It's getting time to say goodbye

[XtreemGreen]

Well guys/gals the time is near for me to say good bye to all in the lawn buiz..Today while trimming some palms my customer next door came out and paid me for November and said "we wont be needing your services anymore"..I asked why's that.Thay said I wasnt doing a good enough job(even though come payday I ask if there are any problems or anything they would like done) they always said nope your doing a good job..

So what Im saying since I lost over half of my accounts do to being very sick back in June, Its been a struggle since..I now have hit rock bottom..Every thing Ive worked for I am gonna lose, Including my family(what I mean is she and the kids are going to live with her parents as for me prolly my truck)..Im 3 month behind in my mower payments, Im a month and a half behing in rent(eviction notice this past Sunday), Electric will be shut off tomorrow($250) phone is already shut off..oh and my internet connection is getting ready to be a month behind..I make roughly $1200 now and its gone before I can even look at it..

I do not know what im going to do yet as far as a job...I havent had a regular job since June 1995..

So my conclusion is ..I have hit rock bottom, I have failed in the Lawn Business and money is 99.9% of life..1% is love..
Yes my wife has rtied to get a job, but no one is hiring in the feild she works in.(daycare) or they dont take infants..

I will leave a final post when the time comes..

Till then my advice to all(smokers) please stop smoking it is truley a mass killer(it almost kiled me)Oh me stoping smoking and the birth of my baby are the only 2 great things that has happened to me in the past 2 yrs..

take care

Chad

[Flex-Deck]

Chad - I am not going to Jesus Christ you to death. but I want you to do one thing. Go to bed tonight and think about something - anything positive. Here are some thoughts about what!

1. Am I better off than the wino in the streets of a big city?

2. Am I better off than the abused wife or husband of a derilict marriage?

3. Am I better off than the people in afganistan and the poor countries in africa?

4. Am I better off than Christ was according to the Bible - I am not a Bible thumper, but this seems to apply here.

Thanks Brad

PS. Come to Mediapolis Iowa this winter and we will mount and build flex-decks for the world.

[Flex-Deck]

Chad - Reread your post - and I disagree totally - My wife and I have discussed it at length and Money is 1% and Love is the rest. I really believe that if you got down and honest, your family is not as much interested in how much you make as they are in How hard you try. Then how much you respect them, honor them and treat them. It sounds like you do all the above - Talk to them- I will bet 10 to 1 that they are behind you all the way no matter what you do. You seem like a person that gives 100% - WHO can ask for more

[Runner]

I posted a reply for you somewhere eLSe.

[Turfdude]

Chad,

FlexDeck &Runner have som great advice for you. I agree that love and not money is wht your family needs most (so my wife keeps telling me). My kids would rather have time w/me than another video game, ormore clothes to wear. Again, read what Runner has posted at LS & Flex-Deck has postedhere. I'm sure something will come of this. The Lord won't give you more than you an handle.

Bob

[XtreemGreen]

Flex I wasnt talking about my family...Im talking life in general..Sure you can survive with 100% love..But how are you going to live the life style we live in the world...You cant without money..When I was making $3000 a month I was very much a happy man..But now that I have hit Rock Bottom I am very depressed..Sure Ill be happy again..But right now this very minute money is everything..Love wont keep me in the house i live in right now..Love wont keep me making money..Love wont keep my mower from the repo man...etc etc...I have done alot of freebies for my customers to thank them for paying me the same amount year round..And when I was sick in June I found out who really liked me and the work I do..The other just didnt care..My wife called all my customer and explained what happened while i was in the hospital...There main concern was "when is my grass going to be cut"..The rest understood and had no complaints.Thats Love...

Man did I ramble on

I am just really lost and I have no idea what todo..I need to make about $2500 in a weeks time and it just isnt going to happen..

Chad

[Flex-Deck]

Chad- I have to disagree one more time - then I am done. I was once at a point where I thought the money I was making was the deal and it was and still is a lot - I was in a possible possition to be sued and lose everything even thought I was in the right. (You just never know what a judge or jury will do so you worry your *** off) I was very depressed and finally I asked my wife what she would think if we ended up in a shack in the hills or whatever? Her comment was " I married you and not your money, house, or possessions, and I would live with you in a cave if we have to."

Ask your wife directly what she would do - you may be very suprised and uplifted and whatever.

Thanks, Brad and God Bless - it will get better.

[kutnkru]

Originally posted by Runner
I posted a reply for you somewhere eLSe. It would seem to me that if people are going to post their threads at multiple sites then those wishing to reply should do the same if they wish to keep active with sites, otherwise just reply once.

Only makes sense to me.
Kris

[Eric ELM]

Sorry to hear of this Chad. I hope the best for you and your family. Keep your chin up and keep possitive. Things just have to get better. ;)

[XtreemGreen]

Kut I posted on both because I am devoted to both..And some LS members might not be on this forum..

Thanks for your care and concern


Chad

[LawnKeepers]

Seems to me that you should get out of the lawn business. Perhaps stay in the field, but something less taxing on your body.

Churches should help you with utilities and stuff. I'm on a board @ my FUMC. They have utility funds, especially for the winter times.

[HOMER]

Hang in there Chad, money gets short around here too. I'll give a little testimony here and I don't care who believes it or not...................very true story.

I've given up several accounts this past summer because they were'nt that profitable. I did this in hopes of replacing them with better accounts................ain't happened. Last Thursday my wife informs me that if we didn't pay our health insurance by Friday they would cancell it..........all the way back to Nov. 1st. That meant that prescriptions and Dr. visits that were made in November wouldn't be covered and more than that we would be without coverage all together.

