*
We have been talking a lot about the attitude it takes to run a good business. By coincidence a job I just had done illustrates the point very well. In this case I had a lot going on so I decided to get someone else to do the work. For yuks I started in the yellow pages and with friends recommendations.
Contractor #1 had a Caller ID Blocked phone. In other words this “business” wouldn’t take business calls on a business line unless they could tell who was calling. My phone, for good reason, is blocked. So, no go there. Besides, I’m not sure I can handle the paranoia they must have.
Contractor #2 was apparently a good technician because I was happy with what I saw when looking at some of his work. Asked him to come over, look at the job and give me a price. He said he was busy so call him to remind him later in the day; Strike 1 but I did it. When he came over he was full of comments about how this and that wouldn’t work and how he did the absolutely best work around. He assumed I didn’t know anything and proceeded to tell me that what I wanted done couldn’t be done, that “that isn’t the way we do it, but never fear he would “do it right”. Well you know the line: “I’m the best, you don’t know anything, give me a blank check you ignorant person and I’ll do the job when I get ready”; Strike 2. Lots of patting on the head and condensension; Strike 3.
Contractor #3 came over, looked at the job, listened to what I had to say, made some suggestions and left to do some calculations. Next day he called back with a price and a work schedule. Since I had never seen his work he took me to one of his job sites. I liked what I saw, signed the contract and wrote him the first check on the spot. The work is now done, I’m happy and he’s happy. The entire process was very business like. He warned me that changes would cost, I warned him that if he didn’t do as promised that would cost. (Both “warnings” were friendly and professional, not adversarial). He came to supervise his people and to do some of the work himself. It was obvious he really knew his stuff but he had made the attitude change from worker to businessman.
Replies
*
We have been talking a lot about the attitude it takes to run a good business. By coincidence a job I just had done illustrates the point very well. In this case I had a lot going on so I decided to get someone else to do the work. For yuks I started in the yellow pages and with friends recommendations.
Contractor #1 had a Caller ID Blocked phone. In other words this "business" wouldn't take business calls on a business line unless they could tell who was calling. My phone, for good reason, is blocked. So, no go there. Besides, I'm not sure I can handle the paranoia they must have.
Contractor #2 was apparently a good technician because I was happy with what I saw when looking at some of his work. Asked him to come over, look at the job and give me a price. He said he was busy so call him to remind him later in the day; Strike 1 but I did it. When he came over he was full of comments about how this and that wouldn't work and how he did the absolutely best work around. He assumed I didn't know anything and proceeded to tell me that what I wanted done couldn't be done, that "that isn't the way we do it, but never fear he would "do it right". Well you know the line: "I'm the best, you don't know anything, give me a blank check you ignorant person and I'll do the job when I get ready"; Strike 2. Lots of patting on the head and condensension; Strike 3.
Contractor #3 came over, looked at the job, listened to what I had to say, made some suggestions and left to do some calculations. Next day he called back with a price and a work schedule. Since I had never seen his work he took me to one of his job sites. I liked what I saw, signed the contract and wrote him the first check on the spot. The work is now done, I'm happy and he's happy. The entire process was very business like. He warned me that changes would cost, I warned him that if he didn't do as promised that would cost. (Both "warnings" were friendly and professional, not adversarial). He came to supervise his people and to do some of the work himself. It was obvious he really knew his stuff but he had made the attitude change from worker to businessman.