Just one of those days...

[Chriswagner92]

Well I don't if it is technically one of "those" days or if it has just been a long week, I just want to vent a little bit. It seems like I'm losing steam at work. I used to want to come in and do my best, but lately its just been feeling like work. I don't know if it's where I work, who I work with, or just me but it's like there's always something that I do that is wrong. It could be me just being pessimistic and only seeing/hearing the negative and not hearing the positive but its really bumming me out. Maybe I'm not being challenged enough to come up with really cool stuff? I've only been in the business for 11 months, not including the 3 years of school and internship but I feel like there is so much more stuff I could be doing, but I also feel that I've made a commitment to excel in this field but am having doubts as to my future in this place. Again, it could just be where I work. Is this something everyone goes through that I'll just get over or should I just give up and get a job at denny's?
At least it's friday

 

[James Burke]

Is this something everyone goes through that I'll just get over or should I just give up and get a job at denny's? At least it's friday

Your situation seems beyond ordinary boredom, and what you may need is a life plan. I won't include any of the links I've used since they may be biased to my personal direction, but type "life plan" or "life planning" in to your favorite search engine and then proceed with common sense.

Basically, a life plan is a specific set of goals that get you from where you are now, to where you might want to be someday in the future. But most of all, you need to remember to keep it flexible since your interests, skills and abilities will change over time.

Most people feel like they're stuck with the career decisions they made as a teenager. And while those choices may have seemed good at the time, we all know how life (and the economy) has a way of changing that kind of thinking.

I don't know how old you are, but think about it...would you let an eighteen year old kid determine what and where you should be doing it? Me neither...and so far at 48 years old, I'm on my third (thoughtfully planned) career track in life.

Hang tough...and set aside some time this weekend to begin working on your plan. Even the crappiest of jobs are more tolerable when you know that it's only a step in the process.

JB

 

[rjssigns]

If your boss is being negative go find another job. It took me a large chunk of my life to figure that out. It was never good enough, fast enough, pretty enough...well you get the picture. My best day of work there was when I got laid off. I was the only guy smiling. Spent the next 3 years in college now I work with my wife. I sleep through the night. No more acid reflux and the best part? No more crabby, unappreciative "overseers" whipping you at every turn.

Screw the money. If you aren't happy money doesn't matter.

 

[Chriswagner92]

I guess it kind of irks me when I do something that I know how to do and do it fairly well with what tools I have available, and then there's always some "easier" way, or because I do it in my own way that works for me I'm apparently doing it wrong. It also sucks because I live 5 minutes from where I work, and because I'm in a somewhat rural area, there's no shops closer than 45 minutes away.

 

[SignManiac]

Take up skydiving. It will change your perspective on life!

 

[Chriswagner92]

Take up skydiving. It will change your perspective on life!

I went on my 18th birthday with some friends and my at the time 71 year old grandpa. It was awesome, I was going to get my license to go solo but at 18 the funds ran out rather quick. I also did the Indoor skydiving as seen on Nitro Circus, and that was pretty cool. definitely lasted longer.

 

[James Burke]

I guess it kind of irks me when I do something that I know how to do and do it fairly well with what tools I have available, and then there's always some "easier" way, or because I do it in my own way that works for me I'm apparently doing it wrong. It also sucks because I live 5 minutes from where I work, and because I'm in a somewhat rural area, there's no shops closer than 45 minutes away.

I'll be frank here....but if you work for somebody else, you're going to have to suck it up and deal with it. It's called "paying your dues". I served a four year apprenticeship, and three more years beyond that, under a tyrant boss. After that experience, everything since then has basically been a cake walk.

There'll be plenty of making your own mistakes if you ever decide to strike out on your own sometime in the future. But if I were you, I would be patient and learn all you can...hopefully at their expense. Thick skin saves lives.


JB

 

[Chriswagner92]

I'll be frank here....but if you work for somebody else, you're going to have to suck it up and deal with it. It's called "paying your dues". There'll be plenty of making your own mistakes when you're on your own, but if I were you I would be patient and learn all you can...hopefully at their expense.


JB

Oh trust me I understand that, and I'm doing the best I can, but when a majority of what we do is short runs of coroplast signs and the occasional business card designs, I think I'm just about maxed out in the graphics department. If I go out and work in the shop that's another story. We don't even touch HDU, which I think we should've been doing years ago, but because no one wanted to learn how to use cad in the way to do such signs, and apparently hand carving is too time consuming, no one here was even getting into it. Until I came and started playing with CAD. I've also been trying to convince them to let us do complete wraps. but the only responses i get is "Its too time consuming and with only two guys we would have no one working on other projects" or " It would require us to take some stuff off the cars, and I don't want to get into that". I was planning on just doing it myself and not have to deal with them, and get the money I deserve out of it.

