The Rollercoaster that is my Life!

Ups, downs, arounds, dizzying speeds.... These are the things that make up my life these days!

As of last Friday I was once again out of work! :-( For those of you who might be wondering why I seem to be out of work so much, let me explain. I am a self-employed contractor (one of 4 business I own) who is under contract to a great company building industrial control panels. The panel building business is a sideline for this company, and recently there hasn't been that much of a demand for new panels. I am currently registered with a temporary staffing agency for general labour as well, but so far, no calls from them yet. For those who are interested, the businesses that I own are as follows:

(In order of oldest to newest)

1) S.H. Technologies - This is the "unofficial" name of the company I use for my contract business. It was started back in 1990 after I graduated from college as an Electronics Engineering Technologist and has had numerous "incarnations" LOL!

2) Hildebrandt Photographic - I used to be a professional photographer, and still do the odd wedding from time to time. I had most of my "good" camera equipment stolen out of my vehicle when I was out of province several years ago, and haven't replaced it because my insurance policy didn't cover it. Photography is a very cutthroat business with very expensive overhead costs. Once I can work long enough to save enough I want to invest in a good digital camera (5 megapixel or better - 8 megapixel preferred) and get into calendar and stock photography.

3) LocoGraphix - I spent 7.5 years working in a print shop as a pre-press technician after my photographer days, and have continued to service some of my clients from time to time. Graphic design is another saturated market in this part of Canada, so finding new clients is more work than it's worth some times! I have a dream of purchasing a screen printing press and moving into that market, but the $15,000 US price tag is just out of reach right now!

4) Phoenix Enterprises - This business was started last year, and is a Direct Selling business powered by Quixtar Incorporated. My wife and I are partners in this, and it's fun to work together as we each have skills that the other doesn't have. This business has taken a while to get off the ground due to my tendency to over analyze stuff and my innate personality as somewhat of a loner. When in a group of people, I tend to shut up and stay in my little corner. Online, my personality is somewhat more outgoing, because no one can see me, and very few know who I really am. Quixtar has hundreds of thousands of products in their catalogs, and I have chosen a few to focus on selling retail. My wife has focused on the top-of-the-line skin care and cosmetics line, while I am focusing on the fuel conditioner I have mentioned in previous posts, a water treatment system and a gift & incentive package geared towards corporate sales. The social aspect of this business is awesome, as we are part of a team of likeminded people, but the sales part is very tough on me - a technically minded, reserved, not-so-outgoing person. I can chat with the best of them, but as soon as it comes to business, I freeze up... still haven't figured out why.

So, as you can see, I have a lot on my plate! I haven't yet begun to mention all the volunteer stuff I do at my church as well. Anyway, the last few years have been filled with exhilarating highs followed by devastating lows as my businesses struggle through their growing pains. these highs and lows seem to follow close on each others heels, so hence my rollercoaster life! I have discovered that despite my best efforts, I don't make a good employee. I think too much to be a good little drone. So, I am cursed to lurch through life, careening from one crisis to another until, somehow, someway, I can make one of these business fly in such a way that I don't have to worry about my income ever again. From where I sit now, Phoenix Enterprises has the best long term potential, but its short-term is downright nasty! S.H. Technologies has the best short-term results, paid almost immediately, but they are getting more sporadic and harder to rely on. Lurch, lurch, lurch... that's my life, just like an old wooden rollercoaster! I just wish I could see the end of the ride!

I'll stop whining now!