Entrepreneurship and Hunting

[307]

The guys I know that hunt the most generally work for someone else. Many of those sacrifice income for time.

The guys that I know that run their own deal that hunt a lot are generally one man shows, and they are able to schedule around hunting season. They also sacrifice income for time. Keep the business small mentality.

I am not the type that really wants to run my own business but I would be lying if I said that if I could figure out a one man show, that makes enough money in 8 months to live for 12, I wouldn’t consider it.

^^^This

There are exceptions, few and far between, but running a small business tends to dominate life, family, and the calendar.

There are many people that own their job, and call it owning a business, when the two things are vastly different.

 

[Beendare]

I'm retiring from 45 years in my own very successful construction business. It gave me the flexibility to do what I wanted...but it's a misnomer to say you don't have a boss- you do, customers.

There's a lot...but in a paragraph;
The basics are important; Be extremely organized, anticipate problems and over communicate with Clients/customers. Call people back immediately- especially when you don't feel like it on problems/complaints. Details and quality matters- clients know when you care or if you are going through the motions. One bad client can kill you.

When I first started, we were getting some projects simply because we were following up when others didn't.

If you have specific questions, I would be happy to try and help- just ping me.

 

[180ls1]

Entrepreneurship is overrated. Find one business and focus on it first. There are plenty of business owners worth $5,000,000+ (and WAY more than that) without the "need" for multiple businesses.

 

[Gonefishin6]

I'm retiring from 45 years in my own very successful construction business. It gave me the flexibility to do what I wanted...but it's a misnomer to say you don't have a boss- you do, customers.

There's a lot...but in a paragraph;
The basics are important; Be extremely organized, anticipate problems and over communicate with Clients/customers. Call people back immediately- especially when you don't feel like it on problems/complaints. Details and quality matters- clients know when you care or if you are going through the motions. One bad client can kill you.

When I first started, we were getting some projects simply because we were following up when others didn't.

If you have specific questions, I would be happy to try and help- just ping me.

That's awesome advice, thank you so much!

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

The guys I know that hunt the most generally work for someone else. Many of those sacrifice income for time.

The guys that I know that run their own deal that hunt a lot are generally one man shows, and they are able to schedule around hunting season. They also sacrifice income for time. Keep the business small mentality.

I am not the type that really wants to run my own business but I would be lying if I said that if I could figure out a one man show, that makes enough money in 8 months to live for 12, I wouldn’t consider it.

This is exactly what my wife and I have done. Work 6 months in a small home service business with no employees & net around 120k after business expenses and all taxes. So, it is possible to build a life around adventure & hunting while being self employed, you just have to make every effort to reduce complexity and give up some financial security.

 

[Tourguide]

Im 48, have 2 girls in college, married, own 2 small businesses. I have 30 employees total, the first 5 years were a lot of long days, not much freedom. Both businesses I own were ran by owner/operators. Meaning they were hands on all day every for decades. The thing I learned after weeding thru countless employees that didnt mesh well, was that if you want to have some freedom, you have to buy it. Meaning find great people, treat them like gold and pay them well. Outline sales and production goals. This is how you buy your freedom. I spent nearly 5 weeks last season hunting across the country, which helps me keep my sanity. In those 5 weeks, I got ZERO calls from either shop. Ne ready to buy your freedom, make sure when your people need a day off or a break they get it.

I also afforded more hunting time as the kids got older, they come along on some of the trips. This is important as we see the effects of absentee parenting daily. I didnt think id ever find the work/life/hunting balance but with a lot of hard work and long hours I did it.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

W

Im 48, have 2 girls in college, married, own 2 small businesses. I have 30 employees total, the first 5 years were a lot of long days, not much freedom. Both businesses I own were ran by owner/operators. Meaning they were hands on all day every for decades. The thing I learned after weeding thru countless employees that didnt mesh well, was that if you want to have some freedom, you have to buy it. Meaning find great people, treat them like gold and pay them well. Outline sales and production goals. This is how you buy your freedom. I spent nearly 5 weeks last season hunting across the country, which helps me keep my sanity. In those 5 weeks, I got ZERO calls from either shop. Ne ready to buy your freedom, make sure when your people need a day off or a break they get it.

I also afforded more hunting time as the kids got older, they come along on some of the trips. This is important as we see the effects of absentee parenting daily. I didnt think id ever find the work/life/hunting balance but with a lot of hard work and long hours I did it.

What type of businesses?

 

[Tourguide]

W

What type of businesses?

One is auto glass, truck accessories, auto detail, tint, paint and rust protection. The other is a collision shop, we do some auto but the main focus is RV/camper and marine/fiberglass. Im in Michigan next to lake St Clair so lots of recreational stuff around

 

[Boarmaster]

I been one for 26 years. The problem I used to have was when busy I felt like I should be in town doing business not on hunting and fishing trips. When it was slow I felt like I should be in town working to get more business. Fortunately technology has developed to allow me to be out of town and work. No one even knows I am gone. Although I am not doing much business building when on trips I am moving deals forward and not stressed while I am gone. I like what I do and don't necessarily want or need a vacation from it. What I need is different scenery. Just being out of town is enough for me.

 

[Tourguide]

I been one for 26 years. The problem I used to have was when busy I felt like I should be in town doing business not on hunting and fishing trips. When it was slow I felt like I should be in town working to get more business. Fortunately technology has developed to allow me to be out of town and work. No one even knows I am gone. Although I am not doing much business building when on trips I am moving deals forward and not stressed while I am gone. I like what I do and don't necessarily want or need a vacation from it. What I need is different scenery. Just being out of town is enough for me.

Truth!

 

[Deeker]

I am 5 years into owning my own business. I take a lot of time off for hunting season. This year I will do a week with my son in Montana. And then 2 weeks with my buddies later in the season. Plus bear hunting in Washington, and as much upland hunting as I can manage. The key is finding a good 2nd in command. And then paying him as much as possible. My guy makes as much as I do throughout the year, but when I leave my company runs like I never left. As I make more money, he makes more money. I will randomly not show up, and shut my phone off to see how he handles it. I have been working with him for 10 years though, so not an over night thing

 

[Hnthrdr]

From watching my wife and my brother run business. It seems personnel is keystone to worry free time off, and obviously with more people and more places there are more headaches and finding competent, “good” employees becomes even harder. If you find them or have them, build a place that they don’t want to leave!

Wife employees 15 or so brother employees over 100 I think at like 12 or so locations. He makes a lot more money but deals with some insane headaches. He has chilled out some but he is still opening new locations, he has seen it all so he can take just about anything in stride these days and if you have someone close you can bounce ideas off of it’s really nice.

 

[WyoHannah]

Tbh I feel like with any entrepreneurial pursuit, it's a full time job and then some for the first 5+ years of the business. Husband and I own a company and we take work calls while in the elk woods to ensure the business stays successful. Once we have 5, 10 years down, we will be able to transition to taking time off and allowing someone else to manage the business.