Minty Posted 5 August, 2009 Share Posted 5 August, 2009 I want to hear about any financial/lifestyle risks you've taken, that you'd care to share. I'm about to take a risk and obviously will be working hard to make it work, but what about you? I've read Richard Branson's book 'Screw it, let's do it' which is good, but also I've had some inspiration from a few other people, like the owner of a B+B in Scotland who sold her house, bought a B+B up there with no previous experience at all, and made it work. I know others who quit their jobs to go self-employed, or moved abroad for new jobs, and taken risks along the way. Some worked out, some didn't... what about you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponty Posted 5 August, 2009 Share Posted 5 August, 2009 I've had both really. I went self-employed after I left Uni and that didn't work at all. I survived, and came out the other side debt-free, but it was touch and go and it was really only the fact that a friend knew of a job going at exactly the right time that I survived. I also took a massive punt, quitting that job to move 250 miles away to a specialised engineering job that I essentially knew nothing about, apart from what I'd read at Uni. That went really well and 5 years later I'm in F1. That could turn out to be a huge gamble in its own right, with the massive cost cutting hitting the sport, but that was entirely unpredictable 3 years ago when I started. Sometimes the gamble works, sometimes it doesn't, but you should never regret attempting something and failing. Regret the stuff you never attempt instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatch Posted 5 August, 2009 Share Posted 5 August, 2009 but you should never regret attempting something and failing. Regret the stuff you never attempt instead. This. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty Posted 5 August, 2009 Author Share Posted 5 August, 2009 Totally agree, I've done it before, and I'm doing it again... just wondered what experiences others had had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint_stevo Posted 5 August, 2009 Share Posted 5 August, 2009 I'm in a slightly different position in that i am looking to take a risk. My situation has changed quite a lot of late and i am now looking to move abroad/away and start a new life doing something different in new surroundings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rattlehead Posted 5 August, 2009 Share Posted 5 August, 2009 I'm in a slightly different position in that i am looking to take a risk. My situation has changed quite a lot of late and i am now looking to move abroad/away and start a new life doing something different in new surroundings :smt039 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OLYMPIC Posted 5 August, 2009 Share Posted 5 August, 2009 I'm in a slightly different position in that i am looking to take a risk. My situation has changed quite a lot of late and i am now looking to move abroad/away and start a new life doing something different in new surroundings In witness protection? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamster Posted 5 August, 2009 Share Posted 5 August, 2009 Whatever it is Minty, good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dicko Posted 5 August, 2009 Share Posted 5 August, 2009 I want to hear about any financial/lifestyle risks you've taken, that you'd care to share. I'm about to take a risk and obviously will be working hard to make it work, but what about you? I've read Richard Branson's book 'Screw it, let's do it' which is good, but also I've had some inspiration from a few other people, like the owner of a B+B in Scotland who sold her house, bought a B+B up there with no previous experience at all, and made it work. I know others who quit their jobs to go self-employed, or moved abroad for new jobs, and taken risks along the way. Some worked out, some didn't... what about you? I done both (as our mutual friend will have told you) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamster Posted 5 August, 2009 Share Posted 5 August, 2009 I want to hear about any financial/lifestyle risks you've taken, that you'd care to share. I'm about to take a risk and obviously will be working hard to make it work, but what about you? I've read Richard Branson's book 'Screw it, let's do it' which is good, but also I've had some inspiration from a few other people, like the owner of a B+B in Scotland who sold her house, bought a B+B up there with no previous experience at all, and made it work. I know others who quit their jobs to go self-employed, or moved abroad for new jobs, and taken risks along the way. Some worked out, some didn't... what about you? Minty, what would you consider 'making it work'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marsdinho Posted 5 August, 2009 Share Posted 5 August, 2009 I got married, that was f_cking risky..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Post-it note Posted 6 August, 2009 Share Posted 6 August, 2009 I got married, that was f_cking risky..... no, just feckin stupid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty Posted 6 August, 2009 Author Share Posted 6 August, 2009 Minty, what would you consider 'making it work'? I simply want to be able to support myself financially, now and in the future, and be happy in what I do. The same as anyone else really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatch Posted 6 August, 2009 Share Posted 6 August, 2009 On the other side of the coin, a mate of mine, quit his succesful job to set up a website driven business, providing a facility to store all your documents, photos etc online for a small annual fee. He used big London marketing agents, including Max Clifford , to get him into the magazines and stuff and try and selll his site. Anyway, it all went tits up, not helped by people like BT offering similar facilites for free and he ended up losing 250k-300k. