Dissatisfied At Work?

 I have a friend who I think is dissatisfied with his work.

The other day he asked me if I found what I did boring. It's not the first time he's asked me this question. It must play on his mind. Mine isn't a normal job, but then having been a carpenter all my life I'm not sure what a normal job looks like. He was mainly talking about my making items to sell online. 

The answer is the same every time. Yes it can be boring, I make a lot of the same thing many times over, but also I've had far worse jobs and I'd say this is the best I've every had. Not money wise (not by a long shot), but for quality of life. 

Part of me enjoys a repetitive task. I like making items as efficiently as possible, with the best templates and jigs I can make, making my small workshop work in the best way possible, 

I don't enjoy sanding, which is a bit part of what I do. I try to have the best tools to make this job as painless as possible. 

I do enjoy developing different products, although I have less time for that these days, but the magazine works helps to break the cycle every month. 

I do enjoy not having a "boss" or a direct customer who I'm working for. When I was a jobbing carpenter I was very aware that you're always being judged, and a lot of what you did, if it was in the workshop, or going to collect materials, was often forgotten. 

I do enjoy being self motivated. Sometimes I make a batch of items or a one off that I know will take many months to sell to see a return in my labour, but I also know if I'm not making something then I won't be earning anything. 

I love the flexibility it gives me, having three children to run around after it means I can do all that for them, make sure tea is on the table and attend anything else that life throws at us. I can also support my wife in her career. Having one child who is type one diabetic also means we have a lot of extra visits to do and sometimes have to drop everything to be there for her should she need it. 

I love that my children can see me working, can look at what I sell. I love that them seeing me "create" my own job my inspire them to look outside the box when it comes time for them to think about work. 

I don't enjoy how hard this type of work is on my body, my hands have ganglion cysts in where I've probably worked them too hard over the years and can be painful, not to mention lifting and bad posture working at a bench all day.  

I always disliked having to rely on other trade when I was a jobbing carpenter, making the items like I do means I'm mainly reliant on myself and my suppliers (who still cause me plenty of stress). 

I sometimes miss working with others, but still do days doing carpentry for one customer, so I get my fix this way. I also do plenty in the village and see lots of people in my week, so I'm never alone for long. 

I would like to earn more money, this doesn't earn as much as normal carpentry. But then we earn enough and I've also worked some rubbish jobs for more money and it was never worth it. 

I love the time my job gives me to think, or if I want to be entertained I can listen to a book or podcast. 

SO, I'd say that I do enjoy my job, yes it can be boring and hard on my body, but I think it's far better than any other job I'm qualified or experienced enough to do. So for now I'm happy, who knows what the future will bring, I may go back to being a "normal" carpenter in the future, especially if one of the children decided to take the same route, I love that my trade has given me so many options and such variety over the years. 

I can always remember a "friend" telling me I'd failed by not going to university, but I was lucky and my trade has brought me many opportunities (I'd still like to go to uni one day maybe, but only for my own enjoyment and then I think it's too expensive to justify it). 

Sorry this is a rambling post, more writing down my thoughts on being asked the same question many times over. 

Are you happy in what you do? 

Wooden Scoops Handmade by Me

 I've blogged about it before but I'm really proud of my wooden scoops. 

I make them in small batches (this is the biggest batch I've made in one go), and they're designed to use up the offcuts I have left over from some of my other products. I try to be as near to zero waste as I possibly can be. I've also tried to make them as affordable as possible, although with postage having gone up again I may have to increase the price slightly soon. 

Ledged And Braced Door

 Last week I made a few doors for my mum & dad and filmed the process. 

Just simple ledge and braced doors, I've made dozens of these over the years. 

Scout Weekend - My Hammer Challenge

This weekend has been lots of scouts. 

Our son was at a camp all weekend with cubs, he loved it and has come back with many stories. I popped over and helped put a few tents up Friday night and did call round on Saturday with ice creams for everyone. As a scout leader I think it aids transition if all the cubs know me for when they move up to scouts. 

Then with my middle daughter (eldest is on a school trip), we went to an activity day with our district. I was asked to run a base and to have it as a challenge base. I was unsure what to do, but then my mate suggested a hammer base. Take some logs, nails and hammers and teach them how to drive a nail in. So some racing to see who could knock a nail in. 

 

Help Needed - Always

A tail as old as time - I need help in the garden. 

The eldest has been amazing, she goes out most nights and does a bit. She waters stuff for me and does weeding and planting. 

Youngest needs a bit of persuasion, but will come out and do a few jobs when asked.  

 Middlest is keen to help, but needs to be a set task, clear this area, plant this, etc, or she gets bored quickly. 

I'm lucky to have a bit of help, although the garden is getting swamped. Just too much time in the workshop trying to keep up!