 

[Gino]

Well, there are plenty of good answers so far, but my question to you would be this...... are you venting or are you looking for remedies ?? Your opening post is all over the place, so perhaps your communications skills could use some honing. Possibly this is what your boss is feeling, also.

​

Remember, it takes Two to Tango, and if it's only been 11 months here, something isn't quite gelling. Perhaps a good heart to heart talk with your boss would help ??

This happened to me after working for my mentor of 6 years. Actually, my mentor was another employee at this shop, the owner wasn't all that good. Anyway, I asked to talk to him and after a 5 or 10 minute talk of putting my heart on the table..... he said, well, if ya can't take it, there's the door. So, I shook his hand and walked out. A short while later... went into business for myself with my wife and in my first year solo, did more than his entire shop did after his being in business for like 20 years. Later, he farmed work over to me, so I still worked for him well into the 80's.

Be honest to yourself and just be prepared to walk, if ya don't like what you're seeing or hearing.
​

 

[Chriswagner92]

Well, there are plenty of good answers so far, but my question to you would be this...... are you venting or are you looking for remedies ?? Your opening post is all over the place, so perhaps your communications skills could use some honing. Possibly this is what your boss is feeling, also.
Remember, it takes Two to Tango, and if it's only been 11 months here, something isn't quite gelling. Perhaps a good heart to heart talk with your boss would help ??

This happened to me after working for my mentor of 6 years. Actually, my mentor was another employee at this shop, the owner wasn't all that good. Anyway, I asked to talk to him and after a 5 or 10 minute talk of putting my heart on the table..... he said, well, if ya can't take it, there's the door. So, I shook his hand and walked out. A short while later... went into business for myself with my wife and in my first year solo, did more than his entire shop did after his being in business for like 20 years. Later, he farmed work over to me, so I still worked for him well into the 80's.

Be honest to yourself and just be prepared to walk, if ya don't like what you're seeing or hearing.
​

Thank you for this response. I will have to save it somehow. I just don't know if I have the cojones to quit and start my own thing or work at a competing shop. I certainly don't have the capital to start up anything. But anyway, It would help if one of them was in lol, the owner is always on the road and the graphics one is on vacation. They do leave me alone quite a bit so I guess thats a good sign. And yes, my communication skill are not what you would call great.... I think i need a vacation myself.. and possibly a drink, or three.

 

[John Butto]

Dennys, you get free food and maybe hit up on some waitress or waiter.

 

[Chriswagner92]

Dennys, you get free food and maybe hit up on some waitress or waiter.

Can't argue with free food amiright? I've learned my lessons with waitresses though, they never seem to work out for me

 

[John Butto]

Can't argue with free food amiright? I've learned my lessons with waitresses though, they never seem to work out for me

Yea, it is hard to hide their names you had tattooed on your body.

 

[Gino]

Well, if you can't do it because of the money and you don't want to work for the competition and you have something against working for a restaurant or any other kinda business, I guess you're stuck doing what you're told to do, keep quite and go home and drink yourself silly every night. As for a vacation, do you quality for a paid vacation, yet ??

 

[Chriswagner92]

Well, if you can't do it because of the money and you don't want to work for the competition and you have something against working for a restaurant or any other kinda business, I guess you're stuck doing what you're told to do, keep quite and go home and drink yourself silly every night. As for a vacation, do you quality for a paid vacation, yet ??

I wish, I have nothing against restaurants, This is actually my first job outside of the food and bev industry. I actually kind of miss it, better pay for sure, and enough cash at the end of the night to do what I wanted. I should get back into that now that I'm thinking about it....

 

[Locals Find!]

I am honestly amazed at the non-snarky comments you have received and some damn good advice too boot.

Here is my Advice and it comes from years of getting knocked around a bit. QUIT whining!!! You been on the job 11 months, of course no one is going to listen to you yet. You gotta get some experience under your belt first.

Gino, didn't wake up one day and just open a shop and start doing high end work and, I would wager $50, no one here did either. It's a learning process. Hell, before I opened my **** ant little business I spent 2 years grinding out work for other people absorbing every bit of knowledge I could lay my hands on. Including trade shows, books, observation, then attempting to recreate the work by asking for a chance to try my hand at what they were doing.

