Laid off and revisiting ADD-staring a biz

[Miicchheellee]

Hi All,

I was recently laid off from a job that was probably perfect for me in some ways, although I did hate going to work every single day. I was doing CAD design (computer aided drafting) for a small engineering firm. It was good in the sense that I went in and could block everyone out (for the most part) finish my work and go home. When I was working I had the same schedule every single day and was able to get things done in an orderly fashion. Now I am unemployed and trying to get back into Real Estate but as an investor and not an agent. I am struggling tremendously with staying on track and staying focused and am also driving myself and everyone around me nuts. I HATE taking the meds and want to try to eat clean and excercise instead, which can be a struggle for me (even if I say the word chocolate my heart beats rapidly and I get excited) . Anyways, for those of you who are self-employed ANY suggestions or input would be very much appreciated. I have a very hard time with follow thru. I hit the ground running and then just stop and I don't know why or what to do to follow through.

Thanks in advance!
Michele

[Song of Mercy]

I think many adders can relate to this. I know I can. I have started many businesses. Some were good because they taught me alot for the money invested. I have fallen flat on my *** and over invested as well.

I really think about what I am willing to lose before I make an investment. If the cost are to high I dont draw from my regular account...any more. I have done that as well.

Some of my opportunities to learn were going well until I became inconsistent. So I really think now. The kicker is this, I am still very ambitious. Right now is not the right time for me personally and it is hard to accept that because I want to get things rolling.


Great Thread!

Song

[Addr68]

Hey Michele, thank you for sharing your story and interest! Great post

Within a short time from now...I'm facing a "lay off" crossing my fingers it does not happen..Long story...

Back up plan:

I've been thinking of starting a webpage for extra $$$

Right now the idea is still in my head...

One: I have a nook of an idea, that fits todays economy.
Two: How to get paid? Soon, I will research different third parties that cater to this.
Three: The best way to market my "product"

pssss it's top secret

Follow thru is key and can be a task for sure.

In my current job, I schedule appointments, yet if I didnt follow up with a pre-appt and post appt call/mailings etc... Most of my cleints would get those feelings of "remorse" or start "shopping around"

From following up...

I have a 80% show rate. The clients see I'm there to answer their question. I'm available..They see, I have an interest in them. Other companies may brush them off, not I.

I can also use this as time to over come objections and obsticals..etc...

Follow up is key!

I wish you the best. I think you have a great adventure ahead of you. With your knowledge of CAD and the workings of an engineering firm..Real Estate industry; you have sooo much to work with! Yes!!


All the sucess to you Michele

Bry

[MelB]

I agree with Addr68 - in our business (mine and hubby) we get lots of repeat business because of what we do and it's a family business, but it is very easy for people to fall through the cracks. I've sworn for seven years I was going to setup some kind of newsletter or other follow-up gadget and still have not to this day. :-(
I would say that the one thing that works best for me is to have a deadline, and constant reminders. Find a program and use it to create tasks (like Microsoft Outlook does, but you can use ones that text you as well) so you see them pop up in your face! Of course you must have follow-through, but I don't think anyone can help us with that, personally.
Another thing I am playing with now to some degree of initial success is making certain days focus on tasks. For example, Mondays for me are actually un-busy whereas Fridays are killer. So I do things like pay bills, file, etc. on Mondays. Tuesdays I work on my website. Obviously if I get customer calls and such I don't ignore them, but tasks that can be easily forgotten about or shoved-off like filing or updating your website (if that's not your primary business vehicle) get done more often if they are given that kind of attention, imo.
I got away from it in this business, but I think I will go back. (we are actually dissolving our current entity and starting up another because of problems w/ debt) I use those mailing envelopes, the 8.5x11 ones, to keep my invoices, etc. in. I break it out however it works best - I used to put things phone bills and utilities in their own, and then the misc. receipts just in an envelope marked with the month. Then I also would tally the amounts on the front. This helped to show how much I was spending in addition to not having to sift through the papers come tax time. :-)

[andyum]

Miicchheellee,

I am helping to teach a class on entrepreneurism to middle school kids right now. What was funny/interesting was that the little quiz we did to see if one would be a good entrepreneur read like a test for ADD

In my profession, I work with a lot of small companies and start-ups. I would highly recommend that you work with a small business counselor to help you with your ideas and to develop a business plan (something ADDers are not to keen on). We work closely with our local SCORE chapter. This is a free and confidential counseling service conducted by counselors who have been in business themselves.

www.score.org to find a chapter near you or check with your local chamber of commerce.

Good luck!

[novagal]

I find that I need to break things way down into small bite-sized pieces. I'm very easily ovewhelmed, and sometimes looking at the big picture has me stopping before I start. So I'll decide on the things I'm wanting to accomplish, then work backwards to get down to the basics and start from there. Knowing what motivates you to keep going can be helpful. I find that a sense of accomplishing even small things is motivating to me and helps me stay on task, so I keep a checklist each week (that I break down into daily lists) so that I can check things off.

When I'm feeling particularly distracted or uncertain of what to do next, and maybe I've completed what's on my daily or weekly list, I refer to my "master plan", and will pick out something simple I can accomplish - anything to just keep moving on it. I'm not allowed to be hard on myself for not completing something on my list either. It simply goes onto the next day or next weeks agenda.

Each week I meet with a friend and we go over what we're wanting to do that week. (we own unrelated businesses) It's sort of an accountability thing but without judgement, it's more of an opportunity to discuss what's working, what's not, and to encourage each other as we work to find solutions.

One thing that's been really important was to discover what my most productive hours for working are. It turns out it's about 3-4 hours in the morning, and 4-5 hours in the late afternoon early evening. I need about a three hour break in between. Trying to work other hours for me is like forcing a square peg into a round hole.

[Miicchheellee]

Andyum,

"I am helping to teach a class on entrepreneurism to middle school kids right now. What was funny/interesting was that the little quiz we did to see if one would be a good entrepreneur read like a test for ADD "

Does this mean that if you're ADD you would not make a good entrepreneur or that you would??

Thanks for your post.
Michele

[andyum]

Originally Posted by Miicchheellee

Andyum,

"I am helping to teach a class on entrepreneurism to middle school kids right now. What was funny/interesting was that the little quiz we did to see if one would be a good entrepreneur read like a test for ADD "

Does this mean that if you're ADD you would not make a good entrepreneur or that you would??

Thanks for your post.
Michele

Actually, it means that you would likely be a good entrepreneur. Daydreaming, thinking outside the box, willing to take risks, are qualities that make a good entrepreneur that also IMO are typical ADD traits. The key is to find support for those tasks in owning/running a business such as a good accountant and lawyer to deal with finances and paperwork.