I'm a veteran of an extremely successful motorsport career in Formula One with Jaguar and Red Bull, two marriages, one divorce, fatherhood, running a merged family, depression with mental health issues and 14 years running a business. I certainly have a lot to say!
Entrepreneur turned VLOGGER - Subscribe now, you won't regret it!
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I've been scammed twice on facebook but not from marketplace ,but on a regular sales ad. Both times I had to file fraud cases with my credit card in order to get my money returned.
Facebook itself is a scam, In the first year after launch it was great and fun to find past connections and have them all in one place like no other website did. It was also fun to play PIRATES vs ZOMBIES and to poke your friends every day and to update your status and wish people HAPPY BIRTHDAY especially those whom you'd never wish anyway. All that has changed, it's since become a scammer's paradise, i have abandoned my FB profile for years and every other day someone is trying to hijack it, I KNOW this because i keep getting text messages and emails with reset codes.
U do realize some ppl don’t really put where they work on Facebook or have. Banners right ? I’ve had Facebook since 2007 and never had a banner don’t like em that make me a scammer ? Don’t have my job or city neither
thanks for sharing this Neil. must of took allot to talk open like this about struggles and hurdles your going through i have recently seen your videos and your really good. i hope whatever you do in the future will bring you back online making videos even if its not about making money it would be grate if you had a pod cast and just talked about life's struggles. all the best mate
sounds like the Obamas gymnasium rules
you talk too much ,get to the point
K
@@NeilBarker This is a complex and involved tale about a simple sounding concept. However even I learned a bit from this and would've maybe bitten earlier than Neil has. The only addendum here would have said id demand I pay by Paypal and no other way
Alright Neil. I've watched all your videos on the returns pallets, it's great getting tips from your videos. In this video, it's like your telling my story! I was doing great for the first 8 months on ebay, selling about 5-8 items a day, and upto 30 items on a weekend. Things were going brilliant. Until one weekend, I got just 1 sale, and then every day after that, i was maybe getting 1 sale here and there. Now, I'm only getting about 10 to 15 sales a week, if I'm lucky Did you ever resolve this issue with ebay? I feel like they're blocking views on my listings, and it's really disappointing
Keep your chin up pal and better days will come ❤
That container is extremely valuable now a days. Don't take the 1st bid you get.
Rubbish removal is a good idea. House clearance. One van one man?.
Do not employ staff. Go back to being a one man band. You still have your business acumen. Duck and dive. Tell yourself you are broke every day and earn your money for that day. Give your head a shake and get up. SPQR you will be ok.
Sorry to hear about this, wishing you all the best
Hi Neil, I’ve only just been told you’d closed your business after recommending you to someone locally. Found your video(s) , I am full of admiration for you , incredibly brave to do and to speak about. Good luck for the future.
Ah I'm sorry you didn't know, thank you for your kind words but mainly for being one of our loyal customers and amazing ambassadors, recommending us, because if it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have been around for as long as we did :) 🙏🏻 thank you
I'm gutted to hear this, I was just sat in the office and we have a phone that needs looking at and I instantly said "I know a guy" but was pointed to this video! I wish all you the best for the future Neil.
Thank you for taking the time to comment and your best wishes. One of my finest accomplishments was to have a company that serves such a lovely bunch of people like yourself, all good things come to an end I guess but thank you again 🙏🏻
The last 5 years of my life has been me trying to get back to some form of normality from addiction. Still I got there in the end. Never give in, ever. It's not even a option for me. I remember talking to a couple of addicts with zero intention of getting clean. Very strange to my mind.
I feel you bro. I was there. Hard work and detication is what works. Learn to not notice the shame you will have to go through and keep your chin up.
If its not difficult its most likely not worth doing. There's a reason its hard.
You’ve got this man! Keep up the grind one day at a time!
I have used your service I think twice or maybe three times over the years, every time the service was excellent. The service was so good in fact that I recommended you whenever I saw a social media post from someone needing a repair. Definitely became the brand in the area to go to for tech repairs. Really sorry to see your business closing but wish you all the best in wherever life takes you now.
I admire your honesty. I’m in a very similar situation. My FTC for my day job ends on 28th of March and I have no plan. I would love to upscale my own business but obviously I need to replace my salary. I feel like something exciting is on the way but I have no clue what it is!
Thank you so much for your comment! Even as I stand, I would grab any opportunity with both hands and work it out as you go! What's your side hustle? The "something exciting" is whatever you make it, it's totally in your hands. I will be creating more videos on everything I've learnt from leaving a full time job to the very end.