You sir, are coming off as a whiny brat willing to throw in the towel because, things are going exactly how you dreamed. Reality check time life don't work that way. You wanna do something more then suck it up and do it. You wanna learn keep your mouth shut, your head down and learn. When you have learned everything you possibly can move on to either your own shop or another shop where you can learn even more.

Remember, at the end of the day your an employee not the owner of that shop. So, if the boss says no wraps he might have a damn fine reason he isn't interested in them. It's not your place to question him yet.

So, if your going to be like every other whiny brat in your generation and wanna go wait tables for a quick buck quit today. If you wanna chance for a what could and probably will be a good & rewarding career stick with it.

The choice is yours, only you can decide. If you came here expecting anyone to wipe your nose, kiss you on the forehead and tell you it will get better. Well, guess what the people in this industry aint your momma.

 

[HDvinyl]

Or you could go into real estate.

 

[Gino]

I am honestly amazed at the non-snarky comments you have received and some damn good advice too boot.

Here is my Advice and it comes from years of getting knocked around a bit. QUIT whining!!! You been on the job 11 months, of course no one is going to listen to you yet. You gotta get some experience under your belt first.

Gino, didn't wake up one day and just open a shop and start doing high end work and, I would wager $50, no one here did either. It's a learning process. Hell, before I opened my **** ant little business I spent 2 years grinding out work for other people absorbing every bit of knowledge I could lay my hands on. Including trade shows, books, observation, then attempting to recreate the work by asking for a chance to try my hand at what they were doing.

You sir, are coming off as a whiny brat willing to throw in the towel because, things are going exactly how you dreamed. Reality check time life don't work that way. You wanna do something more then suck it up and do it. You wanna learn keep your mouth shut, your head down and learn. When you have learned everything you possibly can move on to either your own shop or another shop where you can learn even more.

Remember, at the end of the day your an employee not the owner of that shop. So, if the boss says no wraps he might have a damn fine reason he isn't interested in them. It's not your place to question him yet.

So, if your going to be like every other whiny brat in your generation and wanna go wait tables for a quick buck quit today. If you wanna chance for a what could and probably will be a good & rewarding career stick with it.

The choice is yours, only you can decide. If you came here expecting anyone to wipe your nose, kiss you on the forehead and tell you it will get better. Well, guess what the people in this industry aint your momma.

Addie, don't be throwing my name around like you know me or we're friends. We're not and I don't.


I woke up on April 23rd, 1970, at 6:11am with nothing on my mind but exams coming up in a few weeks, so I decided to open a sign shop instead and made my first buck lettering a bass drum head for a local band. I made $35 and never went back to college and started doing high end work the very next week. I hitch-hiked down and gilded the hotels and casinos all up and down the Atlantic City Boardwalk for almost the next 6 years and then went on to freelance in Reading, PA, cause I heard the shop count was like 7 or 8. After that, I toured all the northern states doing custom fire apparatus work for high end dollars. Came back along the southern states and lettered all the bordellos in the deep south. Wow, was the pay fantastico. I squeezed 18 years into 2 years doing that and finally got married and opened our own shop. The rest is history. Other than that, keep me out of your posts unless you have something to say with facts to base them on.

Good Grief, but you're outta hand.
​

 

[Locals Find!]

Addie, don't be throwing my name around like you know me or we're friends. We're not and I don't.


I woke up on April 23rd, 1970, at 6:11am with nothing on my mind but exams coming up in a few weeks, so I decided to open a sign shop instead and made my first buck lettering a bass drum head for a local band. I made $35 and never went back to college and started doing high end work the very next week. I hitch-hiked down and gilded the hotels and casinos all up and down the Atlantic City Boardwalk for almost the next 6 years and then went on to freelance in Reading, PA, cause I heard the shop count was like 7 or 8. After that, I toured all the northern states doing custom fire apparatus work for high end dollars. Came back along the southern states and lettered all the bordellos in the deep south. Wow, was the pay fantastico. I squeezed 18 years into 2 years doing that and finally got married and opened our own shop. The rest is history. Other than that, keep me out of your posts unless you have something to say with facts to base them on.

Good Grief, but you're outta hand.
​

Really, Gino you need to get your stories straight. Why don't you re-read your own posts. So, which is it you opened your shop with your wife or while still in college??

So, far in this thread alone you have told two different versions.

 

[Gino]

Really, Gino you need to get your stories straight. Why don't you re-read your own posts. So, which is it you opened your shop with your wife or while still in college??

So, far in this thread alone you have told two different versions.

No wonder you are what you are today....... you are so gullible. :ROFLMAO: