Ron Musgraves

Numbers are up compared to last year...I just dont like the idea of other around me hurting so bad. The guys thats been repairing my car for 15 years is thinking about shutting the doors. He slow because people are not driving and the are not fixing everything. Hes lost half his revenue since laast year and wonders why he still keeping the doors open. OH yeah, something about the two kids in college that still need him. A local pizzaria I loved left in the middle of the night. Even though our numbers may be up, if it keeps on this downward pace things will break. Even saving right now is no good because the dollars is declining. You might save money now for it to only have half the value in the next year. Invest your money in the future things. Even if you dont have much, dont leave it sitting in a saving or money market account. The dollars will continue to decline as long as we keep having the fuel problem, the rest of the world is just a worried about it. Many countrys rely on The US, china may own us but without us they would not be and econimic force. I think this will turn around but there will be a period this will hurt most. Its will be a short period about six months after the new president takes office. Historically if you look at the election years past the same trend has happened. Maybe just not a rough and not with the current gas issue. Cananda is doing ok, Mexico is doing ok. Makes you wonder about our leaders. The Mexican president used to reside in Tucson Arizona. I wonder why he moved back to Mexico?

I use both, we do customer service for residential home contractors. We have a trip fee 175 to 225 depending on the location. We charge 75 per hour after the first hour. average house takes 2 hours and we dont prorate the hours. (Scope is only the concrete) Pools and decorative in backyards will extend the time. We will not do these any other way, you find to many different situations.

How long does siding last? Just curious...

Answering another poster with no ID, here it goes again..... My techs no nothing about how our business really runs. My sales people have a small piece of the marketing because they use it to sell each day. The people in my operation that understand the full operation are paid well and have incentives. All the people that want to go on there own I will teach them everything under agreement and hire there company. I learned long ago that this was a problem and cured it. I tell and share secrets more than most on the internet and have no worry about what your talking about. I realize for you it may be real, I choose not to allow it to slow me down.

Decks at Deckorators: Deck Railing, Deck Railings, Deck Designs, Deck Design This looks good, I was wondering if any of you are in it?

Matt, WOW!! I have been lucky I guess. I have several employees that not only have been with me but have helped me develop my training and teaching methods to new employees. We don’t even hire anyone with Pressure washing experience. We prefer they have never even operated one. When looking for labor position I can give you a little hit. Never advertise for the starting pay, advertise about three or four dollars higher. Example, if you advertise for 8 dollars per hour, that’s exactly who’s calling. If you advertise higher for the most part the looser that’s been from job to job may not even call you. Most important the guy you want is never calling you for 8 dollars and hour. If you advertise 3 to 4 dollars higher you will see a dramatic increase in the selection of people and like us we are willing to actually pay someone good that actually needs are real job versus someone who just looking for a paycheck. Filling your shoes,,,LOL your dreaming. Truthfully this will probably never happen. That doesn’t mean you can’t get out from behind the wand. You need someone that know the techniques and that will care enough to watch your production and make sure customers are happy with the work he is doing. This guy will need that training kens referring to above, a program laid out in writing so he can follow it to train his helper in the methods you use. If you try to train this guy and this is not in place you may or may not succeed. Even if you get them trained you will find things getting changed. Its starts with small thing, later turns into larger ones. If you’re not on top of things always you will always be correcting this employee and others down the road. Your guy that you want to replace in the field would need your personal side by side training and teaching of how to truly handle the job from start to finish. His or her appearance and ability to not on have the skills but handle people will be crucial. I have found if the people don’t have the people skills at this stage of the game, get someone else. This trait is very difficult to train someone that all there life they have not had them. Remember, its silly but people want to feel comfortable with someone at there home or place of business. (My point while training this person just don’t think about application) Matt, if you think your going to handle it all besides the application your mind set of getting out from behind the wand is already wrong. My point here is that if you want to manage your business and allow it to grow. You will eventually have many people doing aspects of what you do on different levels. I guessing right now you order, handle schedule, write invoices, pay bills, sell, estimate, perform work, make dinner a couple times and week, pick the kids up, take them to the park, The reasons I mention this above are the things as one man or two men shows do. We handle everything, we run around with our heads cut off. You mentioned work smarter not harder; truth in this is we all want more time in our lives for family and ourselves. This ultimately is your goal and don’t forget that goal. Ken told you write things on paper, write the reasons you want to achieve this on paper also. Put that on the fridge, the visor or your truck and read it each and everyday. I was younger and had the oportunity to see “Dale Carnegie” that spelling may be wrong. It’s been 20 years, I remember him having photos of everything he wanted to achieve. Often the writing things down or having a picture of that sale boat you’re dreaming about is motivation. I have no idea what your intentions or dreams are but I would say start by identifying those and tell those close to you what you’re trying to accomplish and set out on the track to get it done. Remind yourself daily. This step if often the hardest in small business to make, if someone told you its going to be easy they lied to you. After you trained the wrong guy possibly four times you will find the right one. You will know it when you find him, pay him and keep him. Loyalty is a too way street.

That was my first thought, you mean everytime something gets a little tough you can ad on?

Wood Care & Construction Forums - Powered by vBulletin This is a very old forum with wood info, I was wondering if anyone travels there much? Looks like it still got some good info.

Beth, Your the wood person of the century. You should do your online wood mag. maybe we all should have and online pressure washing article section. I know the bbs do, but maybe a few folks around the BBS should start and online magazine. Maybe the ***** should have one?

That site used to be packed, I recall they started a wood magazine if i remember correctly. Time flys, Brian seems like a nice fellow from postings. What types of products does he sell, names brands or private label?

Thats dead on, Great post!!! The people behind you and your business really matter. The image you build and want is what really matters. I guess its kind of like leading by example. If your a owner that acts poorly to customers or even behind there back your employees follow your example. I often have seen this with others and then they wonder why the employee acted this way? Professionalism is a complete package, you can have your strong and week points, we all do. I can say knowing them trying to make the week ones stronger while focusing on the strong ones to hold you up until the package comes together. This has been a great thread.

I need a local contractor from the area. Grocery store customer. call Me direct, no e-mail.

its booming, copper and silver mines are running. Large local grocery chain needs a local guy. Its a regular gig.

That card also makes the phone ring.

Thats some great Info

Beth, your frustration if your remmeber was mine when we met years back. I displayed photo after photo of hacks destroying buildings and concrete. Its costly and makes us all look bad, I feel your pain.

How do we stop it as a group, could we all afford the advertising to reach the public. How about a brouchure by a group? buyer beware, Its it getting better? or is nothing changing? In the concrete cleaning indsutry we deal with the same issues. Phoenix is and will keep improving. the residential market is difficult do to the expense the education takes.