If you like technical field, look at NCR (national cash registers) or your cash (Euronet) they need good tech people and or advisors. I don’t know if they have anything at the moment, however it’s worth a try.
Gosh, how brave you are to post this. I have been a customer over many years. I’m desperately sorry for you and your team, but seeing you here I have nodoubt whatsoever that you’ll pull through Neil. Stay strong. I have never subscribed to anything on youtube before now, but I’m so touched by your post that I’m eager to follow you on your road to new pastures and new successes. Very best wishes
Wishing you all the best for the future mate, no doubt you’ll smash it
Good luck!
Thank you so much :)
Look into the ‘SpongeBob’ plan to deal with any corporate tax debt if you had a Ltd company mate… saved my life
Thank you so much Greg, I will give that a look up (as strange as it sounds! lol) and it is much appreciated.
Good luck Neil , you got this mate 👍
Thank you Tom, hopefully I will keep you entertained on here, no matter what happens!
HUGE RESPECT for posting this Neil. So nice to hear people speaking out about these issues. Sending our love❤
Losing your skill set in electronics/repair is a shame, could you not lose all the expensive overheads and start again working from home Neil on your own. I think you maybe surprised what you can earn and save by doing this. You only need soldering irons and a little bit of rework/cleaning and you could continue to earn without the extortionate cost associated employing and having a unit. You have the skillset scale it down to an easier manageable size
Sad times, I remember having a phone conversation with you about mac repair when we at easy2pc were getting out of that business, and the domestic market, opting for a more b2b model. I hope you bounce back and wish you all the success for your future endeavours.
Hey Neil! I’m absolutely gutted to see this video and to know your closing down the stores 😞 I had the privilege of working for yourself in your Wellingborough store. You helped me out and supported me more than any boss I’ve ever had and I appreciate you. I wish you the best on your next adventure and look forward to following your journey on here. Stay above and beyond 😉🤛
Love it. Keep posting.
You deserve attention my friend.
I've been scammed in facebook so now I'm very careful and learnt that when something is too good to be true than it probably is.
I've always been an employee because I'm not temperementally prepared to take on the risk that going into business entails. But thank you for being one of those people that goes out there, takes risks, creates jobs and pushes our economy/society forward. I can only imagine the shit you've been through recently, are going through and will go through in the coming months. But hopefully you will look back on this period with the mindset of 'better to have fought and lost than never to have fought at all'. And I believe the entrepreneurial spirit that got you into this current bad patch will see you out the other side and you will build back stronger and better.
Neil I wish I can help...I've been there, bought the tee shirt and lost the tee shirt. Stay strong brother. I'm only at the end of a DM should you wish to talk. Don't be alone through this. I personally care.
Wow inspirational attitude!
Phew, what a story ,although a more and more common one, Ive faced and am facing the same. i think this 'adventure ' is going to be hard, if its real. I believe you and probably many do but I feel you need to make it really 'stick like' by letting us know the depth of your financials, not the exact figures of course, but, for instance, do you own your house outright, what car are you driving, are you still going on that holiday etc etc. I get sick of people who tell me they are destitute and that they've even had to. . . . . . .break into their savings!!!
I am currently in a well paid position and entrepreneurship lures me, but the more I look around, the more I realise that there is not that much money to be made unless it is disrupting the market or there is a significant investment made to scale it from the get go. Either way, if you are looking to bounce back quickly, your skill set would align well with the "Operations Manager" position at some factory, pays well and has 40hour work weeks, leaving with approximately 70 hours after sleep and commute at your disposal to be used on either additional income or next project, which is I think a good way to restart. Either way, wish you luck
I'm going in that direction as a gardener for 7 years. It's really tough outthere at the moment. I'm watching the money and replacing yhe money taking out of savings for the winter. But the bills keep coming and may have to tap into them again this month. I'm preying that I can get some good contracts just to pay the bills
Start an exterior cleaning business. Hit me up if you’d like help :)!
What a cool idea, I will add that to my list of possibles! Thank you 🙏🏻
Neil, I'm retired now and was very fortunate in my business of Architecture and born in Birmingham U.K. but now live in Texas. I'm concerned about everyone who hits hard times and I surely hope good fortunes come your way for you and yours.
Massive respect for getting it hooked up and success, I'm super envious for you loving in Texas. I love the song by Chris Rea "Texas" and I also love America too!
@@NeilBarker It's the land of opportunity if you sneak across the border.
I also have to shutdown my business, not because of lack of customers, but because the government made it illegal to work as consultant. All the money i put in the business in hiring and training the staff and then when finally goes with a plus. Have to shut it down and fire the people.
