She is currently seeing a counselor, a psychiatrist, and this guy.

I have to ASSUME that she is getting examined from enough angles that someone will assure she is getting correct treatment.

However, when I ask her what her IC says about her and OM, she says that she is "non-judgmental" (oh how I hate that phrase) and she doesn't say anything about it.

Georgia

Off to the Y and work off last nights Mexican dinner!!

Good Afternoon to all –

Okay, I’ve been hatching this idea in the back of my mind for some time. There are a limited number of folks that I can discuss this with, so you are all guinea pigs and I’m going to throw it out there.

It is no secret how much I enjoy yard work and especially ponds. This latest one is my biggest with it taking over 2,000 gallons to fill.

Anyway, stick with me. My company is going through significant changes (which I will use as an excuse) and I’m just getting flat tired of the flying machine business. I have really been toying with the idea of starting a pond business. Not one like where I would show up with a shovel and gloves and just put in a small pond. I’m talking big time, upscale ponds.

Our city is experiencing huge growth with houses in the > $500K range (don’t ask me where the money comes from, I have no idea). I know there are some local landscape companies that do ponds, but I see a huge niche for a company that SPECIALIZES in ponds. I’m talking about like with a retail establishment in the midst of the growth area where perspective moneyed clients can be wined and dined (okay, tea’d and dine for us non-drinkers) while “pondering” how nice it would be to have such a creation in their own backyard.

I would think I would want to stay away from “low-end” ponds as those are for the “DIY’s”. I’m looking for folks who would want to spend big bucks ($5K or more) for a world class pond.

I’ve located some such companies around the U.S. which SEEM to be top notch. Also, I’ve downloaded guidance from the Small Business Administration web-site and am starting to write a business plan.

Our local technical college has a course starting in January on basic landscaping architecture (such as retaining walls and such). I’m going to contact the department head and see if they will customize a program for me tailored to the needs of garden ponds.

If I continue to like this idea, I will contact some of these folks who are doing this at other places around the country. If they are receptive, I may travel to their places to see what they can teach me (or let me learn) and maybe modify my business plan accordingly. I may even take some extended time off to go work for one of these outfits for a month or so to get my feet wet (pun intended).

So there….am I crazy, or what?

Georgia

Good Afternoon, Georgia:

I'm not saying that it's a bad idea..

My opinion is that it's not a good time for you to start something new especially a new business...

That's MAJOR...

Your stress level points will go off the scale..new house...divorce..you know what I mean....

I would just hold off on this for a while and let it percolate...

OK..start with the Landscaping Course...

But SLOOOOW IT DOWN.....

Okay, I'm typing this slower (approx. 20 wpm).

I promise I'll not do anything on a whim, and by the time it would take me to plan such a thing it would way down the road.

A lot, a whole lot, may depend on how the divorce (or whatever is going to happen) finally ends up. I may end up having to work here in the daytime and at a convenience store at night to pay my alimony for all I know.

We'll see.

(thanks for the words of caution)...

OH NO!!

Not a convenience store..much too dangerous....

How about a garden shop?

They're not open at nite.

Waffle House short order cook?

(I worked for the Colonel (Sanders) once, but that was a long time ago)

Lowe's and Home Depot are open at night...

I don't know about Waffle House or KFC...

The food might be a problem...

Changing can be rewarding, but it's work too.
I don't think you are crazy. I changed vocations, and it has been good for me.

I second Mimi - go slow, do research. Pray alot.

SS

Mimi, don't talk him out of working at food places. Think of the discount he could get us.

SS

I think that you have proven to be a doer...not just a talker.

You have planned and executed a few successful projects and changes in your life. I think that this idea can be just as well planned and executed. I believe that it could be rewarding to be in a business of your own..it won't be without requiring a lot of time and effort.

I trust your ability to do what needs to be done to bring this idea to fruition.

"I worked for the Colonel (Sanders) once, but that was a long time ago."


Hey, so did I. I bet it was even longer ago though. And I still rarely eat fried chicken....

The real rason I'm responding is I am thinking a similar think. If I had it all to do over again, I would design serious water features. Fountains in particular. I am investigating some courses in this very thing.

And since I am nearing retirement, I will soon have it all to do over again.

Small world, huh.

Hi FGG,

There are 4 places in my town that specialize in that. I've visted one of them, and they seemed to be doing a very good business. I think this is a growing trend, but the important thing is to do it right, and do it first. Is there already a well-established business of that kind in your area? Can you break in? Do you have any way of getting some free PR? Can you start giving talks at the neighborhood assn (of which you are pres) - or more likely at places where upscale folk might be? Do you have a botanical garden society at which you could (after study) start giving some sessions on how you did yours etc.?

Just thoughts. I certainly would like a career change myself! And, according to some study (that I read somewhere) a "walking around job" will add years to your life as compared to a sitting down job.

-AD

Hi FGG -

I like your idea!! I say go for it(at a slow pace of course) and start learning more about it.....Doing something new and challenging is a great idea -

Kim

My "not-so-little" brother (6'5") works full time for the county inspecting sewer connections in construction project areas of the county. Evenings and weekends he does two different jobs - he paints high end houses (the contractors say that their customers only want the meticulous work that lil' bro does, so they'll wait a month or two on certain projects to have HIM do their new home).

He makes about $5K profit on each project and does one per month. The 2nd job is more for the love of his son and his big brother (dairy farmer). He repairs farm equipment and helps put in crops on the family farm. No money in farming, especially dairy.

So I would suggest keep your day job; save up 100% of your landscaping profits in investments (and learn how to invest your own money instead of trusting a broker) and when your portfolio outproduces your job monthly income, quit and you'll have also made the transition with your landscaping business.

Good Morning to all -

I had a nice evening last night, workout (cardio only) at the Y then off to pottery. Pottery was really a lot of fun last night. I'm looking forward more and more to pottery each week. Oh, before I left I put on a pot of baked potato soup (w/cheddar cheese, ham, onions) in my crock pot and had that for a late dinner when I got home. Never done that before, it was very good!!

Wow….I can’t believe the response over my pond business idea.

AD – some specific answers to your questions:

“Is there already a well-established business of that kind in your area?” - No. There is a well-established tropical fish store that also sells garden pond supplies for the DIY’er. And, there are people who DO this, but not one business that specializes and stands out as the “subject matter experts” in this area.

“Can you start giving talks at the neighborhood assn (of which you are pres) - or more likely at places where upscale folk might be?” LOL, AD – You’ve got a serious, serious misconception of my neighborhood association. There will be no business for me in this immediate neighborhood. (BTW – I’m on the board, not the pres).

“Do you have a botanical garden society at which you could (after study) start giving some sessions on how you did yours etc.?” Unfortunately, no.

BTW – Knowing that your city is about the same size as mine, I’m surprised you have 4 businesses that specialize. We have 0.

SS – Free pecan waffle for you if I go to work at WH (oops, acronym already taken).

Anyway, this is definitely a long term plan, not something that tempts me to quit my day job right now. However, seriously, we are undergoing major changes within my company and there is, I believe, a significant likelihood that my department will be eliminated in the next year. We (this department) have a meeting with our new president this afternoon at 4:00 to discuss his thoughts about our department.

I do have to be cognizant of the fact that I don’t have the “sanity” check of a wife to keep me from doing foolish things. I’ve read enough to know that generally a wise wife will keep her husband from acting on every whim he may have. I will say that the only time I’ve ever given much consideration to starting my own business is when, once before, I though I was going to be out of work I gave serious consideration to starting my own aircraft engineering firm. But…I didn’t lose my job and that plan was a back up “just in case”.

Fortunately, I do have a management background so I think that would be big benefit.

Obviously, one big drawback is depth of knowledge. Even though I consider myself a pretty good DIY’er, I have no real training in this area. There are no franchise opportunities for this (I’ve checked). So, I’ve got to learn. Hence, the course(s) at the local tech school.

I have also considered, if I get to the point I am real serious, finding a hugely successful company in another geographic region and offering them a “consulting fee” to work with me through the start-up process. Almost like an “unofficial” franchise, someone that I could rely on for expert advice when I run into an unforeseen problem.

Here is a link to the kind of place I can foresee as a model for what I'm thinking:

http://www.californiawaterscapes.com/index.htm

Anyway, back to reality. I have not heard anything from my attorney or WW this week. I don’t know where this all stands, or what’s next. I don’t have a new date.

GOOD MORNING, MIMI…

Georgia

FGG
One of the things the south is famous for are "Garden Clubs" several years ago a gentlemen came to our monthly Garden Club meeting and talked about his koi pond and how we could do our own if we wanted. Maybe you could look into speaking to some of those...
J1

LOL..

My H and I happened upon a koi owner's convention at a motel..Come to think of it, they had different businesspeople there with booths and displays...

You might want to hook up with them in some fashion...I understand that koi owners are SERIOUS about their PONDS..

I know the koi are very expensive...

Well, I have one Koi ("Fred").

I also have 17 goldfish that I bought for $0.10 each. Fred was $30 (on sale).

My goldfish swim around in a group, come over to me when I walk near the pond hoping that I will feed them, and in general are very, very tame and friendly. And..they are growing rapidly.

Fred is a recluse. I hardly ever see him, he hides under the plants. Sometimes when I put food out, he may try to sneak out and get some without being seen.

I'm wondering if Fred is in need of Wilma to liven him up a bit....

Those folks at the convention claimed that their KOI had different personalities..

I thought they were "nuts"..creepy...

But now with your observation, maybe I was too judgmental...