Okay, were well into winter around here(michigan) and i’m a little slow. January was good and I have a basement booked for the next month or so, but these last two weeks…… I know i’m not the only one, so what do you do when you’re slow? I go nuts when i’m not working.
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When I was working in the field I.........organized everything, sharpened and did maintenance on my tools. Got the truck up to speed. Did all the home stuff I could now...........thinking I would not have time later. Updated my paperwork. Did my taxes. Went to look at any new products I was considering using. Visited a few job sites to check out the competition. Spent some family time as it may not be available later. Touched base with some former clients. Thought about develpeing new advertising stuff. Just tryed to stay busy.
Mike L.
I envy your time surplus, haven't been slow in years-even with the cold years of late.
When you rely on general market conditions and word of mouth marketing, you ride all the waves and defecits.
L
GardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it!
Were even. I envy your tight schedule. I go nuts sitting around. Not that i'm sitting around, i'm just not turning the revenue I need/want to for these few weeks.
Careful what you wish for. Do you know what you have to do to change it?
Here's a hint... it came to me via a one time president of amex bank of canada. Market consistently, even when you don't need to.
Stated another way by Bill Gates, Give out 10 business cards a day... you'll do well.
1500-2000 people a day see my full color business card.
You are in a major metropolitan area-there's plenty of money made in Detroit. There is no need for you ever to be slow. Back when I was installing I was always busy, and I was an hour and a half outside the major city. Chin up man... easy to get busy there.
L
GardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it!
Edited 2/21/2005 10:08 pm ET by Lawrence
Hey thanks Lawrence. Dont get me wrong, i'm not depressed or anything. Starting monday it looks like i'll be busy through april. I was just wondering how everyone spent their downtime.
I do try to market as much as possible. Though i'm small now I put my name wherever I can, business cards, company shirts, truck signs, flyers, yard signs, etc.
I like the "10 business cards a day" idea. I think i'll try that.
"... so what do you do when you're slow?"
I've played a lot of guitar.
Moving out of old van into "new" van. I clearly did not use the space efficiently in the old van. Seems to be fitting in pretty good despite a bit less space.
So far!!!! Ha!!
Rich Beckman
Another day, another tool.
How many ladders can you fit on the new one?Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
"How many ladders can you fit on the new one?"LOL!!!Rich BeckmanAnother day, another tool.
I see an opposite problem than Lawerence.
The way he talks, theres no time for living . I used to try to make enough money in 9 months to take off in the winter. Back in those days , Id rather work 12s in the summer and be off in the winter. Its twice as hard to make money in the winter. Always fighting the cold sucks.
Tim Mooney
U got winter down there?
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry in Carpentry
Pgh, PA
Jeff, we get very little winter here any more . It was 75 again yesterday. January went by and we didnt get any cold weather. Figgured Febuary would catch us for sure. Here the month is on its final leg and we havent had any winter. People here have plowed their gardens and an old friend called last night and hes planted onions and a couple other things I dont recall. Flowers are blooming now. March 1rst and were home free, as that starts our main fishing season.
I had a painting and drywall business back then. Both those trades reel off of good weather. I ran automatic tools , so I needed some volume. The only way to get volume is if its drying. I thought it over and said Ill make my money in the summer. I ran 7- 12s or untill rain or somthing stopped me, then I rested. The incentive always was to be off in the winter for hunting and trapping season .
With that said , working 12 hours in summer is more productive per hour than hours "billable" in the winter. Quite a bit of time and energy is lost just trying to work in the winter, or setting up for billable hours. I didnt work by the hour but I always played like I did as Dad taught me ways for a self employed person to account for his hours. He said work minutes and the days will fall together. What I was doing was a lot like factory work in that its repetitive all day or like a brick layer is very simalar. Theres so much break out and shut down time every day. In those trades, clean up and set up too. 12 hours saves 1/2 of that.
We had rougher winters then, but I still wanted off requardless as it was the reward. I trained dogs in the winter and trapped for a little money, but I had a grub stake by October to winter on. I lost and gained a lot of work being that way . I could turn a job back over in a hurry to a contractor then not take his next job. Why do they have trouble being told "no" ? Contractors want the same subs and they want them to jump. I wasnt interested in their work in the winter.
Tim Mooney
Very valid point Tim, but marketing doesn't have to be a full time job if you are wise.
Working too much kills creativity and production. A few injuries and you look at 18 hour days differently. Work smart, not hard.
Enough marketing and you get better dollars for what you do, you pick and choose your jobs and you have more time for living.
In the last 4 or 5 years I made my living in 2 or 3 days a week, and built the company in the rest of the time. I like your 9 month strategy, sounds great.
LGardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it!