Re: Life Sucks, Then You Move On

["Crash Gordon" <webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Most non-competes are not enforceable...they can't keep you from making a
living at something you've been doing your whole life. Don't step on your
former employer's toes and you should be fine.

--
**Crash Gordon**







"JoeRaisin" <joeraisin2001@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:hfblgd$m09$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Lost my job yesterday.  My regional ops mgr and supervisor are lobbying to
> get that decision reversed but I'm not holding my breath.
>
> I'm receiving a military pension which helps in one regard but that almost
> entirely offsets unemployment...
>
> Filed a DBA (Doing Business As) today for low voltage wiring and I'm
> picking up liability insurance Monday.  I have a few questions.
>
> I am NICET Level II Certified and hold a Michigan Fire Alarm Specialty
> Technician License.
>
> 1. What's covered under a non-compete clause?  I won't be installing
> alarms but am planning on trying to subcontract low voltage wiring for
> sprinkler companies.  Mainly (I hope) it will be phones, TV, network
> cabling - things like that (I don't know enough right now about sound
> system cabling but I'm a quick study if it comes to it).
>
> With my license I can do NFPA Fire Alarm Inspections and am told (by
> someone who may or may not know what they are talking about) that as long
> as I don't solicit current customers of my former employer it isn't a
> problem.
>
> 2. I know it varies from region to region but how would you guys go about
> estimating a wiring job?  By the foot?  By the estimated hours? By the
> number of drops?  All of the above?  Money up front or bill later or a
> combination?
>
> As for contacting builders - I was thinking about doing a sort of 'resume'
> thing that details my background, training and what services I offer and
> visiting builders in person.  Any suggestions?
>
> 3. Business cards - I googled free business cards and came up with tons of
> sites - have any of you used such a thing and do you have any
> recommendations?  Simple/fancy - what info should be on them?
>
> 4. Supplies - I know I can get wire at Home Depot or the local Electrical
> Supply house - what other options might there be?  I've worked with enough
> cheap wire before to know I want to use a decent product so are there any
> brands I should avoid?
>
> I know these may be basic and perhaps dumb questions but I've never had to
> deal with such things before and I have to admit I'm still a little
> befuddled and off balance - pretty sick to my stomach as well.
>
> Is there anything else I should be considering?  I am totally a fish out
> of water here but, being in Michigan, there's a lot of folks lining up for
> 7 buck an hour night stock jobs so, while I do plan on looking for
> something, and who knows - this might work out.  Regardless, I've got to
> do something or we don't eat.