Do As I Say, Not As I Did!,

[seapower]

Guy's and Girl's alike. I worked like a dog for way many more year's that I'd like to admit, before I figured this "fact of life" out. I worked way too many 12 to 16 hour day's (not to mention the many "clock's" I worked), just trying to do what a father and husband does. Trying to provide for my family and maybe even get "ahead". Well this is what I've learned. Being self employed (as I've alway's been), it doesn't matter how many hour's you work, or day's you spend away from your family. When it's all said and done at the end of the year, it work's out to be just about the same thing (money wise). If you make more, your taxes and expense's increase, again your end result is just about the same.
It took me 50 year's to realize that if I took a day off that the world would actually keep spinning. During the year of my "enlightenment" I bought my boat (one that I could afford), went fishing. Took time to hunt more and spend more time with those that mean something to me. Guess what, the income is just about the same. I am enjoiying life a whole lot more as well. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying to become irresponsible here. We are all going through "this" life one time. Enjoy it while you can, take time with yourself, family and friend's. When it's all said and done, the money will be gone, but the memorie's will be intact. Just my experience, but that's the way I see it now. Frank

[Avenger]

Good advice Frank. I'm in the same situation myself and too often I feel like the building will collapse if I'm not there to hold it up.

My little boy is not going to grow up twice and honestly, burnout is counter-productive. Sometimes we need someone from outside to point that out.

Thanks for pointing that out.

[Deep C]

I follow what your sayin... For me I'm a workaholic. Over the last few weeks I eased up a bit as I could feel in my chest that I was pushin it. Blowing a gasket wouldn't do me or anybody good...
We've had a cold snap this week. Since its too coold to lay paint and finish my yard trip on schedule I considered unloading a can of whoopass on sailfish... Instead I even eased up there. gave a few hours caught a couple fish, sat back and enjoyed it for a change. I too hit the half century mark and am re-evaluating how I do things... I get all that needs doing done in pretty quick time. Where I gotta let off is doing it twice or three times more than I do.
For example...Each year I make 200 rigs well in advace of our Bahamas trip... We don't HAVE to have that many... I just get anal about running out. I catch myself building new and replacing at the same rate we lose them to keep 200 ahead. We don't need that because when I get home I just cut them all apart cause they won't be any good a full year from now. I could jst as easy rig say fifty and replace as we use them up and then not do any reloading toward the end of the trip and use up what we have... I'll give it a try and see if I can keep from going nuts with spare time...

[seapower]

Our personality's sound pretty close. I've got a 25ft boat that has enough gear on it for a 45 footer, don't ask if I've got it, just ask where is it! I found myself being way to serious even fishing. At some point we've got to get over the "stupid" stuff! It's gonna kill us, then who's gonna take em' fishing??? I can't stand to be late for example, if I'm not set up before the sun comes up, I come unglued!!! Where is the fun in that? Do I want to catch fish, no doubt!!! We just need to take a few wrap's off the windlass here, at least I do. I'm sitting here this morning drinking an extra cup of coffee with my wife, I got work that need's to be done now waiting for me. Guess what the World is still spinnin', and I'm enjoying my wife's company. Why didn't I see this sooner???? Frank

[Big Jay]

Frank you've reaffirmed what I've been realizing the last two years of my life.

I've seen what my father has done his whole life. He's self-employed as am I. I give him a tremendous amount of credit but it's not for me.

It's not that I'd enjoy working for someone else it's that I do not enjoy what I do. For me I don't see the "romance" or working 12 hour days trying to sell a product I'm not passionate about.

I'm young, and have no family. However, I couldn't imagine worrying about where the next paycheck is coming from with a pretty young lady and a baby at home to take care of.

Just not my bag, so I'm getting out.

[Big Jay]

Our personality's sound pretty close. I've got a 25ft boat that has enough gear on it for a 45 footer, don't ask if I've got it, just ask where is it! I found myself being way to serious even fishing. At some point we've got to get over the "stupid" stuff! It's gonna kill us, then who's gonna take em' fishing??? I can't stand to be late for example, if I'm not set up before the sun comes up, I come unglued!!! Where is the fun in that? Do I want to catch fish, no doubt!!! We just need to take a few wrap's off the windlass here, at least I do. I'm sitting here this morning drinking an extra cup of coffee with my wife, I got work that need's to be done now waiting for me. Guess what the World is still spinnin', and I'm enjoying my wife's company. Why didn't I see this sooner???? Frank

We're very similar Frank. I am the guy almost leaving the straggler at the dock at 2am running for BFT grounds for sun-up.

I came up with my own saying:

"We're so busy worried the parades going to pass us by we forget to sit back and watch it now and then."

[Capt. Jon Tennant]

one of the best pieces of advice I've ever gotten.....

"A slow nickle is better than a fast dime"

when you come to realize this life becomes 500 times better... I was lucky enough to take head to this at a young age and have been putting the important things first ever since. Frank, really glad you have found the good in life...

life is short... live it... do the right thing when you make choices, and you can expect the best life has to offer in return. No amount of money can replace the things that should mean the most to us. As far as work goes... never worry, what don't get done toady will be right there waiting on you tommorrow.

[luv2fish67]

As a self employed fella myself, I always make time to go fishing and do the things I enjoy. Sure , I could work alot harder and make alot more money, but then I would miss out on the good times. Since I have one of the most dangerous jobs in the world......the less I work.....the less chance I have of dying. The work also pays pretty well, so no need to work too much.

[sportfishingusa]

i work to hard, not to much, just to hard.. im on a 24/7 deadline every day of my office life..

stressed out to the max is the only way i can be.. try to make it easy but its hard.

I wish i could do as you say frank! seems like the best way.. hopefully soon i can make more time for everything, but until then, headaches, frustration, stress, and borderline crazy is my way of life.. suck but got to do it!

[Deep C]

Our personality's sound pretty close. I've got a 25ft boat that has enough gear on it for a 45 footer, don't ask if I've got it, just ask where is it! I found myself being way to serious even fishing. At some point we've got to get over the "stupid" stuff! It's gonna kill us, then who's gonna take em' fishing??? Guess what the World is still spinnin', and I'm enjoying my wife's company. Why didn't I see this sooner???? Frank

On the fishing thing I have learned to relax quite a bit... That doesn't mean I won't yell "REEEELLLLL" during a tournament when somebody stops to watch the pretty fish jumping around. But for the most part I've eased up.
It used to be that I rode Deep Deckhand like a rusty ten speed... Years of that though have paid off in a competent deckhand that for the most part I don't have to tell to do a thing any more. Better yet, he comes to me when watching anglers errors and says "I understand now..."
I'm getting better at seperating fun fishing from tournament fishing. We whiff a billfish while out for fun and I don't get all buggered out like I used to. Hell, I've even learned to laugh about it. And if I do grumble a bit at least its with a smile. In a tournament I still grit my teeth and grumble but the turettes quality tyraids are for the most part a thing of the past.