We bought a house in Sept. and a new vehicle in August. The house is cheaper than the rent we were paying and the utility's are about 1/2 so that ain't the problem. Things just haven't been going that great period. I left the house last Thursday with nothing. I asked God for the health insurance money and told him that he didn't have to give it to me, I would work my butt off for it. I know He would give it to me without working but I just thought I would do my part. Keep in mind this is the end of the month and invoices haven't even been sent out yet. When I came home Thursday night I had all but $150.00 of the money needed but I was confident. I went to the mailbox and got a check from one of my accounts for $175.00............the money was there. I paid it the next day and thanked God for every bit of it.

I know things are not looking good right now, we're still a little short ourselves. Hindsight tells me from now on to hang on to everything until something better comes along. Had I not given up those accounts we would be in better shape. I know something is coming from somewhere............and it will for you too.

Never give up hope, there is a lesson to learn in every thing. You will come out of this OK........hang in there and ask the one that made you for a little help.................He will answer.

If I had the money I'd send it to ya today.

[65hoss]

I've had similar things like Homer in the past. So I agree with you. Maybe its time to talk with family or someone you can trust to give good advice. I'm talking those rare (gold) friends.

You need to let your family be the reason you pick yourself up and dust off. Get back on that horse.

[Runner]

Originally posted by kutnkru
It would seem to me that if people are going to post their threads at multiple sites then those wishing to reply should do the same if they wish to keep active with sites, otherwise just reply once.

Only makes sense to me.
Kris
I'm sorry. I'm a bit confused about this message. Could you please explain?

[XtreemGreen]

Runner I think what he meant is to post your reply on both forums and not just 1...But that has nothing to do with this subject anyways..everyone here can easily just click there way to the other 1 anyways..

Take care

Chad

[Scraper]

That's not what KnK was talking about Chad. This site is its own entity and should be treated that way. Why direct someone back and forth. Get it now Runner? Cut and Paste is an easy option. Actually would have taken you less time than writing what you did not to mention your little cryptic capitalization.

BTW: Chad...tough times happen to us all...you gotta face it and overcome it...if not you'll end up on the sorry end...

[dhicks]

Chad as you stated you've hit rock bottom. If that's the case there is no where to go but up.

Most folks go through times like this. When I was growing up living in Indianapolis, my dad and I lost everything one year. We had no electricity, water, and we moved into an office space at a used car lot to sleep. Oh yeah, no heat there either.

I'm not telling you my story to minimize your story, But goodtimes can't be that far off.

If I can help let me know.

[kutnkru]

Originally posted by Runner

I'm sorry. I'm a bit confused about this message. Could you please explain? Sure can.

If you have posted a reply at another site pertaining to a thread that is here it only seems logical to me you wouldnt mention it here. If you wish to be active in any thread at multiple sites then you should do as Scaper said and paste your reply to all.

Many will flip flop from one to the next, but should treat each site individually. This is why so many have become disgusted with the L&L Board. There was so much of the moronic he-said/she-said that it took away from the overall quality of the board.

The bottom line IMHO is if you wish to frequent many boards do so - the admin's dont care, just dont carry the unprofessionalism associated with one board to another.

BTW - Chad my original post was not intended for you posting a thread at multiple sites, but for people to post answers in both to stay active in both if they wish.

Hope this clarifies some.

[cos]

Sit down and have a chat with your wife! Maybe ask her to be more supportive. We have all been in a situation where you feel helpless. Don't give up!!! These are just the bad days, and tommorro is a different day. Always look at tommorro being a little better. Hopefully hings work out. Keep your chin up.


God Bless.

[Mick]

Chad, hang in there. I think a lot of us have been in similar situation. I know I was about 20 years ago. Lost everything including my family to divorce. I decided to stick around just to see how it turned out. Things turned around and today I'm well off.

[cutntrim]

Not sure what your assets vs. liabilities is like, but you could sell what you've got and get a job as a foreman with a larger landscape outfit in your area. I'm sure there are always companies looking for a fully trained guy, seeing as keeping experienced and reliable labor is a problem endemic to this industry. Once back on your feet you could always start your own business again - but this time hire on some help.

I'm not a marriage counselor, but if you honestly try to work through this problem with your wife then it'll work out in the end...if it's meant to be. If it's not meant to be, then you'd fall out of love regardless of whether you're bankrupt or a millionaire.

Good luck.

[Stonehenge]

Chad,

Not everyone is lucky enough to be in your shoes. Sounds weird, right?

There are occasions when life presents itself in incredible clarity, when you discover what is really important, and what is fluff. Unfortunately, this only seems to happen when the chips are down. However, for most of the people that have had those kinds of experiences, when you ask them, they wouldn't trade those times for anything, because they learned so many valuable lessons about life, about people, and about themselves.

I went through something along the same lines, but my story isn't important here. But I'd never trade those experiences. Ever.

You should soon hit a point where you don't feel the need to have defeatist signatures with your posts, and you'll just have to focus on survival. That's when school begins.

You'll find a way to survive. And when you come out the other side, you'll be 10X stronger than you are today. It doesn't feel like it now, but you'll look back on this time fondly, too.

Good luck.

[eslawns]

Hang in there, Chad. I think a lot of us can learn from your experience. What happens if.... ? Good luck, God bless.