Recession Hits Home

[Spark]

Good luck Jim.
A good tradesman should never be out of work long.

[redshirt1957]

Originally Posted by CoopJr

Jim,
Don't take the layoff personally. These types of bad things happen to good people who did nothing to deserve it except work hard and try to do a good job every day. Your career did not go down the tubes. You still have a license in a very hard skilled trade so the foundation is laid and no one can take that from you.

And I can tell you from 1st hand experience that it isn't just the housing market either. I make my living helping to develop laser products for the military and space based reconnaissance hardware at a fortune 100 company. A week ago our facility laid off 20% of our workforce because of lack of work

Within 3 hours, 100 people were axed, processed and shown the door.

I made it through...for now. We have a proposal out for bid on a classified project. If we don't get it, my job is all but done for.

I had been saving for a Rolex, like you, hadn't had one in a long time, also like you. I was holding off because my spider senses had told me something was going to go down at work and it wasn't gonna be good

When I made it, I splurged and you will splurge too. And you'll splurge faster and healthier because you won't be smoking. Quitting will be the most positive thing you can do right now to start turning things around.

Hope your company gets the contract and things work out good for you.

[GoldenBear]

My wife and I always say "It's a team effort"...Good or bad, stick together. Hopefully, things will work out for you guys.

[marshallr47]

Jim, I'm truly sorry to hear about you losing you job. I know it's tough on you. The positive side to the story is that you have a wonderful family that love you. That in my eyes, makes the world of difference. Lean on them for they will pull you through these times. Also, you sharing this story goes to show that you trust all that are here on TRF and that a lot of us support you through the thick and the thin. Good luck in the future.

[zeppe19avr]

Fossil fuel burning causes global warming !! Hope it comes sooner than they say!

[zeppe19avr]

Originally Posted by Troy

Come north oil patch crying for tradesmen

Global warming? What is that ? We're all stuck in it and responsible

[CoopJr]

Originally Posted by zeppe19avr

Fossil fuel burning causes global warming !! Hope it comes sooner than they say!

Ut oh! Someone is off their meds

[JimSnyder]

It's not Real! My 2 cents. But on the serious side, thanks guys for all the kind words. It really means alot to me.;Jim

[Han]

Originally Posted by East Bay Rider

Great story. Would like to hear the details of that.

I was fortunate to have the sense of 'stashing away' some of my best, experienced co-workers by finding them jobs with a few vendors I knew in the area.
When I was ready I called them all back to work w/ me.
We didn't have the big budget but we were lean and mean (hungry) - vs - a big conglomerate, who had to overcome the learning curve.

Even so, the first 18 months were the toughest (I think business owners must have a bit of a sadomasochistic traits in them).
But we perservered and we had luck on our side ... plenty of luck.

PS: The 16613 I picked up last year was sort of a gift to myself ... and that was so sweet.

So Jim, as someone has previously suggested, with your skill and experience, going solo or form a partnership with someone you know and trust, may not be a bad idea. I found many good tradesmen by going the 'craigslist' route.

[chevycorvette]

jim,

bucket your seat belt, because the worse has not yet to come .

the stock market will go down like crazy. it is the nature.

if you involve in stock market, it is time for you to bail out.

as predicted 2 years ago.

[Alex Stylianou]

Good luck and best wishes !

[entropydave]

My sympathies and support - I too have been there - redundancy and divorce at the same time - that's why I bought a Rolex... I deserved it!

[anglykos]

Jim, you have right there at home what you need most. Watches are the means by which a group of people got together in this forum and keep each other great company today. With or without a Rolex on their wrist. For what it's worth I send you my very best wishes that things will take a turn for the better. And they will ! Manos.

[2careless]

Jim, very sorry to hear that, I hope things will turn around for you soon.

Originally Posted by chevycorvette

if you involve in stock market, it is time for you to bail out.
as predicted 2 years ago.

I was just reading the following - http://www.businessspectator.com.au/...J?OpenDocument

This one is scary.

[cbsmohai]

Hey,

I'll just add my 2 cents. I recently quit smoking using Chantix (in December) My mother gave me a vintage Rolex for my efforts and it really helped.

I'm sorry to hear about your job, but I can assure you that the housing market won't always be in the doldrums. Give it time, and consider that the average pack a day smoker of premium cigs spends roughly 150-170 bucks a month on them.

I did the math and at that rate, you could pay off a nice No Date in no time.