Need to Make some money with my Tractor.

[rox]

Dougster,
I think I owe you an apology. You have been around the block and in fact around the world so you are already well experienced in business to business communications. For some reason I thought you were more iterested in making money than you apparently are. Perhaps I read to much into the title of the topic. According to what your stated goals are, to do jobs under terms that are agreeable to you, and the money being secondary you are probably not doing that bad statistically. There were a lot of jobs that were not what you wanted, so probably the number of opportunities you actually would have liked to have received and not landed is not that bad. Bummer to not land a job because of scheduling issues though, if everything else was a go. Those are the ones that probably hurt the most. We had to wait 3 months for our tradsman to fit us in his schedule to build our custom buit pergula. This was the guy we wanted so we waited.

 

[Dougster]

Dougster, I think I owe you an apology. You have been around the block and in fact around the world so you are already well experienced in business to business communications. For some reason I thought you were more iterested in making money than you apparently are. Perhaps I read to much into the title of the topic. According to what your stated goals are, to do jobs under terms that are agreeable to you, and the money being secondary you are probably not doing that bad statistically. There were a lot of jobs that were not what you wanted, so probably the number of opportunities you actually would have liked to have received and not landed is not that bad. Bummer to not land a job because of scheduling issues though, if everything else was a go. Those are the ones that probably hurt the most. We had to wait 3 months for our tradsman to fit us in his schedule to build our custom buit pergula. This was the guy we wanted so we waited.

Hi Rox - Absolutely no apology necessary. The fact that I have been around the block many times has little to do with good, local small business advice and running a one-man compact TLB operation. That was my whole point. The overall experience I bring to bear may be great... but it has not been all that effective in the local small business environment. Still, I am not starting from ground zero with no other options... although I often confuse folks in that regard... sometimes on purpose just for the fun of it. Plus my financial world is not limited to what I make (or lose) in this TLB business.

Yes, the scheduling delays and conflicts were the most frustrating... especially when it is an easy job at a fair price very close to home. Those were mainly in the early spring when liability insurance and certain logistical issues were still being worked out. Hard to go into all of them here. Most are behind me now.

I don't want to leave the impression that money is not important. I will eventually go bust or need to go back to my old career with inadequate income for a long enough period of time... but my 1st year goals are modest and I still believe there is time to win this race.

Dougster

 

[workinallthetime]

hia doug,
this month has not been to nice to me, i will bearly make my goals due to all the rain and a week in mexico. I should be workin my buttocks off right now but the jobs are just stacking up and i am running out of time. I worked with a couple yesterday in the rain and mud most of the day building a dry stream bed, they had to take of work to play with me and now i have to go back saturday to finish because the mud was getting pretty deep and i was soaked. My point is i understand about shedule issues and work with the customers alot of the time to sort it out, i also enjoy working with my customers doing the job. Turn key jobs are great but when the customers are right there they know why this rock is there or why the tree had to be pulled. Most turn key jobs i do i get the original amount, most jobs where the customer is involved with each step i get a dang good tip.

 

[Dougster]

hia doug, this month has not been to nice to me, i will bearly make my goals due to all the rain and a week in mexico.

Well... yeah... hello!!! Geez Dan... Can't make a living up here while living it up at some fancy resort down south of the border!!! If I could do that, I'd really consider myself a success!!!

Interesting comment on the turnkey projects. Because the nature of my work is residential and, by definition, assisting do-it-yourself homeowners with their projects... my work is virtually always done right in front of the property owner. No "tips" yet... but an awful lot of sweat... and a lot of embarrassment when something happens like the bucket falling off at one client's location. I envy the guys who get to do their work while the owner is away and can just present a finished product for billing!

Dougster

 

[workinallthetime]

well for the record it started raining the day after i left for mexico, so could not have done alot anyway. i about killed myself getting everything doe before i left now i go back to the workforce monday at 7am and have way to many jobs and not enough time to get em done. Looks like july 4th im going to be working all day just to get close to cought up.
I like working with MOST homeowners, it really is great to see the smiles you put on their faces when your helping them do things. Im used to everyone being mad at me because their truck is broke and its going to be a day or two before its done. This kind of work is 180- degrees from that, pople are more than happy to pay me to do work for them and so pleased when im done.

I have a new plan and hopefully in a couple years i will be back at this full time with even more equipment.
time will tell

 

[Dougster]

I have a new plan and hopefully in a couple years i will be back at this full time with even more equipment. time will tell

I really do wish you good luck Dan! You are... quite literally... my inspiration for sticking with this crazy idea of mine when the chips are down, the bills are coming in... and there is no money in the checking account with which to pay them!

May you prosper in your new "weekday" career... and still keep enough going in your "true calling" so that you don't forget us!!!

We NEED the inspiration badly!!!

Dougster

 

[DavesTractor]

Dougster,

Do you drive the Corvette when you meet with the customer for a bid? It leaves an impression...

 

[rox]

Dougster,

Do you drive the Corvette when you meet with the customer for a bid? It leaves an impression...

DavesTractor,
Hmmm I'm not sure how to take your comment. I for one am suspecious if a sales rep pulls up in an expensive car. I automatically figure he is overcharging, that is how he got the money to drive the fancy car. I like tradesmen to come and give quotations driving a nice decent truck.

On a side note, my hubby, before he bought his restaurants was an executive chef at a couple different private country clubs. He would never buy an expensive car, even thugh actually we could have afforded it. His theory was that when the members saw the chef driving a (u name the high end brand) they would automatically think, "hmmm we must be overpayng the chef" Actually it was good logic so we always drove jsut more basic cars. Even when he had his restaurants he never drove a Lexus, he felt the staff would want more money, they would figure he was making to much and they all needed a bigger cut. When people want a raise and you are trying to keep costs down it is best ot to drive into work in a Lexus...

 

[Dougster]

Dougster, Do you drive the Corvette when you meet with the customer for a bid? It leaves an impression...

Hi Dave - The sad truth is that the Vette hasn't left the garage since last year. Neither has the Harley. I can neither afford the insurance, the registration, the fuel or the time to be puttering around in one of my big boy toys this year.

And very soon, the Vette (and possibly the Harley) may be converted into cash for a second machine. Almost came to pass just the other day.

Poverty is a terrible thing. Just be glad you are rich and aren't me!!!

"Dirt Poor" Dougster

 

[Dougster]

DavesTractor, Hmmm I'm not sure how to take your comment. I for one am suspecious if a sales rep pulls up in an expensive car. I automatically figure he is overcharging, that is how he got the money to drive the fancy car. I like tradesmen to come and give quotations driving a nice decent truck.

Truth is that I generally take the truck if the potential client is local and there fuel in that gas-guzzling beast. Otherwise, it's my 200,000 mile Ford Escort econobox with the rear bumper and tailpipe both dragging on the ground. At least if I run out of fuel, I can always take the plates off and walk home... no big loss.

Dougster