Another long day in construction

[AndyG]

It is 12:20 AM and I am driving home from my last job…

We have three painters and one painter who is a gap painter… does the small things that would slow down the bigger crews.


I had a really weird feeling when we hired him that he was unable to manage himself and sort of a bottom feeder and he is a nice enough guy, but just a little offbeat…

We sent him to stain a $13,000 door and he absolutely made a mess.

The customer was beside himself and I had to get personally get involved and I have corrected multiple coats of spar urethane.

A while back I was going back into town with my trailer…. someone texted me that if I was taking my trailer back into town at 5 PM I was working too much.

The same person failed as a contractor in less than six months.

I told him buddy I do whatever it takes to make it and I have been making it for over 25 years.

I can’t stand to be criticized by people for doing what you need to do to fulfill your responsibilities and also to keep from getting sued or having to file bankruptcy.

They need to shut their mouth.

Only people who have stayed successfully self-employed, understand the level of commitment and pressure to make good decisions that it takes to make it over the long run.

The same painter came to the shop this evening and got his check and told me to have a good weekend and I had to bite my tongue…. He’s going to get an earful tomorrow about what I’ve had to do to straighten out his mess.

I’m having to watch my attitude because things have been extremely challenging for about two years.

At least tomorrow me and one of the coolest friends I could ask for are going to get to go fishing.

Biggest bass buys dinner.

He’s got a challenge

 

[TJ Jim]

If you’re working extra hours I’d think it means you love your job. That means it’s not a job it’s just a fun activity. The first fifteen years of my last job was fun. It got tough and the last five were no fun at all. It’s all in how you look at it. Attitude is everything.

 

[AndyG]

If you’re working extra hours I’d think it means you love your job. That means it’s not a job it’s just a fun activity. The first fifteen years of my last job was fun. It got tough and the last five were no fun at all. It’s all in how you look at it. Attitude is everything.

I love to do what’s right. I hate guilt.

I likely have a whacked sense of responsibility.

One of the things I hated about working for other people was how they would treat customers- how many times I saw that just a little bit more effort or time would give a customer a delightful experience.

Probably the biggest benefit of working for myself is I get to make the call on that.

There are parts I love, the key is to make sure that carries you through.

 

[BlueC]

If you’re working extra hours I’d think it means you love your job. That means it’s not a job it’s just a fun activity.

Not quite. I frequently work extra hours, and not because I love the work, it often sucks, but I love being self-employed and those beyond 40 hours are just part of the territory.

 

[TokenJo]

Sounds like a long week. Ive been in the sales side of building materials over 35 years with a back ground in CAD and framing. I find interest in your stories of working through the challenges of contracting. I stepped off the corporate side in 2020 to join a new independent whole sales distributor. Its opened my eyes more to the challenges of being an entrepreneur. Basically a personal family and a business family. Some adults acting like children, blows me away.

Reading this I thought you were going to eat that door at first. Glad you were able to salvage it. Keep up the good work. Hope you win the contest.

 

[AndyG]

Sounds like a long week. Ive been in the sales side of building materials over 35 years with a back ground in CAD and framing. I find interest in your stories of working through the challenges of contracting. I stepped off the corporate side in 2020 to join a new independent whole sales distributor. Its opened my eyes more to the challenges of being an entrepreneur. Basically a personal family and a business family. Some adults acting like children, blows me away.

Reading this I thought you were going to eat that door at first. Glad you were able to salvage it. Keep up the good work. Hope you win the contest.

The challenge is construction is remote manufacturing with lots of variation. Toyota and the rest of the manufacturing does not do that. At all.

Secondly, all profit is speculation.

The door- it was baaaaad. I called a friend i’ve known from before I started for advice, he is the leading furniture refinisher in town. He saved my butt with his advice. Moral: ask for help.


I told my wife right now the challenge is to fix the business before my mental health breaks. Its like 2 convergent lines…..

$ 220,000 is a lot to lose in 20 months.

Like the cute video….Jadens Broke!