Replies

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   Guest_ | Apr 13, 1999 05:31am | #1

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   Maybe this should become "The truth of your distess." I would be all over the numbers from day 1, I would have an accountant from the start to do the books and keep me up on what I need for taxes, file all the papers, etc. I've done O.K., but I always feel behind with that stuff and that can keep you up at night.

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   Guest_ | Apr 13, 1999 05:37am | #2

   *b How about having a large head to hold my oversized ego??????????? Well since I'm not a sucess yet, I'll pass on that answer.(Well I still have to go to work and still don't have that house in the Islands yet)

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   Guest_ | Apr 13, 1999 05:46am | #3

   *Success? Whats that?If I would have learned how to booger properly when I was young...Blue

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   Guest_ | Apr 13, 1999 05:52am | #4

   *Blue if I knew then what I know now I would have put the tool money in the stock market

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   Guest_ | Apr 13, 1999 05:57am | #5

   *I realized one day that carpentry was a trade not an art. When I approached my work as if it were art I got lots of hours in, when it became a trade I actually made money.

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   Guest_ | Apr 13, 1999 05:59am | #6

   *Well, I wouldn't lean on employees so much; that is, I would not put myself in a position where I'm taking so much work that I actually count on guys performing. Course, I could've just lowered my standards.And, I would send out invoices in a more timely manner.

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   Guest_ | Apr 13, 1999 07:13am | #7

   *I was befriended by a plumbing contractor when I was in my 20's and a farmer/logger/land dealer in my 30's. Both of them made a lot of money and could have retired at 50. Both are in their mid 60s and work like hell every day. The two things both of them told me is that they have fun doing what they do (they honestly enjoy it) and they would put more into the stock market if they had it to do over.

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   Guest_ | Apr 13, 1999 08:26am | #8

   *Crunch your numbers heavily up front, keep the suprises to a minimum. Bill in a professional and timely manner. Don't sweat the nickels and dimes. Sure, they add up, but get the job done and go find another. Often times it takes a few extra hours to save that nickel when that time could have been put toward getting new business.Don't do crappy work. Don't bid it, don't build it. When you accept crappy jobs, you've defined the type of work you do and you;ll struggle to grow out of it. Keep the owner/builder/whoever is paying you informed. A computer does wonders for keeping time devoted to paperwork to a minimum.Your employees will invoke your attitude towards your work. If they perceive you as one of the good guys, they will make you one of the good guys. Success will follow.

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   jcallahan | Apr 13, 1999 08:51pm | #9

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   Blue, is it ever too late to learn to booger properly?

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   jcallahan | Apr 13, 1999 09:42pm | #10

   *All your comments really hit home, have been through most those things ......except for the oversize ego ......mine was beaten into submission years ....eatin' crow a few times will do it. many thanks for the insight ....jc

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   jcallahan | Apr 13, 1999 09:42pm | #11

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   What has made your business a sucess? What mistakes have you made? What would do differently? Alway could use some insight .....thanks .....jc