Business and social life [Archive]

JoyDivision

14th October 2005, 15:30

This is my biggest worry about setting up a business, my social life would suffer becuase I would have no work colleagues to speak.

What do people to do avoid that? For example I plan to work from home but I am 23 and do I have social needs as well.

I don't want to be single for ever but if I work from home I might well be for a while.

MarkPearson

14th October 2005, 16:54

I think it can depend on what your business is.

Some can be more sociable than others.

There are always opportunitys to meet new people in any business.

And Even if your business is a bit no social, you have 'out of office' times to enjoy your social life.

JoyDivision

14th October 2005, 17:39

Well its web development, the thing is though its a pretty anti social profession anyway as it mainly seems to be small companies.

The company I worked for won a few awards so they got out that way, I guess if I can win an award or somthing that will be away of getting out of the house.

Hopefully they will be marketing events I could go to as well.

But these professional do's are not the same as a night out with the lads if that makes sense where you can all ***** about the boss and his wife :D

MarkPearson

14th October 2005, 17:49

I have been self employed since I was 20 years old. Now im 25.

I must say that since meing self employed and employing other and being young it has been harder finding 'friends' as most are employees.

I find having and meeting people who have the same business motivations as you are always a good direction to go, as they share similar interests.

I still make time to have a lads night outs with my older circle of friends, but yes it is difficult finding time.

As far as I see it, I have many more benefits being self employed and running my own businesses compaired to having a smaller circle of close friends.

At the end of the day, its a lifestyle choice which can reap many rewards

Asteeleleith

14th October 2005, 18:14

Hi there

i have been working from home for around a year now.
My wife is a doctor so as you can imagine i barely see her :-)

As far as company is concerned i still get out, i am involved heavily in the local astronomy soc as well. This helps keep my mind off things, when business gets too much.
But yes it can be pretty lonely sometimes. i will not lie.

But at the end of the day you take time off when u want to. don;t have to begg and plead for time off for the dentist, doctor, car to be serviced. or worry about making the time up. None of that.
You get to make ur own decisions too, so more taking orders from thick micks and charlies who know jack about the company.

I think what i am saying is, yes there are draw backs, like occaionally being lonely, but i would not swap it for the world.

now a sad tip for you, if things get that bad then nip to www.lycos.co.uk for a chat. This may sound sad, but it will keep you sane!

Al

JoyDivision

14th October 2005, 18:25

Lol well I am already a moderator of a very large student forum, so I do get to speak to people a lot, its no a way a substitute for real life though :D

I still have a few friends which I will still be able to see.

Asteeleleith

14th October 2005, 18:36

Are couldn;t agree more.

It is important ot get out and mingle with people, otherwise in time you would run in danger of becoming a recluse, and losing those all important social skills. This is not healthy

As for me i am out with the lady wife tonight, socialising with medics, HELP :-)

Al

freecybermag

14th October 2005, 21:31

JoyDivision

14th October 2005, 23:06

Why don't you set a day or 2 half days aside from your home business and get part-time work. This way you still have your own business to run but are also part of a company where you get invited to staff parties and the like. Just and idea!

Regards

Rob
www.freecybermag.com
The web's best free online mag e-zine

Well I wanted to become a part time student like I am now, but many of them courses are distance based and I think I have had enough of studying.

To do a part time masters would take me years so I think getting a part time job is probably a good idea.

I am quite a sociable person, the flexability of the working hours really appeals to me but not the lonelyness part. I am the sort of person that hates saturdays (apart from the evenings) so I would work then, I would also work later at night as thats when I am most productive. Most my degree was done in the early hours of the morning :D

So having to work 9-5 and having the evening off would seem backward to me.

Coding Monkey

10th December 2005, 17:19

My social life has become quite strange with the business. I'm invited to clients birthday parties and have even stayed at one clients house for the weekend. Female, I might add.

uksbc

10th December 2005, 17:27

like the other posters i agree that it can be demanding trying to find a social life when you are self employed
you have got to try really hard to get out every now and then though

i went through a spell last year where i became very much a hermit!

i do get out more now but find that my mind doesnt shut off at all from work. i can be having a beer with freinds and my topic of conversation will be something like "i wonder how much they make from advertising in pub toilets? maybe i should start looking into that!"

the main point though is that being your own boss is not just a career but a lifestyle choice. just try and find a happy medium. i am lucky that i am 30 now but had a wild life at 17 & 18 so i dont really feel like i am missing anything now

Admiral Collections

11th December 2005, 17:02

Hi

Networking is a fun way to meet people and develop your business as well. Try your local networking groups. There's a good one called Beermat which is informal and free. http://beermat.ecademy.com.

