Thursday - March 27, 2008

Not a Bleg

I was thinking of writing a post about getting yourself back in good financial condition. Working title “Grab Bootstraps, Lift”. I’m “between jobs” right now. Duh, own up Drew, your IT career is over. It’s been too long now. So I’ve been looking, and looking, and looking. Anyway, I’ve realized that you can make nearly as much, possibly more, than a decent career in cubicle world. The world of service is alive and booming. Why do you think the USA is wall to wall Mexicans??? If you want work, it’s out there, whether you pay taxes or fly under the table as so many folks do. All it needs is some effort, a good attitude, and a willingness to do a better than average job. That’s how you get people coming back, because so many other folks do crap work these days.

The woman who lives next door to my mom does one of these “I’ll run your errands for you” businesses - $150 an hour. Day-um! And she has plenty of work.

Anne McGovern and a friend, Ginny Hanley, started the firm in September. They charge about $150 an hour to run errands, do shopping and gift wrap, mail Christmas cards, pick up dry cleaning, do grocery shopping and decorate homes around Bergen County, N.J., and Rockland County, N.Y., near New York City.  And they’re completely booked for the holidays,

Anne and I went to high school together, class of ‘78. Two organized ladies and magnetic stickers for the side of her mini-van. Instant business, just add effort. And the $150 rate was 3 years ago. Hope they charge by the minute!

I’ve had a small but regular income running a vacuum around a couple doctor’s offices once a week. I’ve got a good vacuum and I’m good at it, so the pay per hour is nearly equal to what I used to make writing code. Those power couples with the two fast paced careers don’t have time to go anything, but they have lots of money. Right now I have lots of time, but no money. And I’m a nice guy who shows up looking presentable and acts polite, and is always willing to go the extra mile. Plus, I’m good with tools, and a natural at solving problems. I’m a bit fussy, and I can’t stand a half assed effort. So my work might be a little slower, but it’s a lot better. If you can swallow your pride, there is money out there by the hatfull. Go and get some.

I haven’t posted in the last two days because I’ve been working. See, the BMEWS bill needed to be paid. This blog costs about 83 cents a day, and, honestly, I didn’t have the spare cash. But I got a phone call ... “Do you do windows?” Why yes, I do! More than that, I do them right, and I have all the right tools! So I made a nice deal with this rather affluent couple, got out the squeegee and the rags, and cleaned all 70 windows in their lovely sprawling home. Took me a day and a half, because I did superlative work. Every single window was scrubbed and wiped at least twice, cleaned the sills and surrounds, used brand new towels to protect her furniture and carpets, used up 40 clean rags. Every window in the house is uttterly spotless, inside and out. Even the skylights and the windows in the basement. Any old drunk could have slapped the squeegee around and had a basic version of the job done in 6 hours. Was it worth it? Damn right it was. “Give me a handful of your business cards for my friends” says nice Mrs. Two Cadillacs in the Three Car Garage. “And I want you back in the fall”. If I can get two or three dozen regular customers like her, I’ve almost got a new career.

So it took me a day and a half, but I earned the money to keep BMEWS running another full year, and that’s after taxes. 12 hours. Right now I’m one tired SOB, and I’ll be using the Lotil Cream (it really works) on my roughed up hands again tonight. Yeah my hands took a beating going in and out of the strong detergent and ammonia solution all day. But you know what? I feel damn good about myself right now. Nice to have a little pride again. I did a perfectionsit job, much more than the customer expected. Which could explain the 20% tip she laid on me. A tip!! Whoo Hoo!!!!

I’ll try to get some blogging done tomorrow. I’ve only got one “Handy Andy” job tomorrow, replacing the sliders in a big file cabinet. But I can bill $75 for a couple hours work, and it will get paid with a smile and a thank you. I tell ya, fixin’ and cleanin’ could be a gold mine. People don’t have the time, and they don’t have the skillz. I do. Cha Ching for me baby.

Thanks to Peiper and Mythusmage for filling in, putting something up for the regulars to read. Good work guys.

And To All A Goodnight!

Posted by Drew458     on 03/27/2008 at 08:51 PM   
Filed Under: • Miscellaneous •  
• Comments (5) • Trackbacks(0)  Permalink •  

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