Ignorance is Bliss?

[JollyBadger]

Well, I've been out of work since October. Thought I had a really great potential job lined up with a new business. He had all kinds of big dreams and plans and kept saying he wanted me on board, then there are all of these hiccups and changes in plans and everything else, and I can't afford to keep waiting on him.

The shame of it is, the job was horse-related, but not directly involving the everyday grunt work involved in managing a barn, and it would have been perfect for me. I've looked into other potential horse jobs, but they're mostly groom/barn staff (low-paying jobs, long hours, no benefits or vacation of any kind. . .not exactly what I went to college for four years to do).

I majored in Equestrian Studies, have managed a couple of different horse farms, barns and riding programs in the past, and enjoyed it for the most part. I've been asked why I don't open up a place of my own. . .which would be ideal if I actually had the money to do it. Other people suggest that I should at least look into taking a job as a barn manager. However, I look at those advertisements for the positions and they all seem like checklists of things that I would most likely screw up.

Currently I board my horse at a facility whose owner/manager sometimes makes me wonder how she even functions at all. I mean, she says she has "been in the horse business for over twenty years," and yet doesn't seem to have a shred of sense when it comes to promoting her business, managing a healthy herd of horses, safe handling of horses, or teaching others how to ride or handle horses. She's made some really stupid, wasteful business decisions. And yet. . .somehow. . .she has her own business. It's like she's completely unaware of how little she actually knows, and she also brings in "trainers" and "barn staff" who are even more ignorant than she is.

There's part of me that thinks I could so easily turn that place around, turn it into a gold mine, get rid of all the "fluff" projects going on and turn it into a really good facility where people would want to come for lessons and trail rides, or to board their own horses. But the other part of me thinks that maybe I know TOO much about how to do things RIGHT. . .and I'd end up getting frustrated. . .whereas the current owner doesn't have a clue, so she's content with providing mediocre service.

I guess, my question is, do you ever hesitate to do something you KNOW you could do well, since you KNOW about many of the hidden costs and sacrifices it will include. . .but even more because you see other people doing the same job, not doing it very well but just kind of coasting through it?

I'm so frustrated right now. . .

[Zoom Dude]

Originally Posted by JollyBadger

Well, I've been out of work since October. Thought I had a really great potential job lined up with a new business. He had all kinds of big dreams and plans and kept saying he wanted me on board, then there are all of these hiccups and changes in plans and everything else, and I can't afford to keep waiting on him.

I've been down that road. It sucks. You'd think someone would have their act together enough to actually hire you before they talk about hiring you. Granted, starting up a business is a hard thing to keep on schedule. But at some point you have to stop believing and look elsewhere. Someone once told me, "I don't know nuthin' about nuthin' until it happens." Wise words.

I majored in Equestrian Studies, have managed a couple of different horse farms, barns and riding programs in the past, and enjoyed it for the most part. I've been asked why I don't open up a place of my own. . .which would be ideal if I actually had the money to do it. Other people suggest that I should at least look into taking a job as a barn manager. However, I look at those advertisements for the positions and they all seem like checklists of things that I would most likely screw up.

You say you're likely to screw up parts of these jobs, but it sounds like you've had similar jobs before. Did you screw up? How? Might you do better now?

Currently I board my horse at a facility whose owner/manager sometimes makes me wonder how she even functions at all. I mean, she says she has "been in the horse business for over twenty years," and yet doesn't seem to have a shred of sense when it comes to promoting her business, managing a healthy herd of horses, safe handling of horses, or teaching others how to ride or handle horses. She's made some really stupid, wasteful business decisions. And yet. . .somehow. . .she has her own business. It's like she's completely unaware of how little she actually knows, and she also brings in "trainers" and "barn staff" who are even more ignorant than she is.

My wife worked in public accounting for years. You wouldn't believe the stories she tells about business owners. You'd wonder how some of them can tie their shoes, let alone operate a business. Starting one can be risky, but if you keep your eyes open and survive the first few years it can take on a life of its own. I don't know your background, but with reasonable intelligence, basic knowledge and some common sense, running a business is not that hard. For those with ADD it's also important that we know our weaknesses and make sure they're covered, but that's really just a part of keeping your eyes open.

There's part of me that thinks I could so easily turn that place around, turn it into a gold mine, get rid of all the "fluff" projects going on and turn it into a really good facility where people would want to come for lessons and trail rides, or to board their own horses. But the other part of me thinks that maybe I know TOO much about how to do things RIGHT. . .and I'd end up getting frustrated. . .whereas the current owner doesn't have a clue, so she's content with providing mediocre service.