Take care and have fun by contributing to this forum, it's not the same as meeting people in real life but you can put your point across on a Sunday evening still wearing your pyjamas and no-one knows or cares!

Nic :wink:

Coding Monkey

11th December 2005, 17:11

Take care and have fun by contributing to this forum, it's not the same as meeting people in real life but you can put your point across on a Sunday evening still wearing your pyjamas and no-one knows or cares!

Nic :wink:

Oh, I care. I care that it's not your avatar. Ok, back to private messages I go. I know, I know - ruining all the threads these days.

james.hill

11th December 2005, 17:11

There's plenty of people in normal jobs who can't meet women there too! I work four days a week for a large ISP, and 99% of the staff in the building I work are male. We're a priveledged department as we have the graces of a single female, but she uhh... prefers girls ;-).

I guess the answer is to have hobbies/sports out side of work.

DuaneJackson

11th December 2005, 17:21

Like Nic, I meet a lot of people through networking.

It's sad, but I've lost contact with many of my friends that have jobs - most of the people I now socialise with are also running their own businesses.

We have a networking thing once every 2 months, and I know that a lot of the people that go only go for the social side of things.

fastfences

11th December 2005, 17:28

My social life has become quite strange with the business. I'm invited to clients birthday parties and have even stayed at one clients house for the weekend. Female, I might add.

Huh? Am I missing out?

Must start scheduling jobs for Saturday am and take a change of clothes. Guess the business ethic is out the window, though :wink:
Cheers, Nigel

Coding Monkey

11th December 2005, 17:37

I reckon so, Nigel. I was going to stay at a hotel, but she insisted I stayed at her place. Maybe I could use it as a new marketing edge. Lonely? Need a website? Call Coding Monkeys! You get to speak to the MD anytime of the day about anything on your mind! Subject to terms.

fastfences

11th December 2005, 17:40

Think I'll be doing a fence for Nic the Chic soon. Guess there's a sure invite there :wink: :wink:
Cheers, Nigel

Admiral Collections

11th December 2005, 17:44

I have all the fencing I need Nigel, need it to keep my stalkers at bay :lol:

Nic :wink:

Coding Monkey

11th December 2005, 17:45

Stalkers? None of them around here :roll: :twisted:

Steve Roberts

11th December 2005, 18:33

For the first few years in business I was working some really stupid hours. However, as the company started to grow I made the decision to "delegate and measure" - everything.

As such, nowadays I'm virtually completely liberated from the company - though I know how each and every person is performing at any given time. The result is that I now have a far better social life than I've ever had.

Chris Martin

16th December 2005, 15:57

When you've made your first million, everyone will want to be your friend!

DarrenC

16th December 2005, 17:54

Social life ... what's that?

The way I look at it (rightly or wrongly) is I put all of the effort and time to build and run my business now an someday I'll be able to sit down with a cold beer and enjoy the rewards.

Darren

Chris Martin

16th December 2005, 23:15

Darren has hit the nail on the head!

Those first few years (well, maybe more than a few!) will set you up for the rewards that will surely follow.

If you grow really quick you could pay someone else to run things while you live off the profits!! God that sounds good!

Lets face it, i'm here at 1:15am Saturday morning clearing my emails and sourcing leads for Monday! By rights i should be in bed with 2 women laying in a puddle of my own vomit, but there you go!

I can't wait to retire!

Chris Martin

16th December 2005, 23:16

I mean 12:15am

Sorry, a touch of the drama queen in me!

uksbc

16th December 2005, 23:21

By rights i should be in bed with 2 women laying in a puddle of my own vomit,

back in my drinking days i used to be good at this - always forgot to take the 2 women with me though :cry:

not the same when its just you and your vomit :shock: