Holy ####...I made it to 3 years...

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Verdaccio

Verdaccio

MGF, Master Grumble Framer
Joined
Jan 22, 2007
Posts
757
Loc
Berthoud, Colorado
Just passed my shop's 3-year anniversary. :)

I love this business. In spite of the absolutely worst economy, nearly constant road construction on the downtown of my town, losing my safety net of available credit, a divorce, remarriage...I am still here and open for business.

I am so very thankful!

I have had to resort to taking consulting on the side, renegotiating my rent, my SBA loan, and fighting tooth and nail to just make the bills every month. I have created other channels of revenue just to keep myself in business.

For me, this is totally worth it!

Today I am working on an 80-year old quilt, re-varnishing and reframing two old oil paintings, and iterating designs for two logos, and working up the navigation schema for a website contract...

:thumbsup:

I love my life!

I hope that each of you are making choices that keep you in business too! Fighting for what you love and reveling in it - even in the face of hardship and struggle! We are still here and it is glorious!
 
Verdaccio said:
:thumbsup:

I love my life!

I hope that each of you are making choices that keep you in business too! Fighting for what you love and reveling in it - even in the face of hardship and struggle! We are still here and it is glorious!
Click to expand...

What a great message. Your fortitude is admirable, and I guess most of us find encouragement in your words.

Kudos to you on your business's third anniversary!
 
You're a madman. Congratulations!
 
Like your 'tude, man!
 

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Well, that explains your low post count on the G. Good to hear from you again, and hope your hard work and innovation end up bearing wonderful rewards.
 
I'm with you!

I'm with you Michael! Even though I'm pushing towards the 10 year mark, I have had to get creative and take on other types of work just to keep the shop going. There are days that I wish I had never done this, but then there are those few hours of peaceful framing that help take the edge off of the stress and make it all worth it.

For 1 1/2 years I worked PT for an advertising/communications company; then took the leap and decided to create a consulting firm that does what I was doing for one business part-time and now do it for many businesses (I do have a partner that helps take the edge off the quantity of work for the consulting) - it will be one year in November that the consulting business took off and I haven't looked back since. I actually like the variety and the constant activity - I hate to be bored!! My only problem right now, is my physical limitation with bad shoulders and now a hip replacement that needs a replacement part - I wore out the plastic cup!!!

All in all, life if good!! Get creative people, there is always a way to use your skills to keep your head above water :-))

ThinkOutside...the Box! Outside the Box Business Solutions, LLC

Cheers!

Elaine
 
I am pretty amazed I am still here too. And I am loving what I am doing.

Had to move my business, renegotiate everything.....haven't had the marriage fall apart yet, the pressures are daunting at times though....but add two septic floods in the mix. I think the water damage guy's key word was Black Water. Nothing good about that.

So congrats - to you - to me - and everyone else who is hanging tough in an interesting time (s). I used to think interesting was good. I understand the Chinese consider it a curse. Not Chinese, but I love their food.
 
Well done Jerry, Elaine and all others who are doing what ever it takes to make this work. I love what I do. Maybe to much. But this is what I enjoy. Times are changing and we need to be also. So again congrats to everyone, for doing what you do.
 
Hey there Michael! I wondered what became of you. Glad to see you are still in the hunt! Good for you! Hope we can catch up at a PPFA event soon. Maybe we should get you to speak about keeping moving forward.
 
Wow Michael, so glad you had the fortitude to hang in there. You're an inspiration. When this ugly mess we are all in takes a turn for the better, no doubt you will be well positioned.

Keep it up. We're rootin for ya!!!
 
keep on keepin on

Hannibal said: "We will either find a way, or make one
 
Congrats.

we are 45 days from our one year anniversary.

best of luck to you and hopefully many more successfull years ahead of you.
 
Congratulations! I used to live in Denver and I've been to Berthoud.
The foothills and the Continental Divide are beautiful.
Good luck. :beer:
 
Congratulations, Michael!!! :thumbsup:
 
Thanks to all of you for your well wishes. Without doubt the past three years in the economy have been filled with challenge and worry!

If I were relying on just framing, I would have closed last year. I have mixed emotions about that - gratitude and a sense that somehow I am fooling myself about the viability of the business.

But in my view these economic times are quite extreme and in spite of the downturns, my business actually grew by 10% last year...now, that percentage is actually NOT a large number in actual dollars and so again I see viability and yet small enough dollars that I wonder at ever being able to actually pay myself an actual living from it all - so there is some mixed emotions again.

I just love being here each day and that is what has kept me going at it and working to find alternative options to keep it going.

Remember the saying "You don't have to be crazy to work here, but it helps!"?

I have printed out a sign that says "You have to be crazy to work here!"

:p
 
Verdaccio said:
Just passed my shop's 3-year anniversary. :)
I love this business. In spite of the absolutely worst economy, nearly constant road construction on the downtown of my town, losing my safety net of available credit, a divorce, remarriage...I am still here and open for business.
I am so very thankful!
I have had to resort to taking consulting on the side, renegotiating my rent, my SBA loan, and fighting tooth and nail to just make the bills every month. I have created other channels of revenue just to keep myself in business.
For me, this is totally worth it!
Today I am working on an 80-year old quilt, re-varnishing and reframing two old oil paintings, and iterating designs for two logos, and working up the navigation schema for a website contract...
:thumbsup:
I love my life!
I hope that each of you are making choices that keep you in business too! Fighting for what you love and reveling in it - even in the face of hardship and struggle! We are still here and it is glorious!
Click to expand...

Wow, just love your positive attitude in the face of such adversarial
circumstances.
But if you know you are crazy you can't be anything but a framer. Look for the silver lining in every little thing you do.
Congratulations on the 3 year gig.
Francisco
 
Just think another 15 years and you get to be bitter and jaded...joking of course...:p am I ?
 
Just keep leaning forward against the wind and hope it doesn't stop blowing !

Friend Tom Pavlock

Good Luck !
 
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