I don't know anything about horses or the business of horses. I get the sense here that you're very confident in your assessment of her abilities, and that her apparent shortcomings are not actually external. For example, does she hire ignorant staff because good help is too hard to find, or too expensive to allow her a decent profit? Are good horse management practices too costly for the market in your area? Or is she only still in business in spite of her boneheadedness because she owns the property and has little overhead?

If you feel confident in your answers to critical detail questions like these there's some real promise here. If you get along with her maybe there's a job opportunity. But her hiring history suggests not. So how about using all that promise for your own business?

I guess, my question is, do you ever hesitate to do something you KNOW you could do well, since you KNOW about many of the hidden costs and sacrifices it will include. . .but even more because you see other people doing the same job, not doing it very well but just kind of coasting through it?

I'm so frustrated right now. . .

It's clear that you do know what this would take. My guess is that you hesitate out of fear. But really - fear of what? It seems to me you could do a better job. You're out of work now. How much do you have to lose?

Getting the capital to start a business can be a problem. Are there creative solutions? Do you know anyone with a mostly empty barn that you could partner with? You'd be amazed how many businesses start very small, some without even intending to be businesses. Word spreads, that "life of its own" thing kicks in, and before you know it you're building a new silo, another barn and hosting competitions. Or maybe it just stays a managable size and gives you a work life that fulfills you.

The key here is your passion. I think it's very important for ADDers to do what we love. We need something to balance the everyday frustrations. Running a business is a great way to do that, because we can shape our work environment to meet our needs. If you have half as much business sense as horse sense it's hard to lose.

What would it take to start small, with a growth path that suits you? You seem to have a clear enough view of this that you should be able to see any plausible risks. Don't let yourself be stopped by fear. If you can't name the fear, it's just a ghost. Don't let yourself be controlled by ghosts.

Best of luck,

ZD

[stef]

Oh I see what you mean; It's especially frustrating because you *know* you can do this; yet there would be all of the details to work out; and then maybe in that NT way, there are some routine aspects she does well but you may worry about them, put them off etc. I have these kind of issues at my job sometimes...

[qhcowgirl]

I know what you mean. The problem is... like someone up there said, overhead. Unless you have facilities already or could get started with little investment.

I've had my horse at similar places. Places where the owner/manager new NOTHING about the business. Anyone with a decent knowledge of riding and horse care could run a better tighter ship and the horses would definitely benefit.

But, like they say, you don't make money running a horse boarding facility. There are several people I can think of who are making money. One girl borrowed a lot of money from her parents, bought a 5 acre place in a college town. It was run down but had a lot of stalls, two arenas, a round pen and a duplex on it. She hired a friend to manage the place, gave no discounts out whatsoever, and rented out the duplex to the manager and a bunch of other people.

They fixed the place up a little but she took all her money and bought the best WP mares she could find and bred them to the best WP studs she could afford. (She also designed and had WP showmanship shirts made at the place). Anyhow, she'd give lessons and she actually seemed to make quite a bit of money breeding.

She's the only breeder I've been around who's making money. Everyone else are trainers who've apprenticed with some of the best. Those guys can make money.

Um, I guess it's possible to make money doing the whole boarding thing. The problem is land prices since you pretty much have to be close to a city...

[JollyBadger]

Thanks for all the responses!

I actually have been in facility/farm management positions in the past. . .but always working FOR someone else. Long story short, we had different priorities and different horse management ideas. Although my title was "manager," I really wasn't allowed any decision-making ability beyond basic routine everyday chores.

Plus. . .in the horse world, there are a lot of people WITH money who OWN horses, but don't really know a whole lot about keeping a herd healthy. They want to treat it like any other business, and shave expenses wherever they can. . .so they may end up with an absolutely beautiful, well-kept and cobweb-free barn and riding arena surrounded by green green grass and a barn inhabited by bored, unhappy, barn-sour horses that are never allowed outside for more than a few hours.

That's part of what frustrates me about watching the situation at my current barn. While some of the new "fluff" projects the owner has going on might be an exciting thing to consider in an already established, well-run barn. . .she is trying to add a bunch of extra projects at once while some "basics" are not really being given enough attention.

I could honestly see myself running that place, working with a business partner who "gets" the business end of it enough to do the paperwork and filing and scheduling. . .and both of us doing well at our jobs. . .but the catch is that I couldn't well while working "under" someone else, having to go to them for approval for absolutely everything.

Especially if that person was like the current owner.

[qhcowgirl]

Exactly. I've worked for a few rich no-nothing people. It's frustrating to say the least. I know out here, they're always looking for barn managers -- looking on websites like the bayequest.com or agriseek or any of the ag job websites you might be able to find openings.