I recently started running a small contracting business in my hometown. I manage, at times, a 4 man crew, when the job is large enough. We only do the carpentry aspects which means no mechanical or elctrical. When I tell people this is what I do and Love to do, I usually get some strange looks. The reason for this, I imagine, is the fact that I am only 18. Despite my age and the age of the guys on my crew, we have managed to keep pretty busy doing small jobs. Recently we were hired to fix and finish a large job that a “pro” messed up and never finished. I know my stuff about the trade and have been doing it since i could walk. If i am unsure how to do something i research it and learn how to do it and then teach my guys. Despite all that I try to be as humble as possible when im working around guys who have done their trade for much longer. This job will more than likely involve subs, and my question is, Do you guys think that a pro will resent dealing with a kid who is also the, for lack of a better term, G.C.?
Thank you guys
Replies
If you know your stuff
there should be no problems.
good luck
Jim
Interesting question.
If you are the one hiring the subs, then you are in fact the general and it is your lead that will guide the job. If the bldg. owner is doing the hiring, you're bound to get a different reaction from the subcontractors.
Your attitude will have a lot to do with how you are treated in either case.
For instance (and interpreting internet forum-ese is often misleading), you use pro in quotes. Why? Because he wasn't or because you who recently started running a business, is. Further, what have you been doing for 17 yrs to learn the trade? Were you trained by a good teacher, or have you always been interested in construction since your first tree house? How can you not be "humble" working around those that have been doing the job for years?
The world is full of actors. Hell, I know I put on an act when I got started in this. Dress the part, level in the gun rack, pencil on the ear. It took many years to back up that act, yet even now I'm in awe of tradespeople that can do their jobs well.
How you are treated will be in direct response to how you come across. And there are many who will misjudge you until you prove your worth. Some will never change their opinion out of jealousy that you do know what you are doing. It might take a while and could be discouraging for someone with thin skin.
I think that if your desire to learn and do the job well is bigger than your head, you should be alright.
If your hair gets grey early in life, you will have a head start. They should have made available a reverse Grecian Formula for those of us that started out early in business.
Best of luck.
A long, long time ago in a place far, far away, was similar situation as you. <G>
What I did not know was the business aspect, pretty sure I'da crashed if that part had been up to me only.. .. The advice to get some business training (if you did not get that from your parents or GPs or HS) is good advice. The business and financial part, not the mechanicla skills, can be what could make or break an independent business. Still valuable even if you are doing construction as a 'summer job'.
Pop took some basic business school courses in the late 30's and it held him in good stead over the following 70 years.
As for age, when I started working for the big aerospace company in 1967 at 21 YO, was totally amazed at how suddenly I was treated as a full adult vs. having still worked with folks who still knew me as a little 5 YO kid.
If competent, you should have no problems.
Young
I'm with both jim and cal on this one, maybe more toward jim.
Know your stuff. What you don't know, don't blow smoke about.
Lots of good people out there, young and old, that are willing to fill in the voids in your knowledge. Depend on your B.S. meter to figure out who they are, and amybe a little help from an older trusted friend/relative.
I wasn't as young as you when I started, but was still a babe in the woods, when it came to experience. If you have tender feeeling or a hot temper, leave them at home every morning. You are going to get some ribbing, so take it good naturedly. That is part of growing up in the trades.
Your day on top will come all to soon.
Some will, some won't. They will all have a tendency to take caution working with you. You seem to have a level head on your shoulders ... and you may know your trade well. What you are/may be missing is the business side of things (I'm guessing) where you work with and relate to other trades, communication, etc. You've probably got a lot to learn in that sense and until you begin to build the relationships and pick up the associated lingo as I call it, you will need to respect their caution.
You may also run into people w/ less than your sense of quality and energy that it sounds like you put into things. Subs that not only don't respect you, may not know what they are doing as well as you know what you are doing. You'll need to learn how to handle working with them w/out alienating them with your high expectations of ... quality/care.
It sounds like you are the exception to the rule ... and you are generally aware of that. The trade sounds like it's easy for you (relatively speaking). Your efforts will be focused on the business side of things, now ... running a crew, coordinating other subs, handling issues, etc. And that doesn't include the financials, legals, etc of running a business.
The best of luck to you, sir. Sounds like you're off to a reasonable start!