Is it always stressful!

[Welsh_sparky_21]

Does it get easier after a few years of being a journey man spark? Not long passed and it’s very stressful at times lol!

 

[Mike Johnson]

Sorry I don't know what a "journey man spark" is, but what are you finding stressful?

 

[Intoelectrics]

As mike says ^^ give us some more detail and background.

 

[Welsh_sparky_21]

As mike says ^^ give us some more detail and background.

Like a jobbing spark. Going around houses, shops etc doing smaller sized jobs. Part that I find stressful is fault finding etc, and trying to do the job neat tidy etc but also trying to be quick. Feel like I’m chasing my tail a lot of the time

 

[Mike Johnson]

If you are trying to do a good job and be quick you are putting too much stress on yourself, relax and take the jobs as they come and complete them at a speed that is at your convenience, I think when we all started work we thought that fast meant efficient, that is not always the case, especially if you miss something obvious that rears its head later.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Further to the above: Fault Finding can be a challenge or a fun activity, it requires a methodical approach, only do one test at a time on the circuit in question and don't get side tracked or try to be too clever, when you have enough experience under your belt then you can act the SA and do many tests at the same time but until you learn how to intemperate the readings on your MFT, keep it simple and single.

 

[Pete999]

Sorry I don't know what a "journey man spark" is, but what are you finding stressful?

I think from my time in the US and Canada, a JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICIAN is akin to our Electrician and an APPROVED electrician, the US Master Electrician is I would say an Approved Sparks , although I'm sure someone like Megawatt will put me right, something to do with what licence the individual holds, Megawatt is a Master so he would know the SP on this issue.

 

[Mike Johnson]

This guy is in Glasgow.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Stress comes when you under estimate how long a job will take and not allow enough time for paperwork , trips to the wholesalers etc

plan your week , allow time for admin and allow time to organise materials etc

 

[Pete999]

Stress comes when you under estimate how long a job will take and not allow enough time for paperwork , trips to the wholesalers etc

plan your week , allow time for admin and allow time to organise materials etc

Stress come to different people in many different guises Mate, trust me I know from years of past experiences, to try and describe stress n 1.5 sentences is so crass is nearly stupid.

 

[Pete999]

Stress come to different people in many different guises Mate, trust me I know from years of past experiences, to try and describe stress n 1.5 sentences is so crass is nearly stupid.

I'd love a debate on this subject! share some past stressful experiences with you I have many, I could share, but if you don't want to I'll understand.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

That's just you making it stressful because of your character and the pressures you choose to put upon yourself. You don't have to be quick. I was sooooo slow to start with, I've speeded up, but I'm still slow. I get loads of work though because I do a thorough job. Has any customer actually complained about you being slow? Probably not, but you still choose to worry ?.

I used to sometimes pre-warn customers I would take a while. I didn't tell them I was slow, I just said I am 'meticulous' (good word) as It needs to be done properly, and that takes time.

It's one big race towards 'the end', so I don't intend to rush towards it. I'll move at my own pace and try and enjoy the moment ?

 

[Deleted account]

It will come with experience. Agree with above, allow time for jobs. Don’t get bogged down with a quote.

if you don’t know how long it will take be honest with customer and say you don’t know, this is my hourly rate. or over estimate. Take it or leave it.


You being stressed reminds me of a one of my first jobs was a fault find. that was stressful due to impatient customer And Big house.

I explained to customer faults can be a bit tricky to find and need a methodical search. i could find it in 10 minutes or it may take a few hours so I cannot give a price. I charge £30 per hour.

Long story cut short. It took 2 hours to narrow down the search to one of 3 circuits on one of the properties boards.

the customer decided he no longer wanted to pay me any more. I explained I was close as there was just 3 circuits left to try. He wanted to know how long. I said I don’t know. He said he didn’t want to pay any more.

that was fine I billed him £60 went on my way.

got a call next day saying he had another spark find the fault within an hour. He wasn’t happy with me and wanted his money back.

I started explaining that it took him under an hour because I had spent 2 hours narrowing it down. I gave up and just gave him his money back.


That really stressed me out. I was new to it. I thought I’d done something wrong.

To this day it annoys me. But looking back I did everything right.

The place was a mess, circuits crossing over each other from different boards.
Looking back I know I was right. Maybe if I had started at a different point I would have found it quicker. But I’m not phsycic.

It will get better. Just chill. The job doesn’t get easier, you get better at the job and will be able to chill on a tricky job.

 

[Pete999]

That's just you making it stressful because of your character and the pressures you choose to put upon yourself. You don't have to be quick. I was sooooo slow to start with, I've speeded up, but I'm still slow. I get loads of work though because I do a thorough job. Has any customer actually complained about you being slow? Probably not, but you still choose to worry ?.

I used to sometimes pre-warn customers I would take a while. I didn't tell them I was slow, I just said I am 'meticulous' (good word) as It needs to be done properly, and that takes time.

It's one big race towards 'the end', so I don't intend to rush towards it. I'll move at my own pace and try and enjoy the moment ?

Sorry Buzz have to disagree with your response on this one, I never chose to put pressure on myself, needs must in many cases, not sure of your age or experiences, but believe me filling forms and going to Wholesalers, would have been a pleasure I longed for. Just thankful for a dutiful wife and family to help me , Stress youngsters today don'know the meaning of stress, I could elaborate but nobody seems interested , a sad reflection in my experience.

 

[Pete999]

Sorry Buzz have to disagree with your response on this one, I never chose to put pressure on myself, needs must in many cases, not sure of your age or experiences, but believe me filling forms and going to Wholesalers, would have been a pleasure I longed for. Just thankful for a dutiful wife and family to help me , Stress youngsters today don'know the meaning of stress, I could elaborate but nobody seems interested , a sad reflection in my experience.

Sorry I'm out of this one

 

[electric al]

Sorry I'm out of this one

Sounds to me like this convo is stressing you up pete ?

 

[Pete999]

Sounds to me like this convo is stressing you up pete ?

Not at all just wondering if the other participant's know what Real stress is that's all, aft ,we all stress is an individual problem, I Can switch off if it become d to stressful for me

 

[Pete999]

Sounds to me like this convo is stressing you up pete ?

Sounds like STRESS is the new COVID get a life Lads Grow some and stop feeling sorry for yourselves

 

[mattg4321]

Got a lot of time for the old hands such as Pete, but you're wide of the mark here mate.

The current time is almost without question the most stressful time for most people in this country since the war

 

[electric al]

I think we all handle stress differently and to some degree stress can be relative. I see some people becoming agitated or stressed over what I consider to be trivial and equally some people are very calm under the most difficult circumstances.i then wonder how they can be so
Contained .

 

[electric al]

Sorry Buzz have to disagree with your response on this one, I never chose to put pressure on myself, needs must in many cases, not sure of your age or experiences, but believe me filling forms and going to Wholesalers, would have been a pleasure I longed for. Just thankful for a dutiful wife and family to help me , Stress youngsters today don'know the meaning of stress, I could elaborate but nobody seems interested , a sad reflection in my experience.

Go on elaborate Pete I'm interested, genuinely

 

[westward10]

Interesting considering Buzz hasn't posted on this thread.

 

[stevethesparks]

Sorry Buzz have to disagree with your response on this one,

That was Happyhippydad
Buzz is not part of this conversation yet
westward10 - beat me to it

 

[westward10]

Must be the stress we all react differently to it.

 

[Pete999]

That was Happyhippydad
Buzz is not part of this conversation yet
westward10 - beat me to it

Sorry buzz my bad

 

[Dustydazzler]

This thread is stressful

 

[electric al]

Poor old buzz copping the flak

 

[Welsh_sparky_21]

That's just you making it stressful because of your character and the pressures you choose to put upon yourself. You don't have to be quick. I was sooooo slow to start with, I've speeded up, but I'm still slow. I get loads of work though because I do a thorough job. Has any customer actually complained about you being slow? Probably not, but you still choose to worry ?.

I used to sometimes pre-warn customers I would take a while. I didn't tell them I was slow, I just said I am 'meticulous' (good word) as It needs to be done properly, and that takes time.

It's one big race towards 'the end', so I don't intend to rush towards it. I'll move at my own pace and try and enjoy the moment ?

This makes me feel better! Thanks

 

[westward10]

Do you work for someone who plans your work or are you working for yourself.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Poor old buzz copping the flak

I just stayed quiet and let Buzz cop it ?

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Interesting considering Buzz hasn't posted on this thread.

That was Happyhippydad
Buzz is not part of this conversation yet
westward10 - beat me to it

I'm OK with being mistaken for Buzz. He seems full of character!?
In fact, he seems like one of the least stressed people on this forum, so he'd probably give a good reply?. As long as you could read it ??, sorry Buzz! ?

 

[OnlQQker]

If you’re feeling stressed, under-valued and generally fed up at work, take a holiday with your wife and kids.

You’ll be totally ecstatic to see your boss again.

 

[Mike Johnson]

I would if she had not left me with my business partner who took all the assets and made me liable for all the depts and liabilities and cleaned out the bank account, have not seen the children since, they are now married with children themselves and I don't know who they are.

Oh and to add insult to injury my business partner was my financial director who had not paid any of our due VAT or Income tax for a number of years, (I trusted my brother) I became liable for that as well, obviously I declared bankruptcy and had to build another business from there without Directorship of the Company.

And you have the cheek to say we don't know what stress is?

 

[stevethesparks]

I believe it’s Buzz’s interest in plants that helps with his dress, I just wonder what sort of plants

 

[plugsandsparks]

If you’re feeling stressed, under-valued and generally fed up at work, take a holiday with your wife and kids.

