Human Nature?

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POWER_PIG said:
and here it is,,,,,,talk about insulting!
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why? did I say that working for someone else is bad? did I say that your haircut is ugly? you have bad BO? need to brush your teeth? :D
 
POWER_PIG said:
Im not really insulted..................I do know some EC's that work out of their homes / pick ups or whatever and do quite nicely. Just because they can't afford to start out "large and in charge" don't make them hackers. They pay taxes and are insured . Small EC's offer the average home owner a option of not having to pay $100 an hour to hang a couple ceiling fans.
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and I would argue that the only reason a small EC offers the average homeowner the option of not having to pay $100/hr to hang a couple of ceiling fans is that the small EC doesn't know his numbers...
 
EBFD6 said:
I agree with Power Pig! Why do people think that everyone wants to go into business to "get Rich"? I work for medium size contractor (aprox. 60 guys) and I do pretty well as far as wage and benefits go. I would, however, like to work for myself someday. My motivation is not to get rich, if I could start working for myself tomorrow and make the same amount I made yesterday working for someone else, I would. My goal is to keep my current level of income (maybe a tad more), which allows me to provide for my family and live pretty comfortably.

My main source of motivation is to WORK LESS to maintain that level of income. If by working for myself I can make in 20 hours what I make now in 40 hours I will be ecstatic. I want to spend more time doing what I like to do and less time working, I do not want to be a fortune 500 company. What's the problem with that. Just because it doesn't meet someone else's business plan does not make it wrong.

If all you guys want to build and grow a business to pass on to your kids and make millions of dollars doing it, that's great. I want to make some money, tell my son to get a job he can enjoy, and when I don't need to work anymore I'll sell my tools and enjoy retirement!
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at least that is a plan...i can assure you that you will not be able to only work 20 hrs if you charge the 'going rate'....

whether you want to be huge, or just not have to work a lot to be comfortable...you have to have a plan, you have to know your numbers and you have to charge accordingly...

most guys do not have or do any of these things...
 
EBFD6 said:
My main source of motivation is to WORK LESS to maintain that level of income. If by working for myself I can make in 20 hours what I make now in 40 hours I will be ecstatic. I want to spend more time doing what I like to do and less time working, I do not want to be a fortune 500 company. What's the problem with that. Just because it doesn't meet someone else's business plan does not make it wrong.
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I'm in this category as well.
But it won't work in the service end of the EC trade. If you aren't answering that phone 24/7 let alone available to drive over and do the work...

But construction could manage it. If you have GC's who get it.
Doing projects where you work your butt hard for 3 or 6 weeks and then take a few weeks off between them (and maybe most of the winter to RV in Florida).

I'd much rather work a 54hr week x 30 weeks of the year and have those other 22 to fish or hunt or motorcycle tour; whatever. The problem lies in having the help you'll inevitably need available *when* you need it.

Right now I'm sitting on a pile from selling my house (10/06) and staying free at my parents old place until it sells; and I don't know what I'll do after, but I'm leaning toward some flipping if the market stabilizes by the time I have to decide.
 
emahler said:
and I would argue that the only reason a small EC offers the average homeowner the option of not having to pay $100/hr to hang a couple of ceiling fans is that the small EC doesn't know his numbers...
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I would argue that it is up to the individual EC to charge what he feels is necessary for him to make a living. An EC that specializes in this kind of residential service does not need anywhere near the kind of overhead that a typical full line EC might need.

One of the biggest variables is the cost of acquiring business. If you pay almost nothing to get the business, you have a huge advantage over other contractors. Its one of the reasons why guys who work for mostly a single GC can afford to do work at a much lower price and still make a decent living. If you are spending 20 or 30 hours a week getting business, it is going to be tough to make a living at it no matter what you charge as a single proprietor.

I ran across a brick mason who only took smallish jobs. Most of them were referred to him by larger contractors who did not want to screw around with 1/2 day projects. he charged much less than the big guys, but seemed to have a nice car, a fancy truck, a boat, a nice house, and all the other toys he needed. price is not the same thing as profit.
 
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petersonra said:
I suppose it is possible he inherited it. I would guess not. I think he found a gold mine and was taking it for all it was worth.
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LOL!!! Im glad that sarcastic wit is still a live and well in this here forum.
 
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