Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
self employed vs. just employed. need some opinions.
My brother and I are toying with the idea of selling our dad's business. Our dad died a couple years ago, the 2 employees quit and left us stranded a couple weeks ago right at the start of sales season. So, I am trying to evaluating my job options to decide whether to: sell the company and require that we can have a job if we want to be in crop insurance still or sell it and walk away from the industry and do something else.
Job 1: Crop Insurance - it makes really good money for now, it would be a very very flexible schedule during the down times, and I would be my own boss. On the flipside, the government has their hands around crop insurance and it could be yanked at any time, something my dad always worried about. Even though the schedule is flexible, its down right terrible in Feb and March when you are getting all your business signed up for the year, then in June, July and Aug when you are getting all of your customers acres that they planted. You basically work your life away for 5 months out of the year, stay somewhat busy for 4, then twiddle your thumbs for 3. This would also determine when the hubs and I have a baby. We would have to TTC in the months that would would allow me to give birth during the twiddling thumbs part of the year.
Job 2: something to do with my marketing degree - One of my dads friends owns a very, very successful company here in town and I am about 90% sure if I called him and told him I needed a job, he would find something for me. I have never heard anyone complain about working there, they have great benefits and are very family oriented. Their turnover rate is very low. The drawback would be probably less money and I would have a boss. There would be advancement opportunities I'm sure. What I would like is I would have a steady schedule and workload and the little headaches of owning a business would be someone elses problem. And I could have a baby whenever my body decides to get pregnant. I could also sell other lines of insurance on the side, like auto, home and business to help make up some of the potentially lost income.
So, do I give up the flexibility of being self employed and being my own boss for a job the typical 23 year old college graduate has that might make me happier with my personal life even if it is less money? Or do I keep the family business alive even though it means being stressed to the max a 1/2 the year and barely seeing my hubby(and babies eventually) while honoring my dad?
My dad wouldn't want me to be miserable, which is what I am right now. My being miserable has a lot to do with the 2 employees quitting and its sales season. Being self employed is usually the American dream, but its been an absolute nightmare for me and has left a bad taste in my mouth. I'm sure under normal circumstances being self employed would be great, but I dont know ifI want to give it a second chance.
What would you do?
Re: self employed vs. just employed. need some opinions.
Have you considered hiring people to come in and help you run your dad's business. Even one salaried employee would give you the ability to not have such work aholic months. Also, the grass may seem greener but you have NEVER worked for anyone other than your dad, and it is a wake up call to go and work some entry level job (probably for pennies) and then have to have a boss, and strict hours etc etc. I domn't see how that job would be flexible enough to have children like your job would be since you said you would be basically not at all busy during the "off season months".
also, think about all the hard work and time and energy your dad puit into building his business, i know he would want you to be happy, but would he want you to sell his hard work?
That is something only you know how he would feel.
My personal opinion is that a Self employed situation or "boss" situation is always beetter than being an "employee"
What a wonderful idea!
Sorry, just a lurker here. Just happened to read this as I am going through a similar dilemma.
I worked as an employee for someone for 7 years before starting my own small business. At first, I really loved the flexibility and being my own boss. However, as time went on, I realized that I was getting burned out from never having a day off, working long hours, then coming home and doing the associated paperwork that needed to be done. I was missing out on events, friends and family functions. Even when I took a day off, my phone was still ringing or the emails were pouring in. I actually became jealous of others who had paid days off and when they left work, that was it.
i just recently interviewed for a position to work as an employee again. I'm really afraid to make the change, but I'm so looking forward to coming home at a reasonable time and not having more work to do and having some type of schedule,
i never had children, because there was no way I would of had the time to dedicate to them.
If you are planning on having a child it may be worth selling the business, especially if you are miserable, so you will have some type of consistent schedule. If you chose not to I agree with the above poster to hire someone. But that too can be stressful as you will need to orient that person.
Of course you love your dad , but I know my own father would want me to be happy in life doing what I choose and I'm sure yours would as well. Life is too short to be unhappy. Good luck.