posted
It's been a while since I've worked around trades on a private project. Generally I deal with the owner of the business.
But for the last few days we've had a couple of trades working in our new shop... drywall and electricians.
Today one of the drywallers made a comment that made me stop and think. His comment was how LUCKY I was to own such a building.
To set up the scenerio you have to appreciate a few things... The owner of the drywall company was there bright and early to get the lay of the land... the crew staggered in over the next hour. He gave the crew their instructions and then went back to another job to finish up there. I wasn't overly impressed with the crew's work ethic, but the work they did was up to par.
One of the electricans showed up at 9, the other came in shortly after 11.
They did 3 hours work in the morning, and after a half hour lunch reluctantly set about some more work. At 3 o'clock the tools were litterally dropped as they quit for the day. At this point I was working nearby and the fellow made the comment to me... how LUCKY I was to own such a building.
I continued to work until 6:30 and then had a quick bite to eat. Janis was there beside me as we stayed later getting the last of the insulation done so the drywallers could finish boarding the shop tomorrow. We sat back after we swept the shop and cleaned up the other's mess and celebrated the progress we had achieved.
While I feel very fortunate to own such a building, I think it involves a little more than luck.
What amazes me each day is how the fellows working there could accomplish so much more with just a little more effort. Instead of starting out so slowly and knocking off early, with a little push they could finish a task they were working on instead of having to face it in the morning all over again.
Lucky me.
-dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8761 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
That's human nature for you- some humans are odd critters!
The ONE thing you CAN control is your attitude, but so many just follow the pack instead of heading off on their own.
'Luck' they say, is simply opportunity coupled with preparation, and the right attitude to recognise the opportunity, rather than dismiss it.
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7016 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
Good point Dan! I finally was able to put a down payment on a house with a cottage on 1/4 acre almost 2 years ago. My wife & I lived in my shop for 3 years in a pretty nice apartment I built on a second floor loft. It wasn't too bad, but had no windows to the outside (we weren't supposed to live there & chose not to draw too much attention to ourselves at night)
Anyway, now I am constantly doing home improvement projects fit into my long days & frequent weekends here at the shop. Plumbing & electrical are 2 things I usually don't attempt myself (drywall taping either)so I have had various tradesmen around as well.
My work ethic could be summed up by the fact that twice just last week I was down here until after 5am & back again by 10:30. Today I finally had lunch at 6pm. I only do this because I love it, & when clients ask for miracles, I usually feel comfortable agreeing. I also take off whenever I want & make up for it with all-nighters.
Anyway I've noticed the same thing with too many of the people I've had to hire, & the worst part is these guys who find a shortcut that compromises quality, appearance, safety, or functionality for a minute savings of time or energy when these guys are paid by the hour it makes no sense, but they obviously don't have the passion for their trade that so many of us do... I guess we really are "lucky", but also doubley blessed for recognizing the opportunity (as Ian said)& capitalizing on it.
posted
oops, I forgot to add that your post convinced me to finally add the quote I've been thinking I would add to my signature. I didn't get much out of the movie "Thelma & Louise" years ago, except that quote. For some reason that has come back to me several dozen times since then, & again on your post, so now it's my tag line.
posted
First of all Congratulations on a great Building Dan, Yes I hear this all the time as well, You're "Lucky" to have my own Business, "I'm Lucky" to have people working for "Me"... Every co-worker I have, as I call them, have had 4 weeks holidays in the last year and a half, I have taken 1 week, I hav'nt taken Holidays this year at all, and I really don't know if I will be able, I guess I'm Lucky to have all this work, I feel "Fortunate" but not "Lucky". I'd say that Luck does enter into the equation sometimes, but I'd say 20% is Luck and 80% is Blood Sweat and Tears.
Again a great Building Dan.. You "Deserve" it.. "Deserve" is more like it.
-------------------- "Keep Positive"
SIGNS1st. Neil Butler Paradise, NF Posts: 6277 | From: St. John's NF Canada | Registered: Mar 1999
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The drywaller might have a point about luck...from HIS perspective.
Luck, to me, has always been defined as a series of events that result in a turning point for someone. My career today is the result of the events of a single day.
I damaged a motorcycle and prepared to lose money because of it paying for the repairs. The following day, I met Craig Wyman, owner of a local body shop and we agreed to do a trade. He repaired the motorcycle fender and I airbrushed the hood of his race car. Although I had owned my business for a few years, there was very little work for an artist and my full time job was in a factory, but that hood became well known overnight and led me to sign and vehicle painting as a career.
I often have people comment on how lucky I am to have a job I love to do. Looking back, I smile remembering that all it took was denting a fender to start me out in a life that would make all that I have now possible.
Best of Luck to you in your future shop, Rapid
PS: In a small town like this, Craig is often credited for "discovering" me. We always get a chuckle over that, considering we met because of a mistake.
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
Gee Dan, should'nt we really be congratulatin' those folks for their "sobriety". . .it probably takes a lot of will power NOT to be a workaholic...
-------------------- Signs Sweet Home Alabama
oneshot on chat
"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog" Posts: 5758 | From: "Sweet Home" Alabama | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
Dan, I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. Last Saturday, me and my helper, Dustin got up at 5am to go out on location to put graphics on a 24 foot trailer that HAD to be finished over the weekend.
