I just realized that most calls and texts I get are from people needing some kind of help or favor. Case in point, a friend has been texting me all week to help him bend and weld some stainless tubing.. more or less fabricate a complete downpipe for his VW so he can use a long tube header that nobody makes a downpipe for. I text him back today and say I'm beat, had a really busy week and my body hurts we need to do it next weekend. He texts back saying "oh it's cool bro I'm day drinking, we can do it some other time" So I texted back "oh yeah day drinking? Thanks for the invite dick" Fuck that. He can pay someone $300-500 to fab that exhaust. Except for a few of my friends, it seems like everyone I know are out for themselves and they only think about their 'friends' when they need something or nobody else is around. Can anyone else relate to this?
For years I was always the friend who showed up and helped out. I have painted more peoples homes than you would believe. Gardening, renovations, watching children and doing what ever else they needed. I have also done financial planning for most of them as well. Maybe I have been blessed with good friends as when I was unable to do much for a time they all came through for me when I needed anything done. The best part is that it without my asking them to. Maybe you are paying ahead right now but at some point it may come back to you when you need it. Though he owes you at least a case of beer.
i want to completely change my job...partly because of health issues but mostly because i know exactly what youre saying friends all turn into customers ...some pay for the work but most just want free help...its worse for me probably because im self employed not working in another guys shop so every bit of energy i use doing free work actually takes away from my income (i dont have much energy) makes me wonder often who the true friends are
I guess you could be right. I just operate differently, and if someone does something for me I pay them back in spades. To be fair, I do have some great friends and it's probably feeling this way because I rarely ask anyone for anything. It's just lately it seems like every time my phone rings it's someone that needs something.
Yeah, just some shit about how I was assed out. I slept til 1 or 2 and he texted me at 10 or something about the car. So I texted back at 2 that I was torn up from work. If it were me I would've been like hey nevermind about the car I'm headed _______ to drink hit me up. But, whatever.
I know the feeling, it's fucking ridiculous huh? Not many people understand what goes into our work. They think it's like legos or something. And I have the same problem about lost opportunity. I work for a company, but I'm the shop foreman and can do whatever I want basically. Tell my boss how much to charge them, work on it for free, or whatever. And a lot of people know that so it puts the burden on me to hook them up. Which cuts into my own commission from actual customers.
I don't know what you people are talking about. If you'll excuse me I gotta call my friend over to help me move this couch... I think he's avoiding me...
Not the favours. But I have cut a few people out of my life that I aint got time for anymore. Things may change - but when they can't be bothered to let you know about big events in their life or just piss you off more often then not, then - goodbye, and good luck. :seeya: Should have done it years ago.
I have a few "friends" like this. Either they only contact when they need something or want to sell me their products from their pyramid schemes (Mary Kay, Avon, etc). I have plenty of other friends who genuinely have love for me though, so they make up for it.
A Jacqueline of all trades and a master of none. I grew up in a home where my father knew how to do or fix just about anything. From working land to mechanical to building and electrical. I can do basic electrical but will not wire into the box. Too scared. Mechanical is pretty well just maintenance on the car but on my weed whacker, lawn mower, snow blower or appliances I am game to fix those. It is rewarding to be able to tinker.
I can understand that as I also never asked for much in ways of helping hands. Until I was in a position of not being able to do some things and then I was paid back more than in full. I did not ask then but I had calls from them saying if you still want to do that project order the stuff and give us a date. They showed up. Life sometimes goes full circle when you least expect it.
I can't really relate to that scenario but I had girl friends in the past who would only call me when they were fighting with their boyfriends and needed someone to emotionally unload on. It didn't bother me that much though - it might have pissed me off at the time but I never really let it effect our friendship. I've needed help plenty of times in my life so I'm generally pretty easy about lending a helping hand or just lending an ear. I know what ya mean about your friend not extending you an invite though - I used to have this friend who would use me to kill a couple of hours while her boyfriend was working then she would leave and go hang out with him and all of his friends without inviting me. That shit sucks...its like, why not just invite me?
