Dean you seem like a troubled man when you post whether it be a bitter response or a thread like this which seems like a bit of a cry for help. I will read and digest the whole thing later but if you ever want to talk then I’d love to. What I always say is do what your passion is... you love cars as we all do so maybe try to move into something involving them if you have the patience? Ping me a message as I’d love to talk....
Thanks Phil. I've dropped you a PM but will reply here in case others might find an interest.
I'm OK, in pretty good shape and certainly not a cry for help. I'm not that close to the abyss that's for sure
It is merely some realisations and the desire to not accept when things aren't right. Also when you know you can do more or better and have so much good to give it is hard to accept when this is not being realised.
I have been thinking of changes for some time and yes one of my core passions will be cars with a desire to do more with it. I guess like many of us. I am in the extremely fortunate position to be in good health and have choices with the ability to make changes. This has been through continued hard graft, commitment and sacrifice over 25 odd years so hasn't been achieved lightly. Many are not so fortunate and don't have so many options so I appreciate my position.
A dramatic shift out of where I am now into a car related activity is unlikely in the short term for a couple of reasons. Primarily finance driven of course like many of us. We still have a nice healthy mortgage and monthly outgoings aren't 5p so there needs to a certain number coming in to keep the books balanced.
The other reason is that as we know the automotive sector is all over the shop at the moment and going through massive change. It would be unrealistic and a likely fairly immense undertaking to create something from scratch and produce the current required income in a reasonable timeframe. Also the IT/tech sector is pretty solid in comparison with no shortage of work with decent rates/margin if you're canny enough so it is easier to generate this numbers. Also I
I have a trading vehicle with good long term customer and business that keep coming back for more.
I would never be afraid to start a new business from scratch in a totally different sector at all. I have done it before and would do it again. The is years of knowledge, experience and wide ability with self funding to a point. Then options from family investment/funding I suspect only a chat away if required.
I am going to explore all and any possibilities. My initial thoughts is that 2 people are required to make massive inroads to where I know we need to be. A youngish (although not necessarily so) general IT/tech engineer. Also a day to day office glue type organiser to keep on top of everything, tight and efficient.
I would say it would likely need the engineer first that gives me more fairly immediate time to find an office person and spend enough time with each initially to get them up to speed. I would like think a local Hertfordshire/North London person would make the most sense but again not cast in stone.
I can create a nice office/environment here on the land we have, we have great connectivity now and it would be a nice place to work. Less travel/commuting with low business costs so we wil be nice tight and efficient to be able to be ultra competitive in the market place. I suspect a year is realistic to find and get both people up to speed.
The other option is maybe a little upside down but an ideal time for a partner style person to enter. I have been running things on my own for a long time. Sometimes it is nice to share loads, responsibilities and roles at that level. Also getting a different angle or opinion on things. It may suit a similar mirror like person/scenario merging two businesses together in effect. Especially if that person likes their cars and is interested in maybe starting other businesses.
As Jon eluded to, just by writing all this down and creating discussion is helping already. I think some fairly small achievable steps in the right direction allows further bigger steps.
I don't think Brexit and the lack of confidence or perceived confidence has helped. However it has made me shrink things down, get smaller/tighter and that gives great advantages to be able to grow from.
It is not a bad place to be at all but balance is key and the desire to work less or smarter and less hard is the way forward.
I guess much of it is compensating for underlying issues but I am sure we all have those.
