More, Questions for EC contractors only

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More, Questions for EC contractors only

  • I started out small doing side jobs on the weekends

    Votes: 17 45.9%

  • I've worked my butt off for years & haven?t made it yet

    Votes: 8 21.6%

  • Everything I have, I stole from a previous employer

    Votes: 2 5.4%

  • Its a family business, I was bred for this.

    Votes: 6 16.2%

  • I married into this... So what if she has big hands

    Votes: 1 2.7%

  • Witness Protection Program...Do you think this is my real name? Do you think I chose N.J?

    Votes: 3 8.1%
  • Total voters
    37
  • Poll closed .
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Constantly having a vision, and not listening to the masses.

Listening to my mentors, those who actually accomplished something.
 
I'd like to comment on my vote. Although I grew up in it as a family business, neither my father nor I ever intended for me to join him. After graduating with a EE degree, one thing led to another and here I am, still pulling wires. Oh well, it pays the bills.

John
 
When I started my EC business I also moved to a new and unfamiliar area. One day I was talking with a big GC in the area and asked him if the town needed another EC. He said "this town can use another GOOD anything". That really impressed and inspired me some 28 years ago. It was true then and it's still true today.
 
bkludecke said:
When I started my EC business I also moved to a new and unfamiliar area. One day I was talking with a big GC in the area and asked him if the town needed another EC. He said "this town can use another GOOD anything". That really impressed and inspired me some 28 years ago. It was true then and it's still true today.
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Give yourself a little credit man!

:D
 
andycook said:
Most persons won't know if you did a good job or a bad one, but they will remember if you cleaned up after yourself.
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....and there are those that frown on my tool of choice:
dc500.jpg


You always remove the evidence ;)
 
I am a third generation electrician, my grandfather started as an electrician in Switzerland, then moved to the U.S. in the fiftys and started his own company.

I have now expanded and became an inspector as well as a contractor, this makes for an interesting time at the supply house.:D

Chris
 
raider1 said:
I have now expanded and became an inspector as well as a contractor, this makes for an interesting time at the supply house.
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Ever had to give yourself a red tag?
 
Had to vote family.One half of family GC's other half EC's.It's all I know how to do and to much of a workahalic to do anything. Last time we went on vacation, I ended up helping remodel the motel we stayed in.Came home with more money then we left. I'm not allowed to briing any tools anymore.(It's ok,I'll just borrow sum)






Terry
 
I beat the bushes looking for work. I'm a single parent, therefore couldn't really do side work on the weekends and evenings. I had a little bit of money that I could use while I figured out how to properly price work and work just started trikling in once I got the word out in various ways that I was available. That was a little over 3 years ago. I was lucky that some very good work came my way, and now I have 6 full time employees, total revenue has increased 100% each year. I'm on pace to do 500K this year, drive a 500SL and am looking to put 2 full time in the office so I can focus on field supervising and focusing on the work that is most profitable for me.
 
andycook said:
Most persons won't know if you did a good job or a bad one, but they will remember if you cleaned up after yourself.
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That is so true! It took me a while to figure this out. One of my builders who is a very good friend still reminds me how I left "the plastic wire cutoff thingies" on the prefinished hardwood floors about 10 years ago. Doesn't ever remind me how he needed to get things done for a closing in a super hurry, with no notice, and everything got done.
 
larryFine said:
Ever had to give yourself a red tag?
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Nope, I don't contract in the same city where I inspect, conflict of interest.:D

Seriously thought, I would'nt ever try to do something so unethical as to try to inspect my own work.

Chris
 
I started with $400 in a checking account. I did small things like hang fans, add plugs and the such. We have gone through good times and bad times. Honestly sometimes I think I would have kept more money working for another large contractor. For sure I would have gone through way less stress.

Now I am too far into it to think about that. We are not a large company, we have between 15 and 20 employees most of the time. The thing that has helped me the most is watching every penny like payroll, taxes, insurance and vendors.

Getting a customer is easy, keeping the customer is what is a challenge.
 
My dad was an electrician. He had four sons and it was me, his daughter, that ended up following in his footsteps. I was 16 years old before I realized all girls didn't pull wire. I am too old to pull wire any more so I got a job as an inspector. I love the electrical business and wouldn't have lived my life any other way. Sometimes I miss working in the field, but being an inspector keeps my hands in the business. Dad worked in a local power company in generation and distribution. I always wondered why my friends thought I was weird growing up. All my family talked about was electricity. My kids are the same way. When my daughter was five, she was running wires through the rafters. She's 17 now and says she's not going to be an electrician.
 
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