You’ll be totally ecstatic (and pack in work and go live off grid)

 

[stevethesparks]

I believe it’s Buzz’s interest in plants that helps with his dress, I just wonder what sort of plants

Stress not dress
But then again
Blimin iPhone

 

[Pete999]

Poor old buzz copping the flak

no Mate not concentrating

 

[DPG]

Sorry Buzz have to disagree with your response on this one, I never chose to put pressure on myself, needs must in many cases, not sure of your age or experiences, but believe me filling forms and going to Wholesalers, would have been a pleasure I longed for. Just thankful for a dutiful wife and family to help me , Stress youngsters today don'know the meaning of stress, I could elaborate but nobody seems interested , a sad reflection in my experience.

I'm sure some younger people do get stressed Pete. Bit unfair that line. The older generation don't have a monopoly on stress.

 

[Mike Johnson]

No of course the older generation do not have the monopoly on stress, we now have everyone on TV telling us that the mental health issues in younger people is reaching an unprecedented level ? and they believe it.

 

[DPG]

No of course the older generation do not have the monopoly on stress, we now have everyone on TV telling us that the mental health issues in younger people is reaching an unprecedented level. ?

If you think that's boring Mike that's up to you. Doesn't surprise me TBH.

 

[Mike Johnson]

I'm afraid that I am from a generation where you where told to get on with it, the now generation where not tolerated and where side lined if they could not keep up, not that this was the right thing to do, but it does seem that we now have a disproportionate number of people who can't cope being supported by those that can.

 

[stevethesparks]

The original OP was referring to work related stress.
It would be interesting to have an answer to post #29 from Westwood10 to see if the OP is employed or self employed, and see whet the actual problem is.
To be fair, he's probably been scared of by a couple on here that have tried to turn it into a poxy competition.

 

[Pete999]

Sounds like STRESS is the new COVID get a life Lads Grow some and stop feeling sorry for yourselves

Apologise for my rant

 

[DPG]

I'm afraid that I am from a generation where you where told to get on with it, the now generation where not tolerated and where side lined if they could not keep up, not that this was the right thing to do, but it does seem that we now have a disproportionate number of people who can't cope being supported by those that can.

I think you have a fair point there Mike. I think it has been realised that things weren't being dealt with properly in the past, but we have probably 'over corrected' a bit.

 

[telectrix]

what stress?

 

[Intoelectrics]

What is stressful to one could well be a pleasure to another. We all have our ups and downs and we all go through stressful events, scenarios etc... Stress can manifest in many ways and the root cause can be any number of things.

We are all different! Its unfair to judge a person by what makes them stressed.

My advice is to take a step back and consider what you believe is the root cause. It may not always be obvious and it may be useful at times to seek professional help if the the anxiety and stress is taking over your life and making you ill.

But from your post I'm assuming you are talking generally about being a self-employed electrician and how it can be stressful on the job? The truth is any job that warrants some level of responsibility will be inherent of stress. When the job you do can effect other people directly, especially their health and safety then all of a sudden you are under a certain amount of pressure.

Take the advice given so far, regarding planning and pacing yourself, try and stick to a system that allows you to complete the tasks with a little time to spare. There will always be times when things go awry, but if you try and plan sensibly, then these should only be occasional.

The old cliché, "it comes with experience" though possibly annoying to the younger generation, or if you are inpatient by nature, though frustrating, is very true!

The beauty of these forums is that you can come and seek some advice, you can sound off with people who are often in, and can empathise, with your situation. So if you get stuck and feel isolated, frustrated or can't suss a problem out then please share it with us. I'm sure with the vast experience and knowledge of the good folk on this forum somebody will always be able to advise you.

 

[pirate]

Stress and mental illness are linked but not exclusively so. It seems that we are seeing many more cases of mental health problems, especially in younger people, but this may be due to earlier recognition rather than an actual increase in cases. There is less of a stigma attached to mental illness these days, which allows those affected to come forward for help.
Stress which is work-related, or family related, but not causing what would manifest as a mental health problem, is still very concerning and if not relieved can lead to further problems. Some people can work all the hours going, handle the paperwork til midnight and just keep going. Some cannot do this. That doesn't make one superior to the other. Some folks stress out about their job and alleviate this by working more...that used to work for me. Some just strictly limit their workload, accepting a lower income but a higher quality of life. I am not an expert, but there are experts out there who can help you manage stress...it just takes an effort for many to accept they need help, and then seek it.

 

[telectrix]

when the RAF kindly taught me the basics of flying an aircraft without breaking it, i always thought stress was what could happen in a tight turn and you'd see the wings fluttering down away from you. ?

 

[pc1966]

when the RAF kindly taught me the basics of flying an aircraft

The old adage?
A good landing is one you walk away from.
A great landing is one you can use the aircraft again.

 

[telectrix]

The old adage?
A good landing is one you walk away from.
A great landing is one you can use the aircraft again.

spot on. i did once manage to damage an open cockpit glider. landing them was advisable as no parachutes.