crossroads

[CBRO]

Im at a major crossroad in my life, trying to get a bearing on direction. Ive been doing whitetail shoulder mounts part time for the past 12 years. Several years ago, I had the opportuinty to partner with a processor on a 10,000sf facility in a great location. I did so, and my taxidermy workload has doubled each year since. As a result, my relationship with family has suffered greatly cause Im never around. Ive missed out on my kids sporting events, school programs, ect, and also neglected my duties as a husband. I always justified my actions because I was providing a good income for them. Truthfully, I got addicted to the money as all the income from taxidermy was "extra" and not really needed to make ends meet. My son who is 8, has probably been effected most by this as we have grown apart and he now looks to Mom for everything.

That said, Ive realized whats most important to me and have taken steps to rectify the situation. I love doing taxidermy and would rather have it as a career than my full time job, but I make good money there and have good benifits. My gut tells me I should make the leap and go for it, but with this economy I just cant loose that safety net. I know at this time the best corse of action is to decrease my taxi workload by taking less work. By doing so, I feel like it would let my partner down and may negativly effect his side of the business. However, I want to become a better taxidermist by attending competitions and going to some of the workshops. Im self taught and though I feel like I do decent commercial work, I feel like Ive reached the peak of my abilities and need to get some formal training with of the great artist. That brings me back to the TIME factor. I know there are others who have been down this road. How do you juggle getting training, spending time with family while running a business and paying the bills??

[Kerby Ross]

Priorities in Life.......in 1995 I chose to quit taking in customer work for the sake of my kids.  I DID go to every practice, every game.  I WAS there.  Now they are older and out of the house....and NOW I am taking in customer work again.

To me it was a simple decision.  You will have to decide what is important in your life.  You can't go back in time, make the time NOW to be with your kids.

Kerby...

[bill@hogheaven]

One thing you dont want later in life is regrets about your family.

[Jerry Huffaker]

If I understand you correctly your thinking you will have more time with your family if you go full time. I would have to say just the opposite, 6-7 days a week is the norm for 1-3 man shops, it's the only way you can make a decent wage. If you care about your family keep it part time, scale back and don't worry about making so much money. Those kids will be young only once, and when they are gone, you can't get it back. Your finding out you can't BUY memories , you have to live them. I can't imagine missing one of my kids or grandkids games so I could put a deerhead together. Just my thoughts on it, after 25yrs full time.

[Catgear]

Kerby said it well...

[tazzymoto]

Raise your prices considerably. Then spend time with your family. you'll still have plenty of taxidermy work to do after your kids are grown up!

[CBRO]

I know going full time will be almost just as much work. Problem is, I get no sense of accomplishment at my real job and Im almost topped out on how much money I can make there. Ive worked my butt off to get what Ive wanted for a long time, a business location away from my residence, regular clients and word of mouth business. Ive never undercut full timers in my area just to get business, choosing to simply charge what I felt my work was worth.  I like the idea of price increase to slow down the volume, just don't think my quality is where it needs to be to do so.  {GHOTW thread proves it.  }

I ve not stepped foot in the shop this week, spent every afternoon at ball practice and games. We arrived home at 9:30 last night and my son was sore and pouting over a losing effort. Me, Ive had a blast and even enjoyed the loss. Then the phone rang at 10pm. A guy called the house wanting to know if his flat skin I sent to Carolina Fur in March to be tanned was back yet? 

[Monty Artrip]

   I honestly feel the same type of situation was to blame for my first divorce and missing some of my kids childhood. I was holding down a full time job with overtime plus taxidermy and competing which left little time for anyone else in my life. Now I do only fish taxidermy and very little customer work. It is more as a hobby. You can't get that time back once it is gone, if your guy tells you this now: act upon it and make some changes before it is too late. I guarantee you your family would rather have YOU than any amount of money you could make. 

[GBRUCH]

Kerby----Good for you for knowing what most of us have to learn!!!

[Aaron Stehling]

Have your kids work with you in the shop instead of being involved in  sports. They will learn a trade and be spending time with you. Just a thought.

[gunner62]

I've been thru the same thing you are going thru, I qiut my full time job to do taxidermy. I'm open 7 days a week during the hunting seasons but at season close I'm only open by appointment and closed on sunday I ended up spending more time with my children, but my shop is in my back yard behind the house I never had to leave to go to work. I made a lot more money at my other job but My love is taxidermy. Do what makes you happy we only get one shot at this thing called life, there are no do overs. The biggest thing I have learned is not to let my customers rule my life, I rule my own life, I set my own hours, guess what they still come with they're animals. And as far as the economy I'm having my best year ever and I live in one of the highest unemployment ereas in Northren W.I. Follow your heart it will never lie to you.

[John C]

Your kids are only small once!!!

[Charlie Schram]

John said it all,,, you can't freeze frame the kids.
I make every effort to spend as much time with the kids as I can but they do understand that I have things that I have to do.

[Brian]

Your kids are only small once!!!

x2. family is what its about. money is just paper.i love it too but i love my wife and son more!!!!!!!

[mr.T aka mr. friendly]

Dont worry, the kids wont leave home until they are 30, so when you are totally burnt out on taxidermy, you will be able to play with your grand kids that live with you.

Your selfishness to have "the business" will someday make your kids say when they are adults,,"Dad was never around".