Ah I'm gutted for you :( what a pain, I'm fascinated as to what you were doing and why it was made illegal though. It's business all over, a serious roller coaster 🎢 I do hope you're working on your next exploit though, if you ran it into profit then you have got what it takes to succeed! 👍
Hi Neil I feel for you mate and I admire your brave decision to close your business, also speaking so honest and openly, I hope opportunities open up for you as you sound like a hard worker and a good boss I will follow your journey. My respect to you .
Thank you so much for watching and also your kind words, I would say that being open and honest comes easily for me as I have my heart on my sleeve, but I had to dig deep for this video. I've question the "good boss" bit more than anything really and still do. Self esteem has taken a massive battering in the last few years so my confidence in business has taken a hit. I'm happy to have you along for the journey!
Im exactly where you are ....... will be following your journey dilligently
I'm sorry to hear that :( indeed, if there's anything I can do to help or cover them just let me know! I hope you're doing ok through it, it's certainly quite a tough and lonely journey.
Not a business owner. Also a bit of a survivor. Had breakdown and serious illness but now slowly picking myself up. Good luck.
Hey! I'm glad that you're in repair and thank you so much for watching and taking the time to comment, you're an amazing person for getting this far! Keep it up 👍
I suggest you need a bit of time, but you also need money. If at all possible get a job, just doing something, maybe something manual. I hope your business was a limited company without directors guarantees - something in my opinion directors should never do. If you don’t have limited liability consider bankruptcy, it is no longer the end of the world, but do take financial advice.
Very wise words, thank you and also thank you for taking the time to comment. I totally agree, I used to be super innovative and have ideas coming out of me like rays of sunshine! Not in the past few years though. I do need time to recover, as long as it takes. A manual job would actually be quite good, work the body and mind so we will see. It was a Ltd company thankfully and not a lot of impact thankfully, this isn't my first rodeo and once again also great content for future videos, to try and help others as they get into building a company.Thank you :)
It's really helpful to hear someone tell the story of the darker side of business. We are endlessly subjected to incredibly curated social media success stories that present success as easy and you just need to manifest it and it will happen.
Your comment shouldn't be under-estimated... you are BANG ON! There is now such a prolific amount of that on social media now, and so many "courses" that it is rinsing people of their hard earned money and selling a false dream! I topic for another future video! thank you :)
Good luck, enjoyed your videos especially over covid years when doing the pallets, you’ll bounce back and be stronger 💪
Thank you so much and I am glad you enjoyed them, I really did too. This is a different journey now but hopefully one that will help me and help others too, even if it is just entertaining! :)
Hi Neil, todays vid brought a lump to my throat as over 18 months ago i made same decision with my business, covid and staff issues killed it for me, i had taken it hard, in hospital several times with breakdowns and suicide attempts, alongside my mental health i had physical health problems which affected my life. I was close to edge, even today still after having knee replacement and 18 months later i still have bad days where i want to end it. I hope you get sorted, i will follow your challenge on how you turn it round and wish you luck all the way.
Ah mate, thank you so much for watching and also taking the time to comment your story, it is incredibly brave of you and I feel for you and sad to see it still affects you. I am glad you weren't successful in your attempts though, the world is a WAY better place with you in it rather than not, always remember that. As I recover I think that there will be a way where I can help others such as yourself stay positive, what you have written there is one of the bravest and courageous things I have read and you should remember that! I am proud of you sir! I hope my journey entertains and hopefully helps you too :)
Can the debts not go with the company? Are you mentally prepared to go again in business/self-employment if an idea/opportunity presents itself?
Thank you for the comment and questions, my next video will be what I will be doing in the interim as you rightly say, I'm not quite ready for the next business challenge.
Hey Neil, Really sad news to hear. Working for you was one of my favourite jobs. It was chaotic and difficult sometimes but it was a whole lot of fun too. I wish you all the best in this journey! If there is one thing I know about you is that you're brimming with ideas and willing to experiment, so I'm sure that will help you a lot. If you need me for anything in your future ideas/endeavours or anything that let me know, cause I'll be happy to help and always hear for the no1 boss. Regards Callum
Hey Steedy! You were ace and a pleasure to work with, those were the good old days and we all had a lot of fun whilst making some money! I have a little gift earmarked for you as I empty the place so will be in touch for you address and a surprise in the mail!! It is sad but it's 💯 the right thing to do!
@@NeilBarker A wise man once told me! Everydays a schoolday! I look forward to the gift!