Capacity:  'the maximum amount that something can contain'

               'the ability or power to do, experience or understand something'


I love my morning green tea or dark coffee from a press. I love to drink it on the go out of my favourite house mug, not a travel mug. So there I am in the truck with a full mug of hot tea with no lid. It's dumb - especially because I like a clean truck. But I keep doing it, foolishly believing that all roads will be smooth today. Maybe I'm an optimist. 

Everyone has their own capacity mentally, physically, financially, creatively. We have limits. There are only so many things we can pay attention to, only so many things we can accomplish. And it's different for everyone... 

Life is too short to be miserable for 40+ hours each week.

1.  Self-employed painters have agency in their work life. They choose which jobs they will take and how the project will be completed. 

2.  Self-employed painters enjoy the satisfaction of seeing daily results. Their work creates a significant visible affect. 

3.  Self-employed painters have a fair measure of novelty in their work. New projects, new customers, new colours, new challenges. Interior work, exterior work. New is invigorating and stimulating. It creates opportunities to learn new skills... 

A dollar saved is worth 2 earned.

1.  Make the call. Paint companies have reps. Some are hungry for your business. Compare prices annually and negotiate more favourable terms. Make it an annual thing - blame the calendar ("I'm making my annual call to all my suppliers to review my pricing for 2016"). Some companies will go as far as they need to in order to win your business. If you buy a decent amount of paint, you will have some leverage. Of course, price should not be your only concern when choosing a supplier. And everyone needs to make a living. A good supplier is like an ally to your business. A good price is important to your bottom line, but so is service, knowledge, stock levels, amount of locations, product range, quality, and so on. Weigh out all the factors, but don't assume you are currently getting the best price you may qualify for. Don't overpay for loyalty and convenience. If you buy $10,000/year in paint and can negotiate 5% savings, that is $500!  

2.  Consider switching to a lower quality line. With all the advancements in paint technology, you may not need to pay $40+/gallon for zero VOC, good quality paint. Shop around and learn about the latest offerings available. A newer, cheaper paint might preform better than your older, more expensive 'premium' paint. If you buy 2 gallons per day, saving $5/gallon might add up to $2400!...