We loaded up at the shop and drove 20 miles to the guy's barn and worked until noon.(the customer was there with us all day, too!) I had to be at a funeral at 2pm, so it was back 20 miles to clean up, 25 miles to the funeral which was over about 3:30. Then 25 miles back home to change and grab a sandwich. Pick up Dustin and back 20 miles to the jobsite.
We worked until 10pm putting the last of the graphics on and replacing all the screws we took out of the trailer then headed back home (20 miles) to unload the tools. Finally sit down at home about 11pm, but the guy was extremely happy, I was pleased with the job and I had his check in hand.
Sometimes you just have to do what it takes. If only everyone had the same idea....
posted
When I was in college, one summer I took a work study job in the campus greenhouse. We planted and maintained flowers all over the campus. Technically I worked for the state, as did all the other maintenance people, so I had to "work" like the other state employees. The day would start waiting in a room where the time clock was. the others had it figured out that at a certain time you could clock in a few minutes early so you would "have" to clock out early as well. After everyone clammored around the clock, throwing time cards, they spent the next 20-30 min. wandering to their posts to await instructions for the day. Then they went to "work". Break was at 10, so 15-20 min. before break, they "prepared" for break, then was the actual break time, usually about 15 min., then it took another 15 min. to get back around to the work area. Lunch time was a similar routine, except you "had" to take a 1 hour lunch, then the second part of the day began similar to the start, another break (see above, break ritual) then as the work day ended, another clammoring event around the time clock, because you could not go over your allotted amount of work hours. I rode around in a little Diahatsu truck with a seasoned state employee, who had made wasting time into a art form. He was my "supervisor" and he frowned on me actually working at a pace that would "rock their system". I could not work like that without going insane! He missed a couple of days, so I was able to work at my own pace and actually get some things done!
People tell me the same thing about how "lucky" I am to have my own business. Luck has nothing to do with it! Reading your posts on the progress of your building reminds me of when I was building my shop building. Although my shop is not on the same scale as yours, I remember how I felt at the end of the day, muscles aching, not enough daylight hours, but a great sense of pride and accomplishment that comes from hard work.
-------------------- Michael Clanton Clanton Graphics/ Blackberry 19 Studio 1933 Blackberry Conway AR 72034 501-505-6794 clantongraphics@yahoo.com Posts: 1737 | From: Conway Arkansas | Registered: Oct 2001
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Hourly workers have no incentive to work harder. The pay check at the end of the week will be the same if they take three days to wire your shop or put out the extra effort and do it in one day. It's been a long, long time since I worked for hourly wages, but it hasn't been that long that I forgot that all an extra effort got you at the end of the week was tired
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
posted
Randy....so what are you saying about Union workers? I am a Union member, (International Association of Firefighters) and without the Union I would not:
1. Be making the $$ I am 2. Would be taking unnecessary risks (more than the risks a firefighter gladly takes) 3. Would be working insane hours. 4. Would be getting the worst benefits known to man, if any at all. 5. Would not have the retirement packages that are safe and sound from politicans.
And I am sure there are a million other reasons to be in a Union. I don't disagree that we at times bicker over the silliest things, but if you don't stand firm they will try to take advantage of you!
And on the note of being "lucky", that's bull , it's called hard work and determination, period!
-------------------- Mike Berry New England Posts: 534 | From: New England | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
You are probably paying by the job not by the hour. The mind set for your contractors could be that they want you to feel like you got your moneys worth. If they come in and do the job fast then you may feel like he gouged you. Most people would think about how many days they were there not the hours. We being in the service industry think of it in hours, but most people don't.
posted
Gday Dan, Unless your contract with the builder says otherwise, you own that site. Its amusing that they equate your position with luck but, if subtrades dont perform kick, them off. Or speak to your builder and get him to provide subtrades that perform. WTF is the fun of being the boss unless you get to sack ppl anyway Check your contract, any liquidated damages clauses in there? If so, let them muck around to their hearts content. David
-------------------- David Fisher D.A. & P.M. Fisher Services Brisbane Australia da_pmf@yahoo.com Trying out a new tag: "Parents are the bones on which children cut their teeth Peter Ustinov Posts: 1450 | From: Brisbane Queensland Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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You have heard the story of the plumber that always has the leaky faucet or the mechanic that should fix his own car. Well maybe these people have this mentality and the other thing is you are comparing people that work for someone else, too yourself an entrepreneur.
Not everyone can be an entrepreneur it takes a special type of person.
-------------------- Steve Eisenreich Dezine Signs PO BOX 6052 Stn Forces Cold Lake, Alberta T9M 2C5 Posts: 774 | From: Cold Lake | Registered: Mar 2000
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Hi Dan as you know the Attitude you can Control is YOURS. Set an Example for these Guys. "I wasn't overly impressed with the crew's work ethic, but the work they did was up to par." What Would You Change And How? Leadership Casts A Big Shadow.
-------------------- Danny Bussell Tujunga, California
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"Keep The Rubber Side Down" Posts: 213 | From: Tujunga, California | Registered: Mar 2003
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it makes no sense, but they obviously don't have the passion for their trade that so many of us do...
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