I like to build and run chemical laboratories which are capable of operation at any time around-the-clock. After-hours surcharges can often be more lucrative t

I like to build and run chemical laboratories which are capable of operation at any time around-the-clock. After-hours surcharges can often be more lucrative than the base lab fees I invoice. Naturally I like to compensate the operators who perform the after-hours work quite well so enthusiasm is enhanced. On top of their regular daytime hours, or instead, it pays to be flexible. But the 8 - 5 period during the 5-day workweek is so precious for communication with office people of all kinds, from clients to suppliers, within my time zone. Most of the 24/7 week occurs outside these 5 narrow windows, or 10 even narrower ones if you count lunch. Plus lots of times Mondays and Fridays can be easily lost to a good extent. A lot of businesses need "normal" business hours to be focused on the business itself. Sometimes more so than focusing on engineering during that time even if it's an engineering company. That's the "normal job" 5-day week part that's always habitual for me. The easy part has to be showing up consistently enough that you take off less often than everyone you interact with. So I prefer to have most physical work, infrastructure building, instrument commissioning & calibration, things like that done "after hours" whenever possible. With enough of that behind me, I can make the most of it 8 - 5 for a while until the next growth effort, which will have as much of its activity occur after hours also, leaving the 8 - 5 period intact to maintain continuity. As if no new projects are being undertaken until proven viable. It's worth the extra hours. Long ago I became comfortable with the concept that you can operate a lab like this 5 days a week, but it really needs to be built or grown nights, holidays, and weekends. In our case it's a bonus to be able to also operate when most businesses are closed as well. This is not some well-funded research outfit, I have to make a profit here.