Re: Life Sucks, Then You Move On

[nick markowitz <nmarkowitz@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Dec 4, 2:51=A0pm, Jim Rojas <jro...@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> JoeRaisin wrote:
> > JoeRaisin wrote:
> >> 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.
>
> > Oh yeah... My NICET Certification is good to 2012 but how do I go about
> > getting and documenting recertification requirements? That used to be
> > done by my supervisor and at the time I wasn't interested in the proces=
s
> > - I just filled out what they told me to fill out and went back to work=
.
>
> > Did I mention that I'm one of those guys who has never really wanted to
> > work for myself 'cause it scares the shit out of me...
>
> Take it from someone who has been self employed since 1986...it's very
> liberating.
>
> Jim Rojas

those no compete clauses are bull shit in pa they have ruled unless
you were very well compensated and your skills could harm  the company
they are not enforceable  Guardian protection of Pgh  tried it with
one of there sales people and had there hat handed to them.