to college. They have a lot of skills for there age and do a great job.

True there is a shortage in the trades. Even if they do get some young guys into it they do not seem to take pride and want to do a great job. More of a stepping stone to another "job" and not a career or they are on drugs  and or steal. 

I was working on a science building for Delbarton High School in 1996. A new Head Master had been hired and he was living on campus with his wife Hanna. She was from Sweden and she explained to me the education system is much different in Europe. They would track each students strengths and weaknesses from an early age. If you loved a subject they would gear you're classes towards that love. Yes you still got all the basics but not everyone is pushed to college. Is this the way it still is in Europe or have they also gone the way of the USA?

This is not very spectacular, but i had a little fun with it.

Two weeks ago, i had a double hernia operation.  I had gone over post op activities with the surgeon before the operation was to take place. I had asked how long i would be laid up and he told me I would go home the same day, and could go back to normal activities within a day or two.

"Hey Doc, just because you see all of this white hair on my head and chin doesn't mean I don't really believe I am only 39."

 (I've been 39 for a few years longer than I wasn't)

"What do you mean?"

It means my normal activities are probably a bit more strenous than what you might think."  I went on to explain that my "normal activities" include driving truck, landscaping work, woodworking and on an on with some of the more frightening aspects of the activities that might be included during my recovery.  He then told me i could drive, but I had to limit any lifting to nothing heavier than a gallon of milk.  "In or out of a container?" I asked.

I asked about running my riding mower.  "That should be ok."

"Doc, my mower can mow at 10 to 12 miles per hour, solid frame with no soft suspension.  It can really bounce on rough ground."

"Look, all I can tell you is that if you shake that webbing around, you will be right back in the hospital getting the whole thing redone.  That can be a bit of a problem."  He went on to advise that i really take it easy for atleast ten days and I will be coming in for checkup within two weeks.  I agreed and told him a friend would help me with my landscaping.

On Friday, a week after the op, i was mowing under a low limbed tree and reached up to move a low branch out of my way.  I immediately was stung on the hand by a white tailed hornet.  I put my mower into overdrive and headed out across the lawn.  As soon as i stopped, I was nailed by two more hornets on the same hand.  I kicked in the afterburners and sped further across the lawn.  After checking where the nest was, we finished mowing. Eventually, the next day, i went back and destroyed the nest.

On Wednesday, two days ago, i went back for my post op inspection.  When the doc finally got to me, he had a student (nurse or doctor) with him.  He asked if I minded her being there as he checked me over.  Hey, she was a heck of a lot cuter than he was, so I assured him it was ok. 

He asked how i was doing.  "Fine."

"No problems"?

"Well, I did run into a hornet nest on Friday and got stung by three of them."

"I thought you were going tto take it easy."

"I was.  If I had been mowing at my normal speed, they ever would have caught me."

The good doctor just shook his head and said to the young lady beside us, "You know, he is just a little bit crazy."

Note: Should I have been insulted?

Oh well, i am back to work, no ill side effects
Tinker

Wayne,

Dixie Chopper?

Skag Turf Tiger w/29hp fuel injection water cooled engine.
If I'm in a hurry, my butt hits the seat every 20 feet or so 
Tinker

Jon, 61" deck  14K new  3k trailer  25k truck
Festoys aren't the only expensive playthings
Have at it 

Thank you, thats exactly what I was wanting to do.

At least I now Im on the right track.

I have all tools I need to do this. So no major purchases will be needed ( Unless festool releases something new that I have to have)

Much like the caller on the radio, I wouldnt use this for my total income as Id have a retirement check coming in.

It would be to keep me busy and fishing /  ice tea money ( I dont drink).

Mohawk Finishes has furniture repair classes here periodically and are very reasonably priced.

So at least now I know Im thinking in the right direction.

Youve been really helpful

Jon,
If the yards are small (a matter of contention i suppose)  a good walk behind would be better.
I now work alone and almost never use my walk behinds, but when i had help, I mowed the large areas and had the help do the sall areas with the walkers.  Now, i only use the rider.  For the small lawns, it actually takes me longer than my help could do with the walkers.  Today, most walk-behinds have hydraulic drives.  As an add-on, they have small "trailers" that the operator can stand on.  With hydraulic drive, those "Velkies" are a must.  When you try to make 180º turn, without the velkie, the mower can actually run over you if not careful.

Another point about the preferrence/choice of walk-behind or rider is transport.  Almost all walk-behinds will fit easilly of the back of a pickup truck.  Some riders are too big.  many too heavy for a 1/2ton pickup.  They can be dangerous to load and unload onto a truck.  You should have a trailer with a rider mower.  If you want to know about the dangers Z-turn riders for loading onto a truck, you can send me a message (my E-mail is listed with my id) and i can go into more detail for you.

As far as which brand is best, look at the dealers.  Look at their shops and look into their reputations.  I get only Skag because that's what my dealer sells AND SERVICES.  If he don't sell it, I don't buy it.  As many here spend more $$$ for Festoys because the service is great, so should you look at the service for a mower and other landscaping tools.

Good luck
Tinker