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Keith Posted 6 August, 2009 Share Posted 6 August, 2009 On the other side of the coin, a mate of mine, quit his succesful job to set up a website driven business, providing a facility to store all your documents, photos etc online for a small annual fee. He used big London marketing agents, including Max Clifford , to get him into the magazines and stuff and try and selll his site. Anyway, it all went tits up, not helped by people like BT offering similar facilites for free and he ended up losing 250k-300k. hmm. there is a difference between mitigated risk and rank stupidity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dicko Posted 6 August, 2009 Share Posted 6 August, 2009 I went self-employed in July 2005 I've had some 'white knuckle rides' along the way, but my life is a million times better than before The thought of sticking a suit on and charging up & down motorways all day, just to make somebody else money, sends shudders down my spine It's a bit of a cliche, but most people regret what they haven't done in life, as opposed to the mistakes they actually made This is the only life you'll get Minty, so whatever it is - Go for it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatch Posted 6 August, 2009 Share Posted 6 August, 2009 hmm. there is a difference between mitigated risk and rank stupidity exactly, I told him it was a stupid idea in the pub over a pint. A meeting with me in the pub would have cost him £3.30, but instead he got carried away and paid thousands to Clifford, who essentially did fook all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponty Posted 6 August, 2009 Share Posted 6 August, 2009 exactly, I told him it was a stupid idea in the pub over a pint. A meeting with me in the pub would have cost him £3.30, but instead he got carried away and paid thousands to Clifford, who essentially did fook all. Still, he should get some good press coverage when he dies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty Posted 6 August, 2009 Author Share Posted 6 August, 2009 The thought of sticking a suit on and charging up & down motorways all day, just to make somebody else money, sends shudders down my spine It's a bit of a cliche, but most people regret what they haven't done in life, as opposed to the mistakes they actually made This is the only life you'll get Minty, so whatever it is - Go for it!! Couldn't agree more, hence I am where I am. After I got made redundant 20 months ago, with a wedding still to pay for as well as normal every day life, I had to find another job to pay the bills and get me through. But now I've done all that, and had the wedding (and come out the other side debt-free, which is rare for modern weddings!) it's time to make the next step. And for the record, I don't consider my wedding to be risky or stupid, but I know others won't see it the same way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty Posted 6 August, 2009 Author Share Posted 6 August, 2009 Still, he should get some good press coverage when he dies. And before that, if he gets a terminal illness... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponty Posted 6 August, 2009 Share Posted 6 August, 2009 Couldn't agree more, hence I am where I am. After I got made redundant 20 months ago, with a wedding still to pay for as well as normal every day life, I had to find another job to pay the bills and get me through. But now I've done all that, and had the wedding (and come out the other side debt-free, which is rare for modern weddings!) it's time to make the next step. And for the record, I don't consider my wedding to be risky or stupid, but I know others won't see it the same way! I'm sure many don't at the time Are you going to give us a clue what your ambition/intention is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty Posted 6 August, 2009 Author Share Posted 6 August, 2009 Are you going to give us a clue what your ambition/intention is? Well most people could probably guess what it relates to, but I shaln't go into details until I have everything in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilko Posted 6 August, 2009 Share Posted 6 August, 2009 I once had a danger ****. It turned out quite well, but I wouldn't risk it again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponty Posted 6 August, 2009 Share Posted 6 August, 2009 Well most people could probably guess what it relates to, but I shaln't go into details until I have everything in place. Well I can guess then. It's worth saying that even the specialist pornography industry is pretty saturated nowadays though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty Posted 6 August, 2009 Author Share Posted 6 August, 2009 I would've thought saturation was a good thing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponty Posted 6 August, 2009 Share Posted 6 August, 2009 Yeah, strange choice of word by me. Freud would have a field day. Anyway, I'm off to watch some watersports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamster Posted 6 August, 2009 Share Posted 6 August, 2009 Well I can guess then. It's worth saying that even the specialist pornography industry is pretty saturated nowadays though. I had a small part in a porn movie once. Never again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatch Posted 6 August, 2009 Share Posted 6 August, 2009 I had a small part in a porn movie once. Never again. I was offered a role in a porn movie once, I was well up for it, being a drunken red blooded teenager, but when I realized it involved bumming my mate , I pulled out. So to speak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamster Posted 6 August, 2009 Share Posted 6 August, 2009 I had a small part in a porn movie once. Never again. I was offered a role in a porn movie once, I was well up for it, being a drunken red blooded teenager, but when I realized it involved bumming my mate , I pulled out. So to speak. I knew that I recognised you Hatch. Sorry about the 'souvenir', did the Dettol do the trick? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint_stevo Posted 6 August, 2009 Share Posted 6 August, 2009 and people call me gay..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manuel Posted 6 August, 2009 Share Posted 6 August, 2009 I'm all for change, but not necessarily risks. I changed my life fairly significantly a number of years ago: relocation, and a new career in an entirely new field, but I wouldn't say there was much risk associated with it because I was unhappy in my current role, so not much to lose, and confident I could succeed in the new one despite a large pay cut albeit temporary. People can't be expected to know what they want to do with their lives at sixteen or even twenty so it's no wonder people search for change in their jobs/careers/location/wife(lol) later on. As far as "never regret attempting something and failing", of course we're all speaking hypothetically but someone wise also once said only gamble what you